2024 Kia Carnival

16 January 2025: By Alex Forrest

This is in some ways the Carnival that Kia wanted to launch in 2021.

Back then, the microchip shortage meant auto wipers, blind spot monitoring and fully digital gauges weren’t included. And Kia engineers couldn’t undertake Australia-specific suspension tuning due to travel restrictions.

Watch Alex's full review of the Kia Carnival on a test drive through Wanneroo.

Now though, that’s all part of the package in the 2024 Carnival. For Australian market Carnivals, Kia engineers have specified stiffer front springs and made changes to make the cabin quieter at highway speeds.

Designers have also given it a facelift, but there’s also been a pricing lift – mid-spec models went up by around $500 and the range-toppers up by about $1000.

As has been the case for some years, the people mover category among new cars is small, with only four other vehicles competing with the Carnival. It’s a favourite though – the Carnival now accounts for most people mover sales.

From a logic and practicality point of view, the Carnival makes a strong case as a large SUV alternative. Those big, side sliding doors are a major asset, and once inside there’s a level of build quality and finishing materials that’d surprise many.

As well as the expected roominess, there are well-designed and engineered controls such as the gear selector, handbrake switch, and the rest of the front centre console area.

By calling it a GUV – grand utility vehicle - Kia has sought to acknowledge the Carnival’s size and luxury.

Engines available in the Carnival include two we’ve seen in previous models, being the 3.5-litre V6 and the 2.2-litre turbo diesel.

There’s also a newcomer, being the 1.6-litre turbo petrol/electric hybrid system we’ve seen in other vehicles from Kia and Hyundai. That uses only 5.8 litres/100km – a huge improvement from the other petrol Carnival’s 9.6L/100km.

But the hybrid is also high priced - $84,280 drive away.

2024 Kia Carnival