‘Thoroughly’ updated Kia
Kia has revealed a thoroughly updated Carnival range, the new-look people mover likely due in showrooms from next year with a choice of diesel, petrol and petrol-electric drivelines.
Now with Kia’s Opposites Unite design language, the revised lineup features vertically stacked LED headlights, L-shaped daytime running lights, a rectangular Tiger Nose grille, bold alloy wheel styling, reprofiled bumpers front and rear, new-look Star Map LED tail-lights, a revised tailgate, and a range of other changes that bring the model in line with the brand’s incoming EV5 and EV9 SUVS.
Revised colour options shown in the Carnival’s home market include astra blue, aurora black, ceramic silver, ivory silver, panthera metal and snow white.
The South Korean marque has yet to show the interior of the new Carnival, though it is expected the changes will closely adhere to those seen elsewhere in the range.
These include a shift-by-wire transmission selector, new software and a range of Connected Services technologies.
Dual 12.3-inch screens revealed in other Kia models are likely to make their way into the Carnival range.
The connectivity suite is likely to see the Carnival feature a range of connected car services including calendar sync, find my car, remote vehicle checks and more, while also providing emergency services call, connected routing services, voice control, valet mode, weather information and remote vehicle check. All may be updated over-the-air.
Under the bonnet, Goauto understands the 2024 Kia Carnival range will feature the petrol-electric hybrid driveline found in the current Kia Sorento and Sportage SUVS, in addition to its carryover V6 petrol and four-cylinder turbo-diesel options.
The HEV driveline has a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine paired with an electric motor and six-speed dual-clutch transmission. The combination delivers 169kw264Nm in the latest Sorento, figures which should translate to the updated Carnival.
The hybrid driveline will be available optionally alongside the existing 2.2-litre turbo-diesel ‘four’ and 3.5-litre petrol V6. Two- and all-wheel drive options will remain.
Production of the MY24 Carnival is set to begin this month, with Australian pricing and specifications to be announced in due course.
Buyers can anticipate arrival in the first quarter of 2024.
It is expected the ‘stop sale’ currently in place on V6 petrol models will be lifted when order books for the updated range open.
Kia paused delivery of the V6-powered Carnival range in August as it sought to clear extensive backorders.
The current MY23 Kia Carnival range is priced from $47,480 plus onroad costs.
It competes in the people mover under-$70,000 category, where it currently enjoys top place with year-todate sales of 8745 units – to the end of September 2023.
Segment rivals include the Hyundai Staria with 886 year-to-date sales, Volkswagen Multivan, 543, and LDV Mifa, 308.