2025 Kia Carnival GT-Line Hybrid assessment

The undisputed chief within the people-mover section in Australia noticed an necessary addition to its vary final yr.

Observe: That is an up to date model of a assessment first revealed in August 2024, as there have been no main adjustments to pricing or specs up to now six months since publication.

We now have up to date key particulars comparable to pricing and specs with the freshest info obtainable. Learn the unique model of this assessment right here.

WATCH: Paul’s video assessment of the 2024 Kia Carnival GT-Line Hybrid

Kia Australia has added the brand new Carnival GT-Line Hybrid (HEV) because the flagship providing within the vary. It introduces a brand new petrol-electric hybrid powertrain to the eight-seat van, with significantly higher gas use than the present V6 petrol model.

The catch? It’s solely obtainable within the top-spec, and the price is a critical disadvantage. To not point out the upkeep prices and issues, which you’ll see detailed under.

How does the Kia Carnival evaluate?

View an in depth breakdown of the Kia Carnival towards equally sized automobiles.

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Carnival

How a lot does the Kia Carnival value?

The asking value for the complete Kia Carnival vary has gone up $150 for 2025.

Kia Australia lately hinted that looming emissions laws will enable it to usher in extra hybrid variants throughout the Sportage, Sorento and Carnival ranges in some unspecified time in the future – maybe we will count on a brand new value chief by yr’s finish.

To see how the Kia Carnival strains up towards the competitors, try our comparability instrument

What’s the Kia Carnival like on the within?

Being the GT-Line model of the Carnival, the cabin is an upmarket and well-considered area.

There’s a 12.3-inch touchscreen media system with wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Related Providers with over-the-air updates obtainable, and sooner USB-C charging functionality than within the final mannequin, in addition to a 12.3-inch driver info display in a shapely curved cockpit display {surround}.

The menus and on-screen design look terrific, and whereas there are few buried menus right here and there it’s comparatively simple to study. For fogeys who need to simply bounce in and have their telephone reconnect with out fascinated with it, the Carnival ticks that field.

There may be additionally a Hybrid display on the multimedia show that may present you some more information in regards to the powertrain (engine, battery, electrical motor), and in addition offer you gas use knowledge and recommendation.

Underneath the touchscreen there’s a panel that has dials on your local weather management settings, however they are often switched to quantity and tuning dials with a press of a touch-sensitive button. There are additionally an array of different touch-sensitive buttons that are less complicated to make use of than you would possibly assume at first look.

It is a tremendous sensible automobile. It may effectively be probably the most sensible non-commercial van in the marketplace, with some terrific design options that make it extra usable than eight-seat SUVs that you may also be weighing it up towards.

There are large door pockets, cup holders between the seats, a stowage part on your telephone (with wi-fi charging, plus a secondary spot subsequent to it inside proximity to the USB-C ports), and an enormous lined centre console space – preferrred as a snack hidey-hole.

The second row is superb by way of area and value. The seats are simply adjustable – you may individually slide and fold all three of them, whereas the center part may be reversed or eliminated if required. In case you flip the center seat again down, it has a pair of cupholders for these sat within the outboard pews.

Past that there are bottle holsters, map pockets, and fan and local weather controls with fan management and ceiling vents for each rear rows.

There are sunshades on the power-sliding doorways, they usually even have electrical home windows in these doorways – which isn’t the norm in people-mover vans.

All three middle-row seats have ISOFIX and top-tether factors. You’ll be able to very simply tilt and slide the outboard seats to permit for back-row entry. 

I managed to simply – I can not stress that sufficient – get into the again seat, which isn’t typical. It’s not even near a sensible expectation in any three-row SUV in Australia. For context I’m 182cm/6’0” tall.

The third-row area is superb, with sufficient room for me to take a seat behind somebody of the same dimension in entrance with area to spare for each of us.

Third-row riders have 4 cup holders, USB-C charging factors, overhead vents and sunshades on these very again aspect home windows.

Massive households will love that there are ISOFIX and top-tethers within the very again row, and there are three seats again there for a large seating capability of eight. 

It’s merely probably the most sensible automobile within the nation for giant households, however needless to say the rearmost high centre seatbelt nonetheless falls from the ceiling moderately than being built-in into the seat again.

The Carnival’s boot is a genius answer to needing plenty of seats and plenty of baggage area.

If it is advisable to use all three rows, there’s a staggering 627 litres (VDA) of cargo capability, which is greater than loads of massive SUVs with solely 5 seats.

The third-row seats can fold down (even utilizing one hand) into the storage effectively within the boot space.

With these folded down flat there’s a huge 2827 litres (VDA) of cargo room on provide. As a five-seater, it’s ridiculously usable. 

There are a number of buying bag hooks and different storage helpers within the boot. Not like different Carnival fashions nevertheless, you don’t get a spare wheel – the Hybrid makes do with a tyre restore package as an alternative.

To see how the Kia Carnival strains up towards the competitors, try our comparability instrument

What’s beneath the bonnet?

We’re focusing simply on the HEV mannequin right here, and it will get an intriguing powertrain.

The Carnival Hybrid runs a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine with 132kW and 265Nm, which is paired to a six-speed automated gearbox and it’s solely obtainable in front-wheel drive.

Nonetheless, the transmission integrates a 54kW/304Nm electrical motor, which is a extra highly effective unit than in different functions of this powertrain used throughout the Hyundai and Kia ranges. 

As such, this mannequin has probably the most mixed energy and torque of any of the hybrids on provide in that blend, with 180kW of energy and 366Nm of torque.

That’s nonetheless much less energy than the V6 petrol (216kW) and fewer torque than the diesel (440Nm), however it’ll eagerly shuffle between petrol, hybrid and EV modes, relying on the scenario.

It makes use of a 1.5kWh lithium-ion battery pack which is positioned beneath the second-row seat on the motive force’s aspect. In different phrases, it’s the place the spare tyre was and meaning you simply get a tyre restore package for this Carnival.

It nonetheless has a 72-litre gas tank capability, and the official mixed cycle gas use determine is 5.8 litres per 100km. 

On my check, I noticed a real-world return of 6.8 litres per 100km, which is simply barely higher than what I noticed within the diesel mannequin (7.0L/100km) lately throughout related conditions, however approach higher than the petrol V6 (12.4L/100km as examined). 

Now, going again to my maths for the tanks of juice you could possibly get for the worth premium being requested, there’s a comfort consideration there too.

As a result of in case your V6 Carnival noticed the gas consumption I obtained, you’d solely get 580km from a tank, whereas within the hybrid you’d see nearly double that in principle – 1058km from a fill. The diesel? 1028km. 

Additionally price noting the towing capability for petrol and diesel fashions is 750kg for an unbraked trailer, and 2000kg for a braked trailer. The hybrid however has 750kg unbraked and 1000kg braked towing capacities, nevertheless it does have a Tow Mode button to regulate the powertrain system to go well with that scenario.

The utmost kerb weight for the Carnival Hybrid is 2334kg, and the gross automobile mass (GVM) is 2980kg. This implies it has a permissible payload of 646kg, which is lower than the V6 petrol (700kg) and diesel (725kg), and will rule it out you probably have an enormous household of bodily large folks.

To see how the Kia Carnival strains up towards the competitors, try our comparability instrument

How does the Kia Carnival drive?

The hybrid is a candy operator.

It seamlessly operates between petrol, hybrid and EV modes, and when you can hear the engine kick to life it may be a bit raucous sounding in some conditions. That’s primarily all the way down to how electrical progress is sort of silent at decrease speeds, apart from the outside passenger warning speaker, which is louder in reverse gear.

The transmission manages the hybrid system is spectacular. The electrical motor is built-in into the six-speed auto and this implies there’s no perceptible lag as is it swaps between EV and different modes. You’ll really feel the gears change even whenever you’re driving absolutely electrical although which is a novel sensation. 

It’s so amenable to each day driving with only a driver on board, or a complement of passengers. Admittedly I couldn’t rally seven grown-ups for a check, although as talked about, it may push the automobile over its payload restrict for those who attempt.

With a number of folks occupying the seats I discovered it was by no means underdone by way of pulling energy, and whereas the engine doesn’t thoughts a rev, the torque of the electrical motor makes it really feel clean and unstressed beneath load.

There are Eco, Sport and Good drive modes, and whereas I spent nearly all of my time in Eco I by no means as soon as thought “I’ll simply put it in Sport to see what it’s able to”. Once I tried Sport mode nevertheless it felt zestier and referred to as upon the petrol engine extra usually to make sure fast acceleration.

Actually the Carnival isn’t sporty, and this top-spec mannequin is the heaviest of the lot. It feels its dimension on the street however it’s 5.1-metres lengthy and a pair of.3 tonnes.

It settles into EV driving at freeway tempo. I observed it on flat sections of freeway at 110km/h and that makes for a hushed expertise offered the floor under isn’t a coarse-chip end. You’ll be able to nonetheless get a little bit of street noise within the cabin in that occasion. 

The journey and dealing with tune for the up to date Carnival noticed steering and shock absorber adjustments in comparison with the pre-update vary. The targets embrace “improved journey consolation and affect isolation”, “improved major physique management”, in addition to a “assured flat journey and supported on-road really feel.”

The Aussie arm has nailed the transient with a cushty and composed nature in city driving, although its can’t cover heft and looks like there’s a bit extra momentum to arrest over bumps. The steering is competent and reliable with a delightfully easy parking weighting too.

For these nervous about having the ability to see round this large rig, there’s a surround-view digicam with an augmented actuality show to put your automobile in its environment.

Being the top-spec mannequin it additionally will get a Blind-Spot View Monitor system which makes use of cameras on both aspect of the automobile that will help you see what is perhaps in your blind spot. The digicam feed is displayed on the digital instrument cluster whenever you activate the respective indicator.

Moreover, when you will have a cabin stuffed with smiling (or screaming) faces, the rear-view mirror may be flicked to a digital show. It’s higher than loads of rivals by way of the positioning of the digicam. 

The largest annoyance in regards to the Carnival’s drive expertise is the inane, repetitive and hateful velocity signal warning chimes. They are often useful for those who don’t know the restrict the place you’re driving, however are irritating whenever you’re simply confined to your suburb.

You’ll be able to swap it off – there’s a solution to arrange a favorite button on the steering wheel so it’s a number of much less display touches away – however I really hope for any Carnival purchaser that Kia can observe Hyundai’s lead in making an even-shorter-shortcut sequence. Within the new Tucson, you simply maintain the mute button down for 5 seconds and it disables audible warnings.

To see how the Kia Carnival strains up towards the competitors, try our comparability instrument

What do you get?

On check right here is the brand new flagship Carnival GT-Line HEV.

Kia Carnival S commonplace gear:

• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Non permanent spare wheel
• LED headlights
• LED daytime working lights
• Adaptive cruise  management with cease & go
• Clever Pace Restrict Help (ISLA)
• Electrical heated mirrors
• Sliding sunvisor w/ illuminated vainness mirror
• Material seat trim
• Digital park brake with auto maintain
• Reversing digicam with dynamic automobile tips
• Entrance and rear parking sensors
• Good key
• Push button begin
• New 4.0-inch cluster show for driver with digital speedo and revs
• 12.3-inch touchscreen media system
• Wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Eight-speaker stereo 
• Kia Join with OTA (over the air) updates
• Further security options together with centre airbag, rear occupant alert and trailer stability help

Kia Carnival Sport provides:

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• LED rear mixture lamp
• Electrical folding aspect mirrors
• Faux leather-based seat trim
• Leather-based steering wheel
• Leather-based shifter
• Auto window defog
• Twin-zone local weather management
• Rear single-zone temp management
• Wi-fi telephone charger
• Aeroblade wipers

Kia Carnival Sport+ provides:

• Encompass-view digicam
• Energy tailgate with auto shut
• Energy sliding aspect doorways
• Auto-dimming rearview mirror
• 12.3-inch driver info show
• Blind Spot View Monitor
• Heated entrance seats
• Second-row outboard heated seats
• Facet parking sensors
• Eight-way energy seat adjustment
• Two-way lumbar adjustment for driver
• Parking collision avoidance help rear
• Auto entrance wipers with rain sensing
• Privateness glass from B-pillar again
• Heated rear windshield

Kia Carnival GT-Line Lite provides:

• 19” Alloy Wheels
• LED inside lighting
• Auto Up/Down window for driver
• Chrome styling parts (exterior handles, skid plates)
• Twin sunroof 
• NOTE: Eight-way energy seat adjustment for passenger aspect eliminated

Kia Carnival GT-Line provides:

• 19-inch alloy wheels with aero design (Hybrid solely)
• Tyre restore package (Hybrid solely)
• Lively aerodynamic parts on entrance bumper (Hybrid solely)
• Twin projection LED headlights
• Heated steering wheel
• Entrance ventilated seats
• 12-speaker Bose sound system
• Dial-type shifter
• Paddle shifters
• Digital inside mirror with digicam feed
• Head-up show
• Auto Up/Down Home windows with security perform
• Gloss Black Centre Fascia
• Distant Begin Parking Help – automobile may be began and pushed ahead or in reverse in a parking area utilizing the important thing fob
• Eight-way electrical seats with reminiscence settings for driver and passenger
• 4-way lumbar assist (driver’s seat)

To see how the Kia Carnival strains up towards the competitors, try our comparability instrument

Is the Kia Carnival protected?

Petrol and diesel variations of the Kia Carnival have a five-star ANCAP security score based mostly on testing carried out in 2021, although the hybrid hasn’t been assessed and is unrated.

Kia Australia has confirmed it’s consulting ANCAP on the changes which were made with the Carnival Hybrid, and it anticipates the model will be capable to proceed on with its current five-star ANCAP score.

Given it presently doesn’t have an ANCAP security score that will rule this mannequin out for some fleet operators and households. In case you don’t have a requirement for a five-star rating nevertheless, this large household bus seemingly ticks the bins for the tech and spec you’d count on.

Kia has added security tech throughout the Carnival vary for this replace. Some of the notable is a brand new velocity signal recognition system that can warn drivers if they’re coming into a brand new signposted velocity zone, and/or if they’re travelling above what the automobile thinks is the signposted restrict for that space. It will probably usually get it unsuitable although.

That system defaults on every time you restart the automobile. It may be useful for those who’re driving in an space the place you’re undecided of the velocity limits, however for those who stay someplace that has a number of adjustments to its restrict the binging and bonging may be very, very irritating.

Moreover, a brand new entrance centre airbag commonplace in all grades, and there are entrance parking sensors fitted to each single variant. The cheaper grades nonetheless don’t get a surround-view digicam nevertheless.

Normal security options embrace:

• Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
  • Pedestrian, bike owner and junction detection
• Lane departure warning
• Lane conserving help
• Blind-spot help
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Adaptive cruise management 
• Rear occupant alert
• Trailer stability management help
• Clever Pace Restrict help
• Multi-collision braking
• Reversing digicam
• Entrance and rear parking sensors
• Related providers with SOS name perform for crashes
• Computerized high-beam

Sport provides:

Sport+ provides:

• Rear AEB
• Blind-Spot View Monitor
• Encompass-view digicam
• Freeway Driving Help 2 – with steering, braking, accelerating and stop-start site visitors jam help

There is no such thing as a denying the upper Carnival grades get one of the best that Kia can provide.

All Carnival fashions include that new entrance centre airbag, in addition to dual-front, driver’s knee, front-side, and full-length curtain airbag protection. This implies full safety for these within the back-row outboard seats.

To see how the Kia Carnival strains up towards the competitors, try our comparability instrument

How a lot does the Kia Carnival value to run?

Kia has constructed a powerful model round its seven-year, limitless kilometre guarantee program. It stays one of many strongest causes to think about a Kia right now.

However you actually need to concentrate to the servicing prices and issues as a result of the hybrid mannequin has shorter service intervals of 12 months/10,000km, that means added inconvenience for homeowners and added prices.

Per service, over the seven-year/70,000km interval, the common value is $656 per go to. So for those who do loads of distance you could possibly be paying in extra of $1000 yearly simply to maintain the automobile working because it ought to.

It counters towards the gas use financial savings you would possibly take pleasure in as a part of this powertrain as a result of it’s extra needy by way of upkeep – the petrol V6 and turbo-diesel fashions have 12 month/15,000km intervals, and each are cheaper.

There’s seven years of roadside help included if you are going to buy a Carnival.

To see how the Kia Carnival strains up towards the competitors, try our comparability instrument

CarExpert’s Tackle the Kia Carnival

I get the attraction of the petrol-electric Carnival Hybrid.

In case you’re the type of one who simply hates that dirty feeling of the diesel filler pump, and you’ll justify the large value premium this mannequin asks, then I reckon you’ll be fairly proud of it.

There are many issues that rely towards the Carnival Hybrid nevertheless. The steep asking value is one given the hybrid powertrain is simply supplied in the costliest GT-Line grade.

Its upkeep regularity and prices additionally works towards it, and with the real-world gas use enchancment being negligible towards the diesel it doesn’t solidify the worth argument.

I’m positive Kia Australia will promote each one they will get their arms on, however I’m not satisfied it’s one of the best Carnival alternative you could possibly make regardless of it being a really spectacular addition to the vary.

Inquisitive about shopping for a Kia Carnival? Get in contact with one in all CarExpert’s trusted sellers right here

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