There is this running joke within my group of car friends because “I just like everything”. And yeah, that’s mostly true – be it an ICE manual sports car or an EV SUV, I just like when a product is well suited to its intended purpose. So it should come with the territory that even a minivan can get me excited, even with this being arguably the most maligned segment in the car industry. Some few brands still swim against the SUV current by putting effort in this body shape, Kia being one of them with the Carnival. So join me to see if the new Hybrid entrant to the lineup deserves all my excitement.
Not too long ago, I had a Kia Carnival for a South Island road trip when my parents and in-laws came to visit, and it was the perfect tool for the job. Vans have to keep finding ways to shake off this undeserved label of being boring, and Kia’s new visual identity helps on that regard with the revised front end, especially when finished in this deep, flaky grey that really pops under sunlight. A full-width front light bar split only by the Kia (not KN, as the internet might believe) badge gives it a striking face, while a 3D-style C-pillar garnish adds flair to the side profile, unapologetically van-like, with a long roof and straight lines leading from the doors.
The new wheels, with their four-spoke aero-style design, tie it all together, adding a futuristic edge to an otherwise practical silhouette. At the back, an LED light bar runs the width of the vehicle, giving it a modern touch without going overboard. It all works well, doing enough to make the car interesting without ever hurting its initial purpose of practicality, so I call this a success.
Step inside and the Carnival’s main purpose becomes clear: moving people comfortably. The seats are plush and supportive, with heating and ventilation in the front row. The driving position is comically tall, to the point where I could run myself out of headroom by raising the seat. But even at its lowest setting, you get a commanding, lounge-like posture that suits the van vibes.
Storage is decent but not amazing. The door bins stretch the full length of the front doors, but there aren’t many other options for stashing items close at hand. The centre console provides trays, four cupholders, and a wireless charging pad, while the glovebox is reasonably sized. In the second row, outer seats can slide individually and there are USB-C ports and climate controls, but again, dedicated storage is limited. Other vans have figured out ways to offer more storage to second-row occupants, including floor nooks, but they are absent here.
Access is really easy for the second row, thanks to the wide opening and the sliding doors. The button to open and close them is on the B pillar, so it is comfortable to reach and you always know where it is. The tracks to slide the second row of seats can be finicky at times, but it’s easy to tailor the space you want for the occupants, or to transform the middle seat into an armrest/tray that can even disappear from view (inside or outside the van). Comfort is sorted via dedicated temperature controls and individual air vents.
The third row continues the Carnival tradition of excellent stowability, folding flat into the boot with minimal fuss. It’s heavy, though, and may prove tricky for some to configure. But once done, the cavernous space available makes it a proper load-lugger, with a low loading floor and straight edges that make it easy to predict what will fit. With the third row up, there is a big opening left what is left of the trunk, making it extremely versatile for transporting a full house and their luggage.
In terms of tech, Kia’s dual-screen setup is clean and modern, with a minimalistic approach. To everyone’s happiness, physical controls still exist for climate and media via Kia’s clever dual-function bar beneath the screen – the few people that didn’t like this implementation are just plain wrong. Wireless Apple CarPlay works okay and links to a crisp head-up display, although navigation can also be handled by the car’s built-in system. Sound quality is good enough to entertain all passengers, with a system that fills the cabin well.
The adaptive cruise control is smooth, customisable and very well-integrated. Speed limit alerts, however, are overly keen, and lane-keeping can feel intrusive depending on how much you think it is okay to “fight” the car. Still, the overall suite of driver assistance tech makes for stress-free highway travel, and comfortable bumper-to-bumper traffic handling.
Under the bonnet, the Carnival Hybrid uses Kia’s familiar 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine paired with an electric motor. Around town, it operates smoothly and quietly, often running in EV mode. Kia claims EV operation up to 110 km/h, I can definitely confirm this is possible, albeit in my light-load kind of driving regimen.
Transitions between petrol and electric power are seamless, with barely any perceptible shunt or noise when the engine kicks in. However, on hills or when accelerating hard, the engine can feel like it’s working hard to move this big body. Gear hunting is common when trying to keep pace or when unladen but climbing. It’s really hard to have your cake and eat it too, as it turns out – the same downsized engine that brings the efficiency you’re after most of the time will also leave you wishing for just a tad more power some of the time.
After 300 km of driving, the fuel economy settled at a commendable 6.3 L/100 km, and almost 1000km of total range. That’s remarkable for something this size and shows how effective the hybrid system can be when driven smoothly. You are likely to see slightly lower figures when putting your Carnival through a real-world minivan scenario, but this is still an improvement over what would be expected from these vehicles in the past.
Despite its size, and probably contrary to every single belief, the Carnival Hybrid doesn’t drive like a bus. It has very neutral and predictable dynamics, and manages to offer a surprisingly car-like experience. The ride is well-damped and cushioned, making it ideal for ferrying families or doing long commutes. There is no weird behaviour when taking corners under the limit, and while things might be flying around inside of the cabin, this shed on wheels will be on its intended trajectory. Wind noise does creep in at higher speeds, particularly around the A-pillars, and that’s likely due to the expansive glasshouse design. But in town and at cruising speeds, it’s impressively hushed and isolated.
The Kia Carnival Hybrid doesn’t reinvent the MPV, but it does refine the formula to a new level. It’s comfortable, tech-laden, and far more efficient than you might expect. It strikes a fine balance between practicality, comfort, and economy. For those needing to carry seven people and their gear in comfort without embracing full EV life just yet, this is a seriously compelling option.
Most people that buy an SUV based on the principle that they want more space and practicality would be better served by getting a minivan. Kia sticks to the winning formula, now with way better efficiency and refinement for city driving. What’s not to like? Thanks, Kia, for the opportunity, and thank you for reading this far!
