The 2024 Kia Carnival facelift has been spotted in Australia, which means an official showroom entry is imminent. A hybrid powertrain option, refreshed styling inside and out, and more advanced technology are among the key highlights.
A couple examples of the new model were spotted on a transport truck this week just outside Sydney, likely on their way to a showroom or even Kia Australia headquarters in Macquarie Park. Both vehicles appear to be the same trim level, featuring the new-look four-box alloy wheel design.
The 2025 Carnival, likely stamped as an MY2024 in Australia, is only a facelift and not an all-new generation. However, it wears an overhauled exterior incorporating Kia’s latest extended headlight design that spreads further down and towards the middle, with similar-shaped taillights at the back.
Inside, passengers are treated to twin digital screens running across a seamless curved panel, which each measuring 12.3 inches for some variants. There’s also a separate climate control panel on the dash fascia, and a rotary-type gear selector system.
Under the bonnet is where things get a little interesting, because this will be the first hybrid Carnival for Australia. Kia Australia recently confirmed with local media that it is able to bring the hybrid option this time around as production for right-hand drive has been confirmed. However, stock for Australia is likely to be limited.
According to reports, the hybrid might only be available in top-spec Platinum form. Even so, it will come in as one of the first hybrid options among its key rivals – the Hyundai Staria and even the Toyota Granvia are not offered in hybrid form in Australia.
The hybrid package consists of the familiar 1.6-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder, paired with a 54kW electric motor assist system. Combined power is rated at 180kW in overseas markets, but final Aussie specs are yet to be confirmed.
A 2.2-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder and a 3.5-litre petrol V6 will launch first, scheduled to hit showrooms as we speak, with the hybrid joining later in the year. Outputs for the diesel and petrol are likely to carry over from the 2023 Carnival, with 148kW/440Nm and 216kW/355Nm, respectively.
Stay tuned for full specs and prices which are expected to be announced very soon.
