A highly acclaimed people mover, the new Kia Carnival is now in Malaysia, updated for the 2024 model year.

Locally-assembled (CKD - Kedah), Kia’s fourth-generation D-segment MPV comes in three variants with three seating configurations.

The 2.2D 11-Seater tags at MYR 198,500, the 2.2D 8-Seater High at MYR 245,888, and the 2.2D 7-Seater High at MYR 259,888.

Prices (OTR, w/o insurance) include a five-year/100,000 KM manufacturer warranty, and a five-year/100,000 KM free scheduled maintenance.

Four exterior colours available. Astra Blue, Meteor Grey, Jet Black and Snowflake White Pearl.

Weighing in at 2,129 KG, the new Carnival stands at 5,155 MM long, 1,995 MM wide, 1,775 MM tall, and with a wheelbase spanning 3,090 MM.

Sporty and premium looking, the exterior exudes Kia’s signature boxy-style body, with sharp contours and strong lines.

The front-end sees a scalloped-like bonnet, fairly beefy fenders, Kia’s ‘tiger nose’ grille (black-chrome), and a lower bumper air-intake.

Filling-in the layout is a skid plate (chrome), and lower body claddings (front lip, side rocker panels) in black and chrome.

Boxy and wide, the rear-end boasts a minimalist outlook, with clean, angular and chiselled contours.

Featured is a shark fin antenna, a roof-edge spoiler, C-pillar trims (black-chrome), fairly beefy fenders, and a tailgate full-width light bar.

Accentuating the layout is a skid plate (chrome), and lower body claddings (lower bumper, side rocker panels) in black and chrome.

Unique, the headlamps are integrated with the grille’s frame, creating a uniform look. Paired is a set of LED fog lamps.

Fitted are dual LED units with Kia’s ‘tiger eyeline’ LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL), and automatic On/Off. 

Variants 2.2D 8-Seater High and 2.2D 7-Seater High add on manual levelling, and High Beam Assist (HBA).

Full-width and slightly wrapped-around, the tail lamps are in a slim light bar design, featuring geometric shapes.

Installed are bulb (2.2D 11-Seater) and LED (2.2D 8-Seater High, 2.2D 7-Seater High) combination units. Paired is a set of bulb fog lamps.

Dual-toned (body-colour-black), the side mirrors are electronically-powered (auto-fold, adjust) with signal indicators, blind-spot indicators (BCW), blind-spot live feed (2.2D 8-Seater High, 2.2D 7-Seater High - BVM, camera), and heat function.

Mounted is a set of ventilated (front) and solid (rear) disc brakes, incorporating an Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold system.

Riding on sportily designed, multi-spoke alloy rims, the 2.2D 11-Seater gets a set of 18-Inches (silver-black), wrapped in 235/60 R18 tyres. 

The 2.2D 8-Seater High and 2.2D 7-Seater High upgrade to a set of 19-Inches (black), wrapped in 235/55 R19 tyres.

The new Carnival has a tiered dashboard, decked in high-gloss soft- and hard-touch panels, detailed with chrome trims.

Variant 2.2D 11-Seater sees an all-black theme, while variants 2.2D 8-Seater High and 2.2D 7-Seater High get a dual-toned (black-grey) theme.

Commanding the layout is the twin screen setup (instrument cluster, infotainment), spanning across three quarters of the dash.

Overall, the layout is well designed. All the buttons and other accessibilities are purposefully arranged, driver-centric and user-friendly.

Installed is a 4.2-Inch TFT-LCD Multi-Info Display (MID) with analogue dials instrument cluster (2.2D 11-Seater), and a 12.3-Inch supervision display with a Head-Up Display (HUD) digital instrument cluster (2.2D 8-Seater High, 2.2D 7-Seater High).

Comfortable, the cabin is in variant-specific seating configuration. 11-seater (2.2D 11-Seater), 8-seater (2.2D 8-Seater High), and 7-seater (2.2D 7-Seater High).

Upholstery is in leatherette (2.2D 11-Seater, 2.2D 8-Seater High) and leather (2.2D 7-Seater High). The former in black and the latter dual-toned (black-grey).

The 11-seater (four-rows - 2-3-3-3) has first-row seats with electric adjustments (8-way) with a 2-way lumbar support (driver), and the second-, third- and fourth-rows with a bench seat (40:20:40 split-fold, full-fold, pop-up, sinking).

The 8-seater (three-rows - 2-3-3) upgrades the first-row with heat and ventilation functions, the second-row with detachable seats (multi-function-free mode, long-sliding), and the third-row with a bench seat (60:40 split-fold, pop-up, sinking).

The 7-seater (three-rows - 2-2-3) adds on the second-row with heat and ventilation functions, ‘Premium Relaxion Seats’ (captain chairs - centre-walkthrough, long/lateral sliding). The detachable second-row middle-seat has two configurations (full-stow, centre table).

Heightening the ambience is a dual-power (sliding, tilt) glass sunroof (2.2D 8-Seater High, 2.2D 7-Seater High), and rear sunshades (second-, third-row).

Plenty of head, shoulder and leg rooms, providing ample mobility for all occupants (first row, second row, third row, fourth row).

The space is very generous due to the stocky design of the body, and mainly, the seating arrangements. The large cabin is courtesy of its third-generation platform.

Mounted is a three-spoke steering wheel, wrapped in black leather, detailed with silver trimmings.

Features are multi-switches (Bluetooth, Audio, Cruise Control), column adjustments (tilt, telescopic), and paddle shifters. 

Drive is aided by a Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS).

Numerous storage areas. E.g., side door and seat back pockets, compartmentalised and caverned centre console bins, and a glove box.

Multiple cup holders provided, located all around the cabin.

Multiple power outlets available. E.g., seven USB ports, two 12 V sockets, and a wireless charging pad.

Accessing its Smart Power Tailgate (remote/key fob) leads to a very large boot space behind the third-row seats (627-Litres). 

Of which the third- (8-, 7-seater) and fourth-rows (11-seater) are fully foldable, offering even more space, enough for a short getaway or a long holiday.

The new Carnival gets the following suite of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).

Variant 2.2D 11-Seater features Multi-Collision Brake Control (MCB), Safe Exit Assist (SEA), Blind-Spot Collision Warning (BCW), and Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCCA).

Variants 2.2D 8-Seater High and 2.2D 7-Seater High add on High Beam Assist (HBA), Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA), Blind-Spot View Monitor (BVM), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA) with Line and Road, Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) with Junction Turning, Lane Following Assist (LFA), and Smart Cruise Control (SCC) with Stop & Go.

Standard, others include, Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Traction Control System (TCS), Hill-Start Assist Control (HAC), and Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).

Standard, passive safety includes seven airbags (driver-knee, driver-passenger, front sides, front-rear curtain), seatbelt (anchors, reminders, pre-tensioners), ISOFIX (anchors, top tethers), Rear Occupant Alert (ROA), auto-dimming interior rear-view mirror, parking sensors (four - front, rear), Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold, Surround View Monitor (SVM) (camera - reverse, 360-degree), auto-door-lock, and anti-theft system with engine immobiliser.

Four drive mode options via the ‘Drive Mode Selector’ switch (Normal, Eco, Sport Smart).

Installed is a 12.3-Inch capacitive touchscreen. The system supports voice recognition, USB, Bluetooth, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Variant 2.2D 11-Seater features a standard seven-speaker setup. Variants 2.2D 8-Seater High and 2.2D 7-Seater High upgrade to a 12-speaker with amplifier Bose sound system.

The new Carnival nestles a Smartstream 2.2-Litre Turbo, Common Rail Direct Injection (CRDi), in-line four-cylinder, DOHC diesel engine (D4HE), producing 199 HP at 3,800 RPM and 440 NM at 1,750 to 2,750 RPM.

Fitted is an eight-speed automatic transmission with an electronic shifter (E-Shift - rotary gear selector), and paddle shifters. 

Power is sent to the front axle, via a Two-Wheel Drive (2WD) system.

Top speed is 190 KM/H.

Fuel tank capacity is at 72-Litres, and fuel consumption reads at 6.5-Litres for every 100 KM/H.

The new Carnival features Smart Keyless Entry (keyless entry, engine Start/Stop button), Smart Power Tailgate (remote/key fob), auto-door-close (remote/key fob), Smart Power Sliding Doors (dual-auto-sliding), speed-sensing-auto-door-lock, auto On/Off headlamps, High Beam Assist (HBA) (2.2D 8-Seater High, 2.2D 7-Seater High), dual-power (sliding, tilt) glass sunroof (2.2D 8-Seater High, 2.2D 7-Seater High), rear sunshades (second-, third-row), automatic wipers (rain sensing, variable intermittent), steering wheel (multi-switches, column adjustments, paddle shifters), interior seating (electronic-adjustments, multi-configurations, climate control, captain chairs), Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Break Hold, auto-dimming interior rear-view mirror, parking sensors (four - front, rear), Surround View Monitor (SVM) (camera - reverse, 360-degree), dual-zone (front) and single-zone (rear) auto air-conditioning system, interior lighting (LED - map, cabin, boot), Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and wireless charger.

Rear air-conditioning vents are provided.

Courtesy of its third-generation platform and a robust chassis build, it offers stable handling, comfort driving, and safety assurance.

Overall, the ride quality is firm and the interior cabin is uber comfortable, making it a suitable daily driver.