All-new 2024 Kia Carnival: What’s new

Revising a model as per the taste and preference of the consumer is important, however, more crucial is to ensure that the car is at par with the competitors. Kia is known for its smart design language and the bucket load of features it offers in its cars at a competitive price. Staying true to its nature, the brand recently revamped the Carnival SUV globally last year. However, it is to be noted that what we are getting is not the same version.

Kia cars in Malaysia are managed by Dinamika Jaya Motors (a subsidiary of Bermaz Auto) and they have introduced what can be said as the pre-facelift Carnival model in Malaysia. And the revised Carnival is now open for booking in the country!!!

So, the big question is, what’s new with the 2024 Kia Carnival? Here are a few key pointers -

• The Malaysian-spec Carnival is now available in three variants and not four like before. Kia has dropped the 2.2D 8-seater mid-trim from the lineup
• Earlier the Carnival was offered in five exterior color choices, now it is offered in only four tones
• 18-inch wheels sported in the 2.2D 8-Seater High and 2.2D 7-Seater High variants are replaced by new 19-inch black alloy wheels
• The cabin now sports a black and gray leatherette seat upholstery
• The 2.2D 8-Seater High and 2.2D 7-Seater High specs sheet now includes Kia’s blind spot monitoring system called the Blind-Spot View Monitor (BVM) system

That is all that is ‘new’ with the 2024 model year Kia Carnival in Malaysia. Not much, huh. But what about the price, are there any significant changes compared to the 2022 Carnival? Let us compare -

Variants/Price	2024 Carnival	2022/2023 Carnival
2.2D 11-Seater	RM 198,500	RM 215,228
2.2D 8-Seater High	RM 245,888	RM 247,228
2.2D 7-Seater High	RM 259,888	RM 261,228.80
2.2D 8-Seater Mid	Discontinued	RM 231,228

Hurry! Seems like there is a slight cut in the Carnival prices compared to the previous-gen model.

Note: All the prices mentioned are on the road without insurance. Each purchase is accompanied by a five-year/100,000km warranty and service package.

Now that we have discussed the new Carnival add-ons (compared to the previous-gen model) in brief, it is time to study the SUV in detail.

2024 Kia Carnival: In detail

Price and Variants

The new Carnival is offered in three trim options (2.2D 11-Seater, 2.2D 8-Seater High, and 2.2D 7-Seater High) with their price ranging from RM 198,500 to RM 259,888.

Engine specification

Powering the all-new Carnival is a Smartstream 2.2-litre turbo, CRDi, 4-inline cylinder, DOHC engine making a maximum power output of 199 hp at 3,800 rpm along with a peak torque of 440 Nm from between 1,750-2,750 rpm. Paired with the mill is an 8-speed automatic (E-Shift) that sends power to the wheels.

Performance

The mechanical setup allows the SUV to attain a top speed of 190 kmph and a mileage of 6.6l/km.

Braking and handling

Kia cars are known for their smooth running and handling which it attains via its chassis.

Brake	Front: Ventilated Disc Rear: Solid Disc
Suspension	Front: MacPherson Struts Rear: Multi-link
Steering	Motor Driven Power Steering
Turning diameter	5.85 meter
Wheels	19-inch alloy; 17-inch (spare)

Dimensions

Being an SUV, the new Carnival showcases a pretty impressive measurement that surely gives it an upper hand in the market over its counterparts.

Length	5,155 mm
Width	1,995 mm
Height	1,775 mm
Wheelbase	3,090 mm
Ground Clearance	172 mm

Exterior Features

The new Carnival is loaded with a number of stunning and utility features which includes several options like -

• Dual LED headlight with auto on/off function, manual leveling
• LED Daytime Running Lights
• LED rear combination tail lights
• LED front fog lights
• Rear fog lights (bulb)
• Rain-sensing wipers with variable intermittent function
• Rear wiper & washer
• Smart keyless entry
• ORVM with power-adjustable, folding, turn indicators, and heated function
• Dual power sliding smart doors
• Dual power sunroof with sliding & tilt glass
• Smart power tailgate
• Four parking sensors at the front & rear

Cabin Features

The new Carnival is offered in three variant options each with its own seating layout, including an 11-seater option, an 8-seater option, and a 7-seater option. Taking passenger comfort, convenience, and infotainment needs to the next level are factors like -

• Driver seat with 8-way power adjustment with 4-way lumbar adjustment, heated & ventilation function
• Passenger seat with 8-way power adjustment
• 8-seater variable with detachable 2nd row seats (multi-function free mode), and long sliding feature
• 7-seater variable with premium relaxation seats with center walk-through and long/lateral sliding
• 12.3-inch capacitive touch screen with voice recognition
• Apple CarPlay & Android Auto connectivity
• Bluetooth Hands-Free phone & audio capability
• Dual-zone front and single-zone auto air-conditioning
• 12 speakers
• 7 USB ports
• Surround view monitor
• Wireless charger
• Bose charger

In addition to this array of lifestyle-enhancing features, the new Carnival comes packed with drive-supporting gears like an engine start/stop button, electronic parking brake, steering mounted controls (audio & Bluetooth hands-free), cruise control with auto-dimming, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, one-touch power window with anti-pinch, paddle shifters, and drive mode selection switch.

Safety

As expected, this Kia also packs an array of safety features that keep the driver and passenger safe and sound. The kit includes -

1. SRS airbags (driver, front passenger, front side, front & rear curtain, driver knee)
2. Anti-lock Braking System
3. Electronic Brake-Force Distribution
4. Brake Assist
5. Electronic Stability Control
6. Traction Control System
7. Multi-Collision Brake Control
8. Hill-start Assist Control
9. Auto Hold Function
10. Auto Door Lock
11. Rear Occupant Alert

While the above-mentioned safety features might sound common, the SUV also locks several advanced safety features including -

• Blind-Spot Collision Warning
• Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist
• Blind-Spot View Monitor
• Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist
• Lane Keeping Assist
• Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist
• Lane Following Assist
• Smart Cruise Control

Impressive, right? While the new Carnival is an impressive offering, we hope to see the globally updated 4-gen version soon in Malaysia.

Also Read: Kia EV9 arrives in Singapore; Malaysia next?