Kia Carnival GT-Line 2024 Review

The 2024 Kia Carnival opens the ledger at $50,150 plus on-road costs for the base-grade Carnival S paired with a 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine, representing a price increase of $2670.

If you want the 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engine (and most buyers will, given the diesel historically accounts for 90 per cent of all Carnival sales), you’ll be forking out an extra $2230 on top of the petrol-engine price, applicable to all model grades.

There are five grades in total – S, Sport, Sport+, GT-Line Lite and GT-Line – with top-spec GT-Line V6 petrol and turbo-diesel variants starting at $70,680 and $72,910 plus ORCs respectively. That represents increases of more than $5000 over the pre-facelifted models.

A petrol-electric hybrid powertrain in top-spec GT-Line trim will also be introduced from June 2024, priced at $76,210 plus ORCs.

However, Kia says only a very small number of hybrids will be shipped to Australia each month, as Korean and North American markets eat up the lion’s share of global supply.

Rivals? The three next best-selling models behind the Carnival are the Hyundai Staria, Volkswagen Multivan and LDV MIFA, but between them they account for less than 20 per cent of the people-mover segment and don’t put up much competition for the Carnival, which enjoyed a whopping 82.4 per cent market share in 2023 and is tracking at a similar rate in 2024.

Indeed, the Kia Carnival has been the dominant player in the Australian people-mover segment for more than a decade, and while the Toyota Tarago was a hero in the 1990s and 2000s, its spiritual successor, the Granvia, has taken a back seat.

Like all Kia vehicles sold in Australia, aftersales provisions are very strong, with a seven-year warranty backed up by capped-price servicing that’ll cost around $500 per service.

All Carnival models have 12-month/15,000km service intervals, except the new hybrid versions, which drop the distance covered to 10,000km.

Despite the hefty price increases across the facelifted 2024 Kia Carnival line-up, Kia Australia reckons higher equipment levels and a new suspension set-up tailored to local conditions justify the eight-seater people-mover’s higher positioning.

Most obvious from the get-go are exterior design changes, with new front and bumpers complete with flashy LED vertically-stacked headlights on all models, along with slimline LED tail-lights inspired by the Sorento and EV9 family SUVs.

New-look alloy wheels are also standard, starting with 17-inch black rims on the entry-level Carnival S.

The Carnival S variants are also fitted with an upgraded eight-speaker surround-sound stereo, push-button start and remote engine start from the key fob or the Kia Connect app.

Other features now standard across the range for the upgraded 2024 Kia Carnival include rear occupant alert, a front central airbag and a 12.3-inch touch-screen infotainment system with over-the-air (OTA) software updates – all significant improvements.

The dashboard has been fully digitised too, with a 4.0-inch central trip computer flanked by a Casio watch-like digital speedo and tachometer for the S and Sport.

Sport+ models and those higher come with twin 12.3-inch digital screens, the second widescreen being the driver’s instrument cluster. Wireless phone charging and in-built sat-nav is standard on all except the Carnival S.

At the entry level, the Carnival S gets grey cloth seat trim and single-zone climate control, while Sport adds bigger 18-inch wheels, synthetic leather seats and separate climate controls for rear seat passengers.

Sport+ is the sweet spot in the range, featuring eight-way power-adjustable front seats, heated front and rear seats, rain-sensing wipers, tinted windows, a 360-degree parking camera and blind-spot camera feeds, plus auto up/down windows and all-important power-operated sliding side doors and a powered tailgate.

GT-Line Lite adds 19-inch alloy wheels and twin sunroofs, while the cream-of-the-crop GT-Line comes with a big head-up display, 12-speaker Bose stereo, heated and cooled front seats and a new digital interior mirror for the first time, which can be switched between traditional and digital modes.

The 2024 Kia Carnival has a very strong safety equipment list, boosting its carryover five-star ANCAP safety rating that was based on an assessment conducted in 2021.

Eight airbags are fitted as standard, including (for the first time) a central airbag between the front occupants, which is designed to reduce head-clash injuries.

Side curtain airbags extend across all three seat rows and a rear occupant alert system has been added to reduce the chances of leaving young children or pets in the cavernous car.

Trailer stability assist is also fitted to all models, which have 2000kg braked (750kg unbraked) towing limits.

Adaptive cruise control is standard, as are front and rear parking sensors, a reversing camera, autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with vehicle, cyclist and pedestrian detection, junction turn assist, rear cross traffic alert, blind spot monitoring, a reversing camera and a somewhat annoying driver attention warning system.

Sport+ model grades and above get a new second-generation highway driving assistant that improves the lane centring functions, essentially steering the vehicle by itself on freeways.

And we can attest it works very well.

As well as the upgraded 12.3-inch central touch-screen, which now adds wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity to all models, the headline tech in the 2024 Kia Carnival is the fitment of Kia Connect, which delivers a number of handy remote vehicle controls.

Once owners download the Kia Connect app to their smartphone and sync it with the vehicle, they can use the app to check vehicle status and driving history. Handy for fleet operators… and parents allowing P-plater offspring to drive the car.

You can also use the app to remotely lock and unlock the doors well beyond key fob range, or pre-condition the climate control system. Up-spec models even have a sentry mode where the car’s surround-view cameras can beam live images to see what’s happening or help locate the Carnival in a busy car park.

A stolen vehicle immobilisation function is available too, while other tech improvements include a more powerful CPU to improve touch responsiveness and menu loading speeds for the infotainment operating system.

Real-time weather and traffic updates are also now included, which is a nice touch.

Top-spec GT-Line models get an excellent 11.0-inch head-up display that beams vehicle speed, speed limits and even turn-by-turn navigation functions (even through Google maps and Waze via Apple and Android smartphones) into the driver’s line of sight on the windscreen.

It’s an impressive and effective system.

Three powertrains are available on the 2024 Kia Carnival – petrol, diesel and petrol-electric hybrid.

The 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel (148kW/440Nm) and 3.5-litre petrol V6 (216kW/355Nm) are carryover units, both channelling power to the front wheels via a conventional eight-speed automatic transmission.

The diesel is the pick of the litter, no question, offering better low-end pulling power than the petrol engine, improving drivability. It’s also remarkably refined and quiet for a diesel, with none of the clatter and rattle of some diesel family cars (read: dual-cab utes).

There is one minor criticism of the powertrain set-up though, and that’s the lack of all-wheel drive. Only front-drive models are offered, which results in some wheel-spin when turning out of a T-intersection in a hurry. AWD would be a nice option.

The incoming petrol-electric Carnival Hybrid combines a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine with an electric motor to deliver 180kW/366Nm – more than the similar powertrain in the Kia Sorento Hybrid (169kW/350Nm). It drives the front wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission.

The 2024 Kia Carnival diesel is claimed to slurp fuel at a rate of 6.5L/100km on the official combined cycle – about 30 per cent less than when fitted with the petrol V6 (9.6L/100km).

The petrol engine does have its charms – most notably its sonorous exhaust note and rev-happy nature. Overtaking is more fun, without question… but you’ll pay the price at the fuel pump.

Petrol and diesel Carnival models all have a generous 72-litre fuel tank, giving them an above-average cruising range.

Fuel consumption for the 2024 Kia Carnival Hybrid is rated at 5.8L/100km.

Following significant upgrades to the 2024 Kia Carnival’s suspension – including unique-to-Australia frequency selective shock absorbers – the upgraded people-mover is a more settled, predictable and indeed pleasant vehicle to drive.

The pre-facelift model wasn’t bad – far from it – but the latest Carnival is more effortless to drive now, thanks in large part to updated front-end suspension and power steering calibration.

As Kia Australia’s product planning general manager, Roland Rivero, explained, the front spring rates were tightened to improve front axle stability and an “upgrade in shock absorber tech, similar to the technology applied on EV6 and Sorento facelift” are designed to improve ride comfort on rougher roads while reducing body roll while cornering.

Both these objectives have been achieved because ride comfort hasn’t been compromised in the pursuit of more confident steering and turning.

A lot of people might think, “Who cares, this is a people-mover, not a hot hatch” – and that’s a fair argument to make. But the fact is the more direct steering and responsive front-end make the Carnival a lot easier to drive in cut-and-thrust city traffic, around the suburbs and exurbs and slower-speed scenarios in general.

It’s less of a chore to park and generally more agreeable to drive now.

Simply put, the Carnival doesn’t drive or feel like a big bus – and it should. The vehicle is long (5155mm) and wide (1995mm) and has a whopping wheelbase (3090mm), yet in peak-hour Sydney traffic, across the Harbour Bridge and heading towards the airport, it felt more like a mid-size SUV, easy to place in its lane and easy-going yet responsive in heavy traffic.

Conversely, it’s a more settled vehicle on country roads, too. Our drive took us to the Central Coast near Summer Bay, across crummy B-roads and pockmarked surfaces, and the Carnival was planted and smooth.

It takes a lot to upset its ride quality and deals with speed bumps like a pro, settling quickly.

It’s also remarkably quiet whether around town or cruising along, and although it’s not what we’d call exciting or dynamic to drive, the Carnival corners with a level of poise and balance few other people-movers can muster.

No matter which model you choose, the Korean-built 2024 Kia Carnival is comfortable, well-presented and very, very versatile.

Even the base-grade Carnival S is a pleasant vehicle to spend time in, the grey cloth seats with supportive cushioning and clean, modern, all-digital cockpit layout generating an agreeable ambience.

Power-sliding side doors on every model except the base S and Sport are fantastic, with three-way operation – via key fob, door handle or driver’s control near the steering wheel.

The interior is well-thought-out and flexible, from the copious amount of incidental storage up front to the plethora of USB-C ports in the first and second rows and air vents across all three rows with zoned controls.

The eight-seat layout across three rows (2+3+3) affords the sort of versatility that has won the vehicle legions of fans over the years, with sliding and folding second-row seats that make for easy access to the third row. The central seat can even be removed completely.

Third-row seats can be relatively easily folded flat into the super-deep boot as well, creating significant room in the back.

When all the seats are in place there’s still plenty of room for shopping (and four shopping bag hooks!), a stroller or sports equipment, expanding to an impressive 2827 litres with just the third-row seats folded/sunken away.

Up-spec models add concealed window shades and heated outboard second-row seats, but all Carnivals offer excellent flexibility whichever row you are seated, and there’s copious room for all occupants – even in the third row.

Based on the cold, hard stats, four out of five buyers in the market for a new people-mover continue to steer towards Kia, so for many it’ll be more a case of ‘when can I’ rather than ‘should I’ buy the upgraded 2024 Kia Carnival.

The Carnival’s popularity is entirely warranted – it’s an accomplished troop carrier that’s had a meaningful once-over, making it more pleasant and easier to drive thanks to the locally-tuned suspension. The addition of a petrol-electric hybrid option is also welcome.

Yes, the Carnival’s price tag has risen, but the fact that it’s safer, considerably smarter and arguably better-looking make the cost increases seem reasonable and not just a greedy cash-grab.

There’s lots of good things and few bad things on the facelifted Kia Carnival’s report card, and we reckon Kia’s dominance of the people-mover segment is likely to continue. Deservedly so.

2024 Kia Carnival GT-Line diesel at a glance:
Price: $72,910 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 148kW/440Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 6.5L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 170g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2021)