Kia Carnival gets luxurious four-seat option

Kia has revealed a luxurious four-seat Kia Carnival Hi-Limousine that features levels of luxury normally associated with a Mercedes-Maybach or Rolls-Royce.

Offering just half the seats of the Kia Carnival launched in Australia earlier in 2021, the new Korean-market 2021 Kia Carnival Hi-Limousine comes standard with an odd-looking headroom-boosting high-roof extender.

Standard features for the more luxurious people-mover include an on-board air purifier, enormous ceiling-mounted 21.5-inch TV, heated and cooled cup holders, pleated curtains and extra LED ambient lighting.

There's also rear wireless phone chargers, foot massagers and extra storage space, plus wood laminate flooring and a touch-screen mounted between the two rear seats that controls both the fold-flat seats and in-car entertainment.

Under the bonnet the Carnival comes with either a 2.2-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine producing 148kW/440Nm or the 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine that delivers 216kW/355Nm.

Both engines are tied to an eight-speed automatic and drive through the front wheels.

In South Korea the Kia Carnival Hi-Limousine has been priced from around $105,000 – a significant hike over the most expensive eight-seat petrol-fed Platinum-grade Kia Carnival that starts from $64,680 in Australia.

That said, compared to the $330,000 charged for the Mercedes-Maybach S 580L, it's a bit of a bargain.