Kia Carnival Hybrid Facelift Review

The chance to drive a tank itself - much less to drive one on public roads - is an experience limited to precious few. Allow your mind to run a bit more freely, however, and among the cars you can buy today, one suspects that the latest Kia Carnival Hybrid could come close enough to offering something similar. 

It's not just its sheer size that contributes to the feeling of indomitability, but also just how tightly and solidly put together everything feels. The biggest difference: Real tanks spew out black smoke, and are uncomfortable and clunky on the road. The Carnival Hybrid, conversely, is a refined oasis of comfort - now even boasting extra green credentials, with its new petrol-electric drivetrain.

Future-oriented suit 

Once threatened to be squeezed out of the market by SUVs, traditionally-shaped MPVs seem to be enjoying a steady revival.

Or… was it that their demise had always been blown out of proportion? Going by the number of minivans consistently on our roads - small and large; budget-minded and luxury-focussed - buyers seeking space as the foremost priority have never really stopped putting their money where their minds are. Not too deep beneath its 'Grand Utility Vehicle' branding and SUV-inspired styling, after all, the original fourth-generation Kia Carnival was really a full-fledged MPV.

With its facelift, the Carnival Hybrid now wears a similar face to that of recent Kia flagships like the Sorento Hybrid and EV9, marked by thin and futuristic-looking LED light strips 

Post-facelift, it's now appeared to embrace that identity with arms opened wider - even while donning a markedly refreshed suit to keep it apace with the latest of Kia's biggest machines.

Considering that its body is the same as before, the distance put between this and the pre-facelifted car by the new styling is quite remarkable. Instead of horizontal narrow eyes and a large, chrome-studded grille, it now gets a massive, black 'Tiger Nose' grille, framed by single LED strips that trace its squarish bonnet, and hug its cuboid-shaped main beams.

The same patterns are repeated at the rear too, for a very cohesive overall look. Visions of grandeur appear to have been swapped for equally alluring visions of the future; the Carnival now looks like a minibus out of a sci-fi movie, in line with the forward-looking designs of the EV9 and updated Sorento Hybrid.

The Carnival Hybrid has gotten a new single-piece panel on its dashboard, housing two 12.3-inch screens

Modernised minibus

Its interior, likewise, has been given an appropriately modern refresh while still retaining all of the qualities already loved in the original car. 

As with the Sorento Hybrid, a single panel housing twin 12.3-inch displays now resides on the dashboard. Considering that the pre-facelifted Carnival still relied on analogue gauges, the extra digitalisation is undeniably welcome - especially for something designated as Kia's 'MPV flagship'.

Its new switchable LCD control panel - a Kia hallmark at this point - is an ever-charming, intuitive-to-use neat trick too, preserving physical buttons while introducing extra digitalisation. Meanwhile, the rotary dial that replaces the previous gear lever feels like a step upmarket too.

This switchable LED control panel - a hallmark of modern Kias now also on the Carnival Hybrid - remains both intriguing and intuitive to use 

Kia has specced local units of the car out slightly different to what's pictured here (on an immediate visual level, buyers will get a black-brown dual-tone upholstery instead), but even so, our test unit gives a good idea of the level of build quality within the cabin. Softer surfaces are plentiful up front, and the most-commonly used switches feel robust, and nicely damped.

Amidst the upgrades, the Carnival's original strengths - sheer space, and generous equipment levels - haven't changed.

Second row passengers in this seven-seater are not just treated to their own sunroof, but also "VIP lounge seats"

Twin sunroofs come as standard. Cushy captain's chairs occupy the second row in this seven-seater variant, giving their lucky occupants seat ventilation and an endless multitude of extensions and reclination. And in tandem, getting into the final row is easy too, given the 'corridor'-like access.

Despite the Carnival's relative lack of height against its competitors, headroom here is more than decent, if not the absolute best for a large MPV. Where the Carnival shines, however, is with the plentiful legroom it provides even to adults occupants - as well as with the generous shoulder-room, given the car's width. New onboard this time is an extra premium touch: Specific window shades, too, for the last row.

The Carnival Hybrid is the arguable leader in its ability to haul items; with all three rows up, it still has 627 litres of capacity in its boot to offer  

But the Carnival's true calling card lies further rearwards still.

While even proper MPVs struggle with any sort of cargo-carrying with all rows up, the Carnival Hybrid is one of those bonafide movers that can move a family of seven and their two (or three) full-sized luggages, given its 627-litre boot.

The Carnival Hybrid's new 1.6-litre hybrid engine produces 241bhp and 366Nm of torque - more power, but slightly less torque than the outgoing 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine on the Carnival Diesel

New eco-warrior

But perhaps the biggest headline with the facelifted Carnival is the fact that it's gone full-hybrid. Jointly powering it now are a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine and 54kW (72bhp) electric motor, which put out more power, though slightly less torque than the old Carnival's 2.2-litre diesel engine. In tandem, it's dropped the previous eight-speed transmission for a new six-speed one too.

On paper, this may sound like a mixed bag, but it takes no time for any uncertainty to be shot down. Hop in, hit the road, and it's immediately apparent that this hybrid powertrain is unequivocally superior to its more pollutive predecessor.

With the electric motor doing the heavy lifting for the initial bit of acceleration and at lower speeds, the Carnival Hybrid feels surprising light off the line (bear in mind that it weighs 2.4 tonnes unladen), and smooth as silk when creeping in a jam. While you'll certainly notice it when the engine finally takes over, the switch isn't jarring, with its new transmission also doing a commendable job of ensuring gear changes are quick and smooth.

The mix of electric and combustion power is superbly executed in the Carnival Hybrid, giving good punch and good efficiency in equal measure 

And again, even with all three rows regularly loaded, what will continue to surprise is its willingness to be hustled along. Its mix of electric and combustion power is superb for providing a surprising level of punch even after it's already gotten up to speed.

Another manner in which it excels? It's as fuel-efficient as claimed. We managed 15.2km/L, against the official 15.4km/L figure - an impressive final sum considering once more how much mass needs to be shifted.

Other qualities also accentuate the pleasure of piloting the Carnival - such as its steering weight. Though heavier than one would normally have on an MPV, in something this large and bulky, it feels just right.

For such a large and heavy MPV, the Carnival Hybrid's willingness to be hustled along might initially catch a driver off guard

Its well-balanced suspension is another point of excellence, allowing it to both waft along on the expressway and remain unnerved when ambling over pockmarked roads. There is a nary a sense of looseness in its ride quality - and that holds whether you're seated in the first row, or further rearwards.

Out on the road, the Carnival is also easier to drive than one might expect. Apart from its squarish bonnet, which makes placing it on the road easy, one suspects the technological aids also have a huge hand to play here: A high-def heads-up display is standard, while the car's suite of latest-gen safety systems includes Blind Spot Monitoring and Lane Departure Warning.

Local units of the Carnival Hybrid are kitted out with a Surround View camera for easier parking - although our test unit was limited to a single-angle one

Having said that, its physicality is ultimately impossible to ignore.

Despite its sense of indomitability, extra carefulness is an instinct when behind the wheel of something so long and wide. Lane changes naturally grow to be undertaken with some tenderness. Sliding doors are handy, as is the standard 360-degree parking camera - but when it comes to squeezing the Carnival Hybrid into a tight lot, its dimensions will make themselves eminently clear. Most drivers can forget parallel parking altogether.

Thoroughly better party bus - even if the same caveats remain

In virtually every conceivable regard, the Kia Carnival Hybrid is as good as mid-life facelifts come.

For the potential buyer, it's hard to imagine that any desired box hasn't been duly ticked off in this refresh.

The car's petrol-electric powertrain, for starters, is far better suited to today's more stringent efficiency demands; power is still plentiful for a machine so large; and its interior has also taken a welcome step forward into the level of tech and digitalisation expected on a modern car.

While certain drawbacks remain when living with such a large car, the Carnival Hybrid's outsized take on the large MPV template - now made more efficient and refined - remains quite unique in the market

Most importantly, in an era where seven-seater hybrid SUVs have become so compelling, cars like the Carnival Hybrid continue to show that a proper MPV can never be beaten if space and practicality are first priorities for a driver. It does this with a sumptuous level of equipment and excellent build quality, too. 

I suspect at some point, every Carnival Hybrid driver will get the experience I did: Engulfed in and enthralled by the lively chatter of a fully-loaded car; all on board clearly at ease and luxuriating in the comfort, space, and sense of security on offer.

To be clear, even in its sharpened up suit now, the Carnival Hybrid is unlikely to appeal to every family man (or woman). Arguments could certainly be made that it's still too much car for Singapore's built-up environment, while its price tag - creeping close to $300,000 (including COE) - feels hard to swallow despite the unfairness of today's COE climate. 

Nonetheless, the Carnival Hybrid's persisting tank-like disposition, blended with its wide breadth of other qualities, also remains a unique mix that one will struggle to find even among other larger MPVs today. Sure - you wouldn't go so far as to call it luxurious, and to its credit, neither does Kia. Its 'flagship' label, though? The Carnival Hybrid feels every bit deserving of it. 

Here are a few other full-sized MPVs that may interest you! 

With impressive equipment and a highly competent electric drivetrain, the D9 is a keen contender that should make waves in the premium MPV segment

Humongous, effortless, and uncannily familiar, the MG M9 EV is a luxe-MPV that silently reminds you, with its electric drivetrain, that size does matter

The all-new Toyota Vellfire is even more luxurious and refined than its predecessor, but towkays could experience sticker shock upon seeing its price