GIIAS 2024: Kia unveils Carnival Hybrid at 2024 GIIAS

MANILA: The facelifted fourth-generation Kia Carnival Hybrid has debuted at the 2024 Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS).

Besides its new powertrain, the Korean brand’s revamped multi-purpose vehicle for Indonesia also received an updated exterior, a set of new digital displays, and plenty of additional creature comforts.

To note, the refreshed Carnival with the new hybrid engine was launched for the US market back in February 2024, but its introduction in GIIAS marks its entry into the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). 

So, what is it offering to prospective buyers?

Exterior

On the outside, the new Carnival Hybrid received a more aggressive look. It still bears a full complement of LED lighting fixtures, but the new model’s headlamp clusters have been re-shaped to vertically oriented rectangles. Surrounding the main headlamps are redesigned LED daytime running lamps, which now wrap towards the sides of the vehicle’s front end. It also sports a wider grille and a set of active air flaps for improved aerodynamics. 

Towards its sides, the three-row people carrier’s silhouette didn’t depart much from the older version. It sports an unchanged window line and roofline, but it received a new set of 19-inch alloy wheels. 

Other exterior features of the new Carnival variant include power-sliding doors, a power sunroof, LED front fog lamps, a power tailgate, rain-sensing wipers, and heated power-folding side mirrors. 

Interior

The cockpit of the Carnival’s hybrid trim was kitted out with a set of larger displays. At the center of its dashboard is a new 12.3-inch infotainment system, while a similarly sized digital gauge cluster is positioned behind the steering wheel. The aforementioned screens are seamlessly linked together to form a wide single screen to achieve a cockpit-like feel. 

For connectivity, the Korean-made MPV’s infotainment system is equipped with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. It also features a wireless smartphone charging pad, USB ports, and a 12-piece Bose sound system. 

Other notable interior amenities of the Kia hybrid model include a triple-zone automatic climate control system, keyless entry, paddle shifters, a digital rearview mirror, four-way power-adjustable front seats, and power-adjustable second-row captain seats, among others. 

Safety

Safety on the newly launched Indonesia-spec Carnival is provided by eight airbags, anti-lock braking, stability control, hill-start assist, a 360-degree view monitor, and eight parking sensors. 

The said features are supported by an array of advanced driver-assist systems such as adaptive cruise control, lane follow assist, lane keep assist, forward collision-avoidance assist, and blind-spot monitoring, among others. 

Engine

For propulsion, the Carnival Hybrid uses a Smartstream hybrid powertrain composed of a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-pot, an electronic motor, and a six-speed automatic gearbox. 

At the most, the electrified MPV can produce up to 242 horsepower and 367 Newton-meters of torque. It also features a regenerative braking system for better energy efficiency. 

Apart from the new hybrid version, Kia Indonesia also rolled out two diesel-powered variants with the same styling and feature updates. The aforementioned are the Premiere 7-seater and the Premiere 11-seater, which both use a 2.2-liter turbodiesel mill, similar to the one found on the current Philippine-spec model. 

Pricing for the Kia Carnival Hybrid in Indonesia is set at rp (Indonesian Rupiah) 1.388 billion (around P4.995 million). 

As mentioned above, the updated Kia Carnival’s launch at GIIAS also marks its ASEAN debut. So, is the Philippines next in line? 

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