2025 Kia Carnival GT-Line Hybrid review: The perfect, pricey family bus?

The Kia Carnival could very nicely be one of many best autos accessible right this moment.

This daring assertion leads us to the basic query: Shouldn’t each automobile attempt to excel in its meant goal?

The Carnival is designed to move as much as eight passengers in spacious consolation, present ample cargo house, supply versatile seating preparations, and guarantee excessive security requirements.

If it additionally occurs to be pleasing to drive— which this substantial folks mover undeniably is— it additional enhances its enchantment.

Simply as a Porsche 911 units the usual for sports activities vehicles, the Carnival stands out as a premier choice within the people-mover class. For households with quite a few members or those that often transport sports activities gear, the Kia has persistently outperformed its rivals on this section.

One of the crucial notable downsides has been the gasoline consumption of the petrol-powered 3.5-litre V6 engine. Whereas a extra fuel-efficient 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel was accessible, Kia has now launched a petrol-electric hybrid choice.

With a claimed gasoline economic system of 5.8L/100km, the hybrid gives a big enchancment over the V6’s common of 9.6L/100km, which might escalate to 13.2L/100km in metropolis driving, the place many of those autos primarily function.

Nevertheless, the hybrid mannequin competes carefully with the diesel’s consumption of 6.5L/100km and is simply accessible within the top-tier GT-Line trim, making it the most costly Carnival ever at $76,210 earlier than on-road prices. This worth is $3,300 above the GT-Line diesel and $5,530 greater than the non-hybrid petrol model.

Regardless of this worth level, it stays under totally electrical options just like the LDV Mifa 9 (beginning at $104,000), the Mercedes eVito ($136,898), and the VW ID. Buzz (ranging from $91,290), in addition to the sizable Kia EV9 (from $97,000).

Pricing & Options of the 2025 Kia Carnival GT-Line Hybrid

As with all premium Kias, the standard and commonplace options of the GT-Line impress. Within the flagship GT-Line variant, you obtain an abundance of upscale gear.

With a price ticket exceeding $80,000 drive-away, one would anticipate premium inclusions. These embrace LED exterior lighting, putting 19-inch alloy wheels, and a complicated inside setup that includes a 12.3-inch infotainment show paired with a 12.3-inch digital driver show. The system helps wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and consists of over-the-air updates alongside a number of USB-C charging ports.

Consolation is enhanced with power-adjustable, heated, and ventilated leather-based entrance seats, a heated steering wheel, multi-zone local weather management, a 12-speaker Bose audio system, a twin sunroof, and energy sliding aspect doorways. Moreover, the rear tailgate is powered for added comfort.

When it comes to security, the car consists of options like distant good parking help, pace restrict help, adaptive cruise management, a head-up show, a blind-spot view monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, parking sensors, a 360-degree digital camera, a middle airbag, and a rear occupant alert.

One intriguing function is the flexibility to remotely park the car if you end up outdoors of it utilizing the important thing fob. Though this will appear pointless, it is definitely entertaining.

Children have their very own local weather management choices in every row, and whereas the cabin lacks a spare wheel because of battery placement, it makes use of a tyre restore equipment as a substitute.

Driving Expertise and Efficiency

After dwelling with the Carnival GT-Line Hybrid for every week, adopted instantly by the GT-Line diesel, the gasoline consumption averaged 6.7L/100km for the diesel and 6.2L/100km for the hybrid over a distance of 730km.

Primarily based on these assessments, the hybrid choice could not justify the additional price if gasoline financial savings are your sole consideration. It’s best appreciated for its easy hybrid driving expertise, which is more likely to yield higher resale values as shopper preferences shift away from diesel.

The hybrid excels in metropolis driving, beginning in totally electrical mode because of its 1.5kWh battery pack, which supplies quiet and easy operation. As soon as reaching for a pace round 40 km/h, the petrol engine engages, and whereas noticeable, it’s not intrusive.

The petrol engine is a 1.6-litre four-cylinder producing 132kW and 265Nm, supplemented by an electrical motor yielding an extra 54kW and 304Nm. This ends in respectable acceleration, typically harking back to an electrical car, although partaking terrain can immediate some protest from the engine because of the Carnival’s hefty 2.2-tonne weight.

On highways, the Carnival performs admirably, sustaining a cushty cruising expertise with an efficient adaptive cruise management system. In metropolis environment, its sizeable dimensions could make parking and navigating tight areas difficult.

On winding roads, nonetheless, the Carnival surprises with its responsive steering and stable cornering stability, offering a extra partaking driving expertise than anticipated for a car of its class. Even these pole-vaulting challenges don’t lead to dramatic physique roll, making certain the consolation of all aboard.

An annoyance arises from its overly cautious driver help methods, which could be overly delicate, necessitating fixed changes at first of every journey, together with disabling beeping reminders. A useful function is the blind-spot monitor, which proves helpful given the Carnival’s appreciable size.

In the end, the Carnival excels by fulfilling its meant goal. Its cabin house is sprawling, providing 627L of cargo room even with all eight seats in use. By folding the rear seats, the cargo house expands to a whopping 2827L, accommodating a variety of things, from bicycles to kayaks, effortlessly.

Conclusion and Verdict

If in case you have kids and expertise life with a Carnival, it is exhausting to not embrace its advantages, making you reluctant to return it.

Whereas the hybrid is not a fuel-efficiency marvel— with the diesel being an in depth contender— it supplies a easy, quiet driving expertise at decrease speeds. It additionally dramatically reduces gasoline prices in comparison with the petrol V6 variant.

In all situations, the journey high quality is phenomenal, and the Carnival stands out as probably the most sensible and intelligent folks mover accessible.

Regardless of the interruptions from the driving force help options and solely providing the hybrid choice within the highest trim, the Carnival represents an impressively well-rounded car.

Kia might improve its enchantment by making hybrid choices accessible all through your entire vary. Nevertheless, those that can afford the GT-Line will undoubtedly be the envy of many smart households throughout Australia.

Rating: 4.0/5.0