2025 Kia Carnival Family Review: Best people mover for Space, Comfort & Features?
The 2025 Kia Carnival is a feature-packed people mover designed to cater to large families, offering generous space, advanced technology, and multiple powertrain options–including a hybrid. Competing with rivals like the Toyota Granvia, Hyundai Staria, and Volkswagen Multivan, let’s find out if the Kia Carnival remains a top contender in the Australian market.
Kia Carnival Pros & Cons: What You Should Know Before Buying
Pros:
Spacious and practical interior – comfortably seats up to 8 passengers with flexible seating configurations.
Hybrid model offers excellent fuel economy – as low as 5.8L/100km combined.
Advanced safety features – standard across all trims, including AEB, lane-keeping assist, and multiple airbags.
Sliding doors for easy access – perfect for families with young children.
Generous boot space – 627L with all seats up, expanding to 2,827L with the third row folded.
5 ISOFIX points – supports multiple child seat configurations.
Kia Connect App – enables remote start, locking, unlocking, and vehicle tracking.
Technology-packed – 12.3-inch infotainment system, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and wireless charging (on higher trims).
Multiple powertrain options – petrol, diesel, and hybrid to suit different driving needs.
Comfortable ride quality – designed for long-distance comfort with a quiet cabin.
Strong warranty coverage – Kia’s 7-year unlimited kilometre warranty.
Good towing capacity – 2,000kg for petrol/diesel models.
Cons:
Hybrid model has a lower towing capacity – only 1,000kg compared to 2,000kg for petrol/diesel.
Higher trims can be expensive – GT-Line variant may stretch budgets.
No AWD option – limited to front-wheel drive across all variants.
Large size can be tricky in tight spaces – despite good visibility and parking aids.
Some premium features only available on top trims – such as the surround-view monitor and remote smart park assist.
Fuel economy of petrol variant is high – 9.6L/100km combined, making it less efficient than diesel or hybrid.
No captain’s chairs option in Australia – unlike some overseas markets offering more luxurious seating configurations.
Kia Carnival Price Guide – How much does the Kia Carnival cost?
The Kia Carnival is available in several trim levels, with pricing varying based on engine choice and features:
S Trim Petrol: From $50,150 before on-road costs
S Trim Diesel: From $52,380 before on-road costs
Sport Trim Petrol: From $56,050 before on-road costs
Sport Trim Diesel: From $58,280 before on-road costs
Sport+ Trim Petrol: From $62,380 before on-road costs
Sport+ Trim Diesel: From $64,610 before on-road costs
GT-Line Lite Trim Petrol: From $66,350 before on-road costs
GT-Line Lite Trim Diesel: From $68,580 before on-road costs
GT-Line Trim Petrol: From $70,680 before on-road costs
GT-Line Trim Diesel: From $72,910 before on-road costs
GT-Line Trim Hybrid: From $76,210 before on-road costs (As tested)
(Exact pricing may vary; check with Kia Australia or your local dealership for up-to-date costs.)
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Kia Carnival Engine Options: Petrol, Diesel, or Hybrid?
The 2025 Kia Carnival offers three engine choices:
3.5L V6 Petrol: 216kW of power & 355Nm of torque.
2.2L Diesel: 148kW of power & 440Nm of torque.
1.6L Turbo Hybrid (HEV): Petrol engine (132.4kW of power & 265Nm of torque), Electric motor (54kW of power), combined torque 304Nm.
The petrol and diesel variants come with an 8-speed automatic transmission, while the hybrid features a 6-speed automatic.
Is the Kia Carnival Fuel-Efficient? Hybrid vs Petrol vs Diesel
Fuel consumption figures vary across the three powertrains:
Petrol: 9.6L/100km (combined), 13.2L/100km (urban)
Diesel: 6.5L/100km (combined), 7.8L/100km (urban)
Hybrid: 5.8L/100km (combined), 4.2L/100km (urban)
The hybrid offers the best fuel economy, especially for families who drive frequently in city traffic. During my week-long loan with the Kia Carnival GT-Line Hybrid I averaged 5.7L/100km.
Kia Carnival Interior & Space: How Practical Is It for Families?
The Carnival’s interior is designed for comfort and functionality.
It features seating for up to eight passengers, with multiple storage compartments. As standard there are nine cup holders plus four bottle holders. The GT-Line Lite and GT-Line get six USB-C ports (two in each row), while the lower grades don’t receive USB ports in the third row. There are also three 12V power outlets available as standard across the lineup.
The second row can accommodate three child seats across, and there are five ISOFIX points for added convenience. These ISOFIX points are located three in the second row and two in the third row. All five seats have top-tether points.
It’s worth mentioning the accessibility into the third row from the second is easy however I would avoid putting a car seat on one side as this limits the recline and access to the third row when pushing the seat forward. I would also recommend ensuring that you use the ISOFIX points on the outboard seats in the second row where possible as this could interfere with the seat belt path if you plan to access the third row frequently.
The practicality in the GT-Line Hybrid is next-to-none. I had trouble faulting it with multiple ways to open and shut all the doors, window shades on all rear windows and, with its low ground clearance it really ticked a lot of boxes for large families constantly on the move. It’s worth mentioning its ground clearance is a comfortable height at 162mm for the petrol and diesel variants while the hybrid models have 172mm according to the 2025 brochure.
It’s worth noting that customers who purchase Sport+, GT-Line Lite and GT-Line models will receive electronic power sliding doors and handsfree boot open/close functionality.
All models have access to Kia Connect App connectivity which can display remote control start, GPS location, vehicle status and more. You can find more information of the Kia Connect app by watching this video.
Kia Carnival Boot Space & Storage: How Much Can It Fit?
With all 8 seats up: 627L (VDA method) of cargo space
With third row folded: Expands to 2,827L (VDA method) of cargo space
The Carnival’s boot is designed to fit a pram with ease, along with multiple grocery bags and travel essentials. The hands-free power tailgate is available on Sport+, GT-Line Lite and GT-Line variants, allowing easy access when carrying items.
It’s worth mentioning the boot has a small drop which allows for additional space between the floor of the car and where the third row of seats are.
Kia Carnival Safety Features: Is It a Safe Family Car?
The Kia Carnival comes equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety features across all trim levels. Below is a breakdown of safety features by variant:
Standard Safety Features (Available on All Trims)
Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) with pedestrian, cyclist, and junction turning detection
Lane Keeping Assist (LKA) & Lane Following Assist (LFA)
Blind Spot Collision Avoidance Assist (BCA)
Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Avoidance (RCCA)
Driver Attention Warning (DAW) with Lead Vehicle Departure Alert
Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA)
Hill-Start Assist Control (HAC)
Rear View Camera with Dynamic Parking Guidelines
Parking Sensors (Front & Rear)
Safe Exit Warning (SEW)
5 ISOFIX child seat anchor points
Curtain, Front, Side, and Driver Knee Airbags
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) & Traction Control System (TCS)
Multi-collision braking (MCB)
Trailer stability assist (TSA)
High beam assist (HBA)
Advanced Smart Cruise Control (ASCC)
eCall with SOS button
Rear Occupant Alert (ROA)
Sport Trim Additional Safety Features
Highway Drive Assist 1 (HDA1)
Sport+ Trim Additional Safety Features
Blind Spot View Monitor (BVM)
Rear Cross Traffic Collision Avoidance Assist (RCCA)
Highway Drive Assist 2 (HDA2) with Lane Change Assist (LCA)
AEB (Autonomous Emergency Braking) - Junction Crossing & Direct/Oncoming Lane Change Detection
Safe exit assist (SEA)
Side parking sensors
Surround View Monitor (360-degree Camera)
GT-Line Trim Additional Safety Features
Remote Smart Park Assist (RSPA)
Digital Centre Mirror (DCM)
Kia Carnival Technology & Kia Connect App: What You Need to Know
The Kia Connect App allows owners to control several vehicle functions remotely, including:
Remote start & climate control
Vehicle tracking & diagnostics
Door locking/unlocking
Kia Carnival vs Toyota Granvia vs Hyundai Staria: Which One Is Best?
Best for Fuel Efficiency: Kia Carnival Hybrid (5.8L/100km)
Best for Cargo Space: Kia Carnival (2,827L with third row folded)
Best for Luxury & Comfort: Toyota Granvia (premium seating, captain’s chairs in VX)
Best for Towing: Hyundai Staria (2,500kg braked)
To read the full comparison click here.
Kia Carnival Towing Capacity Australia: Can It Handle a Caravan?
Petrol & Diesel: 2,000kg braked
Hybrid: 1,000kg braked
For families needing more towing capacity, the diesel or petrol variants are better suited. All models are rated up to 750kg unbraked.
Should You Buy the Kia Carnival in 2025? Final Verdict
The 2025 Kia Carnival is one of the best family vehicles available in Australia, offering a blend of space, practicality, safety, and fuel efficiency. With multiple engine options, advanced technology, and a seven-year unlimited kilometre warranty, it remains a top contender for families needing a reliable people mover.
For those looking for maximum space and practicality, the Carnival is hard to beat.
It’s worth considering if the hybrid model is going to be the right choice for you as Kia Australia are yet to release a hybrid variant in a lower trim level. With a price tag over $80,000 once you factor in on-road costs it becomes a slightly harder sell.
In saying that the Kia Carnival as a whole is a great option for large families and should definitely be short-listed if you’re in the market for a 7+ seater car for your everyday needs.
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