Singaporean drivers who often ferry a party of seven or eight passengers now have a new option to consider: It’s the facelifted Kia Carnival Hybrid, which arrives more than three years since the pre-facelift model was unveiled.
This time around, it’s not just its exterior styling, but also its cabin, and most importantly, its drivetrain that has been updated.
Whereas the original fourth-gen Carnival was powered by a 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine, the facelifted Carnival officially retailed here is solely powered by a turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol engine and an electric motor rated at 54kW (72bhp). These are mated to a new 6-speed automatic gearbox.
A petrol-electric hybrid with a smaller displacement engine bodes well for fuel efficiency and against emissions penalties. It also produces more power than the outgoing turbodiesel one, with system output now at 241bhp (an increase of 43bhp) and 366Nm of torque.
Consequently, the facelifted Carnival Hybrid is also quicker off the line than the diesel-powered Carnival, completing the century sprint in just 9.3 seconds (or a good 1.4 seconds quicker).
ENHANCED COMFORT
The Carnival Hybrid features a new ‘E-Ride’ system that relies on the electric motor to keep the car’s forward and backward rocking motions at bay.
It’s unlikely you’ll want to race your Carnival Hybrid, but its “E-Handling” feature (Electrically Assisted Handling Performance) also sees the electric motor aiding in cornering performance, by either braking or adding drive – to transfer weight to the front and rear of the car respectively – for improved stability.
Official figures peg the Carnival Hybrid’s fuel consumption at 15.4km/L – meaning you can theoretically travel more than 1,000km on a single tank of petrol – Kia points out that it’s not just the car’s new powertrain, but other fresh elements of its updated exterior that help to improve its fuel economy.
While the Carnival Hybrid continues to ride on 19-inch wheels, these are new Hybrid Electric Vehicle-specific rims that have been aerodynamically optimised.
Active air flaps on the new bumper – similar to the ones on the Kia EV9 – automatically open and close to optimise aerodynamics. So, when cooling demand is low, the flaps stay closed.
Speaking of the new bumper, the new Carnival Hybrid also sports tastefully evolved styling.
While sticking to the “Grand Utility Vehicle” identity, the MPV’s front and rear ends have been revised in line with Kia’s “Opposites United” design philosophy, with slimmer headlight and tail-light signatures helping to frame its bonnet and tailgate. The ‘Tiger Nose’ grille has also been reshaped and enlarged.
Dimensionally, however, the new Carnival Hybrid is largely unchanged, stretching out at 5,155mm long and 1,995 wide; the car has only gained an additional 10mm in terms of height, but even at 1,785mm tall, remains more practical than taller MPVs since it can enter carparks with 1.8m height limits.
ON-BOARD ACCOMMODATIONS
Above all, that it is sheer space that remains the car’s calling card.
Its wheelbase remains unchanged at 3,090mm, offering generous space for occupants across all three rows. And the Carnival trumps competitors with the sheer size of its boot even with all three rows up: With 627 litres, it can even swallow full-sized luggage.
The Carnival Hybrid is offered in an eight-seater configuration, but for families seeking a classier commuting experience, the seven-seater is the one to go for. The latter offers reclinable “Relaxation Seats” in the second row (with footrests!) – essentially captain’s chairs that come with ventilation, and can slide not just forwards and backwards but sideways, too.
Dropping the analogue dials of old, the Carnival Hybrid’s upgraded dashboard brings with it a new single panel that integrates a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment touchscreen. Also new is the LCD touch panel we’ve seen on cars like the Niro Hybrid, which switch between volume and climate controls. Other highlights up front include a heads-up display, and a shift-by-wire rotary gear selector.
Tangible creature comforts aside, those who find themselves behind the wheel will also find the driving experience rather relaxing thanks to the Carnival Hybrid’s full suite of the brand’s latest safety assistance systems.
One all-new highlight is the car’s advanced Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) system, dubbed by Kia as FCA 2.0. With its ability to detect vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians alike, FCA 2.0 can assist with emergency braking not just in potential head-on collisions, but also when the car senses oncoming traffic when turning at an intersection or when changing lanes.
The Kia Carnival Hybrid is now on sale, with prices starting at $269,999 (including COE) for the eight-seater variant.
This story was first published on Sgcarmart.
