The Kia Carnival range has been expanded in Australia with the latest set of changes to the lineup. Its hybrid powertrain is now available in the more affordable Carnival S and Carnival Sport+ grades. Previously exclusive to the high-grade GT-Line, the Kia Carnival hybrid option’s entry price is lower by over $20,000. Aside from these additions and a uniform $420 price increase across the line-up, no further specification changes have been made for the new model year.
Pricing
The Kia Carnival people-mover continues to be offered in five trims – S, Sport, Sport+, GT-Line Lite, and GT-Line – each available with petrol, diesel, or hybrid power depending on the grade. Prices now start from $50,570, with hybrid variants beginning at $56,100.
| Model | Price |
| 2026 Kia Carnival S V6 | $50,570 (+$420) |
| 2026 Kia Carnival S diesel | $52,800 (+$420) |
| 2026 Kia Carnival S hybrid (NEW) | $56,100 |
| 2026 Kia Carnival Sport V6 | $56,470 (+$420) |
| 2026 Kia Carnival Sport diesel | $58,700 (+$420) |
| 2026 Kia Carnival Sport+ V6 | $62,800 (+$420) |
| 2026 Kia Carnival Sport+ diesel | $65,030 (+$420) |
| 2026 Kia Carnival Sport+ hybrid (NEW) | $68,330 |
| 2026 Kia Carnival GT-Line Lite V6 | $66,770 (+$420) |
| 2026 Kia Carnival GT-Line Lite diesel | $69,000 (+420) |
| 2026 Kia Carnival GT-Line V6 | $71,100 (+$420) |
| 2026 Kia Carnival GT-Line diesel | $73,330 (+$420) |
| 2026 Kia Carnival GT-Line hybrid | $76,630 (+$420) |
All prices exclude on-road costs.
Powertrain and efficiency
Three engines are offered across the Kia Carnival range and details for each are stated below:
| Kia Carnival | Petrol | Diesel | Hybrid |
| Engine | 3.5-litre V6 | 2.2-litre four-cylinder | 1.6-litre turbo four-cylinder |
| Power | 216kW | 148kW | 180kW (combined) |
| Torque | 355Nm | 440Nm | 366Nm (combined) |
| Transmission | Eight-speed auto | Eight-speed auto | Six-speed auto |
| Drive type | Front-wheel drive | Front-wheel drive | Front-wheel drive |
| Fuel economy (combined cycle claim) | 9.6L/100km | 6.5L/100km | 5.8L/100km |
| Fuel tank size | 72L | 72L | 72L |
| Fuel requirement | 91-octane regular unleaded | Diesel | 91-octane regular unleaded |
The hybrid variant promises to be a lot more fuel efficient than the V6 engine. Even though it is down on power by 36kW, the torque figure is similar which still offers a smooth drive.
Towing capacity:
- Braked: 2000kg (petrol/diesel), 1000kg (hybrid)
- Unbraked: 750kg
Interior layout and space
The 2026 Kia Carnival retains its eight-seat configuration across three rows. The second row features reversible seats with sliding and reclining functions, and an easy-access walk-in mechanism for the third row.
Boot capacity:
- Minimum boot space: 627L
- Maximum boot space: 2827L
Each seat row is equipped with five top-tether and ISOFIX anchor points.
Safety and driver assistance
The 2026 Carnival maintains its five-star ANCAP safety rating from 2021, offering extensive standard safety features:
Standard across all grades:
- AEB with pedestrian, cyclist & junction assist
- Adaptive cruise with stop/go
- Lane-keep and lane-following assist
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Multi-collision braking
- Reversing camera & parking sensors
- Kia Connect with SOS function
- Additional features by grade:
- Sport: Highway Driving Assist 1
- Sport+ and above: Surround-view camera, Parking Collision Avoidance – Rear, Blind Spot View Monitor
- GT-Line: Highway Driving Assist 2, Stop-start traffic assist
Key features and equipment
Carnival S
- 17-inch alloys, LED headlights
- 12.3-inch infotainment with wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto
- Cloth seats, proximity entry, 4.2-inch cluster display
Carnival Sport adds
- 18-inch alloys, folding mirrors
- Leatherette trim, wireless phone charger
- Dual-zone climate with rear controls
Carnival Sport+ adds
- Power sliding side doors & electric tailgate
- Heated front and second-row seats
- Digital instrument cluster, rain-sensing wipers
Carnival GT-Line Lite adds
- 19-inch alloys, dual sunroof
- LED interior lights, chrome accents
- Auto up/down driver window, ambient features
Carnival GT-Line adds
- Ventilated front seats, heated steering wheel
- 12-speaker Bose audio, digital rear-view mirror
- Head-up display, memory seats, Remote Start Parking Assist
Warranty and servicing
All Kia Carnival models include:
- 7-year/unlimited km warranty
- 7 years capped-price servicing
- 8 years roadside assistance
Hybrid versions of the Kia Carnival feature an additional 7-year/150,000km warranty on the high-voltage components.
Service intervals for the 2026 Carnival have been stated as follows:
| Service pricing | Petrol | Diesel | Hybrid |
| Year 1 | $356 | $386 | $374 |
| Year 2 | $640 | $682 | $653 |
| Year 3 | $449 | $480 | $492 |
| Year 4 | $827 | $869 | $1036 |
| Year 5 | $401 | $434 | $421 |
| Year 6 | $798 | $845 | $878 |
| Year 7 | $426 | $461 | $743 |
Colour options
The Kia Carnival is available in Ceramic Grey at standard cost but all other options carry a premium of $700. For the extra dash of cash, you can have your people mover in any of these colours:
- Astra Blue
- Flare Red
- Panthera Metal
- Snow White Pearl
- Deep Chroma Blue (not available on S or Sport)
- Aurora Black Pearl (not available on S or Sport)
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