Kia Australia has officially confirmed it has stopped factory orders for the V6 petrol variants for the Kia Carnival MPV and Kia Sorento SUV. Kia’s website now says petrol versions are “limited to dealer stock,” and all remaining vehicles with that powertrain are expected to be sold out by the end of the first quarter of 2026.
Emissions regulation kills the Kia V6
It has been confirmed that Kia’s decision is linked to Australia’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES), which applies to new vehicles entered into the Register of Approved Vehicles after July 1, 2025. The removal of the “entry-level” V6 has further increased the starting price for both Kia models.
The 3.5-litre V6 petrol engines produce higher CO₂ emissions than the diesel and hybrid alternatives, approximately 220g/km in the Carnival and 222g/km in the Sorento. This is far above the legal limit of 117g/km for Type 1 passenger vehicles. Considering the heavy penalty of $100/gram over the limit, Kia is now focusing on diesel, hybrid (HEV), and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models that generate lower emissions and earn emissions “credits”.
Kia also cited global supply challenges, noting that most V6 production was allocated to the United States market, where large petrol engines are still popular. This made Aussie supply difficult even before the NVES mandates.
Moreover, Kia Australia has seen customers move toward more fuel-efficient options. The 2.2L turbo-diesel was already the most popular Carnival engine. With the successful launch of the Carnival Hybrid and Sorento PHEV in 2024 and 2025 respectively, Kia felt confident that buyers would accept hybrids over the petrol V6 engines.
MORE: Kia Carnival Hybrid earns 5-star ANCAP rating
Updated Carnival and Sorento starting prices
The Kia Carnival has been Australia’s best-selling people mover, renowned for its premium cabin experience and practicality. The current fourth generation (2021 onwards) introduced SUV-style looks and modern technology. The Kia Sorento, launched in 2002, helped Kia enter the large SUV market. The current generation (2020 onwards) focuses on technology and premium design.
| Powetrain | Kia Sorento pricing (before on-roads) | Kia Carnival pricing (before on-roads) |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel (2.2L, FWD) | $54,630 | $54,300 |
| HEV (1.6L, FWD) | $56,630 | $56,100 |
| HEV (1.6L, AWD) | $59,630 | N.A. |
| PHEV (1.6L, AWD) | $71,130 | N.A. |
Other cars axed/paused due to emissions regulations
The NVES has already forced many brands to remove or pause petrol models in Australia. Here are the recently discontinued or paused models in 2025 and 2026:
- Nissan Qashqai: Petrol versions dropped, hybrid only
- Hyundai i30 Hatch: Regular petrol removed, mild-hybrid only
- Ford Ranger & Everest: 2.0L bi-turbo diesel dropped
- Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series: Production paused until emissions update
- Toyota HiAce & Coaster: Temporarily stopped for emissions upgrades
- Mitsubishi Pajero Sport: Faced pressure from emissions and safety rules
Here are all the SUVs and utes discontinued in 2025.
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