Kia Carnival returns with new look, powertrain

The multi-seater is perkier than its predecessor despite having a smaller, more efficient engine

- Christopher Tan

To have a proper multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) with three rows of seats and decent stowage, you need proper dimensions. Nothing short of 5m in length will do.

On this front, the Kia Carnival measures up well. The MPV is 5,155mm long, 1,995mm wide and 1,785mm tall with a 3,090mm wheelbase.

Size, however, is a double-edged sword—more so in a compact, built-up place like Singapore. Besides manoeuvrability issues, vehicle taxation laws here tend not to favour big, hefty passenger vehicles.

This is where Kia's facelifted Carnival comes into focus. Instead of a 2,151cc turbodiesel powering the pre-facelift car, reviewed here in 2021, the latest car gets a friendlier 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine paired with an electric motor.

The car qualifies for the neutral emissions banding (with no tax rebate or surcharge), which is an improvement over its predecessor, which attracted a $10,000 surcharge.

The facelifted car is also more fuel-efficient, averaging 7.3 litres/100km in this test drive, which is merely 12 per cent more than Kia's stated 6.5 litres/100km. The previous test car clocked 9.1 litres/100km.