Sometimes, we have to ask ourselves if we really need an SUV. The common reason for getting one is because of ground clearance, and it’s a valid reason. The thing is, when it comes to ultimate practicality for the family, it’s impossible to beat the MPV and minivan.
Granted, they’re not as macho or butch as SUVs, but these sort of vehicles are built for purpose with very little in the way of compromise in terms of sheer practicality. In recent years, these have even become cool in a rather ironic way. The fancier ones, at least.
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If there’s one automaker that never abandoned the minivan market in the Philippines, it’s Kia. Now, we’re not talking about Lite Aces and Vanettes here as those are commercial vehicles adapted for family use. No, we’re talking vans that have moving families around as its main purpose, and it’s the Kia Carnival that stuck to the true minivan formula from the start.
Locally, the Carnival was officially introduced in 2001 although grey market units were brought in earlier. Ever since, it was a solid and comfortable seven-seater, and for the most part, diesel-powered. Yes, there were (thirsty) V6 options, but buyers were relatively few and far between.
So, for the heavily updated fourth-generation model, Kia Philippines stirred things up a bit. Instead of a six-cylinder, we finally get a hybrid version. About time, we say, and we don’t really miss the old V6 model. Finally, a gas-powered Carnival that doesn’t drink fuel like your favorite uncle in a reunion.
We spent a week with this electrified minivan, and we’re here to say that it makes you question the need for an SUV.
Styling
If we were to sum up the look in one word, it would be geometric. Kia did a radical refresh of the Carnival, and the new look might make passers-by think it’s an all-new model. Mind you, the pre-facelift model didn’t look bad at all, but this new look does kick it up a notch. Daring isn’t an adjective we’d usually use for a minivan, but the bold and boxy front end has good road presence.
The geometric theme doesn’t end with the front end. The wheel design is funky, another word we don’t really use to describe a minivan, and it suits the body well. As for the rear, the redesigned tail light cluster makes the tailgate look even wider than it really looks.
We have to give props to the Koreans for being more adventurous when it comes to design. It could’ve easily been overstyled with unnecessary details and whatnot, but the overall look is cohesive and uncluttered.
Interior
With light colors contrasted by blue trims, the Carnival’s cabin looks as plush and upmarket as they come. The interior theme also gives the impression of space, which this minivan simply has loads of. With the North American market in mind, it’s vast, even just sitting from the driver’s seat. The wide and expansive dash adds to that effect.
Cabin materials are good…for the most part. There are pleasant touches where your hands usually go, but the plastics start to feel a little low-rent in other bits of the interior. Okay, maybe we’re being a little harsh, but we weren’t expecting the kind of hard materials in something that this looks good inside.
With the space on board, you have to wonder why some people would rather get a two-wheel drive SUV or crossover instead of one of these. Okay, there’s the price (more on that later), but there are less expensive MPVs out there. The room inside is simply hard to beat and something an SUV of the same length will struggle to achieve.
The second-row seats consist of captain’s chairs, complete with a full relaxation mode that can turn it into a bed of sorts. Legroom is infinitely adjustable with more than enough room to lounge around in. If you’re not carrying people in the third row, just push those seats all the way back for true limo-like space. Admittedly, the seats need a fair bit of effort to move around, but we won’t call it back-breaking work. Power sliding seats would be a nice addition, but maybe for another time.
But even with passengers in the third row, there’s still more than enough for everyone to feel comfortable. You’ll need a jumbo SUV to, at the very least, match the Carnival for space.
The ultimate party piece of the Carnival is its cargo space utilization. The third row seats tumble back into a massive hole at the back, giving over 1,600 liters of usable cargo capacity.
With the third row in place, the hole where the third-row is stowed becomes a large trunk of sorts with 540 liters available. Try doing that in a three-row SUV.
Engine performance
So, what’s the hardware in the Carnival hybrid? It’s a 1.6-liter turbo mated to a single electric motor and a six-speed automatic transmission. It’s an interesting setup, at least locally, as there aren’t a lot of hybrid turbos out there. Total power output is rated at 245hp and 367Nm. It easily packs more than the diesel in terms of horsepower, but the hybrid is still behind in torque.
Do you feel that deficit on the road? Not at all as the electric motor takes care of getting off the line. Okay, we wouldn’t call it sprightly, but as far as minivans go, the response is relatively immediate. It accelerates faster than the diesel, even if it doesn’t feel like it.
We do have to admit that the Japanese still nail hybrids a wee bit better. We caught out the Kia’s hybrid system a few times switching from electric power to gas power. The transition between the two modes are noticeable, but not total dealbreakers. Still, it’s heaps more refined compared to a diesel.
As for fuel economy, it’s outstanding. We dished out the worst conditions possible for the Carnival during its stay with us. Even with a pathetic average speed of 10.1kph, it still returned 9.8km/L. On provincial roads with elevation changes, that figure jumps to 15.2km/L without even trying. We have no doubts that 20km/L is achievable.
Ride and handling
We’ll get the handling bit out of the way first: It’s…okay. This is a minivan with zero sporting intentions and that’s fine. Roadholding is good and it won’t scare anyone behind the wheel. It’s safe and secure, nothing more, nothing less. We did note that the brakes are a little on the grabby side, so your foot needs a bit of recalibrating for smoother stops.
Now, for the main highlight, the ride. It’s smooooth, smooth enough to warrant extra O’s when we spell it out. The words stiff and harsh simply do not exist, and anything that disrupts passenger comfort is thoroughly smothered by the suspension. Whether it’s empty or laden, the Carnival is comfortable at any speed. The second row is absolutely the place to be.
Factor in the silent operation in battery power mode and this minivan is possibly the most refined driving and riding experience anyone can have without having to spend nearly ten million pesos. The double glazed windows keep noise out, cocooning everyone on board to drown out the noise of busy streets.
Extra features
New for 2025 is the dual-screen arrangement on the dashboard. The digital instrument cluster has a crisp and clear display, while the infotainment screen is simple and easy to use. The model update also got rid of the toggle switches from the pre-facelift model, and we’re a little 50:50 on that decision. At least the controls aren’t buried in the main touchscreen.
As the hybrid is the range-topping version of the Carnival, there are heaps of luxuries we greatly appreciated during its stay with us. There’s heated, and more importantly, cooled seats. They’re not just for the front passengers, either, as even the second row gets it too. We mentioned the captain’s chairs at the back that can turn into a recliner, which is always something great to have in these minivans.
Instead of having a large pane of glass on the roof, the Carnival has two sunroofs, both of which can be opened. It’s a rare feature these days and certainly an interesting novelty. Privacy shades are also standard for the second and third row areas. The only thing we wish it had was a rear entertainment system, but maybe that’s our parent brain kicking in.
For safety features, it has advanced driver assist systems, as one would expect from a premium product these days. So there’s adaptive cruise, autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, and more. The 360 degree cameras are a handy feature given the size of the Carnival, and there’s also rear cross-traffic alert with emergency braking.
On that note, we found the rear autonomous emergency braking a touch on the sensitive side, slamming on the anchors even with a fair bit of space behind. It didn’t like nose-in parking either as it tended to panic backing out of parking slot when it detects a motorcyclist speeding up to save 0.002 seconds on their commute by going for the gap. Better safe than sorry, we suppose.
Verdict
The Kia Carnival hybrid retails for P3,488,000, so it’s not what anyone would call ‘about kaya.’ Still, the fact that we’re seeing a fair number of these on the road suggests that the price is fair. The electrified Carnival also has the unique distinction of being one of the very few hybrid minivans in the local market. You’re probably wondering what the other option is. That would be the Toyota Alphard.
Is this a direct competitor to the Alphard? To be honest, not quite. Yes, both the Carnival and Alphard are minivans with commodious interiors, lounge-style seating, a hybrid powertrain, and offer ride comfort that’s hard to beat. However, the Toyota just feels more luxurious and business class-like, but it’s also worth pointing out that it’s over a million pesos more expensive.
Think of the Carnival as a half-step to the Alphard. While some of the cabin materials aren’t quite luxury levels, it’s still hugely comfortable and incredibly spacious. It’s a pleasant minivan to drive and even a greater joy to be a passenger in. If you don’t want to wait in line for the Toyota and the over P1 million difference is too much to take, this Kia is a great alternative.
Factor in the space, practicality, and versatility that it offers, it’s also a substitute to SUVs and crossovers that hover in the same price range. So, before you go right ahead and get that premium three-row crossover, we suggest checking out this minivan first. It might just be the better choice.
Specs: 2025 Kia Carnival SX+ Turbo Hybrid
Price: P3,488,000
Engine: 1.6-liter turbo gasoline I4 + single electric motor
Power: 245hp
Torque: 367Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Layout: Front wheel-drive
Seating: 7
Score: 10/10
