It took a while for Kia to completely overhaul the Carnival before this generation. It didn’t take long, however, for the Korean carmaker to give this current-gen model a refresh.
Now, said updated Carnival has arrived in the Philippines, and it brings with it a bold new exterior, a fresh new interior, and more tech than ever. Let’s take a closer look.
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Variants and prices
Two variants are available at launch, both of which have identical powertrain-transmission configurations. The range starts at P2.888 million for the EX and goes up to P3.368 million for the SX.
Color options are namely: Ceramic Silver (SX only), Aurora Black Pearl, and Snow White Pearl. All purchases come with a five-year/160,000km warranty, and the new Carnival also gets standard Kia 24/7 roadside assistance. You can check out the price list below.
Kia Carnival 2025 Philippine prices
- Kia Carnival 2.2 EX Diesel AT – P2,888,000
- Kia Carnival 2.2 SX Diesel AT – P3,368,000
Exterior
Size-wise, the Carnival sees no changes. It still measures 5,155mm long, 1,995mm wide, and 1,740mm tall with a 3,090mm wheelbase. Minimum ground clearance is listed at 162mm, while curb weight is at 2,108kg.
The majority of the changes are aesthetic. Up front, the Carnival gets an updated Tiger Nose grille that now looks bolder and more aggressive than before. It’s also wider, giving the Carnival even more road presence than ever.
On the sides, the new Carnival gets reworked wheels, the looks of which were seemingly derived from the EV5 and EV9. The SX gets 18-inch wheels while the SX has 19s. Out back, the minivan-slash-MPV now features a lightbar that stretches the width of the vehicle, as opposed to the typical separate taillights in the pre-facelift model.
Interior
Of course, the dimensions of the cabin remain the same as well. What’s almost completely new here is the dashboard. In addition to the new black-brown colorway adorning the interior, the dash and center console have been tweaked to accommodate the new pair of 12.3-inch displays (which we’ll discuss further later) and the much smaller panel for audio and A/C controls. You may recall that in the old Carnival, there were a ton of buttons and knobs up front, making it look almost like an airplane cockpit.
In the second row, leather captain seats with multiple adjustments are available in the SX variant where you also still have leg rests and power controls. In the EX, you get slightly less luxurious captain seats without the cushioned leg rests and ventilation.
The third row remains almost untouched, still offering the same amount of space as before. Like in the second row, there’s a sunshade available here, as well as dedicated cup holders, cubbies, and USB-C ports on either side.
Engine and specs
You’ll find more familiar bits under the hood, where the 2.2-liter in-line-four Smartstream diesel engine is housed. This engine produces 199hp at 3,800rpm and 440Nm of torque at 1,750-2,750rpm and is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission that sends power to the front wheels.
The new Carnival gets MacPherson struts up front and a multi-link suspension at the rear. Ventilated front discs and solid rear discs provide stopping power.
Extra features
Where do we begin? As mentioned, there’s a new pair of displays. The instrument cluster has been refined, while the head unit loses its bezels and looks sleeker than ever. The latter is paired with a four-plus-two speaker setup with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.
For the most part, amenities for passengers are standard in the lineup, including the three-zone automatic climate control, power sliding doors, and a power liftgate. Some of the exclusive features in the range-topping SX include the walk-away close function for the tailgate and the wireless mobile charger.
Moving onto the safety department, this is where the disparity between trim levels gets bigger. The EX gets cruise control and blind-spot monitoring as standard, together with a 360-degree-view camera with front and rear parking sensors and parking collision-avoidance assist. In the SX, you get added adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping and lane-following assist, forward-collision avoidance assist, and rear cross-traffic alert.
More photos of the Kia Carnival 2025:
