The Carnival has been present in North America for decades but it is still a bit behind class leaders in terms of sales numbers. Rivals like Toyota Sienna or Honda Odyssey are still way more popular but this could change with the 2024 Kia Carnival. From what we can hear, the Korean manufacturer prepares new versions of the minivan. While the current model comes only with a V6 engine, the next year’s model will allegedly bring hybrid powertrains. Moreover, the company is also working on the FCEV version, which will be offered in selected markets.
The rest of the vehicle will remain unchanged, so you may count on familiar design characteristics and features. This minivan looks nice and offers good handling, while the cabin looks very attractive and features very good build quality. Furthermore, the list of standard and available equipment is pretty generous, while both passengers and cargo areas are respectable.
We expect to see the 2024 Kia Carnival sometime in the second half of 2023.
2024 Kia Carnival is Getting Hybrid Versions
As we already mentioned, one of the most anticipated things for the 2024 Kia Carnival is a hybrid powertrain. From what we know so far, the Korean manufacturer will offer proven setups, which can already be found in various Kia and Hyundai models.
We are talking about two setups, a classic hybrid and a plug-in hybrid. Both are based on a 1.6-liter turbo-four engine, which comes in pair with an electric motor and a 1.5-kWh battery pack. The total output goes around 226 horsepower, which should be quite enough to ensure decent performance. On the other hand, the PHEV version will come with a more capable electric motor and a bigger battery, so the max output will be increased to 261 horsepower, while you may also expect around 30 miles of the all-electric range.
Finally, some reports suggest that Kia is about to offer a fuel cell version of Carnival. The Korean manufacturer isn’t new to this technology, as they already introduced a model called Nexo. So we presume that the same technology would be for the Carnival FCEV and that it would be offered in selected markets.
2024 Kia Carnival Engines
On the other hand, standard models will continue with a familiar V6 engine. Of course, we are talking about a familiar 3.5-liter engine that puts out around 290 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque and comes coupled with an 8-speed automatic transmission. The whole setup works well and feels quite refined. With a 0-60 time of 8.5 seconds, this model is slightly slower compared to most competitors.
When it comes to fuel economy, you may count on 19 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway, which is typical for a minivan.
2024 Kia Carnival Design
Design-wise, the 2024 Kia Carnival will continue in the same way. The current generation has been around since 2020, so it’s still early for more important updates. Simply, the model still looks quite fresh. It rides on a familiar N3 platform and shares most of the parts with Sorento. This refers to aesthetics as well, so it’s no wonder that the front end also looks pretty attractive with that combination of sharp and rectangular shapes.
In terms of the ride quality, we like how Carnival handles but, on the other hand, the suspension setup is on the firm side. For that reason, some road imperfections can be felt inside the cabin.
Interior
The interior quality is pretty good. Once again, you can find a lot of things in common with the Sorento, especially in terms of the dashboard design, which utilizes quality materials and comes with lots of tech features.
There are three rows of comfortable seats. The first two rows are very generous in this aspect, while the third row, although spacious, features slightly less headroom, which can be problematic for adult passengers.
The cargo area offers around 40.2 cubic feet of room behind the third-row seats, and around 86.9 cubic feet with this row folded down. With both the second and third rows folded down, you get 145.1 cubic feet, which is also a respectable number.
Features
Bigger changes in this aspect are not expected. So, you may count on standard features like an 8-inch touch screen, a six-speaker stereo, Bluetooth, seven USB ports, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, push-button start and remote start.
The list of options is even more impressive, with available upgrades like a 12.3-inch touch screen, a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, dual sunroofs, tri-zone automatic climate control, an in-vehicle intercom and a passenger-view camera, navigation, an eight-speaker audio system, a 12-speaker Bose audio system, satellite radio, additional USB ports, wireless device charging, a rear-seat entertainment system etc.
2024 Kia Carnival Release Date and Price
We expect to see the 2024 Kia Carnival sometime in the second half of 2023, with the starting price f around 34.000 dollars.
