Hybrid confirmed for 2024 Kia Carnival facelift as the slick people mover looks to extend its lead over the Toyota Granvia, Hyundai Staria, and Volkswagen Multivan

Kia has officially revealed its significantly facelifted Carnival people mover for the 2024 model year, after the design was recently leaked.

Sporting the brand’s latest ‘Opposites unite’ design motifs consisting of a strong LED character in the face, squared-off grille, and science-fiction-styled alloy wheel designs, the new Carnival looks to build on its existing lead over rivals.

Other design tweaks include new front and rear light profiles, redesigned bumpers, a new skid plate, and a redesigned tailgate section with a more contemporary light bar, syncing the Carnival’s design up with the incoming EV5 and EV9 electric SUVs.

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Kia is yet to throw the covers off the Carnival’s interior, but expect similar tweaks to other recent Kias, with potentially the most significant upgrade being the new software suite (with connected services, and future-proofed for the next-generation Kia app) which will debut in Australia on the EV9.

Perhaps the most important update this time around though is the confirmation that the Carnival will finally be available with a hybrid drivetrain for the first time. Expect the same HEV system as appears on the larger Sorento, consisting of a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, mated to an electric motor and a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. In the case of the Sorento, this powertrain delivers combined outputs of 169kW/264Nm.

The brand also confirmed it would continue to offer petrol (3.5-litre V6, 216kW/355Nm) and diesel (2.2-litre four-cylinder, 148kW/440Nm) drivetrains alongside the hybrid unit internationally. Kia’s Korean division said more information will become available in November when it receives domestic pricing and specifications.

When will we see the new Carnival in Australia? The local division confirms it will land in the first quarter of next year, at which point the current stop-sale on petrol models will be lifted and the top-spec SE diesel will be discontinued. However, while petrol and diesel are confirmed to continue, the hybrid grade is yet to be confirmed for the Australian market.

2024 will be a big year for Kia. The brand’s potentially game-changing EV5 mid-sizer is scheduled to land in Australia, to sit price- and size-wise below the EV6, while the EV3 small SUV will break cover in production form.

Australia will also receive a hybrid version of the Sportage at long last, and a facelift is confirmed for the Picanto small car, while an update is also due for the Cerato.