2025 Kia Carnival facelift launched in Thailand – CKD Malaysia, 1.6T hybrid, RM325k; coming here next?
The facelifted Kia Carnival has at last been launched in Thailand, some 15 months after it made its ASEAN debut in Indonesia (and a full two years after it was revealed globally). The tardy timing may have something to do with where the refreshed MPV is made – whereas other markets source their cars directly from Korea, the Land of Smiles gets its Carnival from Malaysia, according to Headlight Magazine.
Interestingly, the car – still CKD locally assembled at Inokom’s plant in Kulim, Kedah – is being offered in hybrid form only, ditching the 2.2 litre turbodiesel in favour of the petrol-electric setup currently utilised in the Hyundai Tucson and Santa Fe. It’s not cheap, however, with prices ranging from 2,499,000 baht (RM325,300) for the Premium variant to 2,699,000 baht (RM351,400) for the Luxury, both with seven seats.
Power comes from a 1.6 litre Smartstream turbocharged and direct-injected (T-GDi) four-cylinder engine, producing 180 PS at 5,500 and 265 Nm of torque from 1,500 to 4,500 rpm. This is paired with a 54 PS/304 Nm electric motor and a six-speed automatic transmission for a total system output of 245 PS and 367 Nm.
The design is as per what was shown previously, adopting Kia’s Opposites United design language and featuring new front and rear fascias. Vertical LED headlights and the brand’s signature Star Map daytime running lights frame a much larger grille, while inverted L-shaped LED taillights and a lower number plate recess deliver a cleaner-looking back end. Distinctive 19-inch cubic black alloy wheels come standard.
Inside, the changes are more minimal – the fourth generation’s reasonably modern-looking cabin gains a unified widescreen display panel that still houses a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen as standard, but the base analogue meter cluster has been replaced by a full-LCD unit with a 4.2-inch multi-info display, both housed under the same glass cover. The Luxury gains a 12.3-inch full-colour screen as before, along with a new digital rear-view mirror.
The upgraded Connected Car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC) infotainment system is faster and now features wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (previously wired only). Also fitted is a full-width ambient lighting strip under the full-width air vents, while the audio and air-con controls have been combined into a single switchable touch panel as per the EV6, freeing up space for a larger storage cubby. Elsewhere, the six USB ports throughout the vehicle are now of the USB-C kind.
Standard kit includes power-sliding doors, keyless entry, push-button start, triple-zone auto air-con, eight-way power-adjustable front seats, second-row captain’s chairs, faux leather upholstery, a Qi wireless charger, six speakers, a 360-degree camera system and a proximity-sensing hands-free opening tailgate.
The Luxury adds projector “cube” headlights, fog lights, dual sunroofs, a head-up display, driver’s seat memory, second-row Premium Relaxation powered seats with ottomans and one-touch recline, first- and second-row seat ventilation, black and brown leather upholstery and a 12-speaker Bose sound system.
Safety-wise, the Carnival comes as standard with the full complement of SmartSense driver assists, such as autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, lane centring assist and blind spot monitoring with collision avoidance. Eight airbags (including a centre airbag) and stability control are also fitted across the board.
With the facelifted Carnival already being assembled in Malaysia, we expect the car to be launched here sooner rather than later. The decision to phase out the diesel engine in favour of a hybrid system makes sense for our market given the discontinuation of diesel fuel subsidies – helped further by the recent increased Budi95 subsidy for RON95 petrol. Are you excited?
GALLERY: Kia Carnival Hybrid facelift at GIIAS 2024
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