08/03/2026

Contributing Editor Keshy Dhillon / keshy@piston.my Editorial

T: 03-7784 6688 F: 03-7785 2625 E: lifestyle@thesundaily.com Advertising T: 03-7784 8888 E: advertise@thesundaily.com

SUNDAY | MAR 8, 2026

SCAN ME

powered by

Carnival time New Kia MPV better executed, harder to fault

Wheel design seems to divide opinion.

BY SHAUN LEE 2.2L turbodiesel has all the torque to make driving feel effortless.

All variants now get a digital instrument cluster.

They are still among the better sec ond-row setups in this price bracket. Proper cushioning with heated/venti lated function, and more than enough space for adults to stretch out. However, there’s no massaging function like in more “luxurious” alternatives. HANDLING STILL MATTERS Driving the Carnival through the tight roads of Janda Baik only rein forced what I felt years ago – it doesn’t feel its size. You’re not constantly managing its mass. You’re not calculating body roll in advance nor bracing for lazy steer ing responses. The steering is accurate and appro priately weighted, and the rest of the car just follows along obediently in one cohesive motion. Some people say handling doesn’t matter in a car like this. I disagree. When you’re travelling with your entire family on board, the difference between a car that feels composed and one that feels clumsy is the difference between confidence and anxiety. I

layout finally looks cohesive, as intended from day one. The piano black trim is also less prominent. It’s still there in places, but it no longer dominates the centre console the way it used to. That alone reduces finger prints, scratches and daily annoy ance. Cavernous space remains what it always was. You still get that sense that each seat operates in its own time zone. The 11-seater works best as an eight-plus-three rather than a true 11 for adults, and that hasn’t changed. The fourth row is still best reserved for short trips or smaller occupants. The high floor is also still a thing. Elderly passengers will need a bit more effort climbing in, and that remains the only ergonomic compro mise I can’t argue away. But overall, the cabin now feels more complete. I didn’t spend time in the captain chairs during this drive, but I’ve expe rienced them before and the funda mentals haven’t changed.

the boot release. It looked like an afterthought. Now that the number plate has been repositioned slightly lower, the whole tailgate looks neater and more integrated. No random cut out anymore. The indicators are also now integrated into the tail-lights instead of being stuck down on the rear bumper. I’d argue that’s not just aesthetically better, but also functionally safer. Indicators higher up are eas ier to spot in traffic, especially with taller SUVs and lorries around. INTERIOR NITPICKS ADDRESSED Inside is where most of my previous complaints have been quietly erased. The old analogue instru ment cluster in the 11-seater variant, which looked out of place in a dashboard clearly designed for a screen, is gone. All variants now get dual screens. The

IT WAS four years ago when the Kia Carnival surprised me. Not because it was perfect, but because it was so fun damentally well-sorted at its core. It did the MPV brief properly. It was comfortable, spacious, refined and shockingly easy to drive for some thing that could double as a small hall. Now, after driving the 2026 Kia Carnival facelift around Janda Baik and Tanjung Malim, I am reminded of everything I liked about it. Except this time, most of my nitpicks are gone – talk about progress. EXTERIOR CLEAN UP The overall shape hasn’t changed, and that’s a good thing. The Carnival still looks like one of the best-executed bus-sized MPVs on sale. It embraces its boxy proportions rather than try ing to disguise them. But the facelift tidies up the small things that used to bother me. The most obvious fix is at the rear. Previously, there was that awkward slit below the number plate purely for

Switchable panel for A/C and media controls is a nice touch.