08/03/2026

theSunday Special XIV ON SUNDAY MAR 8, 2026

Seats have everything you’d want, except massaging function.

Fourth-row in is incredibly tight, best for short trips only.

The awkward tailgate slit is gone. The mismatched analogue dials are gone. The excessive piano black has been toned down. What remains is a genuinely well engineered, easy-driving, spacious MPV that still feels more cohesive and more confidence-inspiring than its size suggests. My only real criticism? The lack of Adas on the 11-seater. Fix that, and there would be almost nothing to complain about. As it stands, it’s still one of the most convincing large MPVs you can buy under RM200k. And now, with fewer nitpicks, it’s even easier to rec ommend. But if you want the most complete Carnival, you’d have to “top-up a bit more” for the 7-seater. Then again, in Malaysia, everything is just a top up away from something better. SPECIFICATIONS Engine: 2.2-litre Smartstream D, 4 cylinder turbodiesel Power: 202PS Torque: 440Nm Transmission: Eight-speed auto matic Drivetrain: Front-wheel drive PRICE (AS TESTED): RM249,849 (7-SEATER, OTR without insur ance) We like: Composed handling for its size, long-distance cruising ability, improved interior cohesion. We don’t like: No Adas on 11 seater.

know which one I’d rather feel. It’s not a sports car. It’s not meant to be. But the fact that it doesn’t drive like a boat is what elevates it above many large MPVs. Ride comfort remains plush. It still glosses over poor surfaces with that familiar cushy composure. The rear can oscillate slightly over larger undulations, especially for those seated near the rear axle, but that’s the trade-off for its softer damp ing. It’s the same give-and-take as before and on the larger 19-inch wheels in the 7-seater, there is a touch more jitter across poor surfaces. The 2.2-litre turbodiesel remains the heart of the Carnival. Torque is plentiful. Overtakes are easy. Highway cruising is effortless. Kia Sales Malaysia claims over 900km per tank, and that honestly feels conservative given how relaxed the engine is at speed. But two things stood out this time. First, diesel is now unsubsidised. That changes the ownership equation slightly, though the range per tank and torque delivery still make a strong case for long-distance family travel. Second, I found myself needing to apply more throttle than expected when pulling out from junctions. It felt like the car was in a conservative mapping, reluctant to downshift unless I really prodded it. I don’t recall this trait from the pre-facelift, but that was four years ago, so I won’t pretend my memory is flawless.

Third-row seats can be folded and unfolded with one hand.

249,849 for the 7-seater. VERDICT: FROM EXCELLENT TO HARDER TO FAULT The facelifted Kia Carnival didn’t reinvent itself, because why fix some thing that isn’t broken? What it did was remove most of the small irrita tions that prevented me from calling it close to complete.

minimum, especially in a vehicle designed to carry up to 11 people. The seven-seater, on the other hand, gets the full suite. It also gets the Bose sound system and ventilated seats, which are a genuine blessing in our weather. But it costs about RM 60,000 more. On-the-road prices now sit at RM189,849 for the 11-seater and RM

Being a diesel also means there’s the inevitable clatter, especially from the outside. It’s not a deal-breaker, just something to keep in mind. HERE COMES THE BIG BUT… This part is harder to excuse in 2026. The 11-seater still lacks Adas. No autonomous emergency braking. In this day and age, AEB should be the

The Carnival is truly at home on the highway, wafting along while sipping fuel.