The new 2026 Kia Carnival facelift was launched today in Malaysia, with two variants on offer: an 11-seater, priced at RM188,888, and the more premium seven-seater at RM248,888. Intriguingly, despite the same model being exported from Malaysia to Thailand as a hybrid model, the MPV continues to be powered by a 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine here.
When quizzed by the media during a Q&A session after the launch, Kia Sales Malaysia product manager, Faiz Bahruddin, said that they are continuously studying the hybrid powertrain’s viability in Malaysia, and will introduce it for our market “when the time is right”.
In response to follow-up queries related to the high fuel prices, given that subsidies for diesel fuel has now been rationalised, Kia Sales Malaysia Managing Director, Emily Lek, added that the oil-burner offers “a lot more mileage” from a full tank of fuel.
The Kia Carnival is available globally in petrol, diesel, and hybrid powertrains, she clarified, stating that “Price per kilometre, even considering BUDI [RON95] subsidies, is actually the same [when compared to the petrol option]”, she added.
Kia Sales Malaysia claims the new Kia Carnival is capable of travelling for up to 900 km in a single tank of fuel despite its 2.1 tonne kerb weight, thanks to a 6.5 L/100 km (NEDC) official fuel consumption rating, alongside the massive 72 litre fuel tank.
The 1.6-litre hybrid, however, should still be significantly cheaper to run, given its more efficient 6.4 L/100 km efficiency rating according to international figures, and of course, the new RM1.99/L RON95 petrol price as part of the BUDI95 petrol subsidy programme, compared to the RM3.04/L EURO5 B7 diesel, which Kia recommends for the 2.2D engine.
Also found in the Hyundai Tucson and Santa Fe, the hybrid powertrain on the Kia Carnival in Thailand comprises a 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine and an electric motor for a combined system output of 245 hp and 367 Nm – 43 hp more, but also a significant 73 Nm reduction in torque when compared to the diesel mill.
