Well, what do we have here? Reader Amar Zain has spotted the new Kia Carnival at JPJ Putrajaya, which hint that the massive MPV may well be made available in Malaysia sometime in the near future.
The car seen here is a left-hand drive unit (likely a South Korean model based on the Carnival badging, instead of the Sedona name it carries in other markets), so it’s possible that it’s either an evaluation vehicle in preparation for a possible local introduction, or simply a special unit brought in to ferry top Naza Kia staff.
However, a source told paultan.org that the Carnival is currently under consideration to be sold in Malaysia, which does lend some weight to this sighting. If it does end up being offered here, this would be the first time the Korean MPV is sold here since the first-generation, also badged as the Naza Ria.
This Carnival is an absolute beast – it’s 40 mm longer than the already-commodious previous model and, on this particular unit, rides on 19-inch chrome alloy wheels. The added girth is claimed to have enabled the Carnival to offer more front shoulder room, greater leg room in the first, second and third rows and a slightly higher hip-point.
Available in either seven-, eight- or, in Korea, eleven-seater configurations, the Carnival is offered with two powertrain options – a 202 PS/441 Nm 2.2 litre R CRDi turbodiesel or a 280 PS/336 Nm 3.3 litre naturally-aspirated GDI V6. Both engines are mated to a six-speed automatic. So, what do you think of the possible return of the Carnival on our shores? Sound off in the comments section after the jump.
GALLERY: US-market Kia Sedona
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Nice looking MPV – seen this in a lot of Korean variety shows and it looks good inside too. The V6 might put off many buyers but the diesel model looks tempting.
Disease car. Drink duel like lembu.
Drink duel? lol “daggot”
As above
this car is good for my people who cannot control their willy and have 5 kids. Oh yeah, still earning RM2000 but still have 5 kids…..
Ask any owner of Carnival. They will tell you what a problematic car. Non stop problems. Naza also stinks. Big cheats and liars. And RV is OMG OMG OMG
Thats the old one. This is the new one.
Why are you still living in the past?
Please bring yourself to 2016.
As long as it is kimchi, you can say bye bye to RV.
The 2.2 turbodiesel wt 200hp & 440nm is a frugal engine & very powerful, you can try test drive the santa fe 2.2 diesel. Love the diesel santa fe….averaging 12-13km/l wt lots of power(440nm torque is monstrous), love to drive it(co pool car).
The 3.3 petrol, thats will drink too much petrol & the road tax will be a killer. Naza, bring the diesel! Pronto!
P.axia, 1.0l eco city car, can’t even do 14km/l and you expect a beast 3.3l do that ? Comparing an Apple with a durian.
Its Diesel vs Petrol engine. A diesel can go an extra 60% distance for the same tank.
But, in Malaysia we hardly find diesel engine in common car other than pickup trucks.
Hope Korean put in their 1.6 turbo engine in this.
Than, its good to go. ;D
This good looking minivan , with lower base looks promising.
Do you know there are a lot of Mercedes CDI’s and BMW 320d, 520d’s, Pugs in diesels, to name a few. Not forgetting Various brands of SUVs are running a diesel mill?
Easily zillion times better than Proton Exora.
And its a petallion better than Avanza, Misfortuner. So ur point?
OMG…this look so so only…i will choose Alphard, Vellfire or Estima loh…U can see many on the road. TOYOTA still the best.
it looks pretty awesome….
knowing kia malaysia, they’d probably sell it in a single trim but packed with kit…
checkout ‘engineering explained’ channel on youtube, he reviewed this beast , full of gadgets and goodies…
This and the diesel engine will beat the Alphard/Vellfire twins and the Elgrand hands down.
Can do 14km per litre in city driving? If cannot then forget it.
Buy yourself a Estima Hybrid instead.
Much better than Prius C
P.Axia, 1.0l eco car, can’t even do 14km/l in town and you expect a 3.3l beast can do that ? Comparing an Apple with a durian.
P.axia – Rm40 (rm2/l) only manage to do 230km in town, tank left 1bar. Good ?
Where is the new Sorento???? Launch that first then talk
This and the sorento are garnering superb reviews from other motoring reviews
The new Kia Rondo also nice but smaller MPV size. This Carnival basically similar segment with Hyundai Starex, Alphard, Odyssey, Elgrand etc.
Aiyo, seen this piece of junk in Bangkok and Sydney before.
Tai Fan Shue is the only word in Canto to describe this people mover
Joke, this car is not launched in Australia yet. I think the saga that bought for your son still the best RV.
There is no KIA in Bangkok. Where are you living again?
There are KIAs in Bangkok. They are so scarce that I see more Bentleys, Maseratis, Rolls around than kimchis
Why bother if you can only afford saga for your son Pakcik. Please explain why you hate proton but still bought Saga for your son in Sept 2014 at Cheras branch?
Sorhai kimchi owner that can’t even check out KIA Australia website.
Haha so you are the tai fan shue, cannot even differentiate a model want to comment…..haha big sweet potato
Gearbox sure big time problem
The old one maybe, but not this one. Proven reliability by their sister company Hyundai on their Santa Fe’s
It’s gorgeous in person. The interior is way better than Japanese big MPVs and exterior wise it has masculine look. It looks strong. I rode this numbers of times when i was in South Korea. Kia has gone way up in other countries including in the US and I can say this is a better MPV than the Japs’.
How bout RV?
Second that. Rented a unit in Jeju for 4 days. A gas to drive. Torquey pull making the climb up mountain roads feels like the driveway ramp. Gearbox didnt hunt up and down, staying pretty much in the ratio expected in climbing and exiting bends. Diesel mileage is quite decent. A one and a quarter tank for 4 days driving . Spacious interior. Low diesel hum inside cabin. Overall a decent package. Quite a value for money if the spec is maintained
To be bland. Kia Malaysia is a big let down to the Kia slogan, The Power To Surprise! Kia Malaysia have failed to bring in so many well designed and engineered models such as the Kia Soul, latest Sorento, GT and in this case, the Carnival/Sedona. All the stated models have had positive reviews and the Carnival is no different. It is well designed and engineered to the level which is comparable to Continental car standards. But then again, what is the point of Kia producing such wonderful range of cars when Kia Malaysia have failed to offer them to the Malaysian Kia fans and supporters. Shame on you Kia Malaysia, you are a big let down to the Kia spirit!
I actually was able to ride the 7-seater model back in Seoul bout 4 months back and it was fantastic! Huge size (reminds me of the good old Estima and Grand Voyager) Even though it’s a 3Liter V6 it’s quite fuel economical n really quick. I do hope this car is affordable and is able to reduce and challenge the imported recons and overpriced Velfire and Alphard (to be honest they look like a shoe box with wheels)
dear naza, please dont screw up a good car
come to papa. been waiting for the next gen sorento to be launched at our shore. but if this beast launch at the same time as the new sorento, i’m gonna choose this beast
Yes please! The most handsome mpv at the moment, will definitely shake up the segment if it’s reasonably priced.
Wow, NIce car from Kia. This car should be able to beat the japannese brand from Toyota and Honda with the reliable powerful 2.5 GDI diesel engine.
With muscular conti car look from outside, Aeroplane corkpit interior, ultra seat configuration, good reliable GDI engine.
The whole package is 100% from outside to inside. Will consider to say bye bye to my Estima if their pricing below RM 140K with 5 years warranty.
Buy used unit 1 year later. Very dai mai
Buy now as Kia, 1 year later rebadged as Naza. Goodbye resale value.
Drove this one with 3.3 engine in Australia. Very quiet, comfortable with big luggage space. When park side-by-side, Estima is relatively small!
Never going to make it here. Problem is with Kia Malaysia since its own by Naza. Naza has big AP selling Wish, Estima, Velfire etc with outrageous profit margin. Thats why they will not sell any Kia MPV with lower profit n that will eat into their own market share.
Am actually driving one now in Melbourne. Rented over the weekend. First look, much bigger and more spacious than the current Estima or Tarago as they call it in Australia. Big boot space. Comfortable seating for 8. But cannot compare to Hyundai Starex (that is a beast!). Driving the petrol version not sure how many cc it is. Seems to be alright. Feels a little underpowered compared with Tarago and noisier in the cabin but quite spacious and comfortable. Tarago felt smaller inside. Interface on dash was simple and standard (mind you this is a rental so it is the basics). Compared to the Starex, the Carnival looses out in terms of space, comfort, power and handling. Saying that, the Carnival seems to be more popular in Australia as compared to the Starex…
I want tobuy this beast but if the price is high better for me to buy toyota vellfire recon at rm120k… please think about it
Went to Kia Glenmarie to test drive new Sorento, there the new Sodena at the showroom without much funfair. Check Paul Tan but couldnt get any clue on the launch date. Well, only diesel variant available, no V6, maybe due to pricing factor. Anyway, Grand Carnival as the Korean call it here, it is really a minivan in size. Best buy compared to grey imports. Anyway proceed to test drive Sorento HS, i was impressed with KIA’s improvements, big leap from previous model, superb NVH, smooth, build quality and continental driving experience. Way pass Honda or other Japs. The only minus point is the 2.4 Theta engine is too subtle and need to have n test 2.0 turbo version before decide to change to KPop