Honda CR-V vs Kia Carnival
Verdict
The Honda CR-V is the tighter, cheaper five-seat SUV: RM178,200, 4,691 mm long, 1,616 kg, 589-litre boot, 7 L/100 km and a 5-star ASEAN NCAP result. The Kia Carnival asks RM188,888, but it is a much bigger 11-seat MPV at 5,155 mm long with a 3,090 mm wheelbase, 72-litre tank, power sliding doors and a 360-degree camera. The trade-off is clear: the CR-V has the stronger driver-assist list, while the Carnival buys people-carrying capacity.
CR-V
Pick the Honda CR-V if you want a five-seat SUV with better listed active safety, a larger boot with all seats in use and lower purchase and road tax costs.
Carnival
Pick the Kia Carnival if you need 11 seats, sliding rear doors, a huge wheelbase and the torque of a 2.2-litre turbodiesel MPV.
Key differences
- Price: Honda CR-V RM178,200; Kia Carnival RM188,888
- Seats: Honda CR-V 5; Kia Carnival 11
- Powertrain torque: Honda CR-V 190 Nm engine torque plus 335 Nm motor torque; Kia Carnival 440 Nm engine torque
- Size: Honda CR-V 4,691 mm long with 2,701 mm wheelbase; Kia Carnival 5,155 mm long with 3,090 mm wheelbase
- Boot space: Honda CR-V 589 litres; Kia Carnival 56 litres
- Driver assists: Honda CR-V has Honda Sensing with AEB, lane-keeping assist and blind spot info; Kia Carnival has none listed for those items
CR-V
- 589-litre boot versus the Carnival’s 56 litres with all seats in use
- Honda Sensing, adaptive cruise with low-speed follow and lane-keeping assist are listed
- Lower road tax at RM437 per year versus RM561
- Only 5 seats against the Carnival’s 11
- Smaller fuel tank at 57 litres versus 72 litres
- No power sliding rear doors
Carnival
- 11-seat cabin with removable second and third rows plus folding fourth row
- 2.2-litre turbodiesel makes 197 hp and 440 Nm
- Gets dual power sliding rear doors, 360-degree camera and 6 front plus 6 rear parking sensors
- Higher price by RM10,688
- Much heavier at 2,129 kg versus 1,616 kg
- No listed AEB, lane-keeping assist, blind spot info or ASEAN NCAP rating
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM 178,200✓ | RM 188,888 |
| Body type | SUV | MPV |
| Segment | C-Segment | D-Segment |
| Assembly | CKD | CBU |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC, Atkinson Cycle Naturally Aspirated with Dual Variable Valve Timing and Variable Valve Lift | 16-Valve DOHC, Turbocharged with Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing |
| Capacity | 1,993 cc | 2,151 cc |
| Horsepower | 146 hp | 197 hp✓ |
| Torque | 190 Nm | 440 Nm✓ |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline | Inline |
| Timing Type | Chain | Chain |
| Fuel | Petrol Hybrid/REV | Diesel |
| Bore | 81 mm | 83 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 13.9 | 16 |
| Number of Motors | 2 | — |
| Motor Horsepower | 181 hp | — |
| Motor Torque | 335 Nm | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | eCVT Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | — | 8-speed Automatic with E-Shift |
| Gears | — | 8 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | Honda | — |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 8.9 seconds | — |
| Rated Economy | 7 L/100 km | — |
| Top Speed | 185 km/h | — |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,691 mm | 5,155 mm |
| Width | 1,866 mm | 1,995 mm |
| Height | 1,681 mm | 1,775 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,701 mm | 3,090 mm |
| Weight | 1,616 kg | 2,129 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 57 litres | 72 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 11 |
| Boot Space | 589 litres✓ | 56 litres |
| Front Tyre | 235/60R18 | 235/60R18 |
| Rear Tyre | 235/60R18 | 235/60R18 |
| Spare Tyre | Space Saver | Space Saver |
| Factory Tyres | — | Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance SUV |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | Korea (CBU) |
| Chassis | Unibody | Unibody |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | MacPherson Struts |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-links |
| Front Wheels | 18" Alloy | 18" Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 18" Alloy | 18" Alloy |
| Front Brakes | Ventilated Disc | Ventilated Disc |
| Rear Brakes | Solid Disc | Solid Disc |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Crash Safety Ratings | ||
| ASEAN NCAP | 5 stars | — |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Front Side and Rear Curtains, Front Knee Airbags | Driver and Front Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Front Center Airbag, Driver's Knee Airbag |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for Rear Doors | Manual for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 8 Three-point, 3 Lap Belts |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | — |
| ISOFIX | Available on Two Outer Rear Passenger Seats | Available for 2 Outer 2nd Row Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes, Honda Sensing | — |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | No |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | — |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Reflector with Auto High Beam | LED Projector |
| Taillamps | LED Combination | Full LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | 8-way Power Adjustable Driver's Seat with Driver's Memory, 4-way Power Adjustable Passenger Seat | Power Adjustable Front Seats |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split-folding, Manual Recline and Sliding | 40:20:40 Split-folding, Sliding, Reclining and Removable 2nd Row with Tip-up Centre Seat, 40:20:40 Split-folding, Sliding, Reclining and Removable 3rd Row with Tip-up Centre Seat, Folding 4th Row |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Rear Vents | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control with 3rd Row Air Vents |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 2 Front USB, 2 Rear USB | 1 Front, 1 Rear, 1 Boot, 2 USB-C Front, 2 USB-C Second Row, 2 USB-C Third Row |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights | Map Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 4 Middle Row, 4 Last Row |
| Sun Shade | — | Manual 2nd and 3rd Row Sun Shades |
| Audio | 9.0" Advanced Display Audio Touchscreen with 8 Speakers, Wired Android Auto, Wired and Wireless Apple CarPlay | 12.3" Infotainment Touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and 6 Speakers |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Driver's Side Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch | Four Windows, Driver's Side Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button with Remote Start | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation with Walk-away Auto Lock | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control with Low Speed Follow | Passive Cruise Control |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Power Boot with Hands-Free Function | Powered Boot |
| Parking Sensor Front | 4 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 4 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, with Multi-angle | Yes, 360-degree Camera |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | — |
| Power Door | — | Power Sliding Rear Doors - Both Sides |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited✓ | 150,000 km |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 5 years | 5 years |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM 437✓ | RM 561 |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration.
CR-V vs Carnival FAQ
Is the Honda CR-V or Kia Carnival better?
The CR-V is better for most five-seat family use thanks to its boot, Honda Sensing assists and lower cost. The Carnival is better if you genuinely need 11 seats and MPV access.
What is the price difference?
The Kia Carnival costs RM10,688 more than the Honda CR-V, at RM188,888 versus RM178,200.
Which is more practical for a large family?
The Kia Carnival is the large-family pick with 11 seats, power sliding rear doors and rear climate vents to the third row. The CR-V has only five seats, but its 589-litre boot is far larger with all seats in use.