Kia Carnival vs Mercedes-Benz Vito Tourer
Verdict
The Kia Carnival is the numbers play here: it has 11 seats to the Mercedes-Benz Vito Tourer’s 10, 440 Nm to 350 Nm, eight airbags to six and a five-year warranty against two. The Vito Tourer hits back with 208 hp, rear-wheel drive, a much longer 3,430 mm wheelbase and auto emergency braking. But the RM153,148 gap is huge for a Malaysian buyer, especially when the Kia also has the bigger 72-litre tank and lower entry cost.
Pick the Kia Carnival if you want more seats, more torque, more airbags and a longer warranty for far less money.
Pick the Mercedes-Benz Vito Tourer if you want the bigger van footprint, rear-wheel drive and auto emergency braking.
Key differences
- Price: Kia Carnival RM 188,888; Mercedes-Benz Vito Tourer RM 342,036
- Seats: Kia Carnival 11; Mercedes-Benz Vito Tourer 10
- Engine output: Kia Carnival 197 hp/440 Nm; Mercedes-Benz Vito Tourer 208 hp/350 Nm
- Driven wheels: Kia Carnival front-wheel drive; Mercedes-Benz Vito Tourer rear-wheel drive
- Size: Kia Carnival 5,155 mm long/3,090 mm wheelbase; Mercedes-Benz Vito Tourer 5,370 mm long/3,430 mm wheelbase
- Safety and warranty: Kia Carnival 8 airbags/no AEB/5 years; Mercedes-Benz Vito Tourer 6 airbags/AEB/2 years
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM 188,888✓ | RM 342,036 |
| Body type | MPV | MPV |
| Segment | D-Segment | Commercial |
| Seats | 11 | 10 |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Powertrain | ||
| Fuel | Diesel | Petrol |
| Engine | 2,151 cc | 1,991 cc |
| Power | 197 hp | 208 hp✓ |
| Torque | 440 Nm✓ | 350 Nm |
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Driven wheels | Front Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 5,155 mm | 5,370 mm |
| Width | 1,995 mm | 1,928 mm |
| Height | 1,775 mm | 1,958 mm |
| Wheelbase | 3,090 mm | 3,430 mm |
| Boot space | 56 L | — |
| Fuel tank | 72 L | 70 L |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 8✓ | 6 |
| Auto emergency braking | — | Yes |
| Ownership | ||
| Warranty | 5✓ | 2 |
| Road tax / year | RM 561 | RM 436✓ |
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.
Carnival
- 11-seat layout
- Strong 440 Nm diesel torque
- Five-year warranty with eight airbags
- No auto emergency braking listed
- Shorter 3,090 mm wheelbase than the Vito Tourer
- Road tax is higher at RM561 per year
Vito Tourer
- Long 5,370 mm body and 3,430 mm wheelbase
- Rear-wheel drive
- Auto emergency braking included
- Costs RM153,148 more
- Only 10 seats
- Two-year warranty and six airbags
Carnival vs Vito Tourer FAQ
Is the Kia Carnival or Mercedes-Benz Vito Tourer better?
For most family and shuttle buyers, the Kia Carnival is the better buy: it has 11 seats, 440 Nm, eight airbags and a five-year warranty. Choose the Mercedes-Benz Vito Tourer if rear-wheel drive, AEB and the longer wheelbase matter more.
What is the price difference?
The Mercedes-Benz Vito Tourer costs RM153,148 more than the Kia Carnival. That gap buys a larger body, rear-wheel drive, 208 hp and AEB, but the Kia gives more seats, torque, airbags and warranty cover.
Which one is larger?
The Mercedes-Benz Vito Tourer is longer and taller at 5,370 mm and 1,958 mm, with a 3,430 mm wheelbase. The Kia Carnival is wider at 1,995 mm, but shorter at 5,155 mm with a 3,090 mm wheelbase.