Top-selling people mover, the Kia Carnival, is destined for hybrid power – and the petrol-electric option could come to Australia.
A hybrid version of the top-selling Kia Carnival people mover is in development, reports indicate – and such a model could come to Australia if it were to become a reality.
Drive understands Kia is developing a hybrid variant of the current Carnival people mover, which could coincide with the vehicle’s mid-life facelift expected next year.
While Kia Australia has not confirmed any plans for a Carnival Hybrid, a representative for the company told Drive the company would be interested in such a vehicle if it were available.
However, despite the success of hybrid cars in Australia – and Kia Australia’s interest in such a model – there’s no guarantee the petrol-electric Carnival would be offered locally.
For now, it remains unclear if a hybrid version of the Kia Carnival will get the green light – and if it would be manufactured in left- and right-hand-drive.
There is also the matter of keeping up with demand for today’s Carnival and other Kia hybrids amid parts shortages and shipping bottlenecks.
The Sportage Hybrid SUV is yet to be locked in for sale locally due to the present lack of a right-hand-drive version of the South Korean-built, long-body Sportage sold in Australia in petrol and diesel form.
Only about 20 examples of the Kia Sorento Hybrid seven-seat SUV have been arriving in Australia each month, while the small Kia Niro Hybrid small SUV – and Kia Niro Electric – are also supply constrained, with 75 to 100 cars docking each month.
Launch timing is yet to be finalised for the mid-life facelift, however the Kia Carnival is due for an update towards the end of next year – a logical time to expand the range with a hybrid model.
If it arrives in Australia, the Kia Carnival would be the first hybrid in the people-mover segment – though it won’t be the first electrified people-mover in Australia (that honour is due to go to the Chinese electric LDV Mifa 9 later this year).
Hybrid pioneer and market leader Toyota offers a hybrid people mover overseas, the Sienna – but it is not built in right-hand drive, and the company’s people-mover offering locally, the HiAce van-based Granvia, is for now exclusively diesel powered.
Performance specifications of the Kia Carnival Hybrid are yet to be confirmed, however it’s worth noting the vehicle shares its underpinnings with the Kia Sorento and Hyundai Santa Fe SUVs – which are already available with petrol-electric hybrid power.
These models combine a 132kW/265Nm 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with a 44kW electric motor, compact battery and six-speed automatic transmission for combined outputs of 169kW and 350Nm.
A choice of front- or all-wheel drive is available in the Sorento and Santa Fe – but rumours out of Korea suggest the Carnival Hybrid will only be front-wheel drive, as its rear floorpan is reportedly unable to support a powered axle for all-wheel drive.
There’s no word on if the Carnival’s twin under the skin, the Hyundai Staria, will adopt hybrid power – but it is expected to gain a hydrogen fuel cell-powered model next year, according to overseas reports.
If it is approved for Australia – and arrives with the model’s mid-life update – expect to see the Kia Carnival Hybrid in local showrooms from late 2023 onwards.
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