Kia Sales Malaysia (KSM) has launched its first model since taking over the brand’s distributorship on January 1. The facelifted Kia Carnival arrives some two years after its global unveiling and three months after it was launched in Thailand, but hey – better late than never, right?
Just like in the Land of Smiles, our Carnival is still locally assembled at the Inokom factory in Kulim, Kedah. This time, the MPV is only offered with eleven or seven seats, with the eight-seater model having been dropped. The net prices excluding driving costs and insurance but including KSM’s new five-year/150,000 km warranty are as follows:
- 2026 Kia Carnival 2.2D 11-seater – RM188,888
- 2026 Kia Carnival 2.2D 7-seater – RM248,888
When on-road costs are included, prices increase RM189,849 for the 11-seater and RM249,849 for the seven-seater. Compared to the previous Carnival, the new 11-seater model is almost RM8,700 cheaper than before, while the seven-seater costs over RM10,000 less – staying true to KSM’s goal of “pricing its models right”. However, we must point out that the seven-seater is almost RM30,000 more expensive than the 2025 model when it went on sale early this year.
Although the hybrid version is already being built here for the Thai market, the Malaysian Carnival versions continue to run with the same diesel engine as before. This means that private buyers will still be saddled with high fuel costs if the government moves to targeted diesel subsidies.
That oil burner is a 2.2 liter Smartstream D turbo four-cylinder that delivers 202 hp at 3,800 rpm and 440 Nm of torque from 1,750 to 2,750 rpm. It drives the front wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox, and Kia claims a NEDC-estimated fuel consumption of 6.5 liters per 100km for this 2.1-tonne behemoth.
The facelifted Carnival differs from the previous model with a new front fascia featuring a much wider ‘tiger nose’ grille, flanked by L-shaped LED headlights – with four-by-side vertical ‘cube’ projectors – incorporating Kia’s latest Star Map LED daytime running lights. The bumper design has also been simplified with a single downward-facing air intake, framed by a silver U-shaped skid plate and LED fog lamps.
At the rear, you get new full-width LED taillights with the same Star Map graphic, while the number plate cutout has been moved further down the tailgate, allowing more space for the Kia badge. The rear bumper has also been redesigned with a silver bar to match the front.
Both models come with roof rails and a key-sensing hands-free opening function for the power sliding doors and the tailgate (the latter also closes when you walk away). But they differ in the wheels on offer: 18-inch two-tone turbine-style items for the 11-seater, 19-inch wheels with a distinctive ‘cubic’ design for the seven-seater. The eleven-seater also still gets the larger exterior mirrors that the seven-seater lacks.
Inside, the changes are more minimal: the 12.3-inch instrument and infotainment displays are now integrated into a single curved display. The two screens are now fitted as standard – there is no longer an analogue instrument panel as on the previous eleven-seater.
They are powered by an updated Connected Car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC) infotainment system, which is faster and has wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There’s also a full-width ambient lighting strip mounted below the full-width air vents, while audio and air conditioning controls are combined into a single switchable touch panel, just like the EV6, freeing up space for a larger storage compartment. Elsewhere, the seven USB ports in the vehicle are now of the USB-C type.
The cabin is configured in a 2-3-3-3 seating layout for the 11-seater and a 2-2-3 layout for the seven-seater. The power-adjustable captain’s chairs in the second row feature a one-touch Premium Relaxation recline function and can be manually moved forward, backward or side to side. In both variants, the front seats are electrically adjustable in eight directions with lumbar support (the seven-seater has four-way adjustable lumbar support on the driver’s side, memory, heating and ventilation).
Standard kit includes keyless entry with remote engine start, push-button start, three-zone automatic climate control with third-row vents, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, leatherette upholstery, second- and third-row side window sunshades, paddle shifters, a Qi wireless charger, six speakers and a 360-degree monitor. The seven-seater adds a head-up display, genuine leather and a 12-speaker Bose sound system, although the facelift ditches the old car’s twin sunroofs.
Frustratingly, KSM has still seen fit to reserve driver aids for the seven-seater, even basic features like autonomous emergency braking – at least now equipped with intersection collision avoidance. Other features include adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, lane centering assist, blind-spot monitoring with collision avoidance, blind-spot cameras, rear cross-traffic alert with automatic braking and a driver attention monitor.
Eight airbags – including a driver knee airbag and a new front center airbag – and stability control are standard, as are a door opening warning and a rear seat reminder.
GALLERY: 2026 Kia Carnival 2.2D 11-seater facelift in Malaysia
GALLERY: 2026 Kia Carnival 2.2D 7-seater facelift in Malaysia
GALLERY: Official photos of the 2026 Kia Carnival facelift
GALLERY: 2026 Kia Carnival facelift brochure
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