Facelifted Kia Carnival Debuts with New EV9-esque Face

The Kia Carnival MPV is getting a facelift treatment for 2024 Model Year update

Making a silent debut in the midst of the Japan Mobility Show (JMS) this week is the facelifted version of the Kia Carnival. Updated for the South Korean market, this fourth-gen MPV gets a brand-new front face, as well as a new hybrid powertrain option.

Similar to other recently-facelifted Kia models, the updated Carnival gets a new EV9-esque front face, with said flagship EV SUV model meant to serve the marque’s new design language. As a result, the updated MPV model now sports snazzier LED headlights with T-shaped design and DRL signatures, flanking its massive front grille with new pattern, finished in dark metallic.

Also new here is the redesigned front bumper, featuring a cleaner look with the separate fog lights unit being deleted, as well as the addition of new Ivory Silver exterior hue.

More facelift treatment can be found at the rear part of the updated Carnival, as the MPV sports snazzier T-shaped LED taillights similar to what we saw at the front. Aside from that, the Kia tailgate badge has been repositioned lower to make space for the LED light bar, while the tailgate handle is now hidden to give the rear a cleaner look.

While no interior shots of the updated Carnival has been released by the Korean marque, Kia claims that the facelift model will get a new 12.3-inch curved infotainment display with fingerprint recognition tech. Seating layout remains the same as before, where the MPV is offered with either a seven- or eight-seater configuration – both now coming with new upholstery option.

Aside from the existing petrol & diesel powertrains, the updated Kia Carnival will also be offered with a new hybrid powertrain derived from the Sorento SUV

Cosmetic upgrades aside, the facelifted Carnival is also offered with a new hybrid (HEV) powertrain derived from the Sorento SUV. Featuring a 1.6-litre 4-cyl petrol mill as a basis, this hybrid setup is capable of outputting 227 HP and 350 NM on said SUV model, though Kia has yet to specify the exact state-of-tune this MPV will be getting. Other powertrain options like the fully-ICE diesel and petrol mills are also available for this updated MPV model.

More information regarding the market availability and other specifications on this facelifted Kia Carnival MPV will be revealed next month. As for now, the updated MPV model is exclusively available for the domestic South Korean market, though we’d reckon it’ll make its way to other international markets in no time.