The 2026 Kia Carnival Hybrid (HEV) lineup is now at least $20,000 more affordable than before, following the release of two cheaper new petrol-electric versions of the popular people mover.
Just as it promised it would, Kia Australia has now added more affordable S and Sport+ versions of the Carnival HEV, which was released here exclusively in top-shelf GT-Line form as part of the facelifted people mover range launched in May 2024.
While the flagship Kia Carnival GT-Line HEV costs $76,630 before on-road costs following a $270 price hike across the otherwise unchanged MY26 range, the new entry-level Carnival S HEV is now available for $56,100 before on-roads – $20,530 less than the hybrid GT-Line.
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Kia Carnival GT-Line HEV
Meantime, the Carnival Sport+ HEV arrives at $68,330 plus on-roads, positioning it in the middle of Kia’s now three-variant people mover range, and making petrol-electric power available in three of the Carnival’s five equipment grades.
Equipment levels are as per the existing S and Sport+ variants and, like the top-spec GT-Line HEV, both new hybrid variants are powered by a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol-electric powertrain producing 180kW of power and 366Nm of torque, with a claimed combined fuel consumption figure of 5.8L/100km.
And like all Carnivals, they drive only their front wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission.
The MY26 lineup now opens at $50,570 plus on-roads for the base Carnival S powered by a 216kW/355Nm 3.5-litre petrol V6, which is also available with Sport, Sport+, GT-Line Lite and GT-Line trims.
The Carnival can also be had with a 148kW/440Nm 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel, which is available across all five trim levels, starting with the S priced at $52,800 before on-roads.
Kia’s Carnival easily remains Australia’s favourite people mover so far in 2025, with 3213 examples sold to April – up 36.5 per cent in the same period last year.
Its closest competitors are lightyears behind, including the Hyundai Staria (328 sales year-to-date) and Ford Tourneo (229).
In a move that will soon be replicated with the Sorento HEV large SUV, the arrival of more Carnival HEV variants follows freer supplies from the Korean factory ahead of looming emissions penalties under the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES).
MORE: Everything Kia Carnival
