Quick look
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New 8-seater variant combines the flagship 7-seater’s premium specs with a flexible 2-3-3 seating layout.
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Diesel running costs are high now but Kia Sales Malaysia highlights that long-term maintenance costs of the Carnival are lower than other MPVs in the segment.
Kia Sales Malaysia (KSM) has added to its locally-assembled Carnival MPV range a new 8-seater variant, filling the gap between the existing 7-seater and 11-seater versions.
Although assembled locally, it is priced at RM238,888 (without insurance), a price point significantly above the entry-level 11-seater, which retails for RM188,888, and slightly below the flagship 7-seater priced at RM248,888. As an introductory offer, KSM is offering financing incentive of a 1.98% interest rate or RM6,000 fuel credits (via TnG eWallet).
2-3-3 seating
The 8-person capacity is achieved with a 2-3-3 seating. The second row has a 40:20:40 split design where the seats can be detached or slid along rails to adjust legroom. The middle seat can also be reversed to face the rear, and the outer seats can be exchanged to create a face-to-face seating arrangement suitable for business or family interaction.
In the third row, the seats have a 60:40 split and when folded, the backrests are completely flat in the floor, providing maximum volume on a level surface. Sturdy handles in the rear backrests make it easy to raise them again.
Despite the additional seating capacity, the headroom and legroom dimensions remain unchanged between the two versions. This allows the 8-seater to bridge the gap between a high-occupancy transporter and a more comfort-oriented family vehicle.
Flagship-level specs
The interior features mirror the higher-spec 7-seater, featuring a curved panoramic display that houses two 12.3-inch screens for the instrument cluster and infotainment. The dashboard includes a horizontal control panel for climate and media functions, enhanced with ambient lighting. Listening pleasure is provided by a 12-speaker Bose premium system.
2.2-litre turbodiesel engine
The 8-seater also uses the 2.2-litre Smartstream 4-cylinder turbodiesel engine used throughout the Carnival range. This produces 202 ps/440 Nm which goes to the front wheels through an 8-speed automatic transmission.
These are tough times for those who own diesel vehicles as prices are higher than any time in the past. The Smartstream engine, designed with technology to minimise fuel consumption, is rated at 15.4 kms/litre. This consumption would allow for a potential range of over 900 kms on a full tank.
Low cost of maintenance
However, comparing the cost of ownership across Malaysia’s large MPV segment, KSM declares that the Carnival remains among the most cost-efficient in its class. As the only option offering scheduled service intervals of 10,000 kms/12 months, scheduled maintenance for the MPV could be around RM3,600 over a period of 5 years.
As with other Kia models purchased through authorised Kia dealers, customers are offered Kia Cares, a comprehensive insurance package by KSM. This has benefits such as agreed value for up to 15 years, approval for claims below RM30,000 within 24 hours, free betterment for up to 10 years, and no excess payment required for selected incidents. Fleet purchases are eligible for attractive tiered packages inclusive of servicing.
