2024 Kia Carnival Hybrid approved for Australia! When will the petrol-electric people mover land Down Under?

The hybrid version of the Kia Carnival is another step closer to an Australian launch after it received approval from the Australian Government to be sold locally.

Documents reveal Kia has requested - and been granted - approval from the government to sell the Kia Carnival Hybrid as a variant alongside the facelifted people mover, which is set to launch locally within the next few weeks.

It’s expected the Kia Carnival Hybrid will follow the facelift for a launch closer to the middle of 2024, with Kia having flagged a Q1 launch for the facelift.

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The Hybrid will feature the same drivetrain, to some extent, as the Kia Sorento Hybrid when it lands in Australia - albeit in front-wheel drive only.

That means a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with an electric motor to help - in the Sorento that system produces 169kW and 350Nm.

When the facelift lands, petrol and diesel drivetrains will remain on offer, the petrol a 3.5-litre V6 good for 216kW/355Nm and the diesel a 2.2-litre four-cylinder making 148kW/440Nm. 

Currently in the Carnival line-up, petrol variants are $2000 cheaper than their diesel counterparts, so expect the hybrid variants to top the charts for cost - and likely be available in limited (high) specifications and with slim supply.

Speaking to CarsGuide in late 2023 about the upcoming facelift, a spokesperson for Kia confirmed certain features that were excluded from the current Carnival will be added for the facelift, including rain-sensing wipers, a digital cluster and Blind Spot View Monitor.

In terms of styling, the facelifted Carnival leans heavily into the ‘Opposites Unite’ design language Kia’s electric cars like the EV9 have championed - LED headlights in shaped bars, strong lines and boxy silhouettes are the norm.

Expect more details for Australian specifications of the Carnival Hybrid closer to its launch later this year.