New Kia Carnival (2025) Ride and Drive

Slipping behind the wheel of the updated Carnival, you immediately notice the cabin updates.

Just look at the size of that map!

The curved, panoramic display responds intuitively, forming a unit with the fully digital instrument cluster. At the same time, the wireless charging pad ensures your devices stay topped up without the usual cable chaos.

The interior is built to withstand the rigours of daily life. (This is the SXL variant.)

That premium high-gloss black central fascia, complemented by the signature chrome strip running across the dash, creates a sense of width and sophistication. The slim, metal-effect air vents and stylish two-tone leather interior elevate the experience beyond typical people-mover territory.

Although the EX model in this picture may not be as sumptuous as the SXL, it's still very well-specified.

Power and performance

It didn't take long to rediscover why this 2.2-litre Smartstream turbodiesel is so popular. With 148kW and a hearty 440Nm of torque available from just 1,750rpm, this engine pulls like Eben Etzebeth in a lineout: eager, strong, and dependable. It can also tow an impressive 1 500 kg.

South Africans love diesel engines, and Kia's 2.2 is one of the best in the business.

The 8-speed automatic transmission shifts imperceptibly, whether you are grinding your teeth in Cape Town's congested traffic or cruising freely from Gauteng to Hartenbos. It's the kind of powertrain that makes you forget you're piloting a 2 140 kg seven-seater, and manoeuvring this family van is as easy as ever. Somehow it never feels like you're behind the wheel of a large people mover!

EX or SXL model?

The Carnival in the US is almost identical to ours. This is the US equivalent of our SXL model.

The EX model, priced at R1 049 995, comes standard as an 8-seater, perfect for maximum people-carrying capacity when transporting the fan club to the match. But, you can also order it as a 7-seater if you prefer individual captain's chairs in row two over maximum capacity. 

However, the SXL is exclusively a 7-seater with luxurious individual captain's chairs in the second row, priced at R1,299,995.

Here's a quick look at the features in each model.

Stadium-bound: From Paarden Eiland to The Butcher Shop & Grill

Once our full media scrum had assembled, we were assigned to the SXL models, with our dedicated chauffeurs, four media members per vehicle.

The EX model comes with eight seats but can be ordered with seven.

Our convoy made its way to Mouille Point, where Kia had arranged a superb rib-eye lunch at the Butcher Shop & Grill, where the mood was nothing short of electric. After premium steaks, beer, dessert, and a few Springbokkies, the short walk to the DHL Stadium gave us time to work up a different kind of appetite for what promised to be a nerve-wracking encounter. Despite the weather report showing very little rain before the match, we got quite drenched on our way there, but quickly dried off and settled into our seats.

Springbok rugby in Cape Town!

We were in Springbok-supporter heaven! And, had it not been for Eben scoring a crucial try around the 73rd minute, the Wallabies could have stolen the match in the dying minutes, leaving South Africa in tears. When the final whistle blew, the entire stadium was in ecstasy. We quickly returned to the comfort and luxury of our VIP transport, but Greenpoint had other plans for us: The traffic jam of the century.

Gridlock glamour

Stuck in traffic that moved slower than a penalty conversion attempt, we had all the time in the world to properly appreciate what your money buys you in the SXL model.

An interior like this sure makes traffic much easier to deal with.

The multi-zone climate control maintained perfect cabin temperatures, the 12-speaker Bose sound system transformed the cabin into a premium concert hall, and the panoramic sunroof let in the city's friendly lights. Devices were plugged in, seat heaters and charging pad were tested, but mostly, we conversed and laughed with friends in a cabin that felt more like a business class lounge than a car.

The sound system rocks! Bose, with 12 speakers.

Our patient driver, meanwhile, was experiencing the Carnival's comprehensive Advanced Driver Assistance Systems suite, which made his life considerably easier. The Smart Cruise Control maintained perfect following distances in stop-start traffic, eliminating the constant brake-accelerate dance that usually accompanies gridlock.

You don't need to slip a disc to get into the back seats, and there's actually legroom for adults!

The Lane Keeping Assist ensured we stayed perfectly centred even when frustrated drivers around us forgot their manners. At the same time, the Blindspot Collision Avoidance Assist proved particularly valuable as impatient motorists attempted increasingly ambitious lane changes.

Blindspot View Monitor gave our chauffeurs superhuman awareness of adjacent traffic. Forward Collision Avoidance Assist and Rear Cross Traffic Alert worked seamlessly in the background, providing that extra layer of confidence.

The Verdict

When we rolled back into Kia Paarden Eiland to collect our own vehicles, one thing was clear: the updated Carnival remains the thinking family's choice in the premium people-mover space.

The Kia Carnival just makes perfect sense.

At R1 049 995 for the versatile EX (with your choice of 8 or 7 seats) and R1,299,995 for the fully-loaded SXL, it offers serious value in a segment where alternatives often cost significantly more while delivering less space, refinement, or technology.

Unless you want to do serious off-roading, why bother with a seven-seat SUV with no real space for real people in the rearmost row and no luggage space when seven people are on board?

The combination of that punchy yet efficient turbodiesel, genuine multi-seater comfort, and a comprehensive safety suite makes the Carnival a compelling proposition for families who refuse to compromise.

There's some serious boot space, and the seats can be configured in many ways.