Kia Sales Malaysia (KSM) has officially launched the new 2026 Kia Carnival 8-seater Locally assembled (CKD) in Kulim, Kedah, the new variant is designed to meet the growing demand for highly flexible cabin configurations suitable for both large families and corporate fleet use.
Priced at RM 238,888 (Peninsular Malaysia, on-the-road, excluding insurance and road tax), the newly-introduced 8-seater variant slots perfectly between the 11-seater variant (RM 188,888) and the range-topping 7-seater variant (RM 248,888).
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Hyung Ho Kim, President and CEO of Kia Sales Malaysia said, “The introduction of the Kia Carnival 8-seater demonstrates our commitment to adapting to evolving market demand. It reinforces our resolve to offer right-fit products for the Malaysian market, leveraging our local assembly operations and the automotive supply chain.”
Emily Lek, Managing Director of KSM, added, “With the new 8-seater variant, the Kia Carnival adds a thoughtful new dimension of flexibility and practicality. We are answering customer feedback by incorporating the utility of an SUV into our outstanding large MPV.”
The 8-seater Carnival features a 2-3-3 seating layout trimmed in plush leatherette, offering the same generous headroom and legroom as the 7-seater model.
- Configurable Second Row: Features a 40:20:40 split with detachable, long-sliding seats. The middle seat can face forward or backward, while the outer seats can be entirely reversed, allowing for versatile arrangements for family travel or chauffeur-driven applications.
- Flexible Third Row: Utilizes a 60:40 split with user-friendly pop-up and sinking seats for adaptable cargo management.
- Premium Tech: The cabin is equipped with full-width ambient lighting, a horizontally aligned climate control panel, and a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system. A curved panoramic display seamlessly integrates dual 12.3-inch screens for the digital instrument cluster and infotainment system.
The 8-seater is powered by the same 2.2-litre Smartstream four-cylinder turbodiesel engine paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission, driving the front wheels. Said turbodiesel is good for 202 PS at 3,800 rpm and 440 Nm of torque.
Safety is paramount, with the 8-seater matching the 7-seater’s comprehensive equipment list. It includes eight airbags (featuring a centre-side airbag) and the full ADAS suite:
- Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist 2.0 (FCA 2.0)
- Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA)
- Highway Drive Assist 2 (HDA 2)
- Lane Keeping Assist (LKA) & Lane Following Assist (LFA)
- Driver Attention Warning (DAW) & High Beam Assist (HBA)
- Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA)
- Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCTA)
- Rear Occupant Alert (ROA)
The Kia Carnival remains one of the most cost-efficient large MPVs to maintain, requiring scheduled servicing only every 10,000 km or 12 months. Compulsory maintenance over five years is estimated at approximately RM 3,600. Every new Carnival includes a 5-year / 150,000 km warranty.
To celebrate the launch, KSM’s ‘We Fuel You’ initiative offers new 8-seater buyers a choice between:
- A competitive 1.98% p.a. interest rate for up to nine years of financing
- RM6,000 worth of fuel credits deposited directly into their TNG eWallet
Buyers also have access to Kia Cares, KSM’s comprehensive insurance package offering benefits like agreed value for up to 15 years, 24-hour claims approval (below RM 30,000), and free betterment up to 10 years.
The Kia Carnival 8-seater is available in four exterior colors: Meteor Gray, Snowflake White Pearl, Astra Blue, and Jet Black. Fleet purchase packages with inclusive servicing are also available at authorized Kia showrooms.
