Kia Carnival 2025 review: GT-Line Hybrid long-term | Part 3

Four months - that’s how long this long-term test of the Kia Carnival GT-Line Hybrid has been. From the short, chilly days of early August to the end of a hot and humid November. We travelled more than 3000km, with most of them no more than 30km from our home in the inner suburbs of Sydney.

Motoring journalists don’t agree on much but if there’s one car that we’re willing to admit is outrageously good, it’s the Kia Carnival. Also the Mazda MX-5, but let’s stick to the Carnival.

Really, the only drawback with the Carnival was the two engines you had to pick from in the past - the petrol V6 which seemed to use petrol faster than you could fill the tank, and a noisy diesel which sounded like a delivery truck pulling into your driveway.

So, the arrival of a hybrid was the missing piece of what I reckon is an almost perfect choice for a family with more than a couple of kids. That it’s not a plug-in hybrid is even better - the Carnival hybrid charges as you drive, so no charging stations, just petrol stations.

That’s another thing, with a full 72-litre tank we could go 800km without filling up which meant we often went a month without visiting a petrol station. This is such a big plus for parents like us with a baby which needs to be taken out of the car and put back in for every fill up you do on your own. 

The practicality and space of the Carnival is unsurpassed by any other SUV or even people mover on the market for this price. I say having driven almost every SUV and people mover you can buy for close to 15 years.

The driveability and safety is also unbeatable at the price point. Despite its huge size at 5.2m long the Carnival is so easy and comfortable to pilot it becomes enjoyable.

The safety is also outstanding with side curtain airbags that extend all the way to cover the heads of the third row passengers. Does your current SUV do that? Many don’t.

At the time I’m writing this you could only get the the hybrid variant in the top GT-Line grade. Hopefully this will change. If you’re listening Kia HQ, a hybrid Carnival in the Sport or Sport+ grade would make this outstanding vehicle accessible and affordable to more Australians already doing it hard. 

2025 Kia Carnival GT-Line Hybrid (Image: Dean McCartney)

With the Kia Carnival going back I’m at a bit of a loss. The vehicle has helped me as a parent. Cars can be art and objects of passion, joy and excitement, but when it comes to family duties they are more like tools to help us do the jobs we need to do, and now I’m losing one of my favorite tools in the parent box.

Acquired: August 2024

Distance travelled this month: 751km

Odometer: 3418km

Average fuel consumption this month: 8.9L/100km