2024 Kia Carnival facelift spotted undisguised, due in Australia next year

The updated 2024 Kia Carnival people mover has broken cover without disguise ahead of its formal unveiling expected imminently, and Australian arrival due early next year.

The mid-life facelift for the latest Carnival introduced in 2021 has been captured without camouflage on South Korean roads – possibly during a photo shoot – in photos posted to social media, including online forum Cochespias.

It adopts the front-end design now spreading across the Kia line-up – debuted on the EV9 electric SUV, and spread to the Picanto city hatch and Sorento seven-seat SUV – with vertical headlights and distinctive daytime-running lights.

The lower front bumper is reminiscent of the base EV9, while there are hints of the Seltos small SUV in the broad LED tail-lights. The machined alloy wheel designs are also new.

Inside, it is understood the Carnival will adopt Hyundai and Kia's latest 'ccNC' infotainment software, with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen which can receive over-the-air updates.

An earlier version of the 12.3-inch instrument display has been available overseas since the latest Carnival launched three years ago, but it has not been available to date.

The facelift will introduce the widescreen instrument display in addition to other overseas features never offered here to date: rain-sensing wipers and blind-spot cameras.

New for the facelift will be a hybrid model, expected to combine a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor, six-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive.

However it is only expected to be produced in left-hand drive initially, ruling it out for Australia for the time being.

The 2024 Kia Carnival is expected to be unveiled in the coming months, ahead of first Australian showroom arrivals early next year.

Orders are expected to re-open for V6 petrol versions – after pausing in August 2023 – with the facelift, in addition to diesel versions which remain on sale and in better supply.