The market for minivans isn’t the same as before. With the entry of the Chinese automakers and their feature-packed offerings, the well-known nameplates have to double down and find new ways to keep things fresh.

The Kia Carnival is one of those mainstay offerings that have enjoyed a strong following. With the minivan undergoing a comprehensive refresh last November 2023, it was a ripe time for Kia Philippines to breathe new life into the aging model.

Like before, it’s offered in two variants. The EX costs P2,888,000, and the range-topping SX goes for P3,368,000.

Kia’s new design language can be found on the front and the rear of this car. Looking similar to the EV9 electric SUV, the Signature Star Map lighting makes its debut up front with LED reflectors and a lightbar out back, complete with a new Tiger Nose grille and new 19-inch alloy wheels.

The base EX grade gets smaller 18-inch alloys, blacked-out front and rear skid plates, and a choice of only two paint jobs (Aurora Black Pearl and Snow White Pearl). The newest color, Ceramic Silver, is exclusive to the SX.

The cabin—one aspect that dated the previous Carnival— has been rightfully revised to be in line with the likes of the EV6 and the EV9.

A slab of glass holds the two 12.3-inch screens for the digital instrument cluster and the infotainment, with support for the usual wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity.

The media and climate controls have been integrated into a single touch bar that can change context at the press of a button, further cleaning up the center stack.

Charging options include multiple USB-C charging ports, a single USB-A port for connectivity, and three 12V outlets. The SX gets a wireless charging pad on top of all of that. Sound is piped out through six speakers.

While the amenities are nice for the front passengers with eight-way, ventilated power-memory seats (SX only), the biggest draw to the Carnival is in the rest of the cabin.

For the SX, all the seats are appointed in leather. The second-row relaxation seats have oodles of adjustments, including power recline, leg rests, and seat ventilation. There is a second sunroof above that, with a dedicated climate control zone and privacy blinds for all three rows.

The EX comes with leatherette upholstery and standard captain’s seats.

The clever third-row bench is still here, disappearing into the floor when not needed, to give a cavernous (up to) 2,785L of cargo space. But even with all the seats up, there’s a large 627L of luggage space.

For those expecting electrification, the same 2.2-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel returns with a power output of 199hp and torque of 440Nm. It’s mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission that sends power to all four wheels.

The newest addition to the Carnival (at least for the SX) is the Kia DriveWise ADAS suite. This includes adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping and following assist, forward collision avoidance assist, and rear cross-traffic alerts.

Thankfully, both variants enjoy the addition of a 360° camera, eight airbags, parking sensors (the SX also has side sensors), blind-spot monitoring, and parking collision avoidance assist.

The cars come with a standard five-year/150,000km warranty, alongside Kia 24/7 roadside assistance.

We do wish that Kia Philippines would consider bringing in the hybrid variant of the minivan soon, considering that the company has confirmed that it will be introducing the EV9 at the upcoming Philippine International Motor Show. Do you think that this is a solid update?