Kia Carnival & Sorento – Three-Rows, Two Brilliant Ways

If you’re reading this, chances are you’re either a family man managing three or more growing children next to the missus on the daily, or perhaps you’re the type seeking a daily driver that packs style, comfort, and a boat-load of tech on top of comfortable space for five and more.

Well then, you’re indeed spoiled for choice thanks to what’s abound in today’s market, but those seeking something with a slightly different twist need not look beyond Korean marque Kia. Specifically, for those seeking what we detailed in the opening para, your best bets lie in the automaker’s latest fourth-generation Carnival MPV and Sorento SUV.

Whilst both models stand far apart as far as type-convention go, both share the same purpose, that being ferrying between six to 11 persons across three or four rows of seats in high comforts and luxury. Enabling this besides the shared N3 platform is the highly capable latest-generation petrol (Sorento) and turbo-diesel (Carnival and Sorento) powertrains boasting heightened efficiency.

Choosing between either really depends on what you seek. Having sampled both offerings individually in recent months, we can confidently attest that either serves their respective purposes brilliantly. For those reading this who are at the cusp of shelling out the Ringgits for either, perhaps this feature and recap ought to assist in deciding which to go for…

A Carnival For ANY Family Affair

With a name that aptly implies fun times, it’s no surprise how the Carnival easily find its place in the hearts of not just any household heads, but also with the lady of the house, as well as your kids. In its most recent form, the localised (CKD) fourth-gen Carnival certainly doesn’t disappoint on all fronts, and with good reasons too.

The need to house three-rows of seats warrants ample space, and the Carnival isn’t  short of which. Thankfully, the larger than life looks get matched with an equally massive appeal in style, more so with the updated 2024MY version, which now rolls on tasty new 19-inch black alloy wheels and sees its cabin lined in plush new black leatherette upholstery.

Even if you opt for the arguably more ‘rational’ 8-seater variant, there’s enough amenities and kit on board to ferry the entire household either on the daily or on long-distance road trips in high comforts and, crucially, safely too. Moreover, we’re also certain the high amounts of convenience packed into this family-mover makes a perfect daily school-runner and too.

Adding to this daily-running abilities too is the Carnival’s sound powertrain choice, which comes in the form of a revised iteration of Kia’s signature 2.2-litre turbo-diesel 4-cyl lump. Certainly, its 199 HP and 440 NM outputs are punchy enough, but it’s the uprated 8-speed automatic box’s promise of heightened efficiency and smoother operation that ought to seal the deal here.

Should the need for unrivalled comfort be a priority, then the 7-seater iteration of the Carnival will certainly impress, especially with its ‘Relaxion’ seats – Kia’s fancy term for the pair of Ottoman-style power-adjustable seats primed in the second row. These do come at the price of losing an extra seat, but this is perhaps a justifiable trade-off for some.

Above all, what should make the Carnival a seriously top choice is the fact all these merits are delivered without compromise or trade-offs on other fronts. Moreover, thanks to localisation (CKD), the Carnival’s uncompromised brilliance doesn’t come at far-fetched prices – RM198,500 (11-seater), RM245,888 (8-seater), and RM259,888 (7-seater).

Premium SUV With A Bold Difference

Don’t have the family size to warrant the Carnival but still seek ample space, luxuries, tech and style in a premium SUV package? Then perhaps the Carnival’s SUV-bodied Sorento twin might just tickle your fancy instead. Certainly, as far as premium-spec mid-sized SUVs as such go, the latest fourth-gen Sorento is a seriously tempting proposition.

Firstly, there’s the fourth-gen Sorento’s styling to bask in, which is best described as distinct and very upmarket. A key touch here is the latest rendition of Kia’s signature ‘tiger nose’ up front. Couple that with the tasty two-tone 19-inch wheels and a very bold, American-styled rear profile, it’s easy to see how the Sorento’s looks and stance command lots of presence.

Inside, the Sorento doesn’t same roominess as its Carnival MPV twin does, but there’s still ample room here to house three-rows of seats without compromising or trading-off much on other fronts.  Depending on variant, there’s either fabric or leatherette upholstery, and the choice between 7- and 6-seat, the latter boasting the coveted Captain Seats in the second row.

The Sorento’s other winning trait stems from its powerfully efficient petrol and turbo-diesel powertrain choices available (depending on variant). Aptly, the oil-burners are the prime choice here not just for their punchiness and high-mileage efficiency, the fact that said choice is brimmed with an 8-speed DCT automatic promises to be a smooth operator too.

And like the levels of premium tech and luxury primed, what truly empowers the Sorento to punch above its weight – and price – lies in its class-leading safety features. Like the Carnival, this SUV-bodied twin also packs the Kia brand’s latest and greatest passive and active safety tech, the latter enabling high-degree of semi-autonomous driving even.

With arguably accessible starting prices ranging from RM210,000 and RM254,000 thanks to localisation (CKD) once again, it’s easy to see how the Sorento’s package holds high value, thus making it a solid alternative against established crop of European-makes rivals even, regardless of variant. Still not convinced? Then perhaps the next fact ought to be the deciding factor…