2025 Kia Carnival SX+ Turbo Hybrid: Luxury for the whole family
Think luxury items and you’re transported to a world where money is no object and glamor is the name of the game.
That’s why the likes of Prada, Gucci, Hermes, Louis Vuitton and Dior are so deeply ingrained in so many people, particularly the middle-class. Owning these seemingly mythical products signifies that you have attained some semblance of membership with the socioeconomic elite (or in the Philippines, corrupt politicians and crooked public-works contractors).
This is particularly apparent in cars, which are highly visceral objects. Sit inside or drive something from Porsche, Ferrari or Range Rover and you can see, touch and even smell that you’re in something that offers much more than anything produced by “hum-drum” mainstream brands.
Frankly, the last thing you would associate with luxury is a minivan – and yet, the top-spec 2025 Kia Carnival SX+ Turbo Hybrid makes a strong case for itself as a luxury conveyance, with the added benefit of being a sensational seven-seater.
Big and beautiful
Luxurious things carry a sort of aesthetic sparkle, whether it is elegant or bold.
The Carnival SX+ Turbo Hybrid clearly falls into the former category – the variant-exclusive Ivory Silver paintwork works well with its generous proportions to produce something that is a pleasure to behold. It also helps that this big Kia has a memorable face, particularly its wide LED daytime running lights and waterfall-style LED headlights.
This colossal vehicle also has a silhouette that sets itself apart from the lumbering sport-utility vehicles that are so adored by the aforementioned corrupt politicians and crooked public-works contractors. Details like the electric sliding doors and the textured silver trim on the C-pillar provide an unmistakable look.
And at the back, the LED taillights with a full-width light strip break up the featureless and flat tailgate. The large spoiler and pert lower bumper also help make the rear end look less saggy.
Serene space for 7
It’s inside where the luxury of the Carnival SX+ Turbo Hybrid really becomes apparent.
Front passengers are treated to electrically adjustable and air-conditioned seats that provide plenty of support, whether you’re suffering in city gridlock or reveling in the open road. The dual 12.3-inch screens house the digital gauges and the touchscreen infotainment system that offers superb clarity and responsiveness (something even European marques still get wrong today).
But the real fun is in the back – the second-row captain chairs are also electrically adjustable and air-conditioned, plus you can slide these around so that you have maximum legroom (perfect with the standard legrests). Combine this with the dual moonroofs and the powerful climate-control system and you find yourself succumbing to the clutches of restful slumber.
And should you have a full house, the Carnival SX+ Turbo Hybrid easily has enough space for seven thanks to one of the most capacious third-row seats in the business. And whether you have third row up or down, there is so much cargo space that you really must wonder why people put up with the rather ungainly Toyota Hiace Super Grandia Elite.
Fast and economical
Luxury cars tend to have big, powerful engines to elevate the driving experience – one must have faster and more refined progress than the rest.
Here, the Carnival SX+ Turbo Hybrid really distinguishes itself, thanks to its turbocharged 1.6-liter, twin-cam, 16-valve inline-4 gasoline engine mated to an electric motor. Combined output is a strong 242 horsepower and 367 Newton-meters of torque that are coursed through a 6-speed automatic transmission.
Front behind the wheel, the steering is light but lacks feel, while the powerful brakes are controlled by a rather spongy pedal that makes precise modulation difficult. This electrified Carnival also has stiffer springs than the turbodiesel model that we tested, which makes bumps more pronounced.
And compared to the oil-burner, the Carnival SX+ Turbo Hybrid takes longer to respond at full throttle, while the rather jarring transition to gasoline power detracts from what should be a luxurious mode of travel. But once you get the hang of its driving style, you will appreciate its heartier top-end acceleration and sporty exhaust note.
And when you’re driving gently in Electric Vehicle mode, the experience is so serene that you will never want diesel ever again. This big Kia’s all-electric driving ability also contributes to its impressive fuel economy – 17 to 20 kilometers per liter in the city and 20 to 23 kilometers per liter on the expressway is great for a hybrid, but sensational for a wheeled living room.
Given that this is the top-spec SX+ model, the Kia Drivewise advanced-driver assistance system is standard – features like Smart Cruise Control, Blind Spot Detection, Lane Keeping Assist, Forward Collision Avoidance Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Alert not only make long drives a breeze, but can also prevent expensive collisions.
Ultimate family hauler
The 2025 Kia Carnival SX+ Turbo Hybrid is probably the closest that you can get to a luxury family car, without paying an eye-watering pricetag.
At P3,498,000, its straddles between the rather coarse P3,297,000 Toyota Hiace Super Grandia Elite and the P4,671,000 Toyota Alphard HEV (good luck getting either at the suggested retail price). The Kia is also considerably lower than the Toyotas, making getting in and out much easier for passengers.
Perhaps the closest rival is its own cousin, the spaceship-like Hyundai Staria Premium+ 7-seater at P3,030,000. However, you don’t get the flexibility and refinement of the Carnival’s turbo-hybrid powerplant.
Given that many well-off people (with or without kids) are flocking to the more conservatively styled Carnival, it goes to show that Kia has discovered the secret of luxury – it isn’t in the brand, but in the feeling.
