Kia Carnival Hybrid on the way, Australian division keen

or hybrid best selling version Kia Carnival people movement is underway, reports show – and such a model could come to Australia if it becomes a reality.

Travel understands that Kia is developing a hybrid variant of the current Carnival people mover, which could coincide with the vehicle’s mid-life redesign expected next year.

While Kia Australia has not confirmed any plans for a Carnival Hybrid, a company representative said Travel the company would be interested in such a vehicle if it were available.

However, despite the success of hybrid cars in Australia – and Kia Australia’s interest in such a model – there is no guarantee that the petrol-electric Carnival will be offered in the country.

At the moment, it remains unclear whether a hybrid version of the Kia Carnival will get the green light – and whether it would be produced in both left and right-hand drive.

There’s also the issue of keeping up demand for today’s Carnival and other Kia hybrids amid parts shortages and transportation hurdles.

The Sportage Hybrid SUV has yet to go on sale locally due to the current lack of a right-hand drive version of the South Korean-built long-body Sportage sold in Australia in petrol and diesel form.

Only around 20 examples of the seven-seat Kia Sorento Hybrid SUV have arrived in Australia each month, while the Kia Niro Hybrid small SUV – and Kia Niro Electric – are also limited in supply, with 75 to 100 cars docked each month.

A launch time has yet to be finalized for the mid-life facelift, however the Kia Carnival is expected to be updated late next year – a logical time to expand the range with a hybrid model.

If it arrives in Australia, the Kia Carnival will be the first hybrid in the people-mover segment – although it won’t be the first electrified people-mover in Australia (that honor will go to the Chinese Mifa 9 electric LDV later this year year).

Hybrid pioneer and market leader Toyota offers a hybrid people-mover overseas, the Sienna – but it’s not right-hand drive, and the company’s local people-mover offering, the HiAce van-based Granvia, is for now exclusively with diesel.

Performance specifications of the Kia Carnival Hybrid are yet to be confirmed, however it is worth noting that the vehicle shares its underpinnings with the Kia Sorento and Hyundai Santa Fe SUVs – which are already available with petrol-electric hybrid power.

These models combine a 132 kW/265 Nm 1.6-liter turbo four-cylinder gasoline engine with one 44 kW electric motorcompact battery and six-speed automatic transmission for combined output of 169 kW AND 350 Nm.

A choice of front-wheel or all-wheel drive is available on the Sorento and Santa Fe – but rumors from Korea suggest the Carnival Hybrid will be front-wheel-drive only, as its rear floor is said not to able to support a shaft with power for all. – with the steering wheel.

There’s no word on whether the Carnival’s twin under the skin, the Hyundai Staria, will adopt hybrid power – but it’s expected to gain a hydrogen fuel cell-powered model next year, according to overseas reports.

If it’s approved for Australia – and arrives with a mid-life model update – wait to see Kia Carnival Hybrid in local stores from late 2023 onwards.