A record high in sales volume
Last November, Kia launched a facelift version of the Carnival.
The Carnival is a multi-purpose minivan with a spacious interior that accommodates luggage and people. In the past, it was mainly purchased by families with three or more children. These days, families of four and even people living alone choose Carnival because of its versatility.
With the Carnival’s facelift this time, a new hybrid model was added. It is emerging as a new alternative for consumers who want a gasoline model but feel burdened by the large-displacement engine. We had the opportunity to experience the Carnival Hybrid and would like to share our review.
Weak performance?
In this test drive, we mainly focused on driving the hybrid model. In the case of the Carnival Hybrid, an electric motor is combined with a 1.6 gasoline turbo engine, producing a combined output of 245 horsepower and a combined torque of 37.4 kg.m. The electric motor performance improved since the car is larger and heavier than the Kia K8 or Sorento, which use the same engine.
At first, we thought this level of performance might not be enough, but after driving it, those concerns disappeared.
The car is driven well even when only the electric motor is running. When more substantial power is needed, such as climbing uphill, it works harmoniously with the engine to provide the necessary performance. The performance is not inferior to the 3.5 gasoline model or the 2.2 diesel.
Quiet and filled with satisfaction
What we liked most was the quietness. The existing 3.5 gasoline vehicle was smooth and quiet, but the hybrid provided even better quietness. We can feel a genuinely tranquil interior atmosphere while driving in a CS driven mainly by electric motors. When the engine is running, it is also much quieter than typical 4-cylinder engines.
When discussing hybrid vehicles, the first thing to consider is fuel efficiency. In the case of this test drive vehicle, the combined fuel efficiency was 13.5 km/L (about 31.8 mpg), and the trip fuel efficiency was 13.7 km/L (about 32.2 mpg).
Of course, there may be a slight difference from the actual fuel efficiency, but it is still superior to the 3.5 gasoline vehicle.
It is pricy but worth it
The Carnival Hybrid is 4.55 million won ( about $3,451), more expensive for the 9-seater trim than the gasoline model, and 4.5 million won ( about $3,413), more expensive for the 7-seater trim than the gasoline model. Therefore, it may be quite costly to purchase. However, it is well worth it in the long run and can even be considered a cost-effective model.
Since the displacement is 1.6 liters, the automobile tax is one-third that of the 3.5 gasoline and almost half of the 2.2 diesel. And thanks to the offset of fuel costs due to high fuel efficiency, consumers can fully benefit if they ride for a long time. At the same time, it is smooth and quiet, so it can be considered the best choice. Thanks to these advantages, the Carnival Hybrid instantly surpassed the sales of gasoline and diesel vehicles upon its launch.
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