GENTLE GIANT: Kia Carnival HEV shows size and comfort matter

I drove the Kia Carnival 1.6 SX+ Turbo Hybrid to Baguio during the Daily Tribune company outing at Baguio Country Club. We stayed for two days and three nights. The trip included Manila traffic, expressways, mountain roads, city driving in Baguio, and the drive back to Manila.

I was already at SM North EDSA when I had to return to Makati to pick up Windsor Genova, our World section editor. At the office, several colleagues asked if I could also take their luggage. Around five travel bags and a golf bag filled with clubs went into the rear. 

I folded the third-row seats and still had a lot of space left. Nothing needed rearranging. The digital rearview mirror remained usable even with the cargo area full.

Once we headed north, the Carnival felt comfortable in traffic. Uneven roads in Metro Manila before reaching the highway did not bother the cabin. Steering felt lighter than expected for something this size. It cruised easily on the expressway.

The Carnival measures 5,155 mm long and 1,995 mm wide, with a 3,090 mm wheelbase. It is larger than most three-row crossovers. On the road, the size did not make driving harder. Lane placement felt easy, even on narrower sections.

The hybrid system pairs a 1.6-liter turbocharged gasoline engine with an electric motor and a six-speed automatic transmission. Output is around 240 horsepower. It did not slow down on long climbs. Passing slower traffic was easy.

The ride felt the same on different road surfaces. Expansion joints and patched pavement did not change the ride. Cabin noise was low. Conversation was easy, with little noise from outside.

Temperatures in Baguio were around 10 to 15 degrees Celsius. Heated front seats helped during our early morning drive. The heated steering wheel was heaven-sent. Both worked right away. On the drive back to Manila, the ventilated seats became useful again.

The panoramic dual 12.3-inch screens of the Kia Carnival HEV combined the instrument cluster and infotainment into one wide display. The information was easy to read. The head-up display showed speed and navigation. The rotary shift selector freed space in the center console.

This version of the Carnival seats seven. The second row uses captain’s chairs. Other Carnival versions seat eight, while the locally sold SX+ Turbo Hybrid gives more space.

That was the case during the trip, with Windsor and Glenn comfortable for long hours. Moving between rows was easy. Even with luggage and pasalubong loaded, the cabin did not feel tight.

Rear passengers had air vents, USB charging ports, power sunshades, and access to the dual sunroof. Power sliding doors helped during entry and exit, especially in tighter parking spaces.

On the return trip, Glenn Tolo, our graphics artist, joined us along with Windsor. We took Kennon Road going down. Despite the Carnival’s length and width, it was manageable on narrow sections. 

Steering response was consistent, the car did not need constant correction, and braking felt controlled on downhill stretches.

Photograph courtesy of Enrique Garcia for DAILY TRIBUNE

Driver assistance systems were unobtrusive, with adaptive cruise control handling expressway traffic. Lane keep assist and blind spot monitoring gave alerts when needed, though a bit more often than usual. 

The 360-degree camera helped during parking, though parking required more attention, simply because of the Carnival’s length and width.

By the time we reached Manila, there was no stiffness or fatigue, and the Carnival had carried us and our luggage with no problem.

What stood out by the end of the trip, aside from the comfort and size, was the fuel efficiency. I started with less than a full tank, roughly 90 percent. 

After driving from Manila to Baguio, moving around the city, and returning to Manila, the fuel gauge still showed more than 50 percent. This included traffic, mountain driving to and from Baguio, and idle time in heavy traffic.

The Kia Carnival 1.6 SX+ Turbo Hybrid is big. You see it when you load people and luggage. You don’t feel it while driving. And that’s what makes it a gentle giant.