Kia's MPV MVP! 2024 Kia Carnival people mover facelift revealed, but when is it coming to Australia?

The updated Kia Carnival is on the way, and now we know what it will look like thanks to testing currently being undertaken overseas.

Images published to Autospy.net show the people mover getting around undisguised, sporting design updates that borrow some elements from the likes of the Kia EV electric car line-up.

T-shaped tail-lights that wrap around the rear corners of the people mover and narrow upright LED daytime running lights, for example, feature on the model that's moving further into Kia's current design language.

While an updated Carnival in Australia will likely follow the same two drivetrain options currently available - a 2.2-litre turbo-diesel four with 148kW and 440Nm or a petrol 3.5-litre V6 with 216kW and 335Nm - Kia Australia currently has the petrol V6 on an order pause due to the North American market taking up the majority of supply.

A spokesperson from Kia Australia has already confirmed to CarsGuide the facelifted people mover will be available in Australia during Q1 2024, and the petrol variant is on hold until then as back-orders of the current model are filled.

Images published to Autospy.net show the people mover getting around undisguised. (Image: Autospy.net)

While a hybrid version is in the works overseas, it's currently not locked in for Australia, though the brand's local arm is "definitely keen".

Kia Australia General Manager for Product Planning, Roland Rivero has also confirmed the update will allow Kia to bring features to the model which were left off the table during the peak pandemic years to alleviate supply issues.

T-shaped tail-lights that wrap around the rear corners of the people mover. (Image: Autospy.net)

A spokesperson confirmed this means the update will come with features like rain-sensing wipers, a digital instrument cluster and a blind-spot view monitor.

It shouldn't be a surprise that the Carnival's update is coming to Australia as soon as possible - not only is it by far the most popular people mover on the market, it's also Kia's second-most popular model this year so far behind the Sportage SUV.

A spokesperson from Kia Australia has already confirmed to CarsGuide the facelifted people mover will be available in Australia during Q1 2024. (Image: Autospy.net)

In 2023 up to the most recent report at the end of September, Kia has shifted 8745 Carnivals, securing an 82.8 per cent of the 'sub-$70k people movers' segment in the new car market - itself an admittedly small 1.2 per cent of Australia's new car market.