Verdict
At RM188,888, the 11-seat Kia Carnival is RM1,772 cheaper than the RM190,660 seven-seat Volkswagen Tayron, and its 440 Nm diesel dwarfs the Tayron’s 250 Nm. It is also 363 mm longer and has a 300-mm longer wheelbase, so it is the clear people-moving choice. The Tayron counters with a 345-litre boot against 56 litres, RM120 annual road tax against RM561, and active safety including autonomous braking and blind-spot monitoring. For seven occupants and daily SUV duties, the Volkswagen is easier to justify.
Carnival
Pick the Kia Carnival if you need 11 seats, power sliding doors and 440 Nm of diesel torque for carrying a large group.
Tayron
Pick the Volkswagen Tayron if seven seats are enough and you want a larger 345-litre boot, lower RM120 road tax and a fuller active-safety suite.
Key differences
- Price: Kia Carnival RM188,888; Volkswagen Tayron RM190,660.
- Seating: Kia Carnival 11 seats; Volkswagen Tayron 7 seats.
- Engine output: Kia Carnival 197 hp and 440 Nm; Volkswagen Tayron 148 hp and 250 Nm.
- Dimensions: Kia Carnival 5,155 mm long with a 3,090 mm wheelbase; Volkswagen Tayron 4,792 mm long with a 2,790 mm wheelbase.
- Boot space: Kia Carnival 56 litres; Volkswagen Tayron 345 litres.
- Annual road tax: Kia Carnival RM561; Volkswagen Tayron RM120.
Carnival
- 11-seat cabin with removable second- and third-row seats
- 440 Nm 2.2-litre diesel and eight-speed automatic
- Power sliding rear doors on both sides
- 56-litre boot is far smaller than the Tayron's 345 litres
- No autonomous braking, collision warning or blind-spot information system
- RM561 annual road tax versus the Tayron's RM120
Tayron
- Autonomous braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection
- 345-litre boot and 48-volt mild-hybrid assistance
- Adaptive cruise control, auto parking and Dynamic Chassis Control Pro
- Seven seats versus the Carnival's 11
- 250 Nm and 148 hp trail the Carnival's 440 Nm and 197 hp
- Two-year warranty versus the Carnival's five-year, 150,000-km cover
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM188,888✓ | RM190,660 |
| Body type | MPV | SUV |
| Segment | D-Segment | D-Segment |
| Assembly | CBU | CKD |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM561 | RM120✓ |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-Valve DOHC, Turbocharged with Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing | 16-valve DOHC with direct fuel injection, turbocharger and variable intake valve timing with 48-volt MHEV assistance |
| Capacity | 2,151 cc | 1,498 cc |
| Horsepower | 197 hp at 3,800 rpm✓ | 148 hp |
| Torque | 440 Nm at 1,750 rpm✓ | 250 Nm at 1,500 rpm |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline 4 | Inline 4 |
| Fuel | Diesel | Petrol Hybrid/REV |
| Bore × Stroke | 83 mm × 99.4 mm | — |
| Compression Ratio | 16 | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Dual-clutch Automatic (Wet) |
| Transmission Name | 8-speed Automatic with E-Shift | 7-speed Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) |
| Gears | 8 | 7 |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | — | 9.6 seconds |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 5,155 mm | 4,792 mm |
| Width | 1,995 mm | 1,852 mm |
| Height | 1,775 mm | 1,660 mm |
| Wheelbase | 3,090 mm | 2,790 mm |
| Weight | 2,129 kg | — |
| Fuel Tank | 72 litres | 55 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 11 | 7 |
| Boot Space | 56 litres | 345 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 235/60R18 | 235/55R18 |
| Rear Tyre | 235/60R18 | 235/55R18 |
| Spare Tyre | Space Saver | Space Saver |
| Factory Tyres | Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance SUV | Hankook Ventus evoSUV |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Korea (CBU) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Struts | MacPherson Struts |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-links | Multi-links |
| Front Wheels | 18" Alloy | 18" Napoli Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 18" Alloy | 18" Napoli Alloys |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | — | Dynamic Chassis Control Pro |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 8 (Driver and Front Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Front Center Airbag, Driver's Knee Airbag) | 9 (Driver and Front Passenger, Front & Rear Side Bags, Curtain Airbags & Front Centre Airbag) |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for Rear Doors | Manual for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 8 Three-point, 3 Lap Belts | 7 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | — | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available for 2 Outer 2nd Row Seats | Available on Front Passenger Seat and 2 Outer Middle Row Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | — | Yes, with Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection |
| Lane-keeping Assist | No | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | — | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projector | LED Projectors |
| Taillamps | Full LED | Full LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Foglamps | ✓ | — |
| Rear Foglamps | — | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Power Adjustable Front Seats | 12-Way Power-Adjustable Front Seats with Memory Function, Ventilation and Massaging |
| Rear Seats | 40:20:40 Split-folding, Sliding, Reclining and Removable 2nd Row with Tip-up Centre Seat, 40:20:40 Split-folding, Sliding, Reclining and Removable 3rd Row with Tip-up Centre Seat, Folding 4th Row | 40:20:40 Split-Folding and Sliding 2nd Row, 50:50 Split-Folding 3rd Row |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control with 3rd Row Air Vents | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Rear, 1 Boot, 2 USB-C Front, 2 USB-C Second Row, 2 USB-C Third Row | 1 Front, 1 Wireless Charger, 2 USB Front, 2 USB Rear |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights | Map Lights and Ambient Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 4 Middle Row, 4 Last Row | 2 Front, 2 Middle Row, 2 Back Row |
| Sun Shade | Manual 2nd and 3rd Row Sun Shades | Manual Rear Window Blinds |
| Audio | 12.3" Infotainment Touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and 6 Speakers | 12.9" Discover Touchscreen with Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, 8-speaker Volkswagen Sound System |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Driver's Side Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | — | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Passive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Powered Boot | Powered with Contactless Operation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, 360-degree Camera | Yes, with 360-degree Camera |
| Auto Parking | — | Yes |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | — | ✓ |
| Power Door | Power Sliding Rear Doors - Both Sides | — |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | 150,000 km | Unlimited✓ |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 5 years✓ | 2 years |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration.
Used Carnival & Tayron for sale
Carnival vs Tayron FAQ
Is the Kia Carnival or Volkswagen Tayron better?
The Carnival is better for maximum passenger capacity, with 11 seats, power sliding doors and 440 Nm. The Tayron is better for a seven-seat household wanting a 345-litre boot, lower road tax and autonomous braking.
What is the price difference?
The Volkswagen Tayron costs RM190,660 and the Kia Carnival costs RM188,888, so the Tayron is RM1,772 more expensive.
Which has more luggage space?
The Volkswagen Tayron has the larger quoted boot at 345 litres, compared with 56 litres for the Kia Carnival.
