22:10 02-05-2026

Kia Australia Drops Carnival Diesel Sport, GT-Line Lite for 2027

The diesel versions of the Kia Carnival Sport and GT-Line Lite are being axed for the 2027 model year in Australia. However, the S, Sport+ and GT-Line trims with diesel and hybrid engines will remain in the lineup.

This change marks a further reduction of the Carnival range in Australia, following the discontinuation of the V6 petrol engine earlier this year. That move was made to comply with the Australian New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES).

Additionally, the Picanto GT-Line hatch will no longer be available with a manual gearbox in 2027, switching to an automatic transmission only. A Kia Australia representative stated that the decisions are due to trim optimization and low demand.