“Explosive popularity even though it is expensive at 4.55 million won” Carnival Hybrid 13 months until delivery
With the Kia Carnival hybrid model officially released, it is known that it will take more than a year for a new car contract to be shipped. Kia Carnival Hybrid is the first hybrid model developed based on the 4th generation Carnival facelift model released last November.
According to industry news, Kia Carnival reached 54,000 pre-orders for about a week from the 8th to the 14th of last month. Of these, approximately 38,000 are Carnival hybrid models, which were so popular that they accounted for 70% of all contracts.
Carnival Hybrid is the first hybrid model among all Carnivals and the first domestically produced hybrid minivan. Previously, diesel models were the mainstay, but recently the popularity of diesel engines has continued to decline, and maintenance costs such as low fuel efficiency for 3.5-liter gasoline and high taxes have been pointed out as disadvantages.
The newly released hybrid model is a turbo hybrid system based on a 1.6-liter gasoline turbo engine. By combining an electric motor with a compact sedan-level displacement, the system produces a combined maximum output of 245 horsepower and a maximum torque of 37.4 kg.m. It is characterized by increased motor output compared to the existing 1.6 turbo hybrid system.
The official combined fuel efficiency is 14 km/L based on 18-inch wheels for a 9-seater, which is superior to that of the 2.2-liter diesel engine. However, the price is 4.55 million won more expensive than the gasoline model. Despite its high price, it is very popular due to its excellent quietness and maintenance costs.
However, according to industry news, despite the great popularity of the Carnival Hybrid, production is reportedly experiencing setbacks due to parts supply issues. In addition to the large remaining contract volume, there are also production disruptions, and the current contract takes up to 13 months or more. If you sign a contract now, which is 2023, you can receive the vehicle in 2025.
This problem is not only a problem with the Carnival Hybrid. For the Kia Sorento Hybrid, which uses the same powertrain, it takes up to 12 months, and for the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid, it takes up to 10 months. It remains to be seen whether the waiting period for shipment can be reduced depending on the supply and demand status of parts in the future.
Meanwhile, the Kia Carnival Hybrid starts at 39.25 million won, and you can choose a 7-seater or 9-seater model depending on the seat configuration.