A few months ago, a Korean-based YouTuber was able to take pictures of what appeared to be a heavily-disguised 2024 Kia Carnival. Despite the camouflage hiding most of the changes, it's quite apparent that the minivan will get a noticeable makeover, particularly at the front.

Seeing beyond the false panels and disguise, the refreshed minivan will likely get a new look inspired by the EV9 flagship EV SUV and the 2024 Picanto hatchback. Fast forward to the present day, and Kia has dropped the first images and details of the updated people carrier.

This is the 2024 Kia Carnival, and boy did it get more than just a simple nip and tuck. Beginning with the most obvious first, it now comes with the brand's new Opposites United design philosophy which gives it a more stylish front end. Not only does it get a bigger grille at the front but it now also comes with a new pair of LED headlights complete with the distinct LED lighting signatures derived from both the EV9 and updated Picanto.

The changes at the back are more minimal but Kia did install a new pair of LED taillights that also come with vertical styling elements. Last but not least are the exclusive black 19-inch wheels that are available on the high-spec Gravity Package and the new 18-inch alloy wheels specific only to the Hybrid variant which we'll get to later.

Hop inside and Kia has also been busy making changes inside the 2024 Carnival. The dashboard has been mildly restyled and now comes with a curved panoramic display. On high-grade variants, both the touchscreen infotainment system and digital instrument cluster measure 12.3 inches. The center console was also given attention and now comes with a new rotary-style gear selector, new switchgear, and an updated HVAC panel.

Other key features present include; an 11-inch heads-up display, a UV-C sterilization box, captain seats on the second row for top-of-the-line variants, a power sunroof, LED ambient lighting on the dashboard, Ergo motion front seats, a fingerprint authentication system that can double as the push-start button, and heated/ventilated seats.

For extra peace of mind, the 2024 Carnival is offered with a wide array of intelligent driver aids. These include; forward collision avoidance assist, rear collision avoidance assist, high-beam assist, lane-keeping assist, remote smart parking assist, rear-cross traffic alert, parking distance warning, and adaptive cruise control.

Under the hood, the Kia Carnival is now available for the first time with a 1.6-liter turbocharged hybrid engine. It has a combined system output of 245 PS along with 367 Nm of torque. This leads us to believe the 1.6-liter turbo hybrid in the Carnival is derived from the Sportage Hybrid which was revealed a couple of years ago.

The 2.2-liter turbo-diesel and 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V6 engines have been carried over. The former still puts out 202 PS with 440 Nm of torque while the V6 continues to produce 294 PS and 355 Nm of torque. Both engines are paired to an 8-speed automatic gearbox.

With the refreshed Kia Carnival set to be launched in Korea later this month, it might not take long for the Philippine market to get it. However, we won't be surprised if gray market dealers will get their hands on the updated minivan first.