KIA Carnival vs Hyundai H1

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — we cover price, performance, petrol economy, safety and what it'll actually cost you to own each one long term.

Includes a historical vehicle

Current, upcoming and historical vehicles can be compared side by side. Historical records keep their verified specifications, while price labels show last-listed context rather than current new-car availability.

Hyundai H1 Discontinued model
KIA Carnival in South Africa

KIA Carnival

2.2 CRDi SXL AT Diesel 8-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 1,299,995 ex-showroom
⚡ 148 kW 🔧 440 Nm ⛽ 13.9 km/l
VS
Hyundai H1 in South Africa

Hyundai H1

2.5 CRDi Executive Diesel 5-Speed Automatic Discontinued model
ZAR 899,900 last listed
Discontinued model Verified historical specifications remain visible for owner and used-car comparisons.
⚡ 125 kW 🔧 441 Nm ⛽ 11.8 km/l
Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

KIA Carnival vs Hyundai H1: the short answer

Carnival and H1 are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Recorded price context Carnival: current from ZAR 1,049,995 · H1: last listed from ZAR 899,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification Carnival H1
Maximum Power Carnival148 kW @ 3800 rpm H1125 kW @ 3600 rpm
Maximum Torque Carnival440 Nm @ 1750 rpm H1441 Nm @ 2000 rpm
Engine Size Carnival2151 cc H12497 cc
Combined Fuel Economy Carnival13.9 km/l H111.8 km/l
Ground Clearance Carnival175 mm H1185 mm

Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.

Evidence for Hyundai H1 2.5 CRDi Executive

Source type: Hagalu catalogue record

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Specification evidence leader

Carnival

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
  • Stronger published ownership cover
Weak Spots
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Efficiency

H1

Strengths
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Fewer listed safety features
  • Lower published ownership cover
Best suited to: Published Practicality

Which One's Right for You?

Carnival

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published warranty or service cover

H1

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Full Specs, Side by Side

Archived cars use verified historical spec records. Rows remain comparable; unavailable historical values are shown plainly rather than estimated.

Spec Carnival H1
Model Introduced Year 2021 2008
Generation Fourth generation (KA4); global launch 2020, SA 2021 Second generation H1 based on a proven commercial-derived platform; the architecture prioritises durability and packaging over dynamics
Facelift History Fourth generation (KA4) launched SA 2021; 2023 updated specification Second generation H1 launched in SA in 2008; periodic infotainment and feature updates have been applied but the platform is long-standing
Facelift Launched Since 2023 2008
Facelift Version Ending Current Not confirmed
Body Style MPV Not confirmed
Color Note Snow White Pearl, Aurora Black Pearl, Steel Grey, Gravity Blue, Glacial White Pearl Not confirmed
Dealer Stock Note Top grade in the South Africa lineup Not confirmed
Model Year 2026 Not confirmed
Production Status active Not confirmed
Segment MPV Not confirmed
Tare Mass Kg 2110 kg 2220 kg
Vehicle Type MPV Not confirmed
Spec Carnival H1
Length 5155 mm 5125 mm
Width 1995 mm 1920 mm
Height 1775 mm 1925 mm
Wheelbase 3090 mm 3200 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 175 mm 185 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) 172 mm Not confirmed
Fuel Tank Capacity 72 l 75 l
Boot/Cargo Space 145 l 820 l
Kerb Weight 2110 kg 2220 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 2750 kg 3030 kg
Payload Capacity 700 kg Not confirmed
Towing Capacity 1500 kg 2500 kg
Seating Capacity 11 seats 9 seats
Number of Rows 3 rows Not confirmed
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 12.1 m 5.6 m
Front Headroom 1010 mm 1010 mm
Rear Headroom 955 mm 1000 mm
Front Legroom 1040 mm 1090 mm
Rear Legroom 855 mm 990 mm

In depth: how these cars differ

This Carnival and H1 comparison uses the exact South African derivatives selected above. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: Carnival 67 vs H1 59.

Efficiency index: Carnival 55 vs H1 47.

Safety-equipment index: Carnival 100 vs H1 68.

Practicality index: Carnival 58 vs H1 86.

Ownership-cover index: Carnival 71 vs H1 65.

These figures are Hagalu catalogue-comparison indicators, not customer ratings, crash-test scores, resale guarantees or a substitute for a road test. Each page shows its weighted source coverage beside the result.

Specification Evidence Index

A transparent comparison of published catalogue fields. This is not a road-test score, owner rating or editorial review rating, and it appears only when every vehicle clears the same comparable-data threshold.

Evidence / 100
Evidence-index readout

Carnival leads by 5 points

Carnival and H1 are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Evidence leader 71 /100
Lead 5 points
Data 99% source coverage
71
#1 Evidence leader

Carnival

99% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 100 Check Efficiency 55
Performance 67
Efficiency 55
Safety 100
Practicality 58
Ownership 71
Leads by 5 points
66
#2

H1

94% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Practicality 86 Check Efficiency 47
Performance 59
Efficiency 47
Safety 68
Practicality 86
Ownership 65
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Carnival +8 Efficiency Carnival +8 Safety Carnival +32 Practicality H1 +28 Ownership Carnival +6

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

Carnival

Performance 67/100
Efficiency 55/100
Safety 100/100
Practicality 58/100
Ownership 71/100

H1

Performance 59/100
Efficiency 47/100
Safety 68/100
Practicality 86/100
Ownership 65/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index KIA Carnival leads the specification evidence index with 71 pts vs 66 pts for H1

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, Carnival leads. However, H1 may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Carnival vs H1 questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the exact South African derivatives on price, safety equipment, space, powertrain and ownership cover. The category indicators summarise published catalogue data; they are not a road test or customer rating.

Compare the published consumption or mileage rows for the exact derivatives using the same unit and test basis. A catalogue figure is useful for like-for-like comparison, but traffic, speed, load, weather and driving style can change actual fuel use.

Compare only equipment explicitly listed for each derivative, including airbags, stability control and driver-assistance systems. Confirm the exact trim with the manufacturer, and treat any independent crash-test result separately because equipment and ratings can differ by market.

A reliable five-year total cannot be calculated from catalogue data alone. Add the exact purchase and finance cost, fuel or electricity, insurance quotes, scheduled servicing, tyres and expected resale value. Check whether the selected derivative includes a service or maintenance plan.

Use the seating, boot or load-space, ISOFIX and safety rows as a first check. Then test the exact cars with your child seats, passengers and typical luggage, because published dimensions do not show every access or comfort difference.

Compare the published power, torque and 0–100 km/h rows when they are available for both exact derivatives. Vehicle weight, gearing and power delivery also matter, so catalogue outputs alone do not establish real-world overtaking or response.