Kia Carnival vs BYD M9
A detailed look at how two of Australia's most popular People Movers compare on price, running costs, safety, and everyday livability.
Specifications and pricing correct at time of publishing. Prices are RRP before on-road costs unless stated otherwise. Always confirm with the manufacturer or dealer before purchasing.
Kia Carnival
From $54,560
People Mover
Diesel
Diesel
148kW
6.5 L/100km
5★ ANCAP
627L
BYD M9
From $72,990
People Mover
Plug-in Hybrid
Electric Motor
218kW
—
ANCAP: no data
470L
BYD M9: we're still completing height, turning circle and fuel consumption.
A blank cell below means we don't have that figure, not that the car scores badly on it. We leave them empty rather than estimate, so any row where one car is blank isn't a like-for-like comparison yet.
Plug-in hybrid fuel economy is shown as a hybrid (battery depleted) so it compares fairly with the other car. A PHEV's official "combined" figure assumes you start every trip fully charged, so real-world economy depends on how often you plug in. Electric range shows how far it goes before the petrol engine is needed.
Track the Kia Carnival & BYD M9
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Price Breakdown
The Kia Carnival starts from $54,560 before on-road costs, while the BYD M9 opens at $72,990. That makes the Kia Carnival the more affordable entry point by $18,430.
Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $60,016 and $80,289 respectively.
Over 5 years, the running costs favour the BYD M9 by roughly $7,515 in fuel alone.
Safety Rundown
ANCAP safety ratings have not been published for both models yet. We will update this section when crash test results are available.
Charging Times
How long each takes to charge, from a household power point to ultra-rapid DC, estimated from battery size and max charge rates.
How long to charge
36.6kWh usablePublic DC
50kW charger · 0–80%
Ultra-rapid DC
up to 73kW · 0–80%
Estimates from usable battery size and the car's max charge rates (7kW AC, 73kW DC). Real times vary with temperature, starting charge, charger output and the charging curve.
Feature Showdown
The Kia Carnival features a 12.3-inch touchscreen paired with a 4-inch digital dash, while the BYD M9 gets a 15.6-inch display and 12.3-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.
The BYD M9 counters with wireless charging, panoramic roof, heated front seats, ventilated seats, V2L and ambient lighting. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.
Interior trim differs: the Kia Carnival gets cloth upholstery while the BYD M9 offers genuine leather. Climate control is 2-zone in the Kia Carnival and 3-zone in the BYD M9.
Drivetrain
The Kia Carnival uses a Diesel producing 148kW and 440Nm of torque, sent through a automatic to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 9.1 seconds.
The BYD M9 counters with its electric setup making 218kW and 315Nm, paired to a 1 spd auto driving the front wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 8.5 seconds.
The BYD M9 has the clear power advantage at 218kW vs 148kW. In the 0-100 sprint (manufacturer-claimed), the BYD M9 is 0.6s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.
Space & Comfort
The Kia Carnival measures 5,155mm long on a 3,090mm wheelbase, 10mm longer than the BYD M9 at 5,145mm (3,045mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Kia Carnival generally means more rear legroom.
Boot space is 627L in the Kia Carnival and 470L in the BYD M9, giving the Kia Carnival a 157L advantage. The Kia Carnival seats 8 vs 7.
For towing, the Kia Carnival leads with a 2,000kg braked capacity vs 1,500kg. That 500kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.
Turning Circle
Kerb-to-kerb diameter. Smaller turns easier in tight carparks and U-turns.
11.7m diameter
Average
Based on 11.7m turning circle:
- U-turn on standard street (7m+ wide)
- Standard parking bay
- Tight carparks
- Narrow laneways
Turning circle ratings
Interactive simulator: U-turns, parking & towing
Turning Circle
Kerb-to-kerb diameter. Smaller turns are easier in tight carparks and U-turns.
Average
Needs a 3-point turn (one reverse)
Needs about 10.0 m to swing round without stopping. Road is 9.0 m.
U-turn on a wide street
≥ 10 m: 3-point turn
U-turn on a standard street
7 m: 3-point turn
Standard parking bay
2.0 m wide: fits with room
Tight carpark aisle
6 m: careful, tight swing
Narrow laneway
3.5 m: no room to turn
Turning circle ratings
Standard widths: AU local streets carry ~5.5–7 m of carriageway; main roads ~9–12 m. AS 2890.1 carpark aisles are ~5.8–6.6 m for 90° bays (2.6 m wide × 5.4 m deep).
Road, aisle, swing and off-tracking figures are indicative estimates from the published turning circle. Verify in person before relying on them.
True Cost to Own
Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $1,853/year for the Kia Carnival and $350/year for the BYD M9. That is a $1,503 annual difference in favour of the BYD M9.
Warranty: 7 years / 999,999km (Kia Carnival) vs 6 years / 150,000km (BYD M9). The Kia Carnival has longer coverage.
Who Should Buy Which?
Buy the Kia Carnival if: You want the lower entry price, need more boot space, value a longer warranty, need stronger towing, or prefer Kia's approach to design and ownership experience.
Buy the BYD M9 if: You prioritise performance, want lower running costs, or prefer BYD's approach to design and ownership experience.
The Verdict
The Kia Carnival takes 4 of 7 key spec categories and comes in at a lower price. The BYD M9 will save you roughly $1,503 a year in fuel. If boot space matters, the Kia Carnival has a clear edge. The Kia Carnival adds peace of mind with a longer 7-year warranty. The best pick depends on what you value most. Explore the full specs for each model below.
Common questions
Which is cheapest, Kia Carnival and BYD M9?
The Kia Carnival is the cheapest at $54,560 before on-road costs. That undercuts the BYD M9 by $18,430.
Which is the most fuel-efficient?
The Kia Carnival uses the least fuel at 6.5L/100km on the combined cycle.
What are the ANCAP safety ratings?
Kia Carnival holds a 5-star ANCAP rating. We have no published ANCAP rating for BYD M9, so there is nothing to compare on crash performance. Compare the active-safety features above instead.
Which has the most boot space?
The Kia Carnival has the largest boot at 627L.
Which can tow the most?
The Kia Carnival has the highest braked towing capacity at 2,000kg.
Which has the best warranty?
The Kia Carnival has the longest warranty at 7 years / Unlimited.
Which is the most powerful?
The BYD M9 makes the most power at 218kW. The BYD M9 is quickest to 100km/h in 8.5s.
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Disclaimer: All information in this comparison was believed to be correct at the time of publishing (20 April 2026). Prices are manufacturer recommended retail prices (RRP) and may vary by state, dealer, and options. Driveaway costs include estimated on-road costs for Victoria. Fuel economy figures are WLTP/ADR combined cycle. Specifications can change without notice. Always verify with the manufacturer before making a purchase decision. CarSorted does not accept payment for recommendations.
Auto-generated from CarSorted's specification data · 20 April 2026
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