Kia Carnival vs Mitsubishi Pajero Sport

The Kia Carnival starts from $50,570 before on-road costs, while the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport opens at $51,540. That makes the Kia Carnival the more affordable entry point by $970.

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 $55,627 and $56,694 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs favour the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport by roughly $2,135 in fuel alone.

Both the Kia Carnival and Mitsubishi Pajero Sport hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. The Kia Carnival packs more ADAS features with 5 out of 10 key systems fitted, compared to 2 in the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 7 in the Kia Carnival and 7 in the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport.

The Kia Carnival features a 12.3-inch touchscreen paired with a 4-inch digital dash, while the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport gets a 8-inch display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Kia Carnival stands out with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, wireless charging and power tailgate that you will not find on the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport. The Mitsubishi Pajero Sport counters with Apple CarPlay. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

The Kia Carnival uses a Petrol producing 216kW and 355Nm of torque, sent through a automatic to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 9.1 seconds.

The Mitsubishi Pajero Sport responds with a Diesel making 133kW and 430Nm, paired to a automatic driving the rear wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 11.5 seconds.

The Kia Carnival has the clear power advantage at 216kW vs 133kW. In the real-world sprint, the Kia Carnival is 2.4s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Kia Carnival measures 5,155mm long on a 3,090mm wheelbase, 370mm longer than the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport at 4,785mm (2,800mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Kia Carnival generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 587L in the Kia Carnival and 131L in the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, giving the Kia Carnival a 456L advantage. The Kia Carnival seats 8 vs 5.

For towing, the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport leads with a 3,100kg braked capacity vs 2,000kg. That 1,100kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $2,736/year for the Kia Carnival and $2,309/year for the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport. That is a $427 annual difference in favour of the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport.

Estimated annual total: $2,736 (Kia Carnival) vs $2,309 (Mitsubishi Pajero Sport). The Mitsubishi Pajero Sport saves you roughly $427 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

Warranty: 7 years / 999,999km (Kia Carnival) vs 10 years / 200,000km (Mitsubishi Pajero Sport). The Mitsubishi Pajero Sport has longer coverage.