LDV MIFA 9 vs Kia Carnival

The LDV MIFA 9 starts from $104,000 before on-road costs, while the Kia Carnival opens at $55,490. That makes the Kia Carnival the more affordable entry point by $48,510.

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 $114,400 and $61,039 respectively.

The LDV MIFA 9 qualifies for FBT exemption as an electric vehicle, which can dramatically reduce the effective cost for novated lease buyers. The Kia Carnival, as a petrol model, does not qualify.

Both the LDV MIFA 9 and Kia Carnival hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 93% for the LDV MIFA 9 and 90% for the Kia Carnival.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. The LDV MIFA 9 packs more ADAS features with 6 out of 10 key systems fitted, compared to 5 in the Kia Carnival.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 8 in the LDV MIFA 9 and 7 in the Kia Carnival.

The LDV MIFA 9 features a 12.3-inch touchscreen paired with a 7-inch digital dash, while the Kia Carnival gets a 8-inch display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The LDV MIFA 9 stands out with V2L that you will not find on the Kia Carnival. The Kia Carnival counters with wireless charging. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

The LDV MIFA 9 uses a Electric Motor producing 180kW and 350Nm of torque, sent through a single speed to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 12 seconds.

The Kia Carnival responds with a Petrol making 216kW and 355Nm, paired to a automatic driving the front wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 9.1 seconds.

The Kia Carnival has the clear power advantage at 216kW vs 180kW. In the real-world sprint, the Kia Carnival is 2.9s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The LDV MIFA 9 measures 5,270mm long on a 3,200mm wheelbase, 115mm longer than the Kia Carnival at 5,155mm (3,090mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the LDV MIFA 9 generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 466L in the LDV MIFA 9 and 587L in the Kia Carnival, giving the Kia Carnival a 121L advantage. The Kia Carnival seats 8 vs 7.

For towing, the Kia Carnival leads with a 2,000kg braked capacity vs 1,000kg. That 1,000kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Running cost data is not yet available for both models. We will update when figures are confirmed.

Warranty: 5 years / 160,000km (LDV MIFA 9) vs 7 years / 999,999km (Kia Carnival). The Kia Carnival has longer coverage.