Car news, 08 May ’24: Hyundai Santa Fe pricing and spec revealed, hybrid sidelined for facelifted Kia Carnival, and more

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Thanks for joining us this Wednesday May 8th 2024. Notably in car news today: Aussie pricing and specifications have been revealed for Hyundai Santa Fe, and Kia’s facelifted Carnival misses out on hybrid power at launch.

Browse this issue:

• Hyundai Santa Fe pricing and specifications revealed
• Turbo-petrol hybrid power gets sidelined for Kia Carnival’s bold facelift 
• BMW M4 CS set to launch late this year
• Volvo EX30 gets slight price rise as cars begin to arrive in Australia 

Hyundai Santa Fe starts from $55,500 in Australia, hybrid only at launch

• Pricing and specification has lobbed on Hyundai Australia’s local website for the all-new fifth-generation Santa Fe large SUV. Exclusively fitting turbo petrol hybrid power, with 169kW and 350Nm, the lineup is due locally around June 2024. 

• Price of entry has risen by a significant $9450 over the outgoing fourth-gen model, with the base, front-drive hybrid priced at $55,500 before on-road costs. Pricing tops out as steep as $75,500 for the Calligraphy six-seat all-wheel drive variant.

• Along with an entirely new boxy exterior look, standard equipment for the Santa Fe includes 20-inch alloy wheels, dual 12.3-inch screens, wireless charging, a six-speaker sound system and multiple drive modes.

• Top-spec Calligraphy grades gain a glass sunroof, unique 20-inch alloy wheels, nappa leather upholstery and a head-up display.

• The Santa Fe competes with other larger SUVs such as the Kia Sorento and the Toyota Kluger.  

Turbo-hybrid power for Kia Carnival is sidelined for facelift, petrol V6 and turbo-diesel remain

• Greater detail about the facelifted 2024 Kia Carnival has become public knowledge on the brand’s Australian website, however the people mover won’t be available at launch with a 1.6-litre turbo-hybrid setup that was on table, as previously reported by Chasing Cars. 

• The updated Kia Carnival, along with its fresh exterior redesign that has been influenced by the likes of the electric Kia EV9, has been priced from $50,150 before on-road costs.

• The price of entry has creeped up by $2670 when compared to the pre-facelift people mover. Diesel variants command a $2200 premium over the petrol models. 

• The Carnival will continue to be powered by either a 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine or a smaller displacement 2.2-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine – just like before. 

• The diesel produces more torque, but less power, but it’s the more efficient motor on paper, sipping 6.5L/100km compared to 9.6L/100km for the petrol V6. 

• Stay tuned for a future Chasing Cars review on the updated Carnival in the next two weeks. 

All-new BMW M4 CS set for Australian launch

• BMW Australia has released details of the all-new high-performance M4 CS due on sale this year that follows on from last year’s M3 CS, the newcomer priced from $254,900 and limited to just 50 units locally.
  
• The M4 CS is powered by a bespoke motorsport-related turbocharged 3.0-litre inline six outputting 405kW and 650Nm, some 15kW up on the M4 Competition Coupe. 

• With the aid of numerous carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) components help shave 20kg from M4 CS.
  
• Fitting M xDrive all-wheel drive as standard, the new M4 CS is claimed to return 3.4-second 0-100km/h performance. It also features switchable rear-wheel drive.

Volvo EX30 price updates for Australia, arriving now to dealerships

• Volvo Cars Australia has made some pricing adjustments to its brand-new EX30 small electric SUV, with first deliveries occurring now. 

• The range will begin, as it did before, at $59,990 before on-road costs for the Plus single motor with extended range battery pack. However, a $1300 price increase has come to the two Ultra grades. 

• Pricing will now start a little higher at $66,290 before on-road costs for the Ultra single motor variant and $71,290 for the twin performance Ultra flagship. 

• The EX30 is rear- or all-wheel drive and all Australian-delivered examples will have an extended range, 64kWh usable battery pack as standard. Underneath is the Geely SEA platform that also underpins the Smart #1 electric car.  

• The Volvo EX30 will compete with the likes of the Cupra Born and the Renault Megane E-Tech on Australian roads.   

The next issue of Car News Today will be published on Thursday 9th May at 4.30pm Sydney time.