82 | AUSTRALIAN NEW CAR & SUV BUYER’S GUIDE
K
ia’s third-generation
Carnival people mover
starts at $42,490 for the 206kW
3.3-litre V6 petrol/eight-speed
automatic S model. Si grade
is $47,990, SLi is $52,490 and
Platinum is $60,290.
The 147kW 2.2-litre four-
cylinder turbodiesel/six-speed
automatic is available in the
same model grades as above but
at a $2500 premium.
Carnival is a big, heavy wagon
with a long wheelbase and
ostensibly eight seats, so the
relatively high power and torque
outputs of both engines are well
suited to shifting a full load of
people and gear with ease.
The 2.2-litre turbodiesel,
with 440Nm of torque from just
1750rpm, is one of the best
around at any price and perfect
for this application.
It’s very smooth and quiet for a
diesel too, and works well with the
eight-speed auto.
You can fi t seven passengers,
with each in an individual seat in
row two and a 60/40 split bench
in row three.
Access to both rows of rear
seats is via sliding doors, power
operated on SLi and Platinum,
which, in a people mover where
kids are piling in and out, are the
most safe and convenient option.
They are also great in confi ned
spaces such as garages and
shopping centre car parks.
The two outboard seats in
row two are fi ne for adults and
there’s ample legroom, which
can be adjusted as the seats
slide on tracks.
Access to row three is via a
simple, innovative slide-and-fold
operation on the two outboardrow-two seats. A similarly clever,
easy, one-handed lift and unfold
mechanism raises the row-
three seats from the boot fl oor.
Legroom is pretty good here, too.
All seats have adjustable back
rests. A separate air-conditioning
system with roof vents for rows
two and three is standard on all
grades bar the base S.
Everywhere you look, the
Carnival has features that work for
parents and kids. A convex mirror,
for example, allows you to keep an
eye on the mayhem behind.
Automatic emergency braking,
adpative cruise and lane
departure warning are standard.
Three USB ports and 12-volt
outlets are provided. Platinum
has row-two and -three
sunshades on the side windows.
There are storage compartments
galore as well.Another major plus for the
Carnival is that with all seats
used you still have a big load
space — a deep well in the
rear fl oor. It’s big enough for
the shopping and school bags;
there are four bag hooks plus a
12-volt outlet.
The driver sits high in a
slightly under-padded chair,
facing a simple, functional
dash. Vision is fi ne around the
car; a camera and rear parking
sensors are standard -- handy,
because it is a beast to park in
tight spaces.
Handling is OK by people
mover standards, but Carnival
is a big wagon with soft
suspension so dynamic limits
are extremely low. The ride is
comfortable and quiet.
At the price, Carnival offers a
heck of a lot of people mover for
your money.
If it’s outright interior acreage
and seating capacity you want, the
Kia’s closest rivals are Honda’s
Odyssey, Hyundai’s eight-seater
iMax, VW’s seven-seater Multivan
and nine-seater Caravelle.THINGS WE LIKE
Excellent petrol and turbodiesel
engines
Market-leading warranty
Plenty of legroom in all rows
Big load space with all seats in use
Easy access to all seats
Heaps of storage
THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE
3.3-litre V6 is thirsty
It’s a big thing to manoeuvre in
tight spaces
More comfortable for six than eight
SPEX (Si 2.2 CRDi)
Made in South Korea
2.2-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel/
eight-speed automatic/front-
wheel drive
147kW of power at 3800rpm/440Nm
of torque from 1750–2750rpm
0–100/h N/A
6.3L/100km highway; 9.9L/100km
city; CO 2 emissions are 202g/km
Warranty: Seven years/unlimited
kilometres
Standard: Six airbags, stability
control, automatic emergency
braking, adaptive cruise, lane
departure warning, three-zone air,
Bluetooth, navigation, 17-inch alloy
wheels, power tailgate
Redbook future values: 3yr 54%;
5yr 42%Safety
ANCAP
Green Vehicle GuidePerformanceHandlingQuality and reliabilityComfort and refi nementValue for moneyOverallSTARS
compare with ...
Honda Odyssey, Hyundai iMax, VW
Multivan and CaravelleS