Wheels Australia - June 2018

50 whichcar.com.au/wheels

Kit from base up, in a festivus for the rest of us

Kia Carnival

FIRST
AUSSIE
DRIVE

set-up, has also been tweaked

withanewpumpandtighter

torsionbarspring.Theresults

aren’t dramatic, though, with the

steeringwheelstillfeelingalittle

slack and disconnected.

A more noticeable improvement

is the new eight-speed automatic

transmission taken from the

Stinger,whichreplacesthesix-

speed auto previously coupled

to the 3.3-litre petrol V6 and

2.2-litre turbo-diesel four. As

well as extra ratios the new

transmission brings quicker and

smoother shifts. Throttle response

is vastly improved at all speeds,

particularly with the V6, which

previously required you to almost

stomponthepedalinaquestfor

meaningful torque.

The new transmission also

seamlessly keeps up with the

autonomous throttle and braking

of the active cruise control that’s

now standard, along with AEB.

Aesthetic enhancements

include a restyled nose and

bumper as well as a slicker

headlight configuration and

revisedgrillethatgiveitacloser

family resemblance to the

Sorento. The design of the lower

tailgate panel and rear three-

quarterpanelshavebeengivena

subtle restyle.

Theairyinteriorhasalso

been refreshed, with updated

instrument graphics and a less

clutteredcentreconsole.The

Carnival range also gains Apple

CarPlay/Android A

inallbuttheentr

CarnivalSand

$1000, with the le

SLi and Platinum

account for most

jumping by $3000

respectively. That

from $42,490 to $6

still makes the Ca

value proposition

equipped rivals, w

tomakeitaviable

alternative to sev

PLUS &

MINUS

New eight-speed auto; improved ride and handling; AEB as standard

S is not for Spartan

The Carnival has captured

50 percent of the people-

mover segment thanks to its

popularity with fleet buyers

and rental firms, which buy

the entry-level S variant. The

S now comes standard with

acity-andhighway-speed

AEB system, a lane-departure

WHILE it doesn’t top any

cool lists, anecdotal

evidence suggests your

motoring scribe isn’t

alone in harbouring a

quiet admiration for the Kia

Carnival. Its eight-seat interior

is welcoming and its handsome

exterior wouldn’t look out of place

in a presidential motorcade.

This mid-life update sees

improvements to the Carnival’s

locally tuned suspension, which

included Oz-specific dampers,

firmer springs and thicker anti-

roll bars. Handling is notably

better on rural roads with little

compromise to its composed ride.

Despite its two-tonne heft, body

roll is contained to a car-like level

on bendy roads and occupants in

all three rows have enough lateral

support to stay in place during an

enthusiastic burst.

The hydraulic power steering,

which Aussie Carnivals get

because the RHD conversion

couldn’t accommodate the electric

Model

Engine

Max power

Max torque

Transmission

Weight

0-100km/h

Economy

Price

On sale

Kia Carnival S

3342cc V6 (60°), dohc, 24v

206kW @ 6000rpm

336Nm @ 5200rpm

8-speed automatic

2146kg

8.2sec (estimated)

10.8L /100km

$42,490

Now

Reworked steering still remote; bumpy ride for third-row passengers

Auto, and sat-nav

y-level S variant.

Si pricing is up

ather-trimmed

variants (which

rivate sales)

0 and $2000

t sees prices run

62,790, which

arnival a strong

against similarly

while continuing

e, and roomier,

en-seat SUVs

D AVID BO NNIC I

warninactive cruise control

and an electricpark brake,

which wer reviou

exclusive to the upper

versions. Th cloth seats

look plush and offer lounge

chair comfort even in the

third row.