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When it comes to moving big families, there are few better steeds than the Kia Carnival, as Justin Narayan finds out.
- Fits seven adults or up to eight occupants (across ages) comfortably
- Fantastic safety suite and five-star ANCAP rating
- Huge cargo-carrying capacity
- Front-wheel drive only
- Can feel long
- Sliding doors and boxy body type not for all
The Kia Carnival has become the quintessential people mover, and inherited the less than fashionable title, after the well-loved Toyota Tarago was discontinued back in 2019. Making its Australian debut in 2021, the all-new fourth-generation Carnival looks to shake off the sometimes-daggy stigmas strongly associated with the segment, however.
The 2021 Kia Carnival maintains the same model structure as the previous model. The four same trims are offered, with either choice of petrol or diesel running gear. Opting for the oiler adds $2000 to the petrol vehicle’s cost regardless of the trim.
The range starts with the entry-level S model offered with a V6 petrol for $50,890 drive-away, or four-cylinder turbo diesel for $52,890 drive-away. Up from here sits the Si at $56,290 and $58,290, and SLi $60,790 and $62,790, respectively, all with drive-away pricing.
The model line-up is topped by the Platinum trim level. A petrol costs $68,490 drive-away and the diesel $70,490 drive-away – making our test car the most expensive Kia Carnival on sale in Australia.
It is also in the most expensive possible configuration, too, being dressed in Deep Chrome Blue paintwork for an extra $695. A metallic silver comes for free, but the six other colours want for the extra charge.
In all, our 2021 Kia Carnival Platinum diesel costs $71,185 drive-away.
| At a glance | 2021 Kia Carnival Platinum |
| Price (MSRP) | $70,490 drive-away |
| Options | Premium paint ($695) |
| Price as tested | $71,185 drive-away |
| Colour on test car | Deep Chroma Blue |
| Rivals | Honda Odyssey | Hyundai Palisade | Toyota Granvia |
Interior Comfort
As the segment suggests, people moving is the name of the Kia Carnival’s game.
Starting with the first row, the first thing that becomes evident is the amount of space on offer. Things like a chunky armrest lid help give scale to the cabin’s width, as it could easily home all 10 elbows from a family of five.
The first-row seating position is high and upright, providing an excellent vantage point to peer through the large surrounding glasshouse. Our Platinum model features leatherette seating trim, which feels far more luxurious than it sounds. As a bonus, the material is easy enough to wipe clean with water and a soft cloth.
Both front seats are electrically adjustable, with the driver’s side featuring electrically height-adjustable lumbar support. Despite the black seat trim and overall dark theme throughout, a pair of independently operated sunroofs help by bathing things in natural light.
Storage is another big part of any parent’s requirements, especially if you’re nurturing a small army bearing your family name. As mentioned, a large centre armrest tops a cubby big enough to home a small bag and sits in front of myriad other storage spots. Directly in front lies a small, uncovered tray suitable for a card wallet. Beyond are a pair of cupholders big enough for a small water bottle – and complete with a smartphone holder.
Underneath the large 12.3-inch infotainment screen sit another two cubbies. One with wireless charging, and another looking ready to be thrown your keys. In the same area, you will also locate three of the many USB ports peppered throughout the passenger area.
Ingress and egress from the second row are made easy via huge door apertures and electric sliding doors. If you like the idea of swift drop-offs at school, then opt for either the SLi or Platinum trim, and these are the only two trims benefitting from motorised exit ways.
Overall passenger room is huge, with fully grown adults being able to walk around, albeit slightly crouched, in the second-row. At 183cm tall, and sitting behind my own driving position, I had well over 8cm of knee room, seemingly endless foot room and plenty of head room as well.
All three middle row seats can slide fore or aft independently, so no child is left holding the short straw and sitting uncomfortably in the middle. In fact, one gains an advantage here, as it’s the best spot to access either of the two USB ports cleverly positioned on the back of the front seats. Other amenities include roof-mounted air vents and a temperature control system.
Even though sliding doors conjure up thoughts of undesirability and pragmatism, they do have their conveniences. Loading kids in capsules could not be easier, and the same goes for popping your wee one into a rearward-facing convertible-type seat.
The Carnival features five ISOFIX points across the cabin: three in the second row, and two in the third. This alone opens heaps of configuration options regarding seating, for example, having your offspring ride in the third row and leaving the easier-to-access second row free for the oldies.
The path to seats six, seven and eight is generally found after folding the passenger-side seat forward. The gap left to climb through is bigger than what is found in seven-seat SUVs. However, there’s also the option of turfing the second row’s middle seat to create a walk-through into cattle class. The versatility on offer is top-shelf stuff, with comfort and ease clearly being the highlights.
The third row is big enough for adults to get comfortable on a longer trip, but expect your friendly second-row friends to selflessly slide their seats forward and share the space. Even guests back here have access to both a cup and phone holder, as well as two more USB ports.
With all eight (or seven) seats in play, there is still a huge 627L of storage in the back of a Kia Carnival. With the third row in use, the boot area becomes more a pit than a cargo space, so items must be stacked, and its farthest reaches require you to bend over to reach.
With the third row stowed, space grows to a huge 2785L – easily double what you will find in similarly priced SUVs. A nice side benefit to your practical thinking is that your newly acquired people mover also doubles as a van, which makes trips to flat-pack furniture heaven all too easy.
| At a glance | 2021 Kia Carnival Platinum |
| Seats | Eight |
| Boot volume | 627L / 2785L |
| Length | 5115mm |
| Width | 1995mm |
| Height | 1775mm |
| Wheelbase | 3090mm |
| Turning circle | 11.7m |
Infotainment and Connectivity
A big car needs a big screen, so inside the Kia Carnival you’ll find a widescreen-format 12.3-inch item complete with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity, as well as digital radio.
If you’re wondering why the system is not wireless – like cheaper Kia Carnival models with the smaller 8.0-inch display – it’s because the brand’s infotainment systems are unable to support cable-free connectivity when they feature in-built navigation.
Don’t consider it a huge loss, however, as we’ve had issues with wireless smartphone connectivity in the past. Supporting the big screen is a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system.
Safety
As a top-of-the-range version of a vehicle designed to haul family, Kia’s Carnival Platinum is naturally loaded with every safety system from the Kia catalogue.
On top of the usuals like blind-spot monitoring and rear-cross traffic alert, both systems can also apply either steering or braking. In the case of rear cross-traffic alert, the Carnival will grab the brakes if the driver fails to. In terms of blind-spot monitoring, it will apply steering input if you veer toward an object in your rear-quarter area.
Other advanced safety features include speed limit recognition, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and autonomous emergency braking that recognises cars, pedestrians and cyclists.
The Carnival has been tested in 2021 under the latest and most strict ANCAP testing criteria where it scored a five-star result. Another contributing factor to the score is that its airbags extend and provide coverage to those sitting in the third row.
| At a glance | 2021 Kia Carnival Platinum |
| ANCAP rating | Five stars |
| Year tested | 2021 |
| Safety report | LINK |
Value for Money
With a big family comes big expense. However, choices are limited if you’re seeking the elusive blend of seating capacity and passenger comfort. This point is no better reflected in the eight-large Carnival model offering in Australia, so there’s one to suit most budgets.
The Platinum model does push the cabin experience beyond the mainstream with a pair of independently functioning sunroofs and Bose 12-speaker stereo, but you could easily live without them.
The SLi shares the balance of important features with the Platinum model, like its infotainment, sliding doors and 360-degree parking camera – enough to see it as our value pick of the range. Still, if you must have those factory-fitted 19-inch black alloy wheels, then you must opt for the Platinum model.
The $2000 step up to the diesel model is likely going to be perceived as good value by the frugal buying demographic, as its real-world fuel use will be cheaper over the long term. It’s offered across the range, too, so you’re not forced up in terms of model grade just to get the engine you want.
As with all Kias, the Carnival comes with a seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, which includes seven years’ capped-price servicing and up to eight years’ roadside assist – with each year renewed if your annual service is carried out within the Kia dealer network.
In terms of moving a large family around safely, comfortably and relatively affordably, the Kia is the benchmark.
| At a glance | 2021 Kia Carnival Platinum |
| MSRP | $70,490 drive-away |
| Options as tested | Premium paint ($695) |
| Warranty | Seven year / Unlimited km |
| Servicing costs | $1382 3yr / $2573 5yr |
Driver Technology
Kia’s safe exit assist and warning system is clever technology that actively increases the safety of kids in the second row. If they try to open any door of the car onto oncoming traffic, an alert will sound to warn of the potential danger. If they ignore the order and try to open a rear door anyway, no dice – the vehicle applies the electronic child-lock feature and keeps the door shut.
Although not high-tech, as the system uses basic programming from existing vehicle hardware (electronic child lock, rear blind-spot sensors) to work, there’s no denying the cleverness and how it genuinely promotes occupant safety.
Powertrain and Performance
Our Kia Carnival Platinum features the turbocharged diesel powertrain, not the naturally aspirated V6 petrol. In turn, it offers more torque, some 440Nm given in full between 1750-2750rpm versus the petrol’s 355Nm at 5000rpm. The diesel has far less power, however, bringing 148kW up against the petrol’s whopping 216kW.
However, you’re going to favour the big, early torque figure in this application given the Carnival’s moving weight, and lots of it. It tips the scales at 2134kg, and that’s before we’ve piled it full of adults.
Don’t just look at the hearty peak torque figure either. Turning force is delivered effortlessly and low in the rev range, which makes it the better choice for most. The diesel feels less tasked, too, and something evident by the fuel bill.
One thing common between petrol and diesel Carnivals is an eight-speed torque-converter automatic, unlike the Kia Sorento that uses a dual-clutch with the same engine. The Carnival’s transmission being fluid-coupled means it is buttery-smooth and lovely in stop-start traffic, especially given the relaxed nature of the diesel powertrain. The ratios are well selected, and it’s never overwhelmed or continually shifting in search of rev-range harmony.
| Key details | 2021 Kia Carnival Platinum |
| Engine | 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel |
| Power | 148kW @ 3800rpm |
| Torque | 440Nm @ 1750-2750rpm |
| Weight (tare) | 2082kg |
| Drive type | Front-wheel drive |
| Transmission | Eight-speed torque-converter automatic |
| Tow rating | 2000kg braked, 750kg unbraked |
| Power to weight ratio | 71.1kW/t |
Energy Efficiency
We’ve been running this vehicle over a couple of months, rather than a usual single-week loan, so we can quote a much longer fuel consumption testing figure, which is currently showing 7.5L/100km over three months of use. That is a good result compared to the official combined claim of 6.5L/100km.
| At a glance | 2021 Kia Carnival Platinum |
| Fuel cons. (claimed) | 6.5L/100km |
| Fuel cons. (on test) | 7.5L/100km |
| Fuel type | Diesel |
| Fuel tank size | 72L |
Ride and Handling
Every new vehicle that Kia launches in Australia undergoes a localised ride and handling program. Often, local Aussie engineers see room for improvement or ways they can better calibrate things to suit our unique conditions. The local subsidiary is reserved the freedom to tune the vehicle’s steering, suspension and bushings.
As a result, the Carnival feels at home in many all-too-common Aussie scenarios. Throughout inner-city areas, where the roads are either poorly repaired or just poor in general, the Carnival remains supple and dignified despite riding on large alloy wheels. The ride quality is better in lower variants, however.
Out on faster country bitumen it will carry speed fine, albeit followed by its mass. You do feel the heft if the road switches back suddenly, but you easily learn to drive along with it. If you’re dreaming of a family road trip during the school holidays, it makes for a great touring partner in most regular on-road scenarios.
The biggest downfall is its front-wheel-drive underpinnings. Fast standing starts are met with wheelspin, and its general performance is greatly curtailed in adverse conditions. It also means all-wheel-drive SUV alternatives may be better if you are considering towing something small.
Still, you would prefer the extra space and lack of all-wheel-drive guts instead of the equation reversed, as it’s a people mover first and foremost.
Something else you will learn to drive with is the long wheelbase, which at times can also feel like it trails behind you. Keeping a watchful eye on the side mirrors is a good tip for newbies to a vehicle of this size, especially in underground carparks or tighter city streets.
Fit for Purpose
It’s slim pickings in the people mover segment, and when assessed critically, none are as good as the Kia Carnival.
You do not have to be a large family of six, seven or even eight to appreciate the space, size, and sheer comfort it offers all guests. A smaller family would arguably have the best time, with everyone sprawled out in their corners with stacks of room, dedicated cupholders, and USB ports.
If you are someone rationally chasing space and a third row, then you’re on the money thinking a Kia Carnival suits. The third row has been designed to be accessed frequently, comfortably, and in more ways than one. If you’re a busy parent genuinely using all rows of seating frequently, you’ll find the Carnival alleviating another useless burden for you.
Conclusion
If your vision for personal transport involves shuttling more than five people often and comfortably, then the Kia Carnival is the pick of the segment.
It’s still relevant to those families of five, however, offering plenty you’ll soon find hard to live without. Its huge cargo capacity will come in handy, no matter if you can’t think of why now. And who knows, you may get used to keeping a watchful eye over your kids and their friends given your new eight-seater makes your car the default choice?
Others seeking adventure may be turned off by the low ground clearance and front-wheel drive, and the same goes for those who find themselves towing often.
As a simple answer to a simple question, if you want the utmost comfort with a mainstream budget, agnostic of body type, it is the pick regardless.
The post 2021 Kia Carnival Platinum review appeared first on Drive.
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