Kia Grand Carnival VQ (2006-2014)

2009 Kia grand carnival EX – Had this car for 2 days now. Absolutely smooth driving. Yes it's a 2009 model and is used but it's absolutely amazing so far! Would recommend! Show details

Reasonably Good for the money – As a people mover vehicle, the Grand Carnival falls within the value bracket of all people movers out there. Engine choice is of a V6 petrol, and a smaller 4 cylinder Diesel. The diesel being the one we've chosen is excellent in fuel Economy with around a 1000km range. It is also a very punchy unit with an abundance of torque when you need to… Read more

get going e.g for overtaking. Features are excellent too with just about everything you possibly want in a vehicle including dual air conditionin, cruise control, supreme audio system with Bluetooth, electric windows all around, and plenty of storage compartments including a sunglasses holder over head. Now with the negatives: The interior does show that this vehicle is built to a price with lots of outdated hard plastics that emit the occasional squeak and rattle, door trim are yesterdays look not surprising that this model 2013 has been in service since 1999 with various upgrades along the way, and is now showing its age. The diesel is a little noisy too when worked, but settles down once it finds its stride. The gearbox is a 6 speed auto which is relatively smooth for a car in this price bracket, it does hunt around a little to find that perfect gear, but again, not bad for the price. Kia does have a new model on the go today where a majority of the niggles and gripes have been addressed with an all new model. Overall rating is Good value for the dollar as long as you don't expect Rolls Royce quality!!

Must have for a growing family! – "Spacious" is the word to describe this car. Lot of space even after you have all three rows in use. I can easily fit atleast 10 camping chairs, baby pram, esky, grocery bags, kids outdoor toys- scooters, footballs, cricket bats, still lot of space left. All three rows can accommodate adults. Very comfortable to travel. Easy to get into the… Read more

third row. Your kids will love this car. If you are looking for seven seater, try this car too before you make your mind. Most of the time, kids end up in third row, so ask them to try third row and share their experience.

As far as driving is concerned, this car got powerful and smooth engine. Driving position can be varied from high to low. You can get experience of high SUV and SEDAN by changing seat height. Dashboard is ergonomical. For fellow passenger, you got enough storage space and charging points. Tons of leg room for every row.

I wish if they have included automatic side doors and side steps in base model.

Only draw back i experienced is its fuel efficiency. It is efficient on highways but in city conditions it consumes fuel on higher side from 12-17 liters per 100 kms. I heard carnival comes with 2l diesel engine which is much fuel efficient.

I have worked around this problem by having multiple fuel price applications. More over it is a weekend getaway car rather a everyday car.

I will still recommend this car as the best looking 8 seater. It's a cross between people mover and Suv. Plus you get 7 year warranty from kia and fixed price service.

I am happy with car's overall performance - Value for money and peace of mind.

Pleasantly surprised, will buy another – I have had a 2013 SLi petrol model from new and even though I resisted buying any form of people mover at first, I was pleasantly surprised right from the first time I drove my Grand Carnival. The first thing you notice is the higher seating position if you're used to a standard sedan. The view in all directions is really good. The next thing is… Read more

the amount of power the 3.5L V6 pumps through those front wheels. I learned very quickly to ease the throttle on gently if the front wheels were pointing anywhere but straight ahead - otherwise the torque steer will have you making an involuntary lane change. Seriously though, when you have the car full with all the holiday luggage and towing a trailer full of camping gear, you really appreciate the power (if not the fuel bill). The car is very reliable, I've had no mechanical or other issues in over 80000kms, even the tyres are the original set so no uneven wear. If your looking for a reliable family workhorse with eight proper seats, you can't go past the Grand Carnival. Now that there is a new model out, I'll have no hesitation upgrading.

Our second Grand Carnival – Our First Grand Carnival we purchased new (2005) Unfortunately our much loved son wrote it off, Kia couldn't do much about that. So we brought a second Grand Carnival as we loved our first so much. lots of space, decent seating room, great boot size. Love the lie flat cargo area. And the great thing is it has lots of guts being a V6.  Show details

Best family car ever! – Bought this car when I was about to have my third child, as 3 baby seats in all other cars were just too squishy! It was the best purchase ever. I drive the same car for more than 4 years and the only thing I would want now is a newer model! Spacious, reasonably economic, safe, comfortable and I would fit in the boot a pram plus scooters and small bikes... love it!  Show details

The perfect car for my needs – Bought my Grand Carnival 2 years ago with 30,000 on the clock and have been absolutely delighted with it. It handles beautifully, smoothly and with plenty of power and torque. The seats are very comfortable velour which to my surprise does not attract the dirt so much. There is just so much space inside which is one of the main reasons I bought… Read more

it. It's vast. I'm a working musician and frequently carry large amounts of PA equipment, which all fits in effortlessly. A month ago I unhooked and removed the centre seats and carried a complete bar inside. How many other people movers can you do that with? The dashboard is easy to read, but disappointed the heater/aircon is fully manual only i.e you have to tweak it with your fingers! The petrol filler cap release button pushed right through the door lining one day but I was able to get it fixed under warranty. Running costs seem ok for a 3.5l V6 engine. Around 13litres/100kms around town

This car is a nightmare – We brought this car because of the birth of our twins and having 3 older kids we needed a people mover. On paper this car looked like the best option but we are now into the car more than its insured for and in the last 6 months have 5000 dollars in it. Not to mention the fact we've had to buy a cheap little car and do 2 trips everywhere in… Read more

because the kia is off the road as it won't start. Not starting right away has been an issue since 3 months after we brought it & turns out it's a common problem with this car. I have been stuck in middle of nowhere and running late stuck in my own driveway but it's always eventually started until recently now it's not going anywhere. Everyone has a different opinion but no one has had the solution and we have replaced everything & kia is no help..... Don't buy this car unless you want to get stuck everywhere trust me

Kia timing belt destroyed engine – Kia carnival 2.9 l diesel 2010 timing belt"slipped" at 7 years and only 33 000 km and destroyed engine. Every service done with Kia since new. Manual says replace timing belt every 8 years or 160 000kms- Kia refusing to replace engine out of warranty. Kia thinks i should pay for replacement of the entire engine of a car at 33000kms!!!!!! Never buy a Kia  Show details

Dont waste your time – What a joke this car has been the past 3 1/2 years! We have replaced the battery 3 times (apparently there is nothing wrong with the battery or starter motor) but has needed to be jump started at least 40 times in 3 1/2 years! Started smoking on start-up occasionally & the after 3 months it does it everytime now, chews through oil & apparently… Read more

they think it will need a new engine! the car has done 93,000k & needs a new engine? this is our second Kia carnival & i have to say this car is the pitts! Sick of spending money on it! Now to go into Battle with Kia for the warranty to replace the engine! Anyone else have this issue?

Great for a large family – Our 2012 Kia Grand Carnival was purchased in 2016 with an odometer reading of 60,000 kms. It was previously a Department of Health and Human Services Victoria fleet vehicle and had a full Kia service history. We have 4 children of our own aged 10-16 years. We are also foster carers with 1-2 children in our care at most times. The vehicle is used… Read more

daily for everything that a large family does. On holiday our Kia Grand Carnival is used to tow a Jayco Swan. The 2.2 litre diesel engine is a gem. Lots of grunt, very little turbo lag and has excellent fuel consumption. We average 11 l/100km around town and when towing the caravan. 7 l/100km is usual on the highway with 6-7 occupants. A few egos have been dented when being overtaken by our Grand Carnival fully loaded towing the caravan. There is plenty of space for 6-7 occupants of any age size including the third row. There is ample cargo space with all seats in use. Folding the third-row seats and removing the second-row seats results in a huge load area. When we have only our 4 children the preferred seating arrangement is with the centre second row seat removed. This results in the third row being accessed without having to fold an outboard second row seat. This seating arrangement is common in American minivans and SUVs. The front seat comfort is average on long trips. The second and third row seats have lap only belts. Occupants seated in a lap only belt can experience serious injury in a minor frontal impact where occupants in a lap/sash belt receive no injuries. Having said this the second-row centre seat has a child restraint anchorage that makes it ideal for fitting a child restrain with the lap only belt. The sliding rear side doors are fantastic. There are no worries about children opening rear doors onto walls and other vehicles and there is always excellent access. There is AC and heating to all three rows of seating. The AC is very effective even on the hottest days. Fixed price servicing and roadside assistance for 7 years was excellent. The starter motor failed at the start of a busy weekend after owning the vehicle for a few months. Kia were initially reluctant to cover the repair but eventually Kia had the vehicle towed and repaired by the local Kia dealer. No replacement vehicle was available from Kia while our vehicle was off the road. In 2018 a sliding rear door lock failed and the paint tailgate applique had faded. the other painted plastic parts on the vehicle were fine. The manufacturer warranty had finished but Kia were requested to fund the repair of these parts as they were subject to consumer guarantee under Australian Consumer Law. Kia initially refused to cover the repair of these parts but after an application to VCAT Kia did fund the repair of these parts. Overall our Kia we’ve been satisfied with our Kia Grand Carnival. The positive experiences have outweighed a few minor negatives through the ownership.

Kia greand carnival 2014 – We purchased last August 2017. This is a really great car it drives well just glides along. We have four teenagers the space and leg room is amazing. We require a large boot to carry 4 Scottish Pipe Band drums and other luggage. This has an amazing boot. The air condition dual controls are an asset. The moto is good very quiet. My son is learning to drive and loves it very easy car to drive. Had no mechanical issues. Worth while car  Show details

Awesome car – Very smooth drive. Superb pickup, great mileage. Handles like a sedan. All 8 extra large, adjustible seats with plenty of leg room. Helped me move interstate twice with magnificent cargo capacity. Never had to hire a ute to move large items like sofas and fridges purchased on Gumtree. Extra large boot space even after using all 8 seats. … Read more

Haven't spent a dollar apart from routine maintenance and change of tyres and wiper blades in last 2 and half years.

Plenty of small and big accessories to make everyone comfortable. 4 charging points, cruise control. Cup holders of all seats. Decent stereo player with AM/FM/CD/Bluetooth

Great Family car – my family couldnt live without this car its everything you need and more it has all the boot space you need for the pram and I can even have 3 carseats next to each other and at the back row 3 grown children sitting next to each other and still have room, it has power to get up the hills its just an amazing car kia has defintly up's their game with this car.  Show details

great for big family – Car is roomy you can fit 8 full grown adults without any problems, easy to drive, handles well in dry and wet conditions What i like about the car is that it has plenty of power, the cruise control and the 6 speed automatic gear box. I service my car regularly and didn't have any major issues. only had problem with engine check light came on for… Read more

while while then disappeared. Also, central lock fails in warm weather.

V6 3.5L engine it is very thirsty on petrol too.

Recommend for family comfort, performance and storage capabillies – We brought our 2006 Kia Grand Carnival V6 Petrol with 200000 km on the clock and it is still going strong. Plenty of power for overtaking and the odd drag race at the lights which most of the time leaves the other vehicle driver gob smacked. It's a great car for comfort, with plenty of room between each seat not like the new style SUV's that claim… Read more

they have 7 seat capacity but have your kids legs jammed up against the seat in front of them. We have had to replace the alternator, Battery and a few little maintenance things like light bulbs etc.

Overall there a great vehicle for families that enjoy a bit of comfort on family trips.

After 9 months we still comment how much we love this car – Got the platinum 2012 model second hand from dealer just before warranty ran out. Ofcourse just after warranty ran out it started making a squealing noise. Took it back to Kia to try my luck at getting it fixed under warranty thinking it would be a big fight, but to there credit they replaced the idler pulley for free no questions asked! Next car… Read more

will be a Kia for sure! Anyway back to the car, love the automatic doors and boot, love the space (can fit 3 car seats in middle row no problem). Easily throw all the kids stuff and bikes in the boot and off you go to local park. My wife never wanted a peoplemover (or van as she put it) so had to twist her arm but she loves it now. It gives you so much freedom. Only negative is fuel use but no different from any other v6 SUV and I wasn't expecting any different. Get a diesel if you do lotsok k's but we only do 10,000ks a year so wasn't worth the extra cost

Perfect vehicle for a large family – The vehicle is perfect for transporting a large family. In addition to its 8 seats, it has a large boot space (even with the 8 seats being used). The model that we have (Premium), has electric sliding doors. It is possible to get one that also has a boot door that opens electrically. It has about 15 cup holders inside. The three seats in the… Read more

centre row can be removed independently (each can be removed separately). It has reasonable fuel consumption, considering its size (about 13L per 100 kms). When buying a Kia Grand Carnival, make sure you buy one with a build date after 2006, as there were apparently engine problems with Grand Carnivals made prior. The seats can be configured (removed and the rear ones folded down) to produce a large flat floor to the van. This could be useful for sleeping on with a mattress when camping. It has lots of power when accelerating. I would highly recommend to buy if you are wanting a large family transporter.

GREAT car – Running Cost can vary from $15.00 to 20.00 If set cruise control at 90km the average 1oo k trip is $15.oo on normal driving it is$20.00.Iam not a erratic driver My trip includes hills . and suburbs .Basically very happy vehicle has don 135.000km All my passengers are comfortable AS Iam.  Show details

Wrinkle seat belts – Very happy with the car. But my seat belts are wrinkled I have taken to Kia ferntree gully for service and they have told me that this is not road worthy problem so it will not be covered. But don't believe that so will be contacting kia for second opinion. Apart from that fantastic family car.  Show details

Very practical and perfect for a large family – Since purchase (2nd hand) the 2011 Kia Carnival (SLi) has been very practical and a reliable family car. The car is very comfortable to drive with all the mod cons and there is plenty of room for a large family. The car handles very well and has enough power to carry a full load of passengers. Overtaking on highways is a breeze and something that… Read more

other people-movers lack. Fuel economy is average due to its size and engine capacity. My only regret is that I'd opted for a diesel instead. I was surprised by its high build quality and recommend it to any one considering a people-mover.

Wrinkles in seat belts – We purchased a 2014 grand carnival Vq platinum about 2 years ago and have had two new sets of seat belts fitted by Kia under warranty due to them wrinkling down the middle of the belt. Has anyone else had this issue? The ones which are in the car now are starting to do the same too so this will be brought up at the next service with the dealer … Read more

Look forward to replies

November 5th 2017 Update: Seat belt quality

Already written one review on this same issue but though I should report back again.

Our car has now had 3 replacement sets of seatbelts and still Kia insist on fitting the same crap quality belt that keeps buggering up

The belts warp/ripple/become wavy down the middle of them while the edges are still tight??

No other car we have owned has had seat belts that do this, they are just rubbish

Very Roomy but not economic car – I bought the 2008 GC in 2014. The car has served us well. But on the day we bought the GC, the dealer had to replace the air con compressor (cost $1800). And then the "Air bay" warning light keeps coming up for no obvious reason. Other than these 2, the car drives quite well. Kids and adults all have a lot of space in cars. We travelled to Mt… Read more

buller at snow time without any troubles.

One thing to recommend is remember to get the power assisted sliding door. I have it on mine and it is very helpful at shopping centre and road parkings.

The seats can easily be detached. and the boot is HUGE!

But, it is very thristy and heavy. So petrol and tyres are expensive, I have just changed mine and it costs $700.

Very good family car if you are on a budget. I love it.

Disappointing – Needed an entire engine replacement after 50,000KMS. Don't let it go one KM past the service dates, because the whole engine packs up. The engine blows huge amounts of smoke randomly making it difficult to diagnose. Settled out of court. Good to drive. Interior good. Seats versatile and easy to manage.  Show details

Best family car ever! – We bought our Grand Carnival brand new in 2007. We have since travelled EVERYWHERE in this vehicle, putting over 250K on the clock. We have owned Toyota Tarago's, Mazda MPV, Mitsubishi Starwagon's etc. none of them compare to how versatile and perfect this car is to cart around a large family, with a powerful engine and accommodation for large loads this car is perfect - will most definitely buy again!  Show details

need help – have a 2010 grand carnival and not getting much for my fuel Fill it upand only get about 500ks out of it is anyone else found this is so what have u done to fix it still under 100,000ks on it

Best family car – We have had our Kia GC for just over 3 years. Its a 2010/11 petrol model. We have 4 children ages 3-10. We have had no mechanical problems at all. At present we have a problem with the lights, where the cabin lights don't recognise when one of the side doors is open. Not a massive issue. I'm not a 'car' person, but I unexpectedly love how… Read more

much power this car has, compared with the smaller engines of other people movers. I really notice it when we have a full load of 6 family members, bikes, luggage etc. We also pull a trailer occasionally, with no problems. We get very slightly better fuel economy that we did with our previous car (2004 Holden commodore).

I love the two sliding doors. I love the removable seats ( we remove the middle seat, so its like a bus with a aisle), I love that there is plenty of room for car seats, and that the tether points are on the back of seats, not in the roof. I love the spacious boot.

I would love it even more if there were lap-sash belts for the middle seats. But apart from that, really, really happy.

Performance Problems – Need some advise from those of you who are more experienced with this topic. Please provide your suggestions becaue the Kia dealerships don't know what is going on. Read below for more information for this section as my review is enterred into the "what did I like about it" & What was wrong with it" sections. The Kia Grand Carnival - diesel is… Read more

comfortable as it's 8seater, versitle as the seats can all be removed to use the van as a transporting vehicle or for camping. This is the first diesel vehicle I have owned and although diesel is more expensive than petrol it lasts longer. We previously had a petrol Kia Carnival and Kia Sportage all of which have been fantastic vehicles and gave us no problems like the diesel Kia GC is giving u We are having problems with our 2009 Kia Grand Carnival - diese which has done 117000kms. Sometimes when driving the van, it feels like there is a 'flat spot' upon take off from stop position,after flooring the accelerator it seems as the van isn't really doing the speed you think you're doing and has been known to stall in a stopped position. Our van is an automatic. I didnt know an automatic car can stall??

What a car! – Have a 2012 Grand Carnival. I love my car! I can do anything and everything with my car from fitting in 5 adults and 3 baby seats easily to going to the races for a day and folding down the 3rd row and sliding in a 4 sided playpen so I know exactly where the little race fans are. Even when we go away we only need to pack the boot leaving the… Read more

car for our 4 children to stretch out for a little "space" =) And with ages ranging 13 - 2 we pack a good amount.

No more delivery costs for furniture, I do it all with my carnival....except the 2 door fridge. Lots of trips to ikea too and never a problem.

I ask a lot of my car and it keeps giving.

Only one drawback...The types suck in the wet. With so much power from the front wheels this is understandable, but it can be hard to get traction from idle on a soggy day. Just about to pop on some Michelin types then I'll be ready to put the pedal to the medal once more.

Thank you Kia. A car that caters to my family but drives so that I don't feel like a soccer mum. Reliable. roomy. adaptable. responsive(no really!) Needs better types from manufacturer. needs window tint on hot days as lots of glass windows.

Great Family Car – Have had my 2011 kia grand carnival for 4 weeks. So far have needed new battery, 2 roadside services, a fuel leak fixed, flat tyre (on brand new tyres) and a transmission problem. (slams into gear upon key turning, doesn't always register it is in 'park') but i still love it!!! Took 4 kids to a beach holiday for 2 weeks and didn't need to put… Read more ·  4

anything inside it.. Just used the bootspace! This included 3 bikes! We have taken out the middle seat in 2nd row to make an 'aisle' and it works perfectly to keep the kids apart!!! Hubby a bit [censored word removed] with the issues to date... But here's hoping they will be initial 'teething problems'. Boot space, passenger separation, light as a feather to drive, sliding side doors!

09 BRAKE ISSUES – 09 kia grand carnival we are having brake troubles , they shudder when allied if going down hill , supposibly not covered under the warranty which is great we have had all ,it been replaced , both discs and pads any advice would be great to hear, it very thirsty , regards justin  Show details

Understated quiet achiever, room for the whole family and then some! – I did extensive research on family cars before settling on this one. Our previous car was a 2006 Honda Odyssey luxury (see below link) which was traded in for this vehicle. Haven't looked back since. [url removed] General advice for all the would be family car buyers out there who are in the market. If you have kids that require booster… Read more

seats make sure you try to fit them in the car you are contemplating. It will help you visualize how much space is left with the inclusion of the booster seats and identify any ergonomic issues with anchorage points.

This car is big. Appropriate as is its intended target audience is likely to be frequently ferrying a lot of passengers. Test drive other vehicles in its class and you will come to the same conclusion. If you need to carry up to seven-eight passengers with decent boot space left over on a budget this is your car.

At the time of purchase there was plenty of deals going around on the 3.5L V6 petrol but the model to seek is the 2.2L Diesel. With just over 3000 kilometers on the clock I am averaging 10.9L/100km with majority city driving. With the windows wound down there is a fair bit of diesel clatter and acceleration is leisurely compared with the petrol V6 but I am satisfied with the way this engine just effortlessly pulls away without much accelerator input even when fully loaded. Peak torque 429NM @ 2,000 RPM is the answer.

The two middle seats in the second and third row are lap only. I use the one in the second row for the baby capsule and the other one seldom gets used as it is sandwiched in between the other two booster seats. Safety is otherwise well addressed with the usual list of acronyms of nanny driving aids.

The second row seats may be removed completely and the third row stow away flat when not in use meaning you can convert this troop carrier into a van when required. There's still a whopping 912 L of luggage space when all three rows are in use.

Due to it's size parking in shopping centers can be a bit tight but the dual rear sliding doors are an absolute God send. My wife and I have on numerous occasions exited from the rear doors from the front seats in tight parking situations.

The steering wallows a bit but the ride is very comfortable in the 16" alloys that's fitted to the Si level. Speed humps and small pot holes are generally well insulated from the cabin. This car has a high field of vision comparable to a SUV.

Looks are subjective of course but let's just say this car won't win any beauty contest. But hey I will take function over form any day of the week!

KIA offers 5 years of capped price servicing in addition to 5 years warranty. I had air conditioning issues that was completely resolved under warranty. The first service is also complimentary! Room for everybody and everything, fuel efficient for its size. Size takes getting used to in shopping centre car park, handling is only so so.

Best car for 3 or more children! – We absolutely love our Kia Grand Carnival. Had it for nearly 3 years and it hasn't missed a beat. Lots of power for quick acceleration and comfortable inside for a large family. There is sooo much boot space I can fit a pram, port a cot and all the luggage for a weekend away! The back seats are a safe distance from the back window as we found with… Read more ·  1

other 7-8 seater cars the back row of seat sit right on the rear window, a bit worrying for kids in the back if you get rear ended. Realilable and value for money. A bit of a fuel guzzler but its hauling a lot people too, The middle seat belts are only lap sashes.

Probably the best vehicle we have owned – We brought this Grand Carnival brand new in Feb this year, 3.5 ltr & I honestly must its the prob best car we have ever owned & we have owned 63 cars in our time, it packs a mean punch with power, easy to drive & turn around, I really enjoy the ride & handling of it, my son has a severe disability & its easy for him to get in & out of, at this… Read more ·  2

current time... I must say I think its good on fuel 550ks to a full tank really who could complain??? $90 - $100 of premium 98... I'm happy... My verada gtvi that I traded only got 450ks to a tank with the same size motor but much smaller car :/

The only complaint I had was the wind noise through driver & passenger windows but I went to no end to find the problem, kia replaced all window rubbers & that helped a little but it still drove us nuts so I went looking again & put slimline weathershields on it to make it 10 times worse but realized it was the wind hitting the glass so bought off kia slim normal weathershields & surprise there was the problem, really an easy fix, kia says characteristic AH NO its not... The window glass is not thick enough...

Well this is my opinion on my Carnival... Space, Power & Comfort, seats fold into the floor, personally the look of it compared to the competition...