Kia Carnival YP (2015-2021)
Verified55 reviews
Don’t Buy Kia Cars, they brake down soon after warranty ends and then charge you $3k too find the problem and maybe fix under goodwill, we don’t use Kia service centre because high costs and they don’t do what they say they will. Kia carnival broke down 10km after a service because battery wasn’t checked. Service is awful,cars are crap our timing… Read more
chain broke after 130,000km full service history. There after sales service is the worst i’ve come across you would be better buying a Chinese car at least they give you good service Kia is the worst car company i’ve dealt with stay clear they may seem like good value for money but they use a lot of petrol ( 13 litres per 100km) and compared to other vans don’t have very good technology especially compared to Chinese vans. Richard at Kia customer care was rude and didn’t care Buyer beware!
Been a great car – Overall a very reliable car. I purchased platinum model 2015. It is now 2023, I have done 420,000km yes that is correct, i have a lot of kids who do sports, we go on holidays, school drop offs etc. In the 8yrs we've had it I have had issues with the sliding doors (approx 3 times) & navigation system/camera system (3 times). All of which have been… Read more
replaced & fixed under warranty with no issues at all. I have serviced it at regular intervals/log book & now regularly as I've clearly gone over the km for log book servicing. Other than the 2 issues mentioned above, this car & my previous carnival (i had done 320,000km in 5yrs) have not skipped a beat mechanically. I highly recommend kia. They have always been fantastic with any warranty claims I can't fault their warranty at all and kia's customer service has been fantastic (Geelong Kia, Vic, Aust)
Unbelievably disappointing customer service by Kia – Unbelievably disappointing customer service by Kia. I have been a Kia customer for many years. I purchased a Kia Carnival in 2017 and then another Kia hatchback in 2019. My recent experience with Kia customer service deeply disappointed me. Coming out of 7-year warranty for only about 6 months, my Kia Carnival’s infotainment system suddenly… Read more
stopped working on November 11th, the whole screen was dark, but response with another control buttons, no revering image or 360 degrees image, no radio or Bluetooth, no display of aircon information. Very inconvenient to drive such a big car without revering image or 360 degrees image.
I contacted Kia Pennant hill where my Kia has been serviced on Tuesday morning and the Service people asked me to bring the car in on Thursday. Then after about 5 hours they told me to take the car away and waiting for the quote from the supplier which they said would come back on Thursday afternoon. Then I have been waiting and calling the service centre for update on Friday and Monday, the response was they are still waiting for the quote to come back. They estimated the cost between AUD 1300 to 1600, but they said they can’t book a time to do that until suppler comes back with a quote then I pay a deposit.
In the meantime, the service people keep advising me to not have the car fixed there with the original Kia part as they said I may have to wait between 3-6 months. They advised me to find something after market and I did try hard to find it with no outcome, the aftermarket part would lose the function of some key controls like physical buttons under the screen.
I bought this Kia Carnival with a group of other buys, we bought a total of 9 Kia Carnivals, 4 out of 9 including myself experienced the same problem with the infotainment system breaking down, and one of us experienced it twice, luckily for them, their system broke down within 7 years.
The service people in Kia Pennant hill have been good and I don’t blame them for the problem. However, obviously there is something wrong with Kia’s customer service, especially the supply of its original part to its owners should any problem occur with their car. The service people told me it takes only an hour to install but I have to wait months for the part. The screen, reversing and 360 image are such important parts of the Kia Carnival, I can’t believe I have to wait months for such a essential part to be fixed. If this is what is going to happen, I don’t think I would or would recommend any family member or friends to consider a Kia car, as the car would become useless for so long. And Someone should take a close look at the problem, it may be easily fixed instead of having to replace the whole system. The whole experience just indicated how careless Kia is about its custom service for the owners.
In-depth reviews
Was impressed, not anymore – I originally gave the Kia Carnival a 5-star review. Not anymore. Our 2016 model is still under new car warranty. So far the head-unit has been replaced (navigation and entertainment system under warranty) and dealing with KIA is terrible. They have absolutely no clue with customer service. Trying to get a warranty item looked at and covered… Read more
is terribly time-consuming and frustrating. They always have these loop-holes despite always having the vehicle serviced. Our Carnival is now leaking oil and making crunching sounds from the wheel when turning and when approaching KIA regarding an indicator issue under warranty, the dealerships attempted to charge a bond of $150 to inspect a warranty item! because we were not getting a service!
We also have a friend that had a terrible experience with their warranty on a near-new Sportage that KIA refused to cover the driveshaft CV boot deteriorating and failing.
Sorry KIA, we will NEVER buy your crap again. We will be trading in for a Toyota. Bye bye.
Kia carnival crash – We were in a serious accident with our 2015 SLi Kia Carnival. A fatigued driver of a semi trailer crashed into us on the highway and we then hit a tree. My wife was 36 weeks pregnant at the time. The stuff of nightmares. We hit the tree in the side and middle of the vehicle traveling around 100km per hour as our vehicle lost control after the… Read more
truck collided with it. We sort of 'horse shoed' bounced off the tree and it slowed us down and then we ran into a ditch in the medium strip and came to a sudden jolt stop.
The curtain airbags and crumble zones were excellent. They all went off. Safety glass was shattered all over us and there was a smoky gas from the airbags as we came to and evaluated our condition.
My wife and I escaped the accident without any broken bones and just had cuts, bruising, whiplash. Praise God the baby was delivered 100% safely 4 weeks later with no damage.
The vehicle has excellent impact absorption and the curtain airbags saved us. The vehicle did not roll and remained upright.
The car was written off but the frame held up fairly well. We were thankful to have no kids in the car at the time as we were heading away for a babymoon just ourselves without the kids.
The middle of the vehicle remained intact despite hitting the tree and bouncing off. The side where we hit the tree was crumbled in but not to the point where the kids would have been crushed or steel largely entered the cabin, so we were impressed with how the middle held up although this was still the primary impact zone and thankful to not have the kids in the car to find out, but we think they would have been injured but would have survived.
Not many people are hit by a truck and crash into a tree at 100km per hour and win... so we are greatful for the excellent safety features of the vehicle so we can write this review.
Crash aside, we love the car. Big, spacious, comfortable. Fits the kids and our dog with plenty of room. Easily throw those random Bunnings purchases in the back with room to spare. Go to the beach and throw everything in. So much space.
We have had a few minor electronic problems over the last couple of years (before the accident).
Most Kia head units need replacing. Warranty covers this. We also had power door stop working and headlights not working properly. Also all covered under warranty no issues. Great warranty and support. Just drive to local dealer and without the car for a day or two on a few seperate occasions. We would obviously prefer this not to happen but feel comfortable that Kia fixes these minor items well and we are looked after. No additional cost that we have incurred.
Overall five stars for safety and saved our lives. Five stars for cabin and practicality. Once you get one would be hard to buy anything else.
Four stars overall only because of the minor electronic issues but all covered by warranty at no cost.
We would not buy anything else and KIA has won us. Perfect size and features for our family vehicle. Safe, practical, luxury features, good looks, fuel efficient.
Thank you Kia
Good vehicle let down by Kia Australia & Wangara dealer – Before I get to the boring "car" stuff, I'd like to express my displeasure about @kiaaustralia (Kia Australia) & my purchase & servicing dealership in Wangara. When I purchased the vehicle, it came with a promotion of FREE GPS MAP UPDATES for 3 years. This offer was NEVER honoured by Kia Australia or the dealership. Upon research, I found this to… Read more
be a very common issue for Kia vehicles purchased Australia wide over a similar period as myself. When I contacted Kia Australia, I was informed Kia Australia had changed provider for the map updates, and as such, now reneg on the offer. I didn't receive a single update, and now have maps that are about 4 years old. I've had the vehicle for 3 years now. I first contacted Kia Australia about 2 years after purchase, as I was getting nowhere with the dealership. The dealer just palmed me off to Kia Australia, yet under consumer law, the place of purchase is liable to "make good". This was confirmed by the governing body for consumer complaints.
I was also overcharged $200 on a quoted service, and was able to get nowhere in a resolution with the dealership. The governing body, on my behalf, thought they had found a compromise, but when I tried to discuss this compromise with the dealership, I was ignored. (emails & phone calls not returned).
Kia Australia & the dealership simply rely on consumers not able to take their case any further thru the judicial system for reasons of time, money, stress etc. They weigh this up against negative publicity, and decide they are too big now to let it effect their culture.
The vehicle. The best in this class, but still a little over priced ($65k)
Positive reviews
Great family van – We are a family of 5 with a 12 year old, 11 year old and 7 year old. Heaps and heaps of space even when sitting 8 in the car, with the 3rd row down. We got the diesel motor and it has heaps of torque and power and is very efficient. Recently the main screen stopped working and it was quickly replaced under warranty by Kia. No regrets with this purchase. Show details
PLATINUM - Wouldnt Go Any Other Model For This Year – We test drived the Kia Carnival Platinum May 2020 and walked out signing contract.... Car is amazing for Size inside family of 6. 16 year, 13 year, 10 year and 5 year. Plenty boot space with all seats up. Love the heated seats and the climate control. Some Cons Platinum has 19inch wheels so very expensive per tyre - compared to Toyota Avensis I… Read more
previously has. Service is a joke, every time I go into a service you need a new tyre and we recommend you get 2 at a time with a wheel alignment Petrol states 11L/100 city driving however mine sits around 12-13L/100 on ECO States can tow up to 2t braked, I tow a 1200kg Pop top van and it really struggles. Roughly 20-22L/100. then when not towing the next tank I full up still only show full tank level as if I I towing. The driver window if you flick up it stops and sometimes goes back down if you want it to go all way up have to hold the switch up till it is closed.
Family mover, Doggies too! – We bought this 3 yrs ago and it has been a dream to drive. The seat and steering wheel warmer has been delightful on the cold winter mornings. A seat setting for me and one for hubby means I don't break my back trying to slide a heavy seat forward anymore. Dogs find it a good height to jump in and out of and grandkids with the side step. The auto… Read more · 1
brake is one annoying feature and battery has died since purchase. I think the power options i.e. side doors, boot etc, without the engine on drains it.
Negative reviews
Great when theres warranty. Faulty know headunit and electric doors. Dont buy sli or platinum – Over 4 years of ownership, it took 1 year and 6 trips to fix rear Rh electric doors (motor and wire). Free service supplied for inconvenience. Rear lh door same fault over 3 months to fix and 3 trips (motor and wire). Free service offered. 2 x headunit replacements in 12 months and air-conditioned rarely camera cd player all in unit. Great car… Read more
but kia Australia takes no responsibility in the quality of their electronics and a vunch of muppets. I laughed when they released the remote sdlf drivjbg feature of the 2021 model as it might crash into another car. Buy the si or s model. Great cars rhe basic yp and a set of matts.
good until you need parts then be prepared with the lube – Car only has 120,000k's on it and has always made a few noises from suspension etc i can deal with that, now brakes have failed, looks to be problem with the master cylinder which they want $600 for a new one! what a joke, most other cars you can pick them up for $150-$200. This is just price gouging because they know there is no aftermarket option available. Show details
Australia's Best 7 Year Warranty? – Great car to start with - you've just got to hope that nothing goes wrong. We've been happy with the car which bought new about 4 years ago until one morning the front screen went blank. We had no radio, reversing cameras, etc. We took it to the local Kia Dealer (Tweed Heads) who told us this was a common problem but it's not covered by… Read more
"Australia's Best 7 Year warranty" The quote for the cost of repair was a bit over $8000!!!. We were persuaded to buy this car because of the warranty - what a mistake. We've done nothing wrong, it's a common problem with many Kia models and there only response from the Customer "Service" Department was Sorry it's out of warranty. I don't know how they can treat customers like this.
Recent reviews
No Parts for 7 months – I have a faulty entertainment system on my car since April 2021. I have contacted Kia numerous times regarding this and they keep saying parts hasn’t arrived- Now understand it is just made up stories. I am driving a massive car without a reverse camera that includes school parking area putting ourselves and little kids at risk. I want to make a… Read more
formal complaint about this issue. If you can’t provide parts, just stop selling Kia here. Such a bad Service. The service centre I use is now Leo Franco Motors Griffith ( Formerly Kia Griffith).
Find out how Kia Carnival YP compares to other People Movers
Know better, choose better.
Fit for purpose – Daily driver for all family activities; serviced at home; we fitted a tow bar and trailer braking kit to tow our jayco swan and box trailer. We bought the basic 2017 ‘S’ model diesel for our family of 6 (no fancy automated doors / boot). We normally have the centre row middle seat removed so the kids can just walk into the back. The diesel is… Read more
economical, I can get 8l/100km towing 750kg carrying 6 passengers. As expected it doesn’t tow well on steep gravel surfaces, however the traction control is surprisingly good and got us out of trouble towing off road. Heaps of space in the boot for luggage and camping trips.
Absolute piece of junk! – 2016 GDI model. Owned since new. Problems so far: Horn stopped working, entertainment screen needed replacing, left blinker gets stuck and won’t turn on, electric sliding door won’t lock and shows an error, wiper reservoir leaks causing the reservoir empty error to show & now the bonnet won’t open! The cable has either snapped or come loose. Avoid this car and Kia like the plague. $50k for a piece of junk! Show details
Drives ok, comfort is terrible – We have a current model carnival we use for work. Drives quite nice but the seats are an abject failure. I can't sit in this car for longer than about 30 minutes before the loss of circulation in my legs and butt causes a high level of discomfort. Just to be clear I'm about 170cm, fit and not overweight, and have no physical issues which might… Read more
contribute to the discomfort. I am perfectly comfortable in the two cars I use personally, a Toyota Aurion and Honda jazz. They are far more comfortable and ergonomically designed than this abysmal failure. To be specific, the seats are too low, too soft, tilted low at the rear, high at the front and can't be adjusted/tilted to improve the angles. They also lack lumbar support and cause you to slouch. Don't be fooled by the apparent comfort when you first sit in them, you really need to take it for a decent drive with passengers in the front and rear to appreciate how uncomfortable it is. To get the idea, imagine the angle of your legs if you were sitting in a car seat on your lounge room floor (slight exaggeration for effect) - you can't do it for long before the circulation in your legs decreases. To top it off the headrests are unable to be adjusted far enough back for a comfortable head position. I find it hard to comprehend how a modern, current model family wagon has such a fatal design flaw. Would not go near this car for a family.
Great space while it lasted – Kia Carnival SLI diesel. A daily driver that my wife and 4 kids loved. Great space and cheap to run. A little rough idle when cold. Serviced exclusively by Kia who provided good service. Unfortunately 3rd year electric sliding door failed. 4th year wiper washer water bottle cracked, multimedia display failed, rear electric struts for hatch sagged… Read more
and finally brakes failed - likely master cylinder failure or ABS module. All faults covered by warranty however each repair was a month each. I had enough and traded the car with brakes failed for a Toyota. My wife cried as she lost her nice bus. A husband can only be so patient. My advice for Kia - a good reputation takes years to build but only minutes to destroy.
Great car if it would steer straight – Purchased my new carnival platinum May 2019 four wheel alignments later it still won’t steer straight. Just wanders off to the left constantly and I’m driving with the steering wheel right hand down . It’s off putting and dangerous! Show details
Great design, poor quality execution, and even poorer warranty execution – Recently purchased a Kia Carnival YP MY19 Si Diesel based on good reviews and limited choice in people movers. Was initially impressed with the design, ride and features of the car; however, did notice that build quality was not very good with misaligned parts, plastic wrapping on parts not having been properly removed, and lower quality… Read more
plastics. Within 3 months of purchase, the sliding passenger door and lifting seat to access third row seats began to jam, and the car started to lose power frequently. Took the car to the local Kia Service Centre on number of separate visits. The door was apparently ‘adjusted’, a part replaced for the power loss issue, and the seat ‘adjusted’. Was charged for the seat ‘adjustment’, as apparently ‘adjustments‘ are not covered by warranty. However, technically the operation of the seats and doors are not subject to adjustments, and the jamming was due to poor quality assembly or parts. Now going through NSW Fair Trading and Small Claims Tribunal. The sliding door on the car is still jamming, and kids are unable to open the door. Also, fuel consumption around (country) town much higher than advertised being more like 10L/100km. Not happy.
Wonderful! – 2017 model (4cyl diesel) Seriously so impressed with this vehicle. All inclusions you could possibly need and more. The SLi is worth that extra for the automatic door features which are an absolute essential for quick school pickups, especially in poor conditions. Honestly, so unbelievably stoked with this vehicle. + Everything! + Screen is large… Read more · 1
and reversing camera is so clear! + So many useful/thoughtful inclusions, like deep cupholders (everywhere) and roomy storage. + Can completely remove seats (we keep the middle seat out of the middle row for seamless access. + Rear row fold completely down into the floor of the vehicle and you wouldn't even know there were there, and when they're in use, the boot goes down so deep that groceries don't roll around. + The automation and inclusions in the SLi are ABSOLUTELY worth EVERY last dime. + Premium diesel economy is amazing. Almost 1000Km to the tank ($110 to fill from completely empty tank) and it goes like a rocket!
- Sun on the screen when using the reversing camera renders it useless. - Small items and dirt/sand go down the seat tracks (haven't tried cleaning that yet though so it might very well be an easy thing to rectify with the right vacuum attachment). - The car is large, and takes up an entire conventional parking space (camera makes marking easy though, so this isn't a massive issue in reality).
I literally had to dig deep to find negatives. Very happy purchaser.
Not living up to the U.S Senota model – I have taken possession of our new Kia Carnival Platinum model. I must agree with all the items that Multi97 pointed out that should be standard fittings in the Australia model just as they are in the American Sedona. I have discovered that not only are all these items not standard in the so called "Luxury" model, in the latest MY20 they have now… Read more
deleted the handy flashlight out of the appointments as well. Why would the importers of Kia in Australia call the Platinum the top of the line in the Carnival model, then not give it the same features as the GT range in the models? Wireless Charging in 2019-20 should be a standard fixed accessory in all new vehicles as should Auto On Headlights and Wipers. Parking sensors and cameras should also be fitted as standard fixtures. I was very naive when I ordered the top of the line in the Carnival, I assumed it would come with all the bells and whistles, my fault for not paying more attention to the reviews I was reading, turns out to be they were USA reviews.
Plenty of room – I do so much running around taking kids back and forth to after school sports training and games on the weekends. It has plenty of room and great for when I have the grandkids too who are both in child restraints. So far we have had no problems with it and fingers crossed it stays that way. Show details
Find out how Kia Carnival YP compares to other People Movers
Know better, choose better.
Great car but safety risks – Have hired Kia Carnivals and we also have to Fleet Vehicles at work. Great vehicle and amazing performance however twice I have gotten out of the van (two different vans) and when I went to get back in it locked me out requiring RACQ having to come and unlock it. Both times the key was in the ignition and both times the van was still running. One… Read more
was late at night and the other had my child still in the back seat!!! Luckily it was running with the aircon on. There must be a glitch or something because I couldn’t replicate it even after trying different scenarios!? Shouldn’t lock with key in or car on but it does at times.
Kia needs to stand by it product – We have a newer 2017 Kia with all the bells and whistles, We have loved driving it however one day it blow up!! It showed no signs - it had done 67,000 on the clock and we had missed some servicing. Kia rejected the 'good faith' service claim and quoted us $27,000 in repairs. We ended up putting a second hand motor instead but would never buy one again. Advice to all get it serviced on time as it will give you no warning and cost you lots!! Show details
Perfect family car – Bought the Kia carnival upgraded from a Mazda CX-9 perfect as a family car, drove from Campbelltown NSW to Redbank Plains in QLD on one tank of diesel no fuel stops. Very spacious Inside & boot in huge, only improvement recommended is to put the push start button towards the right side not left side Show details
Disappointing – We test drove Kia Carnival Platinum 2018 with a 2.2 turbo diesel engine and all the bells and whistles. I was disappointed as soon as I entered the cabin. Firstly, it didn’t scream “luxury” to me. At all. Everything I touched inside Carnival Platinum such as plastics, trims, knobs, etc. Leather was too smelly and looked cheap as well. … Read more
Secondly, there was no recliner chairs with leg rests, no drop down DVD in the middle row…and no floor mats at all, let alone high quality tailored ones that should come as standard on a “Premium” car.
Finally, I realized that the cabin is a lot smaller than it looks. It is actually only 1750mm in height, which is lower than a couple of other full size MPVs on the market.
2.2 turbo diesel was quiet but slow on acceleration and had slow dynamics even with three people in the car. Fully loaded it doesn’t stand a chance. I wish we could test drive Kia's 3.3L but it wasn't available.
Automatic Transmission works really well on Kia and to my surprise changes gears smoothly. However, it feels very heavy to steer. There is no doubt you are driving a bus. When you are cornering, a frightfully large jellyfish comes to mind. Besides, the ride is quite bumpy, even on a good road.
It was quite noisy in Kia with closed windows while driving on a decent road at 70km an hour, while Elgrand’s cabin is always very quiet, with little wind or road noise.
A bit more on interior:
Kia has clever and practical design inside but there are hardly any innovations. For example, middle seat in the middle row doubling up as a table is a steal from Nissan Elgrand E51 (2004 -2010) and a not very good one at that: a Kia salesperson managed to fold it from the 5th attempt. The boot is very good and very practical but again nothing new: it is borrowed from Toyota Estima 2006- 2015: rear seats split 40/60 and fold flush with the floor.
Resume: I guess if your sole purpose is to buy a brand new MPV with a Lane Departure Warning and you are itching to spend 65k plus, you won’t be disappointed.
But if you are a car enthusiast, looking for a great ride, genuine luxury and want to make every dollar count, please do yourself a favour and check out other full size MPV on the market. You will come across a much more advanced and refined vehicles and will save $$$.
Really meets your family needs – I brought my Kia Carnival in 2015 and have never looked back. It is roomy, comfortable and is good to drive on most road conditions. It performs like a smaller luxury car, it has a good turning circle, it is not noisy and handles well. The dash and controls are well positioned for the driver, although a radio mute control would be handy on the… Read more
steering wheel. The cruise control works well but will pick up speed on a steep downhill grade. It is very reliable, a bit heavy on fuel consumption but it is a large vehicle. It has plenty of leg room for the driver and all the passengers. You will have to get used to the foot (hand)brake. It is an excellent vehicle to have modified for wheelchair passengers. As a converted vehicle for wheelchair access it is the perfect design for the wheelchair user to be either a passenger or driver. It can be fitted with either a manual or hydraulic hoist. Ensure that the exhaust system is properly raised during the conversion to prevent issues.
Great car, but missing some "1st world" options – All the car reviews on the internet basically provides enough information about the car... so I'm just going to aim for things that unless you own the vehicle, you wouldn't know... it's also the stuff you may miss if you are moving for an Old School brand's "top of the range" car. So if you are moving for a Toyota or a Honda, or a Nissan, or a… Read more · 2
VW, and plan to buy the Carnival Platinum, you might be missing the following 1st world issue items when you move from one brands "top of the range" to KIA's...
This is based on the MY19 MODEL Platinum, but is applicable to the YP designation model.
1. Auto Windscreen Wipers - Does not have this. The Australian model has taken this out.
2. Rear Entertainment unit - Does not have this at all.
3. Moonroof/Sunroof - Does not have this at all
4. Tyre monitoring system - Does not have this at all.
5. Rear Autonomous braking (though only the high end brands and Mazda has this at the moment)
6. Wireless phone charging - Australian model has taken this out.
7. Leather seats feel man made... fake leather
8. Captain Seats front and 2nd row do not have "leg extensions/support"
9. no puddle lights (side door lights that light up the ground)
10. It does have height adjustable tailgate
11. No engine stop/start technology
Please also note this is a pure Kia Australia thing hoping that their buyers don't notice or care about... all the above options are available on overseas models of the same Kia Carnival.
Again, 1st world issues... and only becomes an issue when you step out from a car that has those functions - ie. a Toyota Tarago Ultima or a Merc Viano/V250 or even the Honda Odeysey in some aspects.
For me, not having the auto wipers annoys the h3ll out of me, because they have it overseas and on other cars in Australia (such as the Stinger).. for a RRP $70,000 KIA, this should be a given. (along with an entertainment unit and at least a small sunroof).
space and comfort with the 2018 KIA carnival – Forget SUV's unless you are hitting the trails. our new platinum Carnival has unbelievable space - the seating folding and split options mean we have even used it to transport a motorbike and a go kart! heated and cooled luxury leather seats - even a heated steering wheel! we love the electric doors and back door - so practical, and the… Read more
360 cameras make parking a breeze. the diesel has effortless power, and i love the look of the 19 inch bling chrome wheels.
the 7 year warranty is insane! (beat that everyone!)
we have only got 2 kids, and it means we can head out for the day with friends on board to enjoy the trip together!
highly recommended!
A truly fantastic land yacht – What can I say, It has almost everything. I will try to run through as much as I can in a logical and easy to navigate manner. Lots of info coming. Overall recommendation - FANTASTIC - GET IT! Recommendations - If you are likely to be parking it in tight spaces get the 360 cameras - they are too useful. Auto tailgate and sliding doors are… Read more
AMAZING for shopping. It's a revelation. Realise it is a big car but it will spoil you.
Our purpose - We need a big car for our big dogs.
Alternatives - Everyone says SUVs are the way to go but I had tried 21 different cars; the next best SUVs were subaru outback and nissan xtrail and obviously the nearest vans were Honda Odyssey (electric doors) and Hyundai Imax (manual doors). The nicest were Merc C Class Wagons but they were too low in height for our dogs. Merc Vito was big but missing so many options unless you want to pay around $100K. Another option we considered was to get two Honda Jazz's (we have one) but the downside is needing two drivers - but this offers more flexibility at times.
Our key criteria - High priorities for us were space, visibility, comfort, convenience and then efficiency. In the end the huge space, 360 cameras and electric doors won the day. I am very glad we got it.
Our location - We live inner city so for us there are a lot of tight parks. If this is the situation for you - get the cameras (as many as possible). We did and that means we can use the car everyday with little problem. Of course the Honda Jazz is the best small car with loads of space (in our opinion) so let's not kid ourselves that you can be as nimble as that in a carnival... BUT.... its very good with the cameras. Bloody good as we can match parking opportunities with the Jazz about 80% of the time.
Media - Radio is good - no carplay in our car but has a good map and navigation system. Bluetooth is quick and reliable. DVD player works throughout the drive but vision is suppressed when car is moving. Nav system shows traffic conditions (not sure how it does it but it is very good).
Storage - Storage space is truly inspired - 10 cup holders and more than enough space. Could sleep in this car no problem.
Visibility - is very good from the driver seat with only blind spots being right in from of the car and directly behind, the cameras kick in here.
Comfort - drive is quiet, speed bumps pretty good up front - bit jumpy down the back, arm rests are in good positions, can do a 4 hour drive without any unusual aches and pains. All seats are pretty good. Dogs are comfortable on low mattresses. Low access height is very comfortable for humans and canines. Air conditioning is VERY good throughout the car. The drive itself is very smooth and polished. Seating position is excellent. Truly some options are not necessary for us (lumbar adjustments) but the seats sit high if you want them to (we do). It feels similar to manouvering a RR Evoque which is good because the Carnival is a much larger car. Turning circle is very good.
Convenience - electric doors are amazingly useful.
Efficiency - Fuel economy for such a large car is great - averaging 10.3l/100km in the city and lower on highways - using diesel. Range is what everyone says - about 750km per tank.
Efficiency (2) - 7 years fixed price servicing and warranty is cool - you should note that warranty is up to 150,000km and service is up to 105,000km. Just note that if you are planning a long long long drive - but it's better than anything else we could find.
Efficiency (3) - Insurance was good at ~800/year with coles car insurance (not the best repair network or policy but a good balance).
Our favourite configuration - Internal options are good - we have the rear seats half folded down with storage space behind the upright half. Centre second aisle removed and both folded up and mattresses (1.5 baby mattresses) down for dogs to lie on. In this configuration we also have a large esky lodged between the two front seats (driver and passenger) which can hold stuff and stops dogs getting into front area.
Canine viewpoint - low entry with flat floors is great for older and smaller pooches, entry from either side and rear automatically is great, visibility for low lying dogs (e.g., on mattresses) is not so good for them but they are less likely to bark which is good for owners, a passenger can sit on second or third row seat with others stowed so they can site near the pups, returning to a hot car is a lot less of a problem as you can open all doors behind the first row automatically to get a good breeze through before entering the car (this is handy if you have few hands free to open the doors). All doggy items can be stored in the sunken floor behind the 3rd row seat(s) when the seat is not folded away. When the 3rd row is stowed away there are hooks on the floor which are very handy for securing dog cages, harnesses, mattresses with straps, etc., These anchor points are a lot handier than we initially realised. Given that our dogs are smart - one (Vizsla) has learned if he pushes the door button he can activate the sliding door. Thankfully when the car is in motion the auto doors/gate will not activate. Also from above the front row you can deactivate the auto feature (oh thank you KIA).
Confound it - Heated steering wheel and front seats is a bit of a strange feature in Qld but I imagine could be well worth it in Tassie or up in mountains. Did I say the aircon was BLOODY GOOD? Lane departure is not used by us much in the city - annoying but you can turn it off.
Features not present but might be useful: Carplay, Headsup display, Sunroof, side lights to light the ground would help the 360 cameras at night (there are lights on the door handles but they don't point down on the ground).
Optional extras considered - roof racks (could be useful), tow bar (could be useful but adds to length of car, which means it can restrict parking, nudge bar (can't install on a platinum), tinting (don't do it, the light really add to the spatial perception inside and the aircon is good).
Optional extras purchased/purchasing - vinyl mat for rear of car, running boards.
Learning curve - foot activated park brake (you have to learn to activate it and deactivate it). Getting used to the length of the car for parking.
Truly is a magnificent land yacht. I don't think Carnival is a good name for it. Perhaps "Marvel" would have been more appropriate.
Additional note - The Korean Khoto roof box for carnival for $2000 is expensive but amazing looking and doesn't need roof rack.
We appreciate this car everyday – I was cautious about buying a Kia and didnt want to part with my subaru but this has been one of the best decisions to date. People comment and say its like riding in an aeroplane as the seats are roomy with lots of legroom. Driving is a luxury experience and the side mirrors and seat adjustments make it very comfortable. Getting in and out of… Read more
the back to buckle up kids has never been easier, ive changed kids in the back, changes nappies, transported furniture and travelled with 7 passengers with comfort with 1 spare seat.
Great car for the large family! – Our family were looking to replace a 7 seat vehicle which had become too small for us and we decided that a people mover was needed. We looked at several options, including those from Hyundai, Honda, Citreon and Toyota but in the end settled on the Kia Carnival. You will have likely heard horror stories about some Kia Carnivals, but these were… Read more
released to Australia before Kia really got its act together in terms of servicing the Australian market. The new Carnival is nothing iike its namesake from more than a decade ago.
One of the factors which helped us choose the Carnival was Kia's 7 year warranty. There is great piece of mind knowing that for 7 years if there are any problems we just return to the dealer and it gets fixed. However having now had our Carnival for more than a year I am happy to report there have been absolutely zero issues with the car.
We almost purchased the previous version of this vehicle, the Grand Carnival, but by the time we got around to looking into it that model was quite dated. The same cannot be said for the current Kia Carnival. It has had a total redesign and has a very modern feel about it, from the front grill to the internal instrumentation to the sunken boot at the back. The only thing which was slightly disappointing compared to the Grand Carnival is that the second row of seats cannot be fully removed, however they do fold right up and still allow a lot of cabin space should you need to move something or bring that new purchase home from the shops.
Overall we cannot fault our new Kia Carnival. It drives beautifully, doesn't feel as heavy as it is on the road and after you get used to its size is actually quite easy to park. The only down side is that the 3.3L V6 is quite thirsty when it comes to fuel consumption but if you are looking for a vehicle of this size then that should be expected.
Fantastic car, very stylish on the higher models – Bought the SLI version of this car in black. They look very stylish inside and very comfortable. Got the Diesel version which gets good mileage, however we expected better than what we are getting. The specs say that the minimum range is around 850 which we are only just getting this. Hopefully that will increase but a great car overall Show details
Truly amazing family mover... don't compromise with 7 seater SUV – Very happy with this non-European car! Traded in our used car for Carnival SLi model 2.2 turbo diesel. Very thoughtful design, space, and practical features.. Diesel drives better and recommend metallic & rubber mats in options. See John-Paul at Tom Kerr Kia Ryde for a Deal.. amazing sales guy! Kia has really surprised us in a good way with… Read more
7yr warranty, capped service, and 24/7 road side assist.
So glad we didn't buy CX-9 for the only reason to fit 2 car seats in the 3rd row (Carnival satisfies this requirement but finding compact seats may be an issue).
Must admit “Agree” to media terms every time before I can start using it is annoying. And looking up phone numbers in Driver display would have been great too.
Absolute Pleasure – We are a big little family with 5 kids. 1 a toddler and 1 a baby. We liked the fact that the middle seat could be removed in the Kia so went to test drive one. Over the years I've owned many many cars, of all shapes and sizes. I can say hands down the most pleasurable to own car I have ever had. The build quality is equal if not better than… Read more
the Audi we traded it for. Maybe not quite as comfortable, but half the price tag and is just so big and roomy I don't even notice. The way the kids can stream in the car from either side and jump straight up the back and not having to climb over things to get in is just so handy. Love love love it!!
ProductReview.com.au has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence our content moderation policies in any way, though ProductReview.com.au may earn commissions for products/services purchased via affiliate links.