Road test review of 2021 Kia Carnival proves its an amazing family vehicle

Given the choice of comfortable flats or stilettos, it’s amazing how many families still choose the latter. The Kia Carnival has the ability to sway some opinions.

Kia's Carnival SLi starts from about $62,790 drive-away.

Van owners know that the convenience and commonsense delivered by the boxes on wheels is near unrivalled.

But tribes of kids with food smeared into the cloth trim and tradies with a penchant for getting places fast have given the humble van a bad wrap.

Although, like dual-cab utes, the people-mover fraternity has taken giant strides forward in comfort, technology and driveability.

The Kia Carnival carved a niche with families thanks to its bargain pricing. Over the past two decades it’s evolved, and the fourth-generation model that launched in January has raised the bar again.

Our family has long rated the Carnival the best people-mover on the market following some extended travels with the grandparents and hefty amounts of luggage — including a cumbersome bike. We sampled the SLi version which can be in the traffic for about $63,000.

Take a look inside and Kia's Carnival has an up-market appeal.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

KEL: Looking modern inside and out, this is feeling somewhat exclusive and unlike Carnivals we’ve driven in the past.

GRANT: Absolutely, the front-end styling looks more SUV than van and the interior fit and finish has gone up a notch. Sharing its underpinnings with the Sorento (which we rate as the best seven-seater SUV currently on the market) has delivered an excellent platform from which to work.

KEL: Not much has changed in terms of space, it still has eight seats but it feels larger.

GRANT: Bigger and better in just about every facet — but prices have also increased. The range-topper is now $70k drive-away, while the get-in price is $50,890.

KEL: That’s getting into SUV prestige territory like an Audi Q3, BMW X1 or Mercedes GLA. Although there is no doubting the Carnival is a completely different market.

Kia's Carnival SLi starts from $62,790 drive-away.

THE LIVING SPACE

GRANT: Wow factor comes via a massive 12.3-inch colour touchscreen, flanked by plenty of glossy finishes, while the driver has a customisable LCD screen so you can scroll through various menus and views.

KEL: I like the fact there are so many cup holders (nine in total) which can also handle drink bottles. Four phone holders, a pair in the front two rows, along with seven USBs meant there were no battles for power.

GRANT: Apple CarPlay and Android Auto offer smartphone integration partnered to an eight-speaker sound system, and there’s even a function which projects the driver’s voice into the back so there’s no need to shout.

KEL: Electric doors into the second row are awesome and only need a pull of the handle or press of a button on the key fob to operate. Those seats do fold forward fast though for access into the third row; I bruised my cheek the first time as I was leaning forward and copped the full force.

GRANT: The chairs in the back do take some muscle to fold up and down. Yet it’s the most easily configurable space in the genre, so it’s easily converted from a people hauler to furniture mover. Man-made leather trim is used in this model which is a boon for ease of cleaning.

Need space? They don’t come much better than the Kia Carnival.

THE COMMUTE

KEL: Surprisingly easy to drive, it didn’t feel like a van and I liked the acceleration response.

GRANT: That’s the benefit of the tried and tested 2.2-litre turbo diesel. It’s always been the pick over the petrol V6 for efficiency and smooth performance.

KEL: Overtaking and hills were easy even when we had five burly boys aboard. There is so much space in that second row and a couple of six-foot teenagers were loving the legroom.

Under the Kia Carnival bonnet is a tried and tested diesel engine.

THE SHOPPING

GRANT: When given the choice, I saw you took the compact SUV when it came time to do the groceries.

KEL: Parking can be a challenge. The 360-degree camera views, front and rear parking sensors are great, but it is a pretty big vehicle for those confined carparks.

GRANT: Reversing into parks became my favoured option. The Carnival does have rear cross traffic alert and emergency braking also works in reverse. That AEB function can step in if a collision is detected and apply the brakes   — it also watches for cyclists and pedestrians.

Kel and Grant Edwards.

SUNDAY RUN

KEL: Not typically a car you’d take out for pure driving pleasure, but the ability to carry eight is super convenient.

GRANT: Yes, not quite Porsche 911 territory here. Fitting that many into a sports car would lead to some compromising positions… achieving that in the Carnival would be by choice.

KEL: Couples could even use it for cheap weekend getaways to caravan parks.

GRANT: I’ll keep that in mind for our next romantic sojourn without the kids.

Useful storage spots are found in the console.

THE FAMILY

KEL: Given it was cheap to run, I think we can afford somewhere up-market for any future holidays.

GRANT: Fuel efficiency was brilliant during our test. An average of 6.4L/100km over more than 1000km and as low as 5.5L on some highway trips. Capped price servicing is available for seven years, at an average price of $538.

KEL: The seven-year warranty is also great peace of mind. I also liked all the safety features, like the traffic sign recognition which keeps a constant eye on the speed zone and features it in the driver’s display, along with the ability to stop you from entering an intersection if there is an oncoming car you might have not seen.

Kia's Carnival SLi remains an underrated family vehicle.

VERDICT

GRANT: This ticks all the family boxes, modern infotainment, acres of space which is easily adaptable and a miser on diesel. Let’s buy one?

KEL: Yes it does, but no. It’s just not sexy enough and I don’t want to drive a van. Although this gets the closest to swaying my perspective.

GRANT: Kia boss Damien Meredith was spot-on when he said the difference between an SUV a Carnival was one more child.

KEL: Like heels, I’ll sacrifice comfort for looks.