Browse over 9,000 car reviews

Kia Carnival

What's on this page

Kia Carnival Review, For Sale, Interior, Colours & Models in Australia

Even though seven-seat SUVs have take the shine off genuine people movers, there is one that leads all others. A brand new version of the Kia Carnival was launched in 2015, which vaulted straight to the top of the people mover charts and stayed there.

It'll hold eight adults in absolute comfort, and has been designed with the modern family in mind. The Carnival is offered locally in four grades - S, Si, SLi and Platinum – each with a choice of 3.3-litre naturally aspirated V6 petrol or 2.2-litre four cylinder turbo-diesel power. A six-speed auto transmission is standard across the range. Current prices range from $47,480 for the Carnival S to $67,580 for the Carnival Platinum.

This vehicle is also known as Kia Sedona.

Kia Carnival Models Price and Specs

The price range for the Kia Carnival varies based on the trim level you choose. Starting at $47,480 and going to $67,580 for the latest year the model was manufactured. The model range is available in the following body types starting from the engine/transmission specs shown below.

Year Body Type Specs Price from Price to
2024 Wagon 3.5L, —, 8 SP AUTO $47,480 $67,580
2023 Wagon 3.5L, ULP, 8 SP AUTO $43,450 $71,940
2022 Wagon 3.5L, —, 8 SP AUTO $43,450 $71,830
2021 People mover 3.3L, ULP, 8 SP AUTO $35,530 $65,230
2021 Wagon 3.5L, ULP, 8 SP AUTO $41,580 $70,620
2020 Wagon 2.2L, Diesel, 8 SP AUTO $36,630 $68,860
See All Kia Carnival Pricing and Specs

Kia Carnival Seats

The Kia Carnival comes with eight seats (2/3/3). The second-row splits into thirds and have a ‘slide’ function, allowing access to the third row. There are ISOFIX child seat mounts on each middle row seat plus three top tether anchor points. With the right seats, you should be able to fit three child seats side by side. The third row is a 60/40 split fold and fold flat when not in use. The third row has ISOFIX child seat mounts on the outboard seats and two top tether anchor points. Cloth trim is standard for seat upholstery until you get into higher grades.

Kia Carnival Interior

The Kia Carnival’s dashboard is headlined by an 8.0-inch touchscreen multimedia screen and a pleasing mix of soft touchpoints, synthetic trims throughout. A dual sunroof comes as standard on the Platinum grade.

Kia Carnival Interior

Kia Carnival Dimensions

The dimensions of the Kia Carnival Wagon and People mover vary according to year of manufacture and spec level.

Year Body Type Height x Width x Length Ground Clearance
2024 Wagon 1775x1995x5155 mm 172 mm
2023 Wagon 1775x1995x5155 mm 172 mm
2022 Wagon 1775x1995x5155 mm 172 mm
2021 People mover 1740x1985x5115 mm 171 mm
2021 Wagon 1775x1995x5155 mm 172 mm
2020 Wagon 1740x1985x5115 mm 171 mm
The dimensions shown above are for the base model. See All Kia Carnival Dimensions

Kia Carnival Boot Space

The Carnival boasts a 627L boot capacity with all eight seats in use, and 2785L capacity with the third row folded down.

Kia Carnival Boot space

Kia Carnival Accessories

Standard equipment in the Kia Carnival includes: electric and heated outside mirrors, roof rails, 4.2-inch instrument panel, powered windows, five USB-A ports, two 12-volt ports, an 8.0-inch touchscreen multimedia system, four bottle holders, nine cupholders, four phone holders, map pockets, MP3 compatible audio player, Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, push-button start, reversing camera with guidelines and a space saver spare tyre.

Kia Carnival Accessories

Kia Carnival Colours

The Carnival has six standard colours - ‘Ceramic Silver’, ‘Astra Blue’, ‘Flare Red’, ‘Panthera Metal’, 'Deep Chroma Blue,' 'Aurora Black' and ‘Snow White Pearl’.

  • Ceramic Silver
  • Deep Chroma Blue
  • Astra Blue
  • Flare Red
  • Panthera Metal
  • Snow White Pearl
  • Aurora Black
To confirm current colour availability, please check the manufacturer's website.

Kia Carnival Towing Capacity

The Kia Carnival has maximum towing capacity of 2000kg for the latest model available.

Year Body Type Braked Capacity from Braked Capacity to
2024 Wagon 2000kg 2000kg
2023 Wagon 2000kg 2000kg
2022 Wagon 2000kg 2000kg
2021 People mover 2000kg 2000kg
2021 Wagon 2000kg 2000kg
2020 Wagon 2000kg 2000kg
See All Towing Capacity for Kia Carnival

Kia Carnival Q&As

Check out real-world situations relating to the Kia Carnival here, particularly what our experts have to say about them.

  • What do I need to know about putting curtains in a 2007 Kia Carnival?

    I reckon an early Kia Carnival would make a great platform for a vanlife adventure. It's very unlikely there's a lot of wiring inside the door, and the only electrical wiring that leaps to mind might be a courtesy light for when you open the sliding door, and the little switch that controls it. So, try to find that switch (it's probably down low near the floor) and see if you can see where any wiring enters or leaves the door via the door jamb. Don't expect to see actual wires, as they probably run inside a black rubber boot or sheath to protect them.

    Again, it's very unlikely that there's wiring high up in the door near the window (which is where you need to curtain) but if you drill carefully and check the hole for any coloured wiring just as you punch through the metal, you should be fine. A strong torch will help with this, and disconnect the car's battery before drilling just in case you get mighty unlucky.

    Show more
  • Oil and filter problems with a new Kia Carnival 2.2l diesel

    There are two things you need to do. The first is to have the vehicle independently inspected. The RACV is very good for this as it has the resources and a reputation that the car industry respects. Once you've found out what really went wrong (as opposed to what the dealership may have told you on the spot) you can proceed. This will inform what happens next.

    If the engine failure was not the cause of a poorly fitted oil filter and was something to do with a manufacturing or materials flaw, then you have a case for a warranty claim. Bypass Kia's dealer network and contact the brand's customer service division at head office.

    If, however, the failure was caused by a lack of attention by the mechanic who carried out the last service, then the responsibility may rest with them. Mechanical workshops often have insurance to cover them against this sort of mistake but, regardless, if your mechanic was at fault, the problem becomes theirs in many cases.

    A modern vehicle like the Kia has a range of engine protection and warning systems to prevent this sort of thing happening. It seems strange that you didn't receive a dashboard warning regarding low oil level or low oil pressure in the moments before the engine failed.

    Show more
  • High oil usage in a 2019 Kia Carnival

    Some oil consumption is normal for engines, and modern engines seem to use a little more than some older designs. That's because modern engines are designed with low-friction piston rings which are great for fuel economy but can lead to slightly higher oil consumption. However, 700ml per 1000km does seem high for what is not an especially high-performance engine, and one that has not travelled very far in the scheme of things.

    It wouldn't be the first time a dealer (of any brand) has tried to fob off a customer concern with such a response, so I reckon you're on the right track by contacting Kia Australia's customer service division. I'd also follow up with a phone call as well as an email, but experience suggests Kia is one company that takes customer satisfaction seriously.

    Your car is still covered by the factory seven-year warranty, so provided it's been serviced correctly, if there is a fault, it should be covered. Further investigation is warranted, including a compression and leak-down test to show if there's any deterioration in the performance of the engine's piston rings. Your local state motoring club is a good source for these tests, particularly as manufacturers tend to take the clubs and their mechanical inspections seriously.

    Show more
  • What should I do to fix problems on a Kia Carnival 2009 that isn't covered by the warranty?

    This is precisely why I loathe the typical aftermarket warranties dished up by used-car yards. They are written very carefully to cover the stuff that won’t go wrong, and not cover the things that typically do fail or break. It’s often been said that these warranties are not worth the paper they’re written on, and here’s proof yet again.

    What does it matter if the engine failure was caused by a radiator that is blocked, broken, cracked or leaking? The bottom line is that a dud radiator (sold with the rest of the car) appears to have caused the car to overheat and destroy its engine. And yet the fine print of this warranty will allow the warranty company to wriggle out its responsibility to repair an engine it accepted money to cover. The ACCC should get involved in this grubby end of the car trade and sort it out. Now.

    As for your friend, I’m not sure what can be done. Allowing somebody with the right legal background to read the warranty might be a good idea. But the used-car dealers who profit from these warranties know the fine print backwards. And I suspect that even if the blocked radiator exclusion hadn’t scuppered her warranty cover, the fact that a previous owner did his own servicing (and therefore, no stamped service book) would have been an alternative get-out for the warranty company. Actually, that’s a thought: If the service book wasn’t fully stamped, should the warranty have even been offered when the car was sold? I’d be asking that of the car-yard.

    I’d also be asking who diagnosed the radiator as the problem. If your friend noticed coolant disappearing but not leaking on to the ground, I’d say that was more consistent with a blown head gasket – for which these early Carnivals were infamous. Find out if a blown head gasket is covered in the warranty. If it is, I’d be very suspicious about blaming the radiator. And yes, I’m absolutely suggesting that you’re potentially being lied to about the cause of the engine failure to move the official reason into an area not covered by the warranty. I reckon I’d be having the RACQ (which has a fair bit of clout in these matters) inspect the engine and rule on what caused the meltdown.

    Meantime, forget about a $7000 engine. Find a parts recycler (we used to call them wrecking yards) that specialises in second-hand engines and get a good, tested, used engine fitted. Just make sure it doesn’t have the same head gasket problem.

    Show more
See All Kia Carnival Q&As
Disclaimer: You acknowledge and agree that all answers are provided as a general guide only and should not be relied upon as bespoke advice. Carsguide is not liable for the accuracy of any information provided in the answers.

Kia Carnival Fuel Consumption

The Kia Carnival is available in a number of variants and body types that are powered by Diesel, — and ULP fuel type(s). It has an estimated fuel consumption starting from 6.5L/100km for Wagon /Diesel for the latest year the model was manufactured.

Year Body Type Fuel Consumption* Engine Fuel Type Transmission
2024 Wagon 6.5L/100km 2.2L Diesel 8 SP AUTO
2024 Wagon 9.6L/100km 3.5L 8 SP AUTO
2023 Wagon 6.5L/100km 2.2L Diesel 8 SP AUTO
2023 Wagon 9.6L/100km 3.5L ULP 8 SP AUTO
2022 Wagon 6.5L/100km 2.2L Diesel 8 SP AUTO
2022 Wagon 9.6L/100km 3.5L 8 SP AUTO
2022 Wagon 9.6L/100km 3.5L ULP 8 SP AUTO
2021 People mover 7.6L/100km 2.2L Diesel 8 SP AUTO
2021 People mover 10.8L/100km 3.3L ULP 8 SP AUTO
2021 Wagon 6.5L/100km 2.2L Diesel 8 SP AUTO
2021 Wagon 9.6L/100km 3.5L ULP 8 SP AUTO
2020 Wagon 7.6L/100km 2.2L Diesel 8 SP AUTO
2020 Wagon 10.8L/100km 3.3L ULP 8 SP AUTO
* Combined fuel consumption See All Kia Carnival Pricing and Specs for 2024

Kia Carnival Engine

The Carnival has two engines available - a 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine (216kW/355Nm) and a 2.2-litre, four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine (148kW/440Nm).

Kia Carnival Engine

Kia Carnival Wheel Size

The Kia Carnival has a number of different wheel and tyre options. When it comes to tyres, these range from 235x65 R17 for Wagon in 2024.

Year Body Type Front Tyre Size Front Rim Rear Tyre Size Rear Rim
2024 Wagon 235x65 R17 235x65 R17
2023 Wagon 235x65 R17 235x65 R17
2022 Wagon 235x65 R17 235x65 R17
2021 People mover 235x65 R17 235x65 R17
2021 Wagon 235x65 R17 235x65 R17
2020 Wagon 235x65 R17 17x6.5 inches 235x65 R17 17x6.5 inches
The dimensions shown above are for the base model. See All Kia Carnival Wheel Sizes

Kia Carnival Speed

Kia does not offer official 0-100km/h times for the Carnival. Independent testing places sprint times between 8.5 to 10 seconds, depending on variant. Expect a top speed around 150km/h.

Kia Carnival Range

The Carnival has a 72-litre fuel tank with an approximate range of 750km (petrol engine) and 1100km (turbo-diesel engine).