2021 Kia Carnival resets the safety benchmark for people movers with new five-star ANCAP rating

Australia’s leading independent automotive safety authority, ANCAP, has awarded the fourth-generation Kia Carnival people mover its maximum five-star rating.

Assessed under ANCAP’s strict 2020-2022 criteria, the Carnival scored very well in the Adult Occupant Protection (90%), Child Occupant Protection (88%) and Safety Assist (82%) categories.

The Carnival’s Vulnerable Road User Protection result was its poorest, at 68 per cent, with marks deducted due its mixed performance in a pedestrian impact at 40km/h as well as the lack of a rear autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system with pedestrian detection.

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Commenting on the result, ANCAP chief executive officer Carla Hoorweg said: “The rating for the Kia Carnival has been highly anticipated by families, fleet buyers and hire-car companies, and Kia is to be congratulated for this result.

“Safety is critical in the People Mover segment given the primary use of these vehicles in transporting a large number of passengers.

“It’s pleasing to see the most recent model releases to this segment, including the Carnival, have factored safety into the fundamentals of their design and specification. This is not a segment in which safety should be compromised.

“We’re hopeful upcoming models in this segment slated for release later this year will also strive to offer their customers an equivalent high level of safety.”

ANCAP also noted “the Carnival is fitted with top-tether and ISOFIX anchorages for five of its six rear seating positions, giving owners a wide range of options for the installation of child restraints”.

That said, it added: “The child restraint installation assessment revealed that most restraints could be fitted safely in these locations, however it was noted that one of the Type A convertible restraints could not be correctly installed in rearward-facing mode using the ISOFIX anchorages in the second row outboard seats or the third seating row.

“In addition, the fitting of any child restraint in the third-row centre position is not recommended due to the lack of top tether and ISOFIX anchorages in that location.”

All eight of the Carnival’s variants get the five stars, although testing was conducted with diesel-powered examples and not also their petrol counterparts.

For reference, the new Carnival was released in January and is currently priced from $46,880 plus on-road costs for the S petrol and reaches $66,860 for the Platinum diesel.