Kia Carnival 2021 review: Platinum petrol

How spacious is it?

I mean, I’ve only got two children, so a people mover hardly  seems necessary. But still, the space! It feels very luxurious to have empty seats just sitting around waiting for us to invite a friend in for a lift.

The space in the front is positively breezy, with the kids beyond excited to climb up into their spots in the middle row. Everyone has plenty of room, even with legs stretched out, and the driver’s seat moves easily into my taller husband’s driving position.

I can easily fit into the second row also, there is loads of legroom, and head space isn’t an issue at all. Taller adults and teenagers will be comfortable.

Given the Carnival's very rectangular shape, that space continues into the back row, though there is less space in front of those seats. If driving adults and children around, the kids are always happy to go in the back seat and the adults sit in the middle row for optimal comfort. 

The boot is large and deep. Even with all seats in use there is 960L of space, though most of it is vertical so you will have to pack things on top of one another. With the back row folded flat that space grows to 2220L and it’s enormous. You’ll have room for most things in the Carnival. 

What does it look like?

It’s not as 'van-like' as you would imagine, thanks to the shape of the front and the tapering angle of the front window. Though still very much a van, it does have a slight nose which is all it needs for a tiny bit of style. Not much, but it’s there. As far as people movers go, it is one of the best looking on the market and I was happy to drive it all week. 

Inside has been tricked up because this is the top-of-the-range model, so it feels even less 'van-y.' There are leather seats throughout, a 'premium' steering wheel (though parts of it are encased in high-gloss black which does lend a bus-like feel while driving), and the centre console is well designed. 

The main thing for me is whether it feels like a van or a car, because some people movers can be empty boxes on wheels. The Carnival is definitely not like that and feels more like a car, which gets a big tick. 

How does it drive?

All things considered, quite well. You’re not expecting it to have great speed or agility, but as a van it does very nicely.

It’s powered by a 3.3L six-cylinder petrol engine, which sounds like a lot but if you’re trucking eight people around, it’s nice to know you’ll still get up hills. 

It’s quite bouncy, you can feel the bumps as you go over them, but you get a soft landing and it’s quite a fun drive. It’s also smooth, and being petrol, a lot quieter than a diesel engine. 

Turning is the most surprising thing, especially doing U-turns. You think you’re enormous and you’ll need lots of space but there is no nose, so you don’t, really. It’s a lovely surprise in a large car. 

Parking is not so easy and the angles take some getting used to. Knowing your car’s dimensions and really getting familiar with them will change that quickly. It does have a reverse parking camera with 360-degree view to help you out. 

How easy is it to use every day?

There is a step to climb in, which the kids (and I) found necessary as it’s high off the ground. The front seats are power adjustable and there is keyless entry. 

The side doors and the boot open with buttons on the key, and the side doors also close with a button inside the car. My children found this "so cool” to quote the six and eight-year-old.

There was such excitement every time we went to the car, it would be nice to have that reception every time I made them go somewhere! 

The second row slides forward and backward to make more room for the third row, if necessary, and the third row tucks flat for more boot space.

You can also make the middle seat in the third row lie flat, so there’s more room to get in and out for third row passengers. It’s all very flexible and you customise the space the way you need it. 

For storage, there are 10 cupholders throughout the car, with two in the front, two in the centre, and four in the back. It boasts bottle holders in the doors, and a cooling glove box to keep drinks chilled. 

Air vents are spread throughout the car with middle and back rows not missing out. 

How safe is it?

As far as safety features go it has most things covered, including auto emergency braking, blind spot detection and lane change assist, lane departure warning and rear cross traffic alert. 

There are front and side airbags for the front row, and side curtain airbags which extend down to the back row. I would like to see side airbags for the second and third rows, however not many companies do them.

There are four top tether points and three ISOFIX points to fix kids car seats in safely and the Kia Carnival scored a full five stars when it was ANCAP tested in 2016. 

What's the tech like?

The multimedia screen integrates nicely into the dash and comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which gives you instant access to your phone's main apps.

It takes the guesswork out of the tech and means it works every time because you're using your maps app to navigate and you can stream music or podcasts via your streaming app. 

How much does it cost to own?

The Kia Carnival Platinum costs $67,250, before on road costs, and fuel consumption is a claimed 10.1L/100km. I averaged 13.1 for a week of mostly suburban driving. 

It’s covered by Kia’s seven year/150,000km warranty which is among the best in the market right now. Servicing is required every 12 months/15,000km.

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Verdict