2026 Kia Carnival Reviews

People movers have a bad rap, and some deservedly so, for being a bit ugly and unwieldly to handle, but if you're thinking that about the new Kia Carnival Platinum... think again. Welcome to a new age in family and gear stowage!

You need a people mover but don't want a clunky looking van. Kia's eight-seat Carnival has been cleverly styled to look more like a cool SUV than a hard-working load-lugger. But is this diesel version the right option for your family?

People movers are not just vans anymore. These days they’re less box-on-wheels and completely decked out with all the fancy equipment to make them as comfortable as possible.If you’ve got more than five children, you’ll probably need a people carrier like one of these. And if you’re always moving large, bulky items that’s another good reason to get one. But which is the best? Today we’ve got a people mover comparison lining up two stand-outs, the top-of-the-range Kia Carnival Platinum, costing $64,680, before on-road costs and extras, and the Volkswagen Multivan Comfortline Premium, which is second from the bottom of the range and costs $61,990, before on road costs and extras. The Carnival seats eight people while the Multivan seats seven, they’re both technically 'vans', and are huge inside. But which is the best people mover to suit your needs? Let’s get into it so you can decide! 

Big families and hotel shuttles have never had it so good. Recently launched, the fourth-gen eight-seater Kia Carnival is already something of a style icon; in up-spec SLi guise, the cabin presentation is elevated, backed up by an equally refined V6; space, comfort and convenience are there to be enjoyed; and it's actually fun to drive. Even if you don't have kids, why not? Life enhancing stuff.

You have three or more kids and you need a car. Do you, a) get an SUV, b) buy a people mover van, c) seriously consider a bus? We can help answer that question in this comparison review of the Hyundai Palisade, Kia Carnival and Mercedes-Benz Valente.

The rise of the seven-seat SUV makes a lot of sense, but Kia's new Carnival is one particularly compelling argument to consider a people mover instead.

With a slick exterior and buckets of space inside - does the 2021 Kia Carnival S feel like you're driving a school bus? Let's see how I went driving my family of four around town for a week - with a trip a few hours down the coast over the weekend.

The new Kia Carnival Platinum has all the snazzy features you'd expect of a top spec car and loads of space. Is it better than an SUV? See for yourself.

The Si remains the second trim level in the Kia Carnival range, with the new fourth-generation model kicking off at $52,380 (MSRP) or $55,790 (drive away). This is for the petrol version, with the diesel adding an extra $2000.

The Kia Carnival has long been the go-to for people moving, but does the new fourth-generation live up to its predecessors?