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Kia Grand Carnival 2009 Problems

Are you having problems with your 2009 Kia Grand Carnival? Let our team of motoring experts keep you up to date with all of the latest 2009 Kia Grand Carnival issues & faults. We have gathered all of the most frequently asked questions and problems relating to the 2009 Kia Grand Carnival in one spot to help you decide if it's a smart buy.

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Used Kia Carnival and Grand Carnival review: 1999-2015

Ewan Kennedy reviews the first and second generation Kia Carnival and Grand Carnival as a used buy.

Kia Carnival is a South Korean seven or eight-seat people mover that's been on sale in Australia since September 1999. Well priced and strongly built it has been a big seller in its class for many years. The older models are getting on in years so we suggest buying one from the new series from January 2006 as it's significantly better than the model it superseded.

Despite the low price, even the entry-level Kia Carnival models usually have features like dual climate-control air conditioning, central locking, a decent audio system, adjustable roof racks and front power windows.

The Carnival has obviously been built down to a price. It improved noticeably as years went by. Quality is generally fine in the body but interior appointments can be a letdown in older variants.

The big Carnival has good passenger legroom for seven adults, though four adults and three children is a more realistic load. It has a decent luggage compartment, though space in the back is rather limited if the vehicle is set up with child seats.

A major revamp of the Carnival late in 2001 saw the seating arrangement modified, and the rear hatch widened to give improved access to the luggage area. At the same time the frontal styling became more conventional and less ‘Korean'.

A virtually all-new model called the Kia Grand Carnival arrived in November 2006. Originally sold only in long-wheelbase format it was marketed alongside the existing model. That changed in February 2007 when the standard-wheelbase Grand arrived.

There's lots of space inside the LWB Grand Carnival, with seating for eight adults, two in front bucket seats; three in the second row, each in their own bucket seat; and a further three in a bench seat at the rear. All seats have good legroom and are of decent width.

Kia Carnival's latest model, from January 2015 is almost an eight seat sedan, not an old-style people mover. It's still relatively rare on the used-car market, but if your budget will stand the strain it's worth hunting one down.

Carnival has the advantage of being powered by a six-cylinder engine in a market segment where four-cylinder units are far more common. The original models had a V6 of 2.5-litre capacity. The engine is smooth and refined but doesn't have a huge amount of power as it's relatively small for a vehicle of this size. If you are going to be carrying a load of people and live in a hilly area it might be worth trying the performance of the engine for yourself.

The engine size went up to 2.7 litres in August 2006 and this powerplant is the one to aim for if your budget is up to it.

The Kia Grand Carnival, sold from January 2006, has a 3.8-litre V8. It obviously gives a fair bit more performance than the smaller units. The all-new Carnival of 2015 has a thoroughly modern 3.3-litre V6 petrol. It's also offered with a big torque four-cylinder 2.2-litre turbo-diesel. Automatic transmissions are by far the most common in the Kia Carnival, but there's also a five-speed manual on offer in some older variants. The latter isn't all that popular on the used-car market and could be hard to resell down the track.

Interior comfort is generally good on good to moderate roads, but can deteriorate if the road surface is bumpy. A fair bit of tyre noise gets into the cabin on some surfaces, particularly concrete motorways. The Grand Carnival is much better than the first series vehicles in this respect. But these are low cost vehicles so don't expect miracles in the NVH department.

Handling is on the ordinary side. Carnival likes to understeer if you go at anything more than a modest pace. The Grand is noticeably better as is the all-new model from 2015.

Kia has an ever increasing number of dealers in Australia although they tend to be concentrated in the major population centres, both in capital cities and country cities.

We have heard of no real complaints about parts availability and spare parts prices are generally reasonable.

Carnival isn't too difficult to work on, with most of its major mechanical components being relatively easy to reach. However we recommend that only those who know what they are doing should work on the vehicle. Never tackle safety related areas unless you're a professional.

Insurance is generally towards the bottom end of the scale, as befits a vehicle that's not going to be driven hard and fast. There seems to be a larger than average differential between in premium charges so you may find it worthwhile to shop around. When doing so it always makes a lot of sense to make sure you are doing an exact comparison in what's covered and what's not before making your final decision.

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2009 Kia Grand Carnival replacement

The current Grand Carnival gets The Tick but its all-new replacement has already been previewed at this year's New York motor show and we're expecting it early in 2015 with huge improvements. Wait.

Used Kia Grand Carnival review: 2006-2009

With heaps of space, flexible seating and the punch of a big V6 engine it's no wonder the Kia Grand Carnival has become a family favourite.

MODEL WATCH

The Grand Carnival won't win any beauty contests, but it's not intended to. Its bulky box-like shape is perfect for the purpose for which it was created, which was to move large families efficiently.

Inside it can seat up to eight in three rows of seating that can be shuffled around, folded or removed altogether depending on the need. Removing the second row and folding the third one leaves an enormous cavity that can be filled with all manner of things, from cargo for a small business to sporting or camping gear for weekend fun.

From 2006 the Carnival used a 3.8-litre V6 that developed 184 kW and 343 Nm, enough to give it the punch many Aussies still demand from their cars. The downside is that it can be quite thirsty. Kia offered a five-speed auto across the range, with the added feature of manual shifting available on the Premium range-topper.

On the road the big Carnival drove well, although its bulk meant it was never going to brilliant, the suspension was at its most comfortable when loaded, and the throttle reaction was a little on the sharp side.

All models were well equipped, even the base model had auto air and cruise on top of the expected things like power windows and mirrors, remote central locking and CD sound.

IN THE SHOP

Unlike the first Carnivals the second-generation models only see the inside of a workshop when it's time for a service. Owners report that they are more than happy with the reliability and function of their cars, few report any issues at all. Check for service records and inspect bodywork for damage and the interior for the sort of wear and tear caused by transporting kids.

IN A CRASH

The Carnival has most of the safety gear demanded by today's buyers. All models came standard with dual front airbags and ABS brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution, but the EX-L had the added safety of head and side front airbags. The best of all was the Premium, which also had electronic stability control. The only downside was the lack of three-point seat belts in the centre seating positions in the second and third rows.

UNDER THE PUMP

With a big and bulky shape and a large engine the Grand Carnival was never going to be a fuel miser. The official claim was 12.8 L/100 km, but expect mid-teens if you can't keep your foot out of the throttle.

OWNERS SAY

John James' company runs four Carnivals, three of which are driven by sales reps, and he could not be happier with them. The company used to run Falcon wagons, but switched because of the high number of warranty problems with the Fords.

"There have been virtually no mechanical problems, they have plenty of power, they're very comfortable and they have a huge space for carrying things, which makes them ideal reps cars."

AT A GLANCE

Engine: 3.8-litre V6 petrol; 184 kW/343 Nm
Transmission: 5-speed automatic, front-wheel drive
Economy: 12.8 L/100 km
Body: 5-door, 8-seat peoplemover
Variants: EX, EX-L and Premium

THE BOTTOM LINE

Big efficient people transporter that gets the job done.

RATING

3.5 stars

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Ask Smithy Xtra Kia Grand Carnival gas conversion

It does affect the warranty in as much as the carmaker’s warranty would no longer cover the engine and anything affected by the installation of the system. If you wanted a warranty on those components you would need to buy a warranty from the LPG system installer. As a general rule a vehicle uses around 20 per cent more LPG than it does petrol, but the extra fuel is offset by the lower price of LPG. EMR have a sequential vapour-injection system that is said to work well, and the tank goes in the storage cavity in the rear, so there is minimal impact on the boot space.

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.
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