Kia Carnival 2010 News

The latest version of Australia's favourite people-mover, the Kia Carnival, has been slammed by safety experts in the latest round of crash tests.The new generation Kia Carnival has received just four stars out of five for crash safety at a time when most new cars earn top marks.The 2015 Kia Carnival scored just 10.48 out of 16 in the critical offset frontal crash testThe new model that went on sale last month priced from $39,490 was criticised by the independent safety authority ANCAP because there was "deformation" of the footwell area, "pedal movement was excessive" and "dash components were a potential source of knee injury for the driver".Despite being an all-new model, the 2015 Kia Carnival scored just 10.48 out of 16 in the critical offset frontal crash test (where the vehicle strikes a barrier at 64km/h); not much higher than the previous generation Kia Carnival released in 2006 which scored 9.81 out of 16.Vehicles must earn a minimum of 12.5 out of 16Several rival people movers score more than 13 out of 16, some more than 14 out of 16.Under ANCAP guidelines, vehicles must earn a minimum of 12.5 out of 16 in this part of the test to be eligible for further tests which might elevate it to a five-star safety rating.A statement issued by Kia in February indicated the sole reason the Carnival would not earn a five-star rating was the lack of seatbelt reminders for the back seats.The statement said in part: "Due to the absence of second row seatbelt reminders, a feature which became an ANCAP critical feature on January 1 (2015), the new Carnival will initially be eligible for a maximum 4-star ANCAP rating."The earlier Kia statement also claimed: "The new Carnival features a stronger structure than the outgoing model, with improved crash safety performance".We abide by the umpire's decisionKia says it plans to add seatbelt reminders in the second row (they are not an ANCAP requirement for third-row seats, even though it is a family car) in the coming months, but this change is unlikely to bump up the Carnival to a five-star rating according to ANCAP criteria.Kia Australia's chief operating officer Damien Meredith told News Corp Australia: "We abide by the umpire's decision and we're talking with our colleagues at Kia head office to make the necessary changes to bring this car up to a five-star rating."NRMA safety expert Jack Haley said it was disappointing that a vehicle synonymous with affordable family transport had "fallen behind the field"."The Carnival's latest competitors have all achieved a five-star rating," said Mr Haley. "Five stars might be the maximum score but it's our minimum expectation."The Kia Carnival has been Australia's biggest selling people mover for 10 of the past 11 years.It overtook the Toyota Tarago in 2004 and was Australia'a top selling people-mover until 2014, when it was outsold by the Honda Odyssey by a narrow margin.The new Kia Carnival was expected to reclaim its title as Australia's top-selling family van this year, but industry pundits believe the safety setback may blunt its sales.

That decision is despite the European move away from the full-sized people-mover with the new mid-sized model. The new Rondo goes on show at this week’s Paris Motor Show.

And the Kia Carnival is now available only in the jumbo size.The short wheelbase Carnival S has been replaced by a long wheelbase Grand Carnival S model. The Grand Carnival Si, SLi and Platinum remain.The 2.7-litre petrol engine has been replaced with a more powerful and efficient 3.5-litre V6 DOHC powerplant with continuous variable valve timing and a the auto has been upgraded to a 6-speed across the entire range.Buyers of the Si, SLi and Platinum models will have a choice of either the 3.5-litre petrol or Kia's latest four cylinder, 2.2-litre CRDi R-series diesel engine.The 2.2-litre R-series diesel produces an impressive 143kW of power and 429Nm of torque - 25 per cent more torque than the 2.9-litre engine that it replaces.Fuel consumption is also down 3.7 per cent.New to the line up is the addition of Bluetooth with remote audio controls on the steering wheel.

Just a brief look into any junior sports club shows fewer people now do more to keep such clubs and teams afloat.

The South Korean company is the category leader with its Carnival, which is just about to become a two-model run with a shorter version of its latest Grand Carnival, and can see a potential place for the smaller Carens. It has just been renewed, with Europe as the target because high-roofed family wagons are doing well there. The second-generation Carens has an all-new body, a range of engines - 2.0, 2.4 and 2.7-litre petrol, and 2.0-litre turbodiesel - and will be built with either five or seven seats. Kia has even given a choice of names, because the Carens will be called Rondo in North America. It was previewed last week in Spain at the Madrid Motor Show, reflecting the European emphasis, though it could work in Australia under the new factory-owned operation at Kia Motors Australia. "We're still looking and still thinking. It was only released last week and we have yet to see it in the metal," Kia Motors spokesman Jonathon Fletcher says. "We obviously need to understand where it could fit in the Australian market and if we could bring it at a price that is suitable. And if there is sufficient demand." He says Kia can see the potential in Australia for people movers thanks to its ongoing success with the Carnival. "We obviously have the market-leading vehicle in the Carnival, and that's now extended to the Grand Carnival," Fletcher says. "A short-wheelbase model is coming later this year so we need to be mindful of the market sector we're talking to." But one thing is certain, the Carens would not compete with the Carnival. "If we took it then it wouldn't come as a seven-seater. So we need to know if it will fit into the small-wagon market, or somewhere else. And also the competitors and if the price benefit will stand up." The new Carens is longer, wider and taller than the previous model and has a new body. Kia also says it has been designed as much as a crossover vehicle as a people mover. Though Carens is still a question market, it would probably come with a diesel engine because Kia is joining the push into diesel power in Australia. "We're obviously looking at a diesel Sportage and Sorento and we'd very much like to bring them, possibly later in the year. So when we're evaluating Carens we'll look at petrol and diesel," Fletcher says.