Kia’s segment-dominating Carnival people mover keeps the party going with a range of safety and comfort upgrades in a mid-life freshen of the third generation family favourite.
Building on the bold and distinctive CUV-style (crossover utility vehicle) design and substantially higher quality interior the all-new third generation Carnival launched with in 2015, the latest iteration of Australia’s favourite eight-seater brings exterior styling refinements and a substantial range of safety and comfort technology upgrades.
“Since its launch three years ago the third generation Carnival has dominated a market segment that values space, comfort, practicality and safety over all else,” Chief Operating Officer Damien Meredith said. “It is a genuine eight-seat vehicle that can take both passengers and their luggage without fuss.
“With the addition of the latest safety technology _ AEB, Lane Departure Warning, smart cruise control and an electronic parking brake across the range _ the Carnival is an even smarter choice for both private and fleet buyers.”
Purchase consideration will be further enhanced, Mr Meredith said, by the arrival of the in-house designed audio/visual head unit which supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in all grades and comes with 10 years of free MapCare support in Si, SLi and Platinum grades.
CUV styling with MPV practicality
Completely redesigned for the model launch in 2015, and built on an all-new chassis, the Carnival’s wider-looking stance, a clean profile with CUV style, and Kia’s typically bold ‘face’ has proven a winner with buyers.
With styling cues shared the Sorento SUV, Kia’s designers have refined rather than revised for the mid-life upgrade. A fresh definition of the tiger nose grille, combined with sleeker headlight clusters now sweep into the grille and provide an upper tension line across the front of the car.
A character panel below the grille and the lower air intake with integrated fog lights add to the horizontal strength of the front design.
At the rear the lower tailgate panel and rear three-quarter panels have been given a light once-over to enhance the strength of the rear impression.
In profile, the upright grille is accompanied by a smooth, swept-back silhouette with a long bonnet and an all-round glass area which rises gently, before narrowing after the C-pillar. The car’s sporty, horizontal shape is aided by a strong crease that runs along the length of the car, more sculpted surfaces, and a small rear spoiler, ensuring the car conveys a dynamic appearance.
The Carnival’s sleek profile is achieved with a long wheelbase (3,060mm) and lowering the overall height of the vehicle to 1,755mm with standard roof rails, presenting a high degree of refinement and sophistication.
Interior design influenced by first class air travel
The interior of the Carnival was a ground-up new design when launched in 2015, with a sophisticated, luxurious cabin made up of higher quality materials and premium features and technology.
Styled by Kia’s North American design studio in Irvine, California, the cabin took ergonomic cues from luxury sedan cars, with a wide, wrap-around dashboard angled slightly towards the driver.
The dashboard offers a feeling of spaciousness in the cabin, with an emphasis on wide, horizontal forms to provide a modern look, echoed in the shape of the instrument cluster, fascia and highlights that run across the full length of the dashboard.
That premium feel has been further enhanced by the inclusion of the Kia in-house audio visual head unit with 7-inch screen for the entry-level S model (up from a 5-inch radio unit) and 8-inch unit for Si, SLi and Platinum. The new unit comes standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
For Si, SLi and Platinum the entertainment system has also been improved by the standard inclusion of an 8-speaker JBL Premium sound system.
Designers cite first class air travel as a key influence behind the design and layout of the cabin, with elegant individual seats for front and second row passengers and overhead consoles and air conditioning vents to ensure maximum utility and comfort for all.
The two-tone interior features a higher proportion of soft-touch materials and extends from the dashboard into the door trims, creating a premium ambience and consistent design throughout the cabin. Carnival features a classy two-tone light/dark grey interior leather trim in SLi and Platinum grades and stain resistant grey cloth with black contrast dash in the S and Si models.
Flexible interior space
A key feature of Carnival is the useable interior space and flexibility to meet a wide range of uses. A range of intelligently-designed features ensures a more efficient and flexible use of space for all occupants. The Carnival majors on practicality and versatility with numerous variations available within the basic eight seat configuration.
The eight-way power-assisted driver’s seat on Platium and SLi is engineered with a number of features to improve comfort, including four-way lumbar support in the Platinum model (two-way in SLi), while the front passenger seat also benefits from eight-way power adjustment on Platinum models. For the range-topping Platinum model ventilated and heated seats are standard.
Carnival’s outboard second row seats have armrests on the outboard side, similar to an aircraft seat. A 60:40 split-folding third row of seats completes the interior package – the third row is able to fold completely flat to provide a large cargo area. The centre seat in the second row can be removed or simply folded down to provide additional cupholder storage for rear passengers.
A feature of the Carnival is the innovative ‘Stand-up’ seats in the second row, which allows the base cushion to fold forward and the rest of the seat to slide forward and ‘stand up straight’, allowing easier access to the third row in the back.
Additional storage space in the cabin is particularly generous, with a large storage area under the front armrest to accommodate items as large as a laptop. The front passenger has access to two gloveboxes for added utility, as well as a small document-sized tray built into the centre console. Similar compartments can be found further back in the cabin for rear occupants, ensuring every passenger has access to ample storage space for maximum comfort and convenience.
With a longer wheelbase in the third-generation Carnival, passenger space is increased over the previous model. The increased legroom for all passengers has been well received, while lowered seat cushions counteract the loss in headroom resulting from the 20mm lower roofline. The shape of the roof – which no longer slopes gently into the tailgate – also ensures that third row occupants enjoy greater headroom than in the second generation car.
The cargo area is an expansive 960 litres (SAE) behind the third row of seats and grows to an impressive 2220 litres behind the second row and a massive 4022 litres when all rear passenger seats are stowed. The shape of the tailgate also enables a very practical cargo opening height for the cargo bay.
Modern technology for a more luxurious cabin
The upgraded Carnival is equipped with a range of advanced on-board technologies designed to improve the car’s capabilities and owner and occupant satisfaction.
A hands-free Smart Power Tailgate automatically opens when the key is ‘sensed’ in close proximity to the trunk, so owners can load their shopping bags or heavy objects straight into the vehicle, while the Carnival’s two power-sliding rear doors also open at the touch of a button located on the driver’s overhead console on SLi and Platinum.
The entry-level S model features a 3.5-inch mono LCD screen located between two analogue dials in the centre of the instrument binnacle, displaying major trip computer information in one place, including average and instant fuel consumption data, distance to empty and outside temperature. For Si and SLi models a Premium 3.5-inch OLED instrument cluster offers additional information, including digital speedometer, service schedule and an array of user selectable options such as headlamp escort function. The Platinum grade will highlight a 7-inch colour TFT LCD screen, with an electro-luminescent instrument cluster and digital speedometer, further improving the interior’s modern function and ambiance, while displaying all relevant journey information which the driver can select from the multi-function steering wheel.
The Carnival S comes standard with a six-speaker audio unit (including two tweeters) with a 7-inch colour TFT LCD touch screen display featuring a rear-view camera display with guidelines. The unit also supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
For the Si, SLi and Platinum grades the head unit is an 8-inch TFT LCD touch screen with satellite navigation, rear view camera display, and comes with Kia’s SUNA real-time traffic information and 10 years free MapCare.
Comfort and convenience features
As well as offering an efficient use of space for occupants, the Carnival is equipped with a number of comfort and convenience features.
In the front row, a convex conversation mirror, positioned within the overhead console, allows the driver and front passenger to see what’s happening behind them, while giving the car a more social atmosphere.
Other features, depending on grade, include a heated steering wheel; cooled glove box; Smart Cruise Control (across all grades) which maintains a safe distance from the car in front; front parking assistance; tilting and telescopic steering wheel adjustment; and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror.
The tri-zone air conditioning (Si, SLi and Platinum) allows for individual settings for the driver and front row passenger while the second and third row passengers have a separate zone which can be controlled from the second row. These controls can be locked out or over-ridden from the main front console. Built-in sunshades for second and third row seating on Platinum models also improve passenger comfort.
There are numerous storage spaces throughout the cabin for greater practicality, including a large centre console storage with a sunglass storage bin, slide-open tray in the second row of Platinum models (fold out in the other grades), and seat-back pockets. Spread throughout Carnival are 10 cup holders and four bottle holders.
The spacious cargo area on Platinum models is also fitted with a detachable flashlight, which can be mounted in the cargo side wall socket to recharge and provide luggage lighting, or be removed altogether for a portable light.
Every Carnival model equipped with fabric seating is upholstered in Yes Essentials stain resistant upholstery repelling liquids which can be easily wiped away if noticed immediately, and releasing stains more easily than traditional seating fabric when scrubbed gently with soap and water – ideal for spillages that many Carnival owners may expect from younger passengers.
New levels of refinement for Carnival occupants
The Carnival has won praise since being launched in 2015 for improved noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) characteristics.
The increased torsional rigidity of the bodyshell (up by 74% compared to the previous generation) provided an improved foundation for enhanced refinement and improved safety.
Thicker soundproofing material added to the wheel arches and around the engine bay, while new under-floor panels better isolated the cabin from road and wind noise. A new floor carpet material further reduced the level of noise inside the cabin, while wind noise was reduced as a result of repositioned windscreen wipers.
Fuel economy and performance from proven gasoline and diesel engines
The Carnival’s pair of strong engine packages, a 3.3-litre GDI (Gasoline Direct Injection) petrol engine and the proven 2.2-litre R Series diesel remain firm favourites. For the enhanced model, both units have been engineered for greater efficiency and performance and are now linked to the standard eight-speed automatic gearbox.
Kia’s powerful Lambda II 3.3-litre V6 petrol engine benefits from a low friction oil seal and chain guide reducing mechanical friction and minimizing energy loss through inertia. A three-stage variable intake system allows greater control of the amount of air entering the combustion chamber, further aiding efficiency. The 3.3-litre GDI produces 206kW and 336Nm ensuring a relaxed drive even with a full load.
If it is even more available grunt that you are looking for the 2.2-litre four-cylinder ‘R’ turbodiesel engine uses a DOC (diesel oxidation catalyst) to regulate harmful emissions, while a low-speed, high-efficiency turbocharger delivers performance and torque output at low-to-mid engine speeds. The 2.2-litre engine produces 147kW and a significant 440Nm from 1,750 to 2,750 rpm, the engine range most commonly used by owners. NVH is also enhanced by efficient acoustic covers for the engine block, diesel particulate-filter and drive chain case and a sprocket rubber coating.
The Carnival applies power to the front wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. Drivers can switch to a sequential manual shift mode for even greater driving control, while the Carnival is equipped with a switchable ‘Active Eco’ drive mode. When activated, this automatically adjusts engine power, reprograms the transmission’s shift points, and limits the power of the heating and ventilation systems in order to maximize fuel efficiency.
Improved ride comfort and high performance dampers
As with all Kia models for Australia, the ride and handling characteristics were examined, experienced and fine-tuned by KMAu’s local ride and handling team to ensure the most suitable package for Australian families.
The enhanced model carries over the previous-generation’s MacPherson strut front suspension and multi-link rear suspension. However, the adoption of optimized shock absorbers and spring rates has further refined the localization of the Carnival to provide an even more enjoyable drive in the enhanced model.
Greater passive and active safety
The enhanced Carnival has retained the third generation car’s stronger structure, with improved crash safety performance, due in large part to a far greater proportion of ultra-high tensile steel – up from 7% of the bodyshell in the second generation model to a significant 52% in the current Carnival. A stronger core structure increased torsional rigidity by 74%, with the higher tensile strength steel used to reinforce the engine bay, A-, B-, C- and D-pillars, roof, rear subframe and floor.
Careful application of the stronger steel, and newly-engineered crash structures throughout the vehicle, effectively lowered the bodyshell weight while ensuring greater safety.
The amount of applied structural adhesives was also increased sixty-fold in the third-generation car, while 830 stronger large-diameter welding points (the previous model employed only general welding points) further improved bodyshell and chassis strength.
Carnival owners have the comforting assurance of a range of standard active safety technologies, including Autonomous Emergency Braking, six airbags (front to rear coverage), eight three-point seat belts, Electronic Stability Control (incorporating ABS, TCS, Hill Start Assist, Brake Assist, Cornering Brake Control and Roll Over Mitigation) and rear parking sensors.
Standard safety features also include Lane Departure Warning, Smart Cruise Control and Electronic Parking Brake. For Platinum owners the suite of active safety features expands even further with BSD (Blind-Spot Detection); LCA (Lane Change Assist), which alerts the driver to vehicles approaching from the rear at high speeds in neighboring lanes; HBA (High Beam Assist) and RCTA (Rear Cross-Traffic Alert), which warns against other cars driving behind the Carnival in car parks.
The 3.3-litre GDI pricing is:
S $42,490
Si $47,990
SLi $52,490
Platinum $60,290
The 2.2-litre CRDI pricing is:
S $44,990
Si $50,490
SLi $54,990
Platinum $62,790
Carnival is available in six colours: Clear White and premium colours (at an additional $695) Deep Chroma Blue, Panthera Metal, Silky Silver while Aurora Black and Snow White Pearl are exclusive to SLi and Platinum.
