The Kia Carnival. Live a big life.

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I had the Kia Carnival on test recently. Everything about the eight seater hit the right notes as a family transporter. It’s big. It’s spacious. And with a powerful 2.2l turbodiesel engine, it goes very smoothly so much so that I really enjoyed my time behind the wheel. Remember the Grand Sedona? Well, the Carnival replaces it to become a multifaceted companion to progressive family’s intent on living a big life. Staking its claim on the unoccupied space between SUVs and utilitarian people-movers, the Carnival offers the best of both worlds with its advanced technologies, new engine and platform, and luxurious cabin.

All types of excursions

The Carnival has a bold SUV-like design with a commanding presence The Carnival is motivated by a 2.2-litre ‘Smartstream’ CRDi turbodiesel engine that’s powerful enough to endow the all-new Carnival with a braked towing capacity of 1.5 tons for confident trailer, boat or caravan excursions. And that confidence is amplified by an expansive roster of standard Advanced Driver Assistance Systems. Together, these elements make Carnival an exceptional combination of modern design, capability, safety and luxury.

“The Kia Carnival is here to disrupt a staid segment and proves once again what is possible when conventions are shattered,” comments Gary Scott, CEO of Kia South Africa. “With its SUV-like character, Carnival delivers a combination of premium design and features, intelligent packaging, and an abundance of innovation in safety and technology at a price that packs a value punch.”

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Rugged yet refined exterior

The exterior design of the all-new Carnival follows suit with Kia’s recent signature SUV style, with the strong and confident design language directly connecting it to the crisp lines found on other recent Kia debuts. Kia’s modernised ‘tiger nose’ grille affords substantial width to the face and artfully integrates high-tech LED headlamps. Dramatic bonnet lines enhance the vehicle’s unmistakably eye-catching character, while brawny wheel arches give a sense of volume to the body in profile. The SUV aesthetic is enhanced by the addition of a rear skid plate garnish and reflectors, as well as the standard fitment of tasteful 18- or 19-inch aluminium alloy wheels.

Premium, flexible and innovative cabin

Within, the Carnival’s sleek design elements and quality materials come together to create a refined, harmonious and sophisticated space. The central facia stack takes on a premium image with high-gloss black surfaces, while a signature chrome garnish runs the length of the dash to create a sense of width, space and openness in the forward cabin. In addition to the Carnival’s elevated interior styling, it offers plenty of space for 7- or 8- passenger flexibility (depending on the trim level), comfort for long road trips, or jaunts to the local hardware store. With all seats erected, the Carnival offers a useful 1,139 litres of luggage space. Remove the second row and stow the third flush with the floor, and that figure increases to a massive 4,110 litres.

The Carnival also offers a roster of special and innovative features to make travel easier, safer, and more enjoyable. Just one example is standard hands-free electric sliding side doors with Smart Key, as well as a Smart Power Liftgate with auto-close (EX+ and above) to make loading and unloading the Carnival a doddle.

All the power you could need

The front-wheel-drive Carnival line-up keeps things simple with a single powertrain and transmission combination. Kia’s brand-new ‘Smartstream’ 2.2 CRDi turbodiesel engine is the perfect partner for the Carnival. It’s more powerful than the outgoing 2.2 CRDi yet is more efficient, too (CO2 emissions fall by 31g/km to 177g/km), boasting 148kW at 3,800 r/min and a stout 440Nm of torque developed from 1,750 r/min all the way through to 2,750 r/min. The ‘Smartstream’ engine finds the perfect companion in Kia’s 8-speed torque-converter automatic transmission, which offers imperceptible shifts whether the Carnival’s driver is pootling through town or towing a heavy trailer.

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All the safety bells and whistles

Forward Collision Avoidance Assist (FCA), Blindspot Collision Avoidance Assist (BCA), Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Keeping Assist (LKA) with Lane Following Assist (LFA), S, Segment-exclusive Blindspot View Monitor (BVM), Smart Cruise Control and an Around View Monitor that utilises four cameras to provide a 360-degree perspective around the vehicle enhancing driver confidence in tight parking situations. So feeling safe in any driving condition is guaranteed.

Verdict

A more than ideal family transporter that is very versatile. Weekdays can be for office commute. Weekends will be totally up to the family for adventure. And you can tow just about anything from a trailer to a boat and then some. It has that SUV-like character that is prepared to tackle anything you could throw at it. Turn your weekends into a fun adventure.

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