2007 Kia Grand Carnival 3.8 V6 petrol from Australia and New Zealand
Summary:
A great people-mover, and vastly improved over the earlier models
Faults:
So far, nothing has gone wrong.
DVD player was faulty in the 2nd hand car yard, so the dealer replaced it before we bought it.
General Comments:
After swearing I would NEVER buy another Kia Carnival, I read the reviews, took the later models for a drive and was impressed. So many of the problems that dogged the earlier models (including the engine-eating 1999-2004 Carnival) had been fixed.
The car feels solid (as opposed to tinny), the auto trans is smooth and positive, the steering is also fairly positive, anti-lock brakes and traction control work well, the interior finish is up to a good standard (opposed to the earlier model's interior with bits falling off or plastic fittings snapping). Electric powered sliding rear doors seem a bit gimmicky, but they work! The motor feels good, the 3.8 litre V-6 has plenty of grunt to pull the fully-loaded vehicle (i.e. six adult passengers and luggage) uphill on the freeway at 110kph, controlled by the cruise control.
Lots of nice little touches like the rear seats folding flat into the rear well to produce a good-sized boot, then the middle-row seats fold forward and can be lifted out to produce a huge interior for moving furniture etc, if you need to.
Kia have won me over with this; a massive improvement over the earlier models.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 22nd June, 2013
29th Sep 2011, 06:00
Needing a people mover, we looked around; space and comfort came first, then we looked at style, maneuverability, and driving, then we looked at price. The last thing we looked at was the engine. Now that we have had the Carnival for two months, we are surprised by the power and relative economy of the car.