- Doors and Seats
5 doors, 8 seats
- Engine
3.8i, 6 cyl.
- Engine Power
184kW, 343Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (91) 12.8L/100KM
- Manufacturer
FWD
- Transmission
Auto
- Warranty
3 Yr, 100000 KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
2006 Kia Grand Carnival Premium review
The Carnival looks great on paper but would our team recommend one for your family?
The car: Kia Grand Carnival Premium.
The price: $43,590.
Vital statistics: 2.7-litre V6 (184kW, 343Nm), five-speed auto.
The testers: Richard Blackburn and Jaedene Hudson.
He: The Grand Carnival was a finalist in our Drive Car of the Year awards. It has plenty of space and some clever touches in the cabin but we also discovered it wasn't perfect. What did you think?
She: Kia has obviously spent some time looking at the car's intended purpose, with things such as the power rear doors available on the more expensive model, trays on the seatbacks, and storage compartments. The boot is huge and the middle seats fold away to make an enormous load area. It's very flexible.
He: The load area is much more practical than the Toyota Tarago. Perhaps Toyota Japan should buy one and see how you can make eight seats stow away easily. I know a lot of potential Tarago buyers who aren't happy with fact that the rear seats don't fold away easily. I like the way the Kia's third-row stows under the floor to give you a flat load space and the second-row flips forward to give you even more room.
She: Inside it's quite comfortable. The third-row has its own air vents and separate controls. And the hooks for takeaway food bags or rubbish bags help keep the car clean on long trips.
He: I travelled in the third-row and it has loads of space even for an adult. That's an advantage over seven-seat off-roaders, which have hardly any space for luggage. In the Carnival, a small kid could stand up behind the third-row, not that you'd let them.
She: For larger families on a budget, the Carnival makes a compelling case. It has plenty of power but our recent tests showed its dynamics are a little under par. What do you think?
He: In our swerve and avoid test, the Carnival got out of shape where the others held their line well. That won't happen often, but you want a family vehicle to do the right things in an emergency. It also tends to wander on the road at highway speeds, especially when there is a crosswind.
She: It feels more top-heavy through corners than the others, which doesn't inspire confidence. It's a shame. The Carnival stacks up on paper but I couldn't recommend one.
He: I know what you mean. In standard form, the Carnival misses out on side and curtain airbags, stability control and lap-sash seatbelts in the middle seats. I wouldn't buy one. For that money I would probably go for a used Honda Odyssey, Tarago or Avensis.