- Doors and Seats
5 doors, 8 seats
- Engine
2.2DT, 4 cyl.
- Engine Power
148kW, 440Nm
- Fuel
Diesel 6.5L/100KM
- Manufacturer
FWD
- Transmission
Auto
- Warranty
7 Yr, Unltd KMs
- Ancap Safety
5/5 star (2021)
2021 Kia Carnival Platinum long-term review: Interior, infotainment and technology
You may not like it, but this is what peak performance looks like... when it comes to family cars.
- So easy to get into, get comfortable and get around in
- Boot space particularly excellent
- Single-minded focus on practicality works a treat
- Infotainment gremlins have taken some sheen off the experience
- Biscuits getting caught in the seat tracks
- Second-row floor mat hampers cleaning efforts, slightly
The real strength of the 2021 Kia Carnival is the fact that it’s not an SUV. True to its form as a people mover – albeit evolved to the point of shaking off some of that negative stigma – the bones of the Carnival prioritise interior room above all else.
Without having to worry about things like a high ride height, SUV proportions and four driven wheels, the capacious Carnival stays low-slung and allows easy access for anything from ankle-biters to ancients.
Along with being close to the ground, the Carnival is also wide and shaped like a loaf of bread. A sleek loaf these days, and it’s all in the name of sheer-minded practicality.
Spending time with the 2021 Carnival reminds me – once again – that while SUVs are ridiculously popular, their recipe brings inherent flaws that hold them back.
You may not like it, but this is what peak performance looks like. When it comes to family cars, that is.
2021 Kia Carnival Platinum diesel | |
Engine | Four-cylinder turbo diesel |
Displacement | 2.2 litres (2151cc) |
Power | 148kW @ 3800rpm |
Torque | 440Nm @ 1750–2750rpm |
Drive | Front-wheel drive |
Transmission | Eight-speed torque converter automatic |
Fuel consumption (combined cycle, claimed) | 6.5L/100km |
Fuel consumption (on test) | 7.6L/100km |
Fuel tank size | 72L |
Length/wheelbase/width/height | 5115mm/3090mm/1995mm/1775mm |
Boot size (5-seat/8-seat) | 2785L/627L |
Competitors | Honda Odyssey, Volkswagen Multivan, Toyota Granvia |
Price as tested | $70,490 drive-away |
Seeing as the Carnival’s second row gets the majority of usage during our day-to-day adventures, we’ve left the Carnival’s third row stowed away most of the time and relished the huge amount of space on offer.
Yes, this calibre of family car is probably overkill for our family of four, but it’s easy to become accustomed to a massive amount of room in the second row and boot at the same time. The ability to devour prams and bicycles whole is a repeating delight I didn't realise that I would enjoy or appreciate so much.
The hardened backrest of the middle seat in the second row acts well as a table and cupholders, holding all manner of drinks, wipes, toys and other crap we find ourselves carting around.
And when we have loaded more than our own delegation of four inside, I removed the middle seat of the second row and found the new-found access to the third row a boon. You can walk into the back and baby seats don’t get in the way. Perfect.
And let me tell you, SUVs can only dream of offering as much space and comfort in the third row as this Carnival.
To further cement the Carnival's credentials, the lack of any pumped-up ride height, rear-mounted spare wheel or rear differential means even with all three rows of seats deployed, the Carnival still has a stack of deep, useable boot space on offer.
Other details like air-conditioning, sun blinds, power outlets and general ergonomics have all been great. And if you didn’t know already, kids love sunroofs. Opening up the two generously sized examples on this Carnival has been a helpful tool to divert attention and quell an uprising.
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I’ve learned a long time ago that snacks that melt, smear or liquify in any way are best avoided in cars you care for and/or don’t own. So, when the inevitable appetites need sating, we resort to things like dry biscuits and spill-proof bottles.
This does present a minor problem with long-term usage, however. Smaller biscuits – and fragments of larger ones – can quickly find their way into the seating track and be a challenge to remove. Our vacuum cleaner isn’t narrow enough to get in there, so my best plan is a chopstick and some patience.
Most surfaces clean down quite well, however, including seat perforations and carpeting on the floor.
One smaller gripe is the second-row floor mat, which is a complex design that has a symbiotic relationship with the second-row chairs. It’s not easy to pull out and clean quickly, so I’ve just left it in situ and vacuumed it as thoroughly as possible.
Another one is the electric boot, which instead of gesture control works simply by standing at the rear of the car for a few seconds. Casual loitering around the back of the Carnival with the key can see the boot opening automatically, along with a parade of flashes and beeps. It’s handy for when you want it, but sometimes you don’t. Once, I had to save the Carnival from whacking into something else.
Some other problems have reared their ugly head this time around, however.
We've noted that phone call quality isn't great, with people on the other end of the phone call being able to hear themselves on repeat in a kind of feedback. This could be something to do with the phone rather than the car, I suppose, but it's not something we have noted on any other vehicle.
And another was our infotainment display simply not turning on. The music was playing, and phone calls still came through, but nobody was home. After being turned off and locked for a while, the problem went away.
When it isn’t on the fritz, the infotainment system is good. Ours lives on smartphone mirroring permanently playing Spotify or a digital radio channel without any other dramas.
Problems aside – which will be updated with future instalments – spending more time with this Carnival over the past few weeks has only seen my adoration of Kia’s people mover grow and grow.
And it has reaffirmed my belief that whenever possible, we should be buying cars that are particularly good at one of a few things, rather than struggling to stay half-decent at everything. It can’t go off-road, tow, pop gutters or take on the ski fields. But as a family car that’s ready for swallowing up people and parcels without a burp, the Carnival reigns supreme.
And call me crazy, but don’t you reckon this midnight purple Carnival would look good slammed?
MORE: Long-term report one: Introduction
MORE: Long-term report two: Road trip
MORE: Long-term report three: Side benefits
MORE: Carnival news and reviews
MORE: Everything Kia