Kia Carnival 2022 review: Family test in the eight-seater van that thinks its an SUV!

The Kia Carnival has really made a name for itself as being the van that doesn't think it is a van at all. The new-generation model, which launched in Australia in 2020, has been marketed as something called a "GUV", or Grand Utility Vehicle, but in truth it's really just a people mover eight-seat mini van with some SUV-ish styling elements.
Those styling bits are enough to make you look twice, though, and our family reviewer, Ash Leung, recently spent some time in the V6 petrol Si model, which is one step up from the base variant and offers plenty of gear for the cash.
The 2022 Kia Carnival could be considered a competitor to the Kia Sorento, Hyundai Palisade or Toyota Kluger. Or you might think of it against its contemporary van rivals, the Toyota Granvia, Volkswagen Multivan, or Hyundai Staria.
Is the petrol Kia Carnival the way to go? Is the Si the right one to choose? In Ash's detailed review she runs you through the quirks and features of this big vehicle, what it's like to live with, and whether it is a better family choice than an SUV.
00:00 Intro
00:56 Pricing and features
03:05 Design
03:37 Practicality
09:12 Driving
11:16 Efficiency
11:47 Safety
12:38 Ownership
13:06 Verdict
Read Ash's full review: carsgui.de/3OCjpV7
Visit our Kia Carnival hub: carsgui.de/2L0oTgM
Check out more people movers: carsgui.de/2XjVYH0
Check out our family guide: carsgui.de/2qpbJia
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[@dsinghr]

My Uber today morning was this Kia carnival and I was blown away how smooth and silent the ride was ! And here I am searching more about it as my future vehicle haha

[@wardo441]

Slide the middle seat forward so the cup holders line up with the back seats . Amazing car, I got to hire one for a day, wish I had one.

[@georges8819]

Thanks, great review.

[@Brendan3195]

Great review Ash but please research when to use ‘is’ vs ‘are and ‘was’ vs ‘were’. Is and was are singular with the remaining being plural.

[@carsguide]

*Searches for comments of a similar ilk on our male reviewer's videos...*

[@Brendan3195]

Gender has nothing to do with the criticism regarding poor grammar. Pretty lazy defence to pull the gender card to suggest that that is the reason behind the issue rather than owning it. If you are to speak for a living you have a responsibility to understand your craft.

[@13Anant]

@@carsguide Wow you really made yourself look like an absolute dunce with that comment. It'd be quite stupid for a person who's profession includes things like being able to articulate clearly and concisely, you've not only done a terrible job, but your comment in response to a perfectly well reasoned statement by the viewer has made you look like the fool here. That's not it - there are multiple factual discrepancies in your video - one of which being the colour of the Carnival in said video being 'Ceramic Silver' which it most certainly is not!

[@abhijithanandnewyork]

@@carsguide really!!!!! Pathetic

[@toonhwaks4539]

Thanks for sharing really appreciate the review this kia his nice

[@bimma320]

Certainly isn’t ceramic silver. Also, the middle seat in the second row can be reversed and moved forward so cup holders can be at the front.

[@cdb5662]

Excellent. My favorite host. Well done. Great info.

[@ilarums]

Thanks for the review. Can you let me know how easy or difficult was it to get into the car on the second row {if you have old parents is it easy for them to step in the second row of the car?)

[@Langeyhuha]

That is not ceramic grey sorry, it is Panthera metal which is a paid option. Also most high end child car seats have fold out cup holders for toddlers, but they end up being used as storage for gumnuts and Kinder Surprise toys anyway.

[@jerrymyahzcat]

I’d suggest the fact that the cup holders being unreachable from a car seat in the second row was the point. You don’t want a small toddler accessing drinks from all the cupholders around him/her. Hand the child the drink or have someone near deal with that. If they are older and still in a car seat, it’s likely they will be able to grab one. Don’t want 3yr olds grabbing and spilling drinks everywhere. For a family vehicle that centre console should be a fridge. The rear indicators in many Kia’s now are far too low and can’t easily be seen. They should not be down in the bumper and I’m surprised it’s legal to have them where they are often invisible if you are behind one at the lights.

[@stendecstretcher5678]

No one in QLD uses indicators so not an issue here.

[@rw6364]

Where do you propose they should have placed the 2nd row cup holders then? Where exactly could a drink holder be positioned so a 3 year old restrained in a child’s car seat reach it successfully…..

[@fun6111]

Have to agree, that was a very bespoke Karen problem which isn't actually a problem.

[@jerrymyahzcat]

@@rw6364 they should be exactly where they are as I said. You don’t want your 3 year old reaching drinks and possibly spilling them all through the car. I’ve had 3 year olds myself. Give them a non-spillable drink they can hold. They don’t need to access the cup holders.

[@rw6364]

@@jerrymyahzcat I concur with your pov. My point above was actually aimed at the person who conducted the review. I’d like to know where she believes the drink holders should be positioned so a toddler secured in a child’s seat could reach them. I doubt it would actually be possible, unless a drink holder was positioned immediately to the child’s front.

[@davidevans2585]

When are they going to get rid of those horrible gauges and fit the screen that they have overseas?

[@hiden_827]

Nice review 👌 I Think you feel struggle While speaking

[@csy6112]

Congrats to ash of being pregnant again 🎉

[@SirGregory]

I'm so pleased Kia have finally upgraded the model to include some of the irritating stuff left off the previous release (late 2020?). This is such a good family car and deserves to be successful. All that's needed now is a quiet and fuel-efficient motor to replace the diesel and the V6. I'm thinking a hybrid turbo four. Oh, almost forgot, it also needs the fully digital dash from the rest of the Kia line-up, including the blind-spot displays.

[@stendecstretcher5678]

Anyone know how long the waiting list is?

[@atlasko1]

Pretty sure the colour is Panthera Metal which is an optional colour.

[@jerrymyahzcat]

It’s definitely not silver.

[@axnlogix]

I've never known of a vehicle where a child can access the cup holders apart from the center stack 2nd row. Cup holders in the bottom section of the door is pretty standard - they wouldn't be able to reach it anyway. Not sure why this is flagged as a fault.

[@rw6364]

I’d like to know what her proposal for a more suitable position for the 2nd row cup holders would be. A child correctly restrained in a child’s car seat could only reach a drink holder if it were positioned immediately in front of the child… such a ridiculous flag, one she’d have to apply to virtually every vehicle on the market..

[@axnlogix]

​@@rw6364 As such, considering this is part of her criteria, I imagine her reviews of every car would have this flag as a fault. Because reviewers are consistently fair in their review presentation on what they look for. Right? :)

[@adamjleung]

All the cars our family have owned and driven have had cup holders in the centre armrest which are reachable for our toddler when strapped tightly in his car seat.

[@julianinc7161]

I will keep waiting until Kia brings the VIP chairs with touchscreens...

[@THEAC83]

Where is Nedahl???

[@carsguide]

Nedahl no longer works for us. Thanks Matt

[@THEAC83]

@@carsguide what a loss. She was smoking hot!

[@carsguide]

@@THEAC83 Wow.

[@milindj4912]

Its not worth the price and wait anymore. many complain they have to wait for 12+months from order to delivery. In yet another year there would be so much advancements and these guys will hand you a literally new but 12 months outdated car. Additionally right now itself it misses on wireless Android auto and other models have better upgrades for this price like digital dashboard , AWD etc. Kia just don't bother for Aussie market much, I imagine about parts scarcity and waits for them in future if anything breaks. They know there is not much competition unlike USA where you get better 8 seater body on frames SUV. Hyundai Palisades or perhaps Nissan Pathfinder 2022 would-be worth the wait

[@loving_dad_explorer]

You know that’s now how waiting times work right… in 12 months time you get 2023 model… with all the updates

[@milindj4912]

@@loving_dad_explorer You won't get the updated 2023 after a wait of 12 months but the model you signed for it while booking for it, unless a special contact is worked out . So my recommendation would be to insist this point in the contract for getting the latest model when booking in advance. However idoubt if the dealership or company would agree.

[@loving_dad_explorer]

@@milindj4912 the car will be manufactured in 2023… the factory ain’t gonna be manufacturing outdated models

[@milindj4912]

@@loving_dad_explorer mate i am /was interested in buying and did the research they said it would be the 2022 model with an MY of 2023

[@loving_dad_explorer]

@@milindj4912 that means it will likely be delivered late this year or very early next year. Ie manufactured in 2022. Takes about a month to ship

[@13Anant]

You should reconsider your career decisions! Maybe Car reviewer or anything to do with putting together sentences with primary school grammar skills, isn't your cup of tea!