SYDNEY: Kia is planning to launch the new eight-seat Carnival in Australia soon. The company is aiming to retake its palace as the best-selling brand in big people-movers,
Honda’s new Odyssey has enjoyed a comfortable run at the top of the charts over the past year, leading the segment at the end of 2014 with 2552 sales against 2137 for the Hyundai iMax and 1592 for Kia’s now retired Grand Carnival range.
But, with prices starting from $41,490 – $3880 more than the cost of entry into a new Honda Odyssey – it could be a hard-fought battle.
The level of standard equipment in the new four-model Carnival range has jumped significantly however, and both of the Carnival’s powertrains are more powerful than the Odyssey’s single petrol option.
POWERTRAINS
All four models in the new Carnival range can be had with either a 206kW/336Nm 3.3 litre petrol engine or a torquey 147kW/440Nm 2.2 litre diesel.
Both are matched to a front-wheel-drive configuration and a six-speed automatic transmission exclusively.
Fuel consumption with the 3.3 litre engine is listed at 11.6 l/100km, dropping to 7.7 l/100km with the powerful 2.2 diesel – the latter matching the Odyssey’s four-cylinder petrol unit, but bettering its 135kW/240Nm outputs.
The new Carnival also gets hydraulic steering for Australia, compared to an electric setup in left-hand-drive markets.
Suspension is by MacPherson struts up front and a multi-link arrangement at the rear. This is a carryover setup from the previous model, however there’s a hydraulic rebound spring at the front axle, along with stiffer suspension bars and cross-member bush mountings at the rear.
Kia Australia has also put the new Carnival through its local tuning program, optimising ride and handling for our roads.
Some three quarters of Carnival sales are expected to go to the petrol model, with the S and Si model grades accounting for about 65 percent of all sales.
FEATURES & DIMENSIONS
The new Carnival rides on a 3060mm wheelbase – 40mm longer than its predecessor and 160mm longer than the Honda Odyssey’s – yet sits 55mm lower and 15mm shorter overall than the outgoing model.
Rear storage capacity (SAE figures) has grown 77 litres to 960 litres with the third row of seating up, growing to 2220 litres when folded flat. Dropping the third and second rows together sees storage expand to a huge 4022 litres.
Kia adds that, despite the lower roofline, the shape of the new Carnival’s tailgate allows for a taller cargo opening height than with the previous model.
The new Carnival carries a 4-Star ANCAP safety rating, a disappointing result that revolves around the absence of a crucial seatbelt reminder in the second row.
“We were disappointed with what occurred. If we had have brought the car in on December 31, 2014, it would be a five-star car,” Kia Motors Australia communications chief Kevin Hepworth told media this week.
“The goals changed and we’ve just got to live with that. We’re making production changes now, and hopefully by the third quarter we’ll have the car right.” Get the full story here.
PRICING (excludes on-road costs)
Carnival – 3.3 V6 petrol
S – $41,490
Si – $45,490
SLi – $49,990
Platinum – $57,490
Carnival – 2.2 4cyl diesel
S – $43,990
Si – $47,990
SLi – $52,490
Platinum – $59,990
