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The Ringleader of Minivans: The Kia Carnival

The most serene carnival in the world is made by Kia. The Carnival brings a level of comfort and utility that’s hard to beat for its price.

Earl Lee
Kia Carnival Car Of the Week

When one thinks of a carnival, one may imagine roller coaster rides, flying fiestas, or even waterslides, but there is no clowning around and breaking a sweat when you talk about Kia’s Carnival. 

The biggest car in the lineup, at the time of writing, gets what is perhaps one of the best feature sets for battling Metro Manila driving and beyond. So far, it’s one of our favorite Kia vehicles in the country, and for good reason. With its practicality, robust and torquey diesel motor, traffic-proof seats, and enough features to keep you happy for all kilometers of the drive, it’s a worthy vehicle to feature. 

Kia Carnival Seats

Cars are rarely this comfy, and the model has one of the best rides and interiors in the business. Having a good interior is one thing, but having a superb ride is another, having both is just absolutely fantastic. There is no shortage of leather in this ride, and the two captains’ chairs are just something else. Even if you can’t afford it right now, the Carnival’s first-class seating is something that you must experience at least once or aspire to experience every day. If you are being driven around, it’s a great feeling as the suspension on the Carnival smooths out all the unevenness of the pavement. Being in the back seat of the Carnival is also like being inside your own little bubble. NVH as per our review is fantastic, and you might doze off a lot at the back, especially when reclined all the way with the ottoman supporting your legs. 

There is no denying that the captains’ chairs are a game changer compared to the standard benches that you will get in an SUV, crossover, or sedan, but coupled with one of the best rides in the business, and you have yourself a perfect nap machine on four wheels. Feel traffic just pass away as you pass out from all the serene comfort inside the Carnival. Just make sure to not fall asleep behind the wheel! 

Kia Carnival Dashboard

For what it is, the Carnival isn’t that boring to drive. You know it’s a minivan, but behind the wheel, you’re not too sure. That’s because the Carnival is based on some very capable bones: that of the Kia Sorento. It’s not exactly the same platform, but the character is more crossover than a full ladder-frame van, which is better in terms of handling and outright smoothness. 

Under the hood of the Carnival, you get a 2.2-liter turbo-diesel engine that produces 197 hp and 440 Nm of torque. With all the horsepower on tap and the diesel engine’s torque underfoot, the Carnival is zippier than you think regardless of its size. Sure, it’s no contender for the fastest car on the road, but it is definitely no slouch when it comes to speed and power, for a minivan, that is. The generous amounts of torque and power from idle is one of the great things about the Carnival, and it’s definitely worth driving in our opinion. Now, whether being a passenger or a driver is better is up for debate. While the passenger accommodations are first-rate, driving it doesn’t feel like too much of a chore unless there is traffic. 

Getting a little more technical, we can unpack why the Carnival is one of the more interesting minivans to drive. Other than the torquey engine, the chassis is a unibody frame, which is a great contrast when compared to other full-sized vans like the Toyota Hiace or Nissan Urvan. With a solid frame, and springs that are independent on all four corners, you get one of the smoothest rides out there, coupled with some very respectable handling chops on a twisty road. 

Kia Carnival Cargo Space
Kia Carnival Infotainment
Kia Carnival Gauge Cluster

On top of the business-class middle row, the Carnival is more or less first-class when it comes to its other seats. Definitely not an economy flight for us since third-row passengers still get ample legroom to spread out and relax. The ride is also good at the back, and what’s more, is that the seats are also foldable, so you can actually make the cargo floor flat, allowing for a flat loading area for various cargo. Paired with the high roofline of the model, you have yourself a comfy, quiet, and multi-purpose utility vehicle that’s actually not too bad to drive. 

While the Carnival was with us, we found it to be one of the more enjoyable errand cars to drive. Even if we are exposed to a bunch of other crossovers, there’s still something to be said about using the Carnival for our daily tasks. The ability to be able to go from a comfy business-class minivan to a do-it-all general-purpose hauler is something to be proud of. Then, when you add the turbo-diesel torque into the mix, you get yourself an experience that is much better than a standard MPV. 

It’s definitely a nice all-in-one machine for a family, whether already big or on its way to growing. The Carnival can get the job done. 

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