The Kia Carnival, a luxurious mini-van with SUV styling, is one of the best ways of moving seven people around, but is it a good choice for a new driver who’s still getting the hang of the whole driving thing? Let’s investigate.
The Kia Carnival, previously known as the Kia Grand Sedona, is not a small vehicle. Apart from its ability to seat seven, it also boasts a huge storage capacity (1139 – 4110 litres) in the rear. When a new driver learns to drive, it is usually in a small hatch, so it may take some getting used to the Carnival’s dimensions. Fortunately, the Carnival is super easy to drive and boasts a host of assistance systems that makes manoeuvring it a cinch, including an ultra-large infotainment system touchscreen that makes all the necessary information easy to see.
Safety
Most small, budget hatchbacks nowadays are fitted with a five-speed manual transmission, but to pass your driving test it always has to be a manual. If you’ve never driven an automatic before, you’re in for a treat – say goodbye to tired thigh muscles. All new Kia Carnivals are fitted with an 8-speed automatic transmission as well as hill-start assistance, traction control, stability control, and seven airbags. Cruise control is a standard feature, while adaptive cruise control is part of the deal in SX and SXL models. Automatic LED headlights and daytime running lamps are included too.
Only the EX model has to make do without a rear-view camera, but it does have park distance control in the front and rear. SX and SXL models have surround view cameras(see image above) that show you the vehicle from above so you know exactly where all the obstacles are. This is a game changer if you’re not used to such a large car.
Fuel economy
Kia’s 2.2-litre turbodiesel is punchy (with 148kW and 440Nm) but efficient, so you won’t struggle if you need to overtake slow-moving vehicles. Despite its impressive performance, it uses only about 6-8 litres per 100 km, and 1000 km on one tank (of 72 litres) is about the going rate before you would need to refuel.
Pricing
Kia Carnival 2.2CRDi EX, R803 995
Kia Carnival 2.2 CRDi EX+, R883 995
Kia Carnival 2.2 CRDi SX Limited, R1 003 995
Kia Carnival 2.2 CRDi SXL, R 1 028 995
Can’t quite afford a new or nearly-new Carnival?
Verdict
The Carnival is a little pricey for first-time car buyers, but if money is no object, and you need a large people mover, you won’t regret your purchase. Kia’s 5-year/unlimited distance warranty and 6-year 90 000 km service plan also help to sweeten the deal!
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Ané AlbertseAné was bitten by the motoring bug at a very young age. Her mom recalls her sitting in her stroller as a 3-year old, naming every car that came past. She was working as a freelance motoring journalist for publications such as Rapport and City Press, when AutoTrader nabbed her for good. She lives in the Western Cape with her two kids and two cats.View News & Reviews
Keyword: Is the Kia Carnival good for new drivers?