Is it a people mover, is it an SUV, is a Mum Bus?! What ever you would call the 2021 Kia Carnival SLi, it is COOL! And I challenge any parents to test it with their family and not want to keep it at the end of the week! I previously tested the top-spec Platinum model for the launch and this is the SLi spec. Let's see how we get on putting it through our usual BabyDrive testing on a very wet and windy week…
The main difference that affected me as a parent between the Platinum model Carnival that I previously tested and the SLi model here were the lack of rear window blinds, they are only available in the top-spec Platinum model and I did feel we missed them to keep rear passengers shielded from the sun beaming through those huge windows while driving.
The good news is, this SLi model Carnival also gets the excellent quality 360-degree cameras that are really good when parking and manoeuvring.
Especially being a big people mover, you need the extra set of good eyes!
Boot space is fantastic in the new Kia Carnival SLi model. It has definitely increased from the previous model Kia Carnival. When you are only using the first two rows of seats it gives you a super large van like space in the back, which is great for carrying extra-large dogs however that floor is not even and there are handles and lumps and bumps dogs could trip over so you'd need to put a sturdy boot mat down.
26 shopping bags fit in the boot when you are using the first two rows of seats only in the new Kia Carnival, which is two more than the previous model Kia Carnival that held 24. It also trumps the Hyundai Staria boot which also holds 24 shopping bags, the Hyundai Palisade that takes 21 and the Honda Odyssey boot which holds 20 shopping bags.
When you are using all three rows of seats, the boot of the Kia Carnival dips down, which I like for holding everything still in the boot and not letting it roll around.
Ten shopping bags fit in the boot when you are using all three rows of seats in the Kia Carnival, which is the same as in the previous model Kia Carnival. It is four more than in the Honda Odyssey that holds six, two more than the Hyundai Palisade that holds eight and six less than the Hyundai Staria that holds a massive sixteen.
A pram stands up nicely in the boot of the Kia Carnival when using all three rows of seats, or you can transport a medium-size family dog.
When it comes to installing child seats, five child seats fit nicely in the back of the 2021 Kia Carnival SLi. There are top tether AND ISOFix anchorages in all three second-row seats.
The top tether anchorages are at the bottom of the seatbacks and I needed extension straps for all rear-facing child seats…
…and in the two outer third-row seats!! Again they are right at the bottom of the seatbacks.
Three child seats fit nicely across the second-row seats or you can remove the central second-row seat to make a walkway through to the third-row seats.
Taking a closer look at the central second-row seat, you can take it out altogether or you can turn it around. Now it is not legal in Australia for any child seats to be installed while the seat is turned around however an adult can travel facing backwards, which might be useful for facing your forward-facing passengers in the other seats.
Now the legroom in the Kia Carnival is very good and has been increased from the previous model, meaning we could easily fit a forward-facing child seat in the third-row, a rear-facing child seat in the second row and a 182cm driver in the front.
There is also no hump in the floor of the second row, which makes it really easy for passengers to walk through from one side to the other.
Third-row access is also good in the Kia Carnival SLi, you can bring either of the outer second-row seats forward and climb through to the third row.
I do think the mechanism in the previous model Kia Carnival was better for third-row access than in this model and it gave you more space to fit through.
The new Kia Carnival has airbags in all three rows of seats which is great for protecting those rear passengers in the event of an accident.
There are also air-con vents in the ceiling for both rear rows of seats too. There are two vents in the ceiling above each row of passengers, you can adjust their position before you set off.
There are controls in the ceiling in the second row…
…as well as being able to lock these and control the climate from the front media screen to stop any fiddly fingered little ones or any sibling squabbles over the controls.
Storage is really good throughout the Kia Carnival and there are a few differences to the previous model; the conversion mirror is gone and so is the double glove box. However, the new glove box is ample in size
The central console box is cavernous and easily fits everything we families need.
The new Kia Carnival has plenty of cup holders throughout all three rows of seats.
There are also USB ports to charge phones and devices and places to store them in each row too.
There is a handy bag hook on the back of the front passenger seat…
…and four handy bag hooks across the back of the third-row seats, which are great for hanging all the schoolbags on for drop off and pick up!
In the side of the boot wall are some shelves…
…these are really convenient for leaving the everyday things we need in our family car, like sunscreen and first aid kits etc.
The boot door of the Kia Carnival SLi model opens automatically when you walk up to it with the key in your pocket, which I found one of the most helpful features when going to the car with my kids and it also has an auto-close tailgate too.
The Kia Carnival SLi is really nice to drive, the steering is really light which you do not expect in a car of this size and the turning circle is incredibly small. I would recommend test-driving one so you can experience it for yourself! This does make driving round town and parking really nice and easy, which is a relief if you are a bit intimidated by the size of this car because it doesn't feel so big from the driver's seat!!
Let's face it, we all use stopping at the lights to pass something to someone in the back or change the radio station. For this reason, I like the driver-assist that lets you know if the person in front of you moves away and you haven't noticed.
I also found the cruise control to be really easy to use AND incredibly accurate too.
The media system in the new Kia Carnival is still lovely and simple and easy to use. The SLi model has the large 12.3-inch screen like the Platinum and Si models and the S base model has an 8 inch screen.
There are lots of features within the media system that are great for families like Sounds of Nature white noise, passenger talk, quiet mode and voice memo. You can learn more about these in the expandable section ‘noise' below.
The reversing camera is a really clear and great quality image and you can turn the parking sensors on and off with a button down in the central console.
The 2021 Kia Carnival has been given a 5 Star ANCAP crash test rating. Scoring 90% for adult occupancy protection and 88% for child occupancy protection.
There is a rear seatbelt removal alarm and lights in the ceiling in the front so you can easily see if anyone in the back removes a seatbelt.
BabyDrive Indepth
BabyDrive Indepth - Storage
How good is storage in the 2021 Kia Carnival SLi?
Storage in the 2021 Kia Carnival is even better than the previous model, if that's even possible!!
In the front, there are two cup-holders in the central console that will hold a reusable or disposable coffee cup and a large refillable water bottle will fit in them too.
Between them is a phone holder, which is really convenient.
In front of the cup holders is a wireless phone charging pad with three USB sockets there too.
There used to be two glove boxes in the previous model Carnival. This has been replaced with one super large glove box which is a really practical size for storing iPads and wallets with the manual.
There is no sunglasses case in the ceiling so I used the little well in front of the central console box.
The central console storage box is cavernous in size, you will easily fit everything you need in there!
There is also a storage shelf on the side of the central console which we found handy for a map or iPad.
The front door bins will hold a large refillable water bottle and there is storage in the handle wells too.
In the second-row seats, the storage gets even better!
On the back of the central console box are two cup holders which are great for rear passenger drinks and easy for the front passengers to reach and pass back to little passengers.
Below the cup holders is a phone shelf for second-row passenger storage.
There are double map pockets on the back of both front seats, a net layer and a solid layer so you can leave things in the car without them being on display. They are big enough to hold but not conceal an iPad.
There are door bins large enough to hold a large refillable water bottle in the second row. If you are not using the central second-row seat then you can fold it flat and the seat back acts as a table, with two cup holders and two phone holders here too.
In the third-row seats, there are two or three cup holders and a phone holder and USB port on each side. they are a good size for a reusable and disposable coffee cup and a large refillable water bottle or kids water bottle fits in them all too.
In the boot, there is great storage shelves up the left wall and four bag hooks along the back of the rear seats.
How big is the boot of the 2021 Kia Carnival SLi?
The boot space in the new Kia Carnival is even bigger than in the previous model. Now I know for some people new to the Carnival the trough-like boot is a shock (it was to me too the first time I drove one!) However, it is something you will soon come to love because you can just fill it up! And when you go on road trips or holidays you have so much depth to the boot to fit all your things.
Also, prams can stand in the space easily.
10 shopping bags fit in the boot of the new Kia Carnival SLi when you are using all three rows of seats. Which is the same as the previous model Kia Carnival. Four more than the Honda Odyssey which holds six, two more than the Hyundai Palisade holding eight and six less than the Hyundai Staria which holds a whopping sixteen.
The boot space and its functionality are really important. I like to have a big boot space and little side wells or areas I can divide things into. So something I don’t want to move around while I’m driving such as Bub's lunch bag or her wet swimming gear can be sectioned off in a little well where it’s not going to spill or get squashed by the rest of the things in the boot.
Hooks for securing shopping bags to are also favourites of mine, I like being able to secure the bag containing more fragile things like eggs so they don’t move around on the journey.
I measure the boot space in freezer shopping bags, prams and dogs. Not because I think all there is to a mum’s life is food shopping, prams and dogs. (Although it can feel like it sometimes!!) But because these are visually mesurable items we can all associate with. For me, the car company boot measurement of litres ia not an amount I can easily visualise and 400L in one car may differ in usability to that in another due to the configuration or shape of the space.
A twin stroller fits in the boot with five shopping bags alongside it.
The tandem stroller also fits five shopping bags alongside it.
The single stroller also fits with six shopping bags beside it.
A compact stroller fits in the boot of the Kia Carnival with eight shopping bags beside it.
Or you can fit a medium or large family dog in the boot of the Carnival when using all three rows of seats.
When you are only using two rows of seats, the boot space in the Kia Carnival is ENORMOUS! We love it with our family of four because we can get everything we need in the boot when we go away or for our everyday lives, we can fit bikes, scooters, paddleboards etc without any worries.
26 shopping bags fit in the boot of the Kia Carnival when you are using only the first two rows of seats, which is two more than the previous model Kia Carnival that held 24. It also trumps the Hyundai Staria boot, which also holds 24 shopping bags, the Hyundai Palisade (21) and the Honda Odyssey boot which holds 20 shopping bags.
A twin pram fits with 15 shopping bags.
A tandem pram fits with 17 shopping bags.
The single pram fits with 17 shopping bags too.
A compact stroller fits with 23 shopping bags around it.
I found loading things in and out of the boot nice and easy however it is no good for an emergency nappy change it is too low down!
BabyDrive Indepth - Noise
How noisy is the 2021 Kia Carnival SLi? How good is the media system in the 2021 Kia Carnival SLi?
The media system in the new 2021 Kia Carnival is clean, modern and easy to use. The SLi, Platinum and Si models have a large 12.3-inch touch screen and the S base model has an 8-inch screen .
The media system is full of family-friendly features in the new Kia Carnival. One of my favourites is Sounds of Nature, which is basically white noise at your fingertips! You can choose between the sound of the rain, lively forest, open-air cafe and our daughter's favourite, calm ocean waves. Guaranteed to get her to sleep on any journey!
Quiet mode is also fantastic with kids. Once you have got your kids to sleep or settled into the journey with their devices you can shift the sound to the front speakers and put your own music or podcast on and it won't disturb the passengers in the back.
Passenger Talk is a great function for families and we used it quite often with our eldest daughter sat in the third row. This amplifies the driver's voice into the third row, so you don't have to shout to be heard.
Like quiet mode, I think this will be good for when the Carnival is used as Ubers, Shebahs, taxis and airport shuttles etc.
We also like using Voice Memo to capture the funny conversations we have with our kids while travelling along in the car.
The media system has wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto so you can easily access your phone and the apps kids love in the car like ABC Kids listen etc.
The Kia Carnival also has digital radio that allows you access Kinderling and other kids' favourite channels.
There are also multiple bluetooth connections so two passengers can have their phones linked up at the same time.
The new Kia Carnival cameras have beautiful crisp and clear images. You have multiple angles to view from and a birds-eye view as well.
You can easily turn the parking sensors off with a button down in the central console.
Becoming a parent I soon realised there are some noises and sounds I feel are unnecessary and I could happily live without if it meant my baby stayed asleep!!
That often the distraction of my screaming, distressed baby is more dangerous when driving than not having a lane departure warning for example.
If it is the lane departure warning beeping that creates distress with my baby then which is safest?
It’s where I think we need to be able to strike a balance and choose when we can mute the warnings or swap them to a vibration in the steering wheel or flashing light perhaps?
A lot of these noises come with the increase in technology and especially linked to safety features and alerts. For me these all have their place.
Another thing I have realised is I spend my time in a lot more places where small children roam, parks, beaches, play gyms, swimming lessons, daycare centre etc. I have become more aware that when I’m reversing or manouvering in the car parks I have to tripple check for small children running around behind me or being in my blind spot when reversing. For this I LOVE reversing cameras, I just don’t like their beeping sounds!!
I have become so much more aware of safety and potential accidents or hazards since having a child and so I love the peace of mind that I get from the cameras and sensors combined with my own vision from windows and mirrors as I don’t trust cameras alone.
I found the indicator volume was not loud in the new Kia Carnival and did not affect our sleeping children on board.
Road noise is good in the new Kia Carnival and I found the engine quieter than the previous model.
There are seatbelt alarms for the rear seats and a light shows up in the ceiling to alert you of the seatbelts being unfastened.
BabyDrive Indepth - Car Seats
How many child seats fit in the 2021 Kia Carnival SLi?
There are now five top tether anchorages in the Kia Carnival, which is great news for large families…
…and five ISOFix points in the back of the 2021 Kia Carnival! YIPEEEE!!!
There are three individual seats in the second row, like in the Peugeot 5008 and Audi Q7. Like the Audi they all have their own ISOFix and top tether anchorages and they can be moved backwards and forwards independently to distribute legroom which is a great feature for families.
The third row has three seats and top tether anchorages with ISOFix in the two outer seats.
The shoulder width of the second-row seats has been increased slightly and three full-size child seats fit really nice and easily across the second-row, or an adult can very comfortably sit between them.
You can take it out the central second-row seat altogether or you can turn it around. It is not legal in Australia for any child seats to be installed while the seat is turned around however an adult can travel facing backwards which might be useful for facing your little passengers in the other two seats.
The central seatbelt has been moved to now come from the shoulder instead of the ceiling which is fantastic as it now sits properly and doesn't cut into your neck or obstruct the visibility of other passengers.
Two full-size child seats fit very comfortably in the third-row outer seats too and I can just fit between them and I'm 162cm.
There are two options for accessing the third-row seats. The first is to remove the second-row central seat, creating a walkway through to the back of the car.
Or, you can bring the outer second-row seats forward when using the ISOFix attachments rather than the seatbelt. It moves far enough for a child to climb through or enough room for you to eat through and do up a child's harness. I could also just squeeze through and I'm 162cm.
However, I do not think the third-row access is quite as good as the previous Kia Carnival and is now more SUV like. The second-row outer seats do not tilt forward like in the previous model, so there doesn't seem to be as much step-through space.
Legroom in the 2021 Kia Carnival is very good and has been increased from the previous model, so we could easily fit a forward-facing child seat in the third-row, a rear-facing child seat in the second row and a 182cm driver in the front, all with good legroom
The step-up height has been lowered with the new Kia Carnival, so getting in and out of the new Kia Carnival is even easier now, especially for kids, dogs and grandparents.
There is no hump in the central footwell of the 2021 Kia Carnival which makes access and walking through from side to side and through to the third row nice and easy.
BabyDrive Indepth - Drive & Comfort
How comfortable is the 2021 Kia Carnival SLi? And what is it like to drive?
The seats in the Kia Carnival SLi are lovely and comfortable. Even in the second and third rows, I found it as comfortable to be a passenger as being the driver.
For the first year of Bub's life when we would go out as a family, if I wasn’t driving, I would travel in the back with Bub so it’s important to check the back seat comfort as you may be spending a lot of time in them! They were never something I gave any thought to before but I definitely notice a good or bad back seat now!
The second-row seats slide and adjust individually so you can easily distribute legroom how you need to.
There are USB sockets and phone and iPad storage in every row of the Carnival which is great for passenger connectivity.
The steering wheel is fully adjustable in/out and up/down.
The cruise controls are on the right side of the steering wheel and are easy to use, the cruise control I found to be extremely accurate on undulating roads at 60km/h and on motorways.
There are four aircon vents across the front dashboard, two in the centre and one at either end.
For the two rear rows of seats, there are round air vents in the ceiling.
Also in the ceiling above the second-row seats is the rear climate control panel.
There are dual aircon controls on the dashboard in the front and for the rear aircon, which I found easy to use and great for being able to control the airflow in the back for rear passengers too!
The windows in the Carnival are large and deep, so visibility is not as bad as you might think in this eight-seater! Although finding blinds that will shield your bubs from the sun is another matter!
With all five child seats installed visibility from the second row back is minimal, the side mirrors and reversing camera help hugely with this.
Unlike most big SUVs, I find the shape and seating position of the Carnival means I can judge where the edges of it are. There are not a lot of protruding bumpers etc so it was much easier to park.
One thing I have noticed since being a mum is I hate it when I reach a destination or get home from being out and Bub has either done really well in the car or she is screaming her head off and I have done really well to keep it together for the entire journey (usually the latter!!) and it takes 10 minutes to park the car! It can be really stressful. Usually I dread when we get the big cars and utes as they take longer in our tight apartment block carpark, the visibility in the Carnival meant it was not really quick to park but no where near as hard as you would expect for a car of this size because you can see the front and back of it!
There are two press on lights above the second and third-row seats, in the centre of the ceiling, and another light behind the third-row seats for the boot. Those in the second-row ceiling I found are not reachable while driving.
I find it important to reach the interior rear lights so that when I am driving bub at night I can turn the lights on while she is awake so that she is not scared in the dark and then I can switch them off once she is asleep.
In the front are two press on lights positioned in the ceiling and buttons to control the lights in the back.
There is not a glasses case in the ceiling or conversation mirror in the new Kia Carnival, which I miss from the previous model as it allowed me to check on the rear passengers without turning my head and allows my forward-facing passengers to see my face, which I find keeps my little one a lot calmer while travelling in the car.
The Carnival has lit vanity mirrors on both sides in the front and they are extendable too.
The new 2021 Kia Carnival is a fantastic car to drive, it makes life soooo easy with kids because you know everyone and everything will easily fit so it takes a lot of stress out of family life!
Also, the new model has such light steering and a small turning circle that it is easier around town and to park than a lot of five-seater SUVs!
There are handles above the rear doors and in the ceiling on both sides above the third-row seats, which is great for hanging a child’s toy from.
The interior of the Kia Carnival SLi is really nicely finished, it feels modern and has great technology too. The dark leather seats would be easier to clean than the cream leather seat options and those light grey ones in the previous Carnival.
There are floor mats in the front and rear seats but when the third-row seats are folded away I think it would be good to have a big, sturdy floor mat that covers the boot space to cover all those lumps and bumps!
There is keyless entry and one of my favourite features has been the push-button sliding rear doors and press-to-unlock-and-lock the front doors. The SLi model also has an auto open and close tailgate which makes life so much easier with kids!
BabyDrive Indepth - Safety
How safe is the 2021 Kia Carnival SLi for my family?
The 2021 Kia Carnival has been given a five-star ANCAP crash test rating. Scoring 90% for adult occupancy protection and 88% for child occupancy protection.
Of the child occupancy crash testing ANCAP said:
In the frontal offset and side impact tests, protection of the 10 year and 6 year dummies was GOOD for all critical body regions and maximum points were scored.
The Kia Carnival is fitted with lower ISOFix anchorages and top tether anchorages for all seating positions in the second row and outboard seats in the third row. Top tether anchorages and ISOFix anchorages are not available in the centre seating position in the third row. Installation of child restraints in the third row centre position is therefore not recommended.
Installation of typical child restraints available in Australia and New Zealand showed most child restraints could be accommodated in most rear seating positions, however one of the selected Type A convertible seats could not be correctly installed in rearward-facing mode using the ISOfix anchorages in the outboard seats of the second and third rows. Care is also required when installing one of the forward-facing convertible seat using the ISOfix anchorages in the third row positions.
There are seven airbags in the new 2021 Kia Carnival including side protection for passengers in all three rows of seats.
Some of these safety features are also features that drive me crazy as a mum! Like the lane departure and forward collision alert or the parking sensor beeping sound.
I want all the safety technology AND to be able to mute the sound when Bub’s asleep!
Looks aside, this Subaru Forester is all new! It easily fits three child seats, now has a bigger, easier to use boot, can recognise your face (!), has a great new touchscreen and lots of safety gadgets! Read More
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