Kia Carnival Si 2023 Review

Currently in its fourth generation and in line for a facelift next year, the 2023 Kia Carnival can really be anything from eminently practical to all-stops-out luxury.

The eight-seater Carnival is currently listed at $47,480 plus on-road costs for the V6-powered S model, rising to $52,980 for the Si on test here before moving on up to the higher-grade SLi (from $57,780) and top-shelf Platinum (from $65,580).

Buyers have had the choice, at any level, of petrol V6 or turbo-diesel power – the latter adding $2000 to the bottom line at each model grade – but all variants are front-drive only.

The Si you see here brings a lot of Carnival for significant savings over the next-step SLi without seeming too basic in terms of presentation or equipment provisions.

Right now, however, Australian orders for the V6 have been paused due to overwhelming demand overseas, most notably in North America. Orders are still being taken for the diesel.

Compared with the SLi, the most obvious things missing from the specification sheet of the 2023 Kia Carnival Si are leather-look trim, powered side doors and a power-adjustable driver’s seat.

Sat-nav on a panoramic 12.3-inch touch-screen, multi-zone climate control, eight-speaker audio with digital radio, 18-inch alloy wheels, roof rails and self-dipping LED headlights are more than enough to relieve any down-spec suggestions and go some way towards justifying what is still a reasonably hefty price tag.

Some drivers might be initially upset by the key-start ignition, but there’s compensation in the keyless entry and the convenience of a one-touch auto up/down driver’s window, as well as powered windows on the sliding doors.

There’s all the drink holders and arm rests you could want, too, with centre-row passengers also provided with outboard fold-down arm rests in the seatbacks.

The Carnival comes with Kia’s attractive seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, and capped-priced servicing over that time period is costed out at a total $3638.

Minor servicing is priced at $329 for the first service and major servicing costs as much as $785 at four years/60,000km, whichever comes first.

Each service activates an extension of the nominally one-year roadside assist program.

The 2023 Kia Carnival Si comes with a comprehensive list of active safety technology.

There’s high- and low-speed autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian and cyclist avoidance, lane departure warning with lane keep and lane change assist, post-collision braking, blind spot monitoring, front and rear cross traffic alert, driver inattention detection, front and rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera.

It does, however, miss out on a few systems fitted from SLi spec upwards, such as rear collision avoidance, safe exit assist and a 360-degree bird’s eye view camera.

The seven-airbag count includes a knee airbag for the driver plus curtain airbags for all three rows.

The Carnival was granted a five-star safety rating by ANCAP in 2021.

Included in the tech list for the 2023 Kia Carnival Si is wired Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone mirroring, Bluetooth connectivity, satellite navigation (with 10 years of updates) and a respectable eight-speaker sound system comprising six speakers with two tweeters.

Three USB-C chargers are sited in the front console (a second console can be accessed by folding down the middle second-row seat), while there are two chargers – also USB-Cs – on the sides of the front seats plus two 12-volt power outlets – one behind the centre console and one in the rear cargo area.

The petrol-powered 2023 Kia Carnival uses the normally-aspirated direct-injection 3.5-litre short-stroke V6 seen across a variety of Kia and Hyundai models.

It produces a solid 216kW of power at a relatively high-revving 6500rpm along with an also-respectable-for-capacity 355Nm of torque at an also-highish 5000rpm.

It’s all-alloy, rated to run on regular 91 RON unleaded petrol and replaced the previous 206kW/336Nm 3.3-litre V6.

The diesel engine is a turbocharged 2.2-litre four-cylinder that produces 148kW at 3800rpm and 440Nm from 1750-2750rpm.

Both the petrol and diesel powerplants drive through an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The 3.5-litre V6 in the 2023 Kia Carnival Si is not only more powerful than the previous version, but is more economical.

Kia claims a combined fuel consumption figure of 9.6L/100km, which is better than the previous 3.3-litre Si’s 10.8L/100km but not as good as the 7.8L/100km we recorded on test with the latest version – admittedly in advantageous, freeway-biased conditions.

For comparison, the diesel versions return an official combined-cycle economy rating of 6.5L/100km.

From the driver’s seat, the 2023 Kia Carnival Si V6 is unquestionably more like a car than a two-tonne-plus eight-seater family bus.

Although it’s not a small vehicle, to the driver the Carnival feels a lot like a mid-size sedan.

The light and airy glasshouse means visibility through a full 360 degrees is good enough that it doesn’t lead to the intimidation that might be expected because of the lengthy body and wheelbase – although the surround-view cameras seen further up the Carnival range would make things even easier.

The manual-adjust driver’s seat is satisfactorily grippy yet easy to slide in and out of, and a comfy position is easily set up for a wide range of drivers, from small to tall. Once again, decidedly car-like.

The same can be said of the way the big Kia steers. The wheel goes from lock to lock in a relatively tight 3.1 turns for a slightly extended 11.7-metre turning circle and is light enough to help with parking while retaining the feel needed for driver confidence on the road.

The 3.5-litre V6 never has a problem dealing with a car that can potentially carry as many as eight passengers in comfort, working harmoniously with the eight-speed auto gearbox to provide essentially seamless shifting and smooth, quiet performance.

The V6 Carnival fares pretty well in terms of hauling abilities with a rated braked trailer-towing capacity of two tonnes. The diesel has the same 2000kg limit, while competitors such as the Hyundai Staria and Volkswagen Multivan are both rated at 2.5 tonnes.

Stepping into the 2023 Kia Carnival Si via a nicely calculated hip point that’s higher than a large sedan but nowhere near as lofty as a large SUV, you are greeted by an invitingly-cosy yet massive cabin.

Strategic use of piano black highlights, plenty of soft-touch trim and a bit of mixing and matching with materials, including some exposed stitching on the seats, effectively rules out any ambience boredom.

The team that designed the Carnival’s cabin has done a brilliant job of combining the complexities of mixing multi-function seating for eight with variable luggage-carrying capabilities in a way that is intuitively functional.

Entry to second- and third-row seating via the large, sliding side doors is as easy as it gets, and the deep, deep boot is gargantuan, well-shaped and easy to access.

Even with all three seat rows in place, the boot is close to astonishing.

Start folding the seats down – which can be done easily – and you have the space of a basketball stadium.

With the intention of providing as much internal volume as absolutely possible, this is a case where the use of a space-saver spare is almost acceptable.

There are two concerns about the Carnival’s packaging, though. The sliding side doors might provide convenient access and help avoid door-strike with an adjoining car in a tight parking lot, but, due to their size and weight, when open they verge on perilous if the Carnival is parked nose-down on an incline.

In such situations they will slide shut with a vengeance if not secured, posing a significant injury risk for just about any human who gets in the way. This is a case where powered doors should be mandatory.

The Si Carnival’s other shortfall is puny by comparison but relevant. In a vehicle that will almost certainly encourage a lot of luggage handling, loading up would be much more pleasant if the tailgate was at least powered. Foot-waving, hands-free opening would be appreciated too.

Kia loves a Carnival, and rightly so.

More than any other MPV that’s ever been sold in Australia, and probably more than any other MPV currently available around the world, the 2023 Kia Carnival owes nothing, in terms of proportions and configuration, to commercial van design principles.

Large family SUVs may be popular because of their multi-passenger capabilities, but it’s difficult to think of one that does a better job right now than the people-mover you see here.

2023 Kia Carnival Si V6 at a glance:
Price: $52,980 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Orders paused (diesel still on sale)
Engine: 3.5-litre V6 petrol
Output: 216kW/355Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 9.6L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 220g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2021)