KIA Carnival

It is on sale the new KIA Carnival. It is a seven-seater MPV is significant because even the basic version, has a powerful diesel engine (185 hp) and a very heavy equipment (equipment for the basic version).

It is shorter, more powerful, more expensive (from € 30,495, promotions apart) and is much more equipped than the previous model (technical comparison, comparison of equipment). In KIA estimate that up to September 2006, units will be available from the previous model. Beginning in September or October, you probably have a less equipped and expensive new model.

Of the minivan with diesel engine size between 150 and 200 hp, there are none with better relationship between price, equipment and services (list them all, sorted by price). The SsangYong Rodius is larger, less expensive and its benefits are similar, albeit less well equipped (comparison).

It has seven seats, with individual seat for each occupant, 2 +3 +2 configuration. The seats in the second and third rows have a backrest with tilt adjustment and can be moved lengthwise, folding or extract.

The driving position is wide, but the drivers that measure about 1.90 onwards can hit his head on a lump on the left (hidden the sliding door mechanism). The same, only more so, occurs in the second row seat behind the driver.

The front seats are comfortable for me like hardness, but not gather much the body.

The boot, according to SAE, is 214 liters in seven-seat configuration. If you depress the two seats in the third row, the capacity increases to 1068 liters. Measuring VDA standard in Europe has not been clarified by time.

It is available in three versions of equipment: EXI, EXII and EXIII. The least expensive is the EXI, which has wheels 16 "and plenty of standard equipment: ESP, automatic wipers, automatic lights, parking aid system and climate Trizone, among others.

EXII version has wheels 17 "and also the equipment of EXI, Electric opening side doors and tailgate, leather steering wheel, driver seat electric settings, curtain covers trunk, anterior mirror glare, trip computer , cruise control and direction "VRS".

EXIII version has electrically adjustable passenger seat, upholstered with leather seats and heated front seats. The EXIII gasoline engine also has adjustable pedals.

The rear side doors are sliding. Both these doors and the tailgate can have a motorized opening and closing. This system is very convenient and easy to use. From inside, the door can be opened both from a button on the stud and with a handle that pivots forward and backward.

If the door is closed, is opened to actuate the handle in either direction. If, during the opening, is driven in the opposite direction closes. Both this mechanism and the gate, if they encounter some resistance in the movement (because an object or a person is in the path of the door) are stopped and re-opened.

The new KIA Carnival is available with a gasoline engine and one diesel, were both from Hyundai. The gasoline engine is a variant of the engine that bears the KIA Sportage. It has six cylinders in V, variable valve timing, 2.7 liter displacement and 189 hp of maximum power at 6,000 rpm. This gasoline engine is necessarily a four-speed automatic gearbox (can be manual gearbox) and equipment EXIII.

The diesel engine is an evolution that takes the Hyundai Terracan. It is a four-cylinder, 2.9 liter engine capacity, sixteen valve, direct injection through common variable turbocharger and intercooler. Maximum power is 185 hp at 3,800 rpm.

The gearshift is standard manual and automatic is optional (only with equipment EXIII) both have five speeds.

We've driven the diesel version with manual. I thought it was nice because it is smooth power delivery and not have problems when moving from standstill. However, it has not seemed fast for its power.

There are not many minivans diesel engine over 150 hp (list them all). The benefits of the new Carnival Diesel are similar to other such vehicles with less powerful engines comparison chart.

EXII EXIII versions and carry a variable steering system called VRS KIA. With this system, through a button on the dashboard, you can limit the angle of rotation of the wheels to turn top management. In this way, you can have a greater angle of rotation when snow chains are not mounted: the new Carnival, when equipped with the VRS, has a turning radius of 5.5 m and 5.8 m if it is or limited by this device, the previous model was 6.3 m turning radius.

This new model, as above, has a three-year warranty with unlimited mileage.