Built on a 190 mm (7.5 inch) longer wheelbase and 155 mm (6.1 inches) longer overall than the Sorento, the new Carnival is the biggest Kia.

With Sorento-like frontal styling and a school-of-Telluride side profile, the Carnival is very much a Kia and also very good looking. The proportions of the Carnival suggest crossover instead of minivan, which may tempt people who really want a versatile and roomy minivan but don’t buy one as minivans are unfashionable.

On the premium EX+ and SX trims, the driver faces, not conventional gauges, but a low-profile, but vastly wide computer tablet. Vehicle speed and other readouts are clustered in front of the driver, with infotainment functions grouped over the dash centre stack. The tablet rests upon a low-profile, horizontally-arrayed dashboard. Mainstream models feature conventional main gauges separated by an electronic info-panel. Like other Kia-Hyundai products, controls for audio and climate are quite easily understood. The rest of the design is very interesting, yet visually calm, and cabin materials, look very attractive.

With second-row bucket seats, the Carnival can seat seven but can welcome eight passengers if equipped with a 40/20/40 split-bench second row seat.

Unlike Toyota, who abandoned their silky V6 for the current Sienna, Kia has retained its sonorous, naturally aspirated V6 for the Carnival. The 3.5L-V6 produces 290 horsepower, power from with reaches the front wheels via a conventional eight-speed automatic transmission.

A full array of active safety equipment is available on the Carnival, but much of it is optional. A forward collision warning and autonomous emergency braking are standard on all trims but you have to step up to the the EX to get blind spot and rear cross traffic monitors and active cruise control. Towing capacity is 1587 kilograms (3500 lbs.).

With forward collision warning, autonomous emergency braking, a lane keep assist system, dark-tint glass, dual-zone climate control, rear parking sensors and alloy wheels, the base LX trim is comprehensively equipped. The LX+ upgrade adds a towing package, roof rails, wireless cellphone charging, a power driver’s seat, power sliding side doors, a power tailgate, a leather wrapped and heated steering wheel, and is good value. Buyers must move up to the overpriced EX trim to gain blind spot and rear cross traffic monitors. a 110 volt power outlet, a power passenger seat and active cruise control with stop and go. The EX+ trim upgrade, which adds a wide-format computer screen in place of conventional instrumentation, navigation, a 360 degree camera system and a ride-side-view camera that activates when the right turn signal is engaged, is a bit overpriced. The range-topping SX adds foot-rest-equipped, reclining second-row captain chairs, middle-row ventilated first and second-row seats and heated second-row seats, a memory system, a Bose-branded audio system, leather seating, but lacks value.

Average to above average reliability predicted during the warranty period.