Kia Grand Carnival Reviews

Most people prefer to put their family into a four-wheel drive, even though the Honda Odyssey is a wonderful device and the Chrysler Voyager has been the people mover pace-setter for years.Styling is the big drama, because they are big boxes. Usually ugly, too.But there are powerful reasons for moving a people mover higher up the list to consider, particularly if you really need to carry seven people in car-like comfort and safety.The latest Kia Grand Carnival proves the point.It is an all-new, bigger, much better model of the vehicle that has been Australia's favourite people mover in recent years.The Grand can even carry eight people, or provide cabin flexibility and seating choices most families only dream of.We have not been as impressed by a people mover since our first drive in the "giant egg" Toyota Tarago.Toyota has lost the plot since then, but the first purpose-designed Tarago — there was a previous model in the 1980s, but it was a delivery van with seats — had a combination of space and comfort, performance and value then impossible to beat.Now there is the Grand Carnival, which does it all for $36,990.It has a new 3.8 litre V6 engine with a five-speed automatic and real performance, airconditioning, remote central locking, power steering, roof rack, tinted glass and electric windows and mirrors, with electric opening for the middle row of windows.On the safety front, there are twin airbags and anti-skid brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution, and optional side and window bags. But Kia has missed one target — with only lap belts in the middle seats of the two three-seat rows.The South Korean company says the Grand is all new, which means more built-in refinement and safety, as well as the new mechanical package.The quad-cam V6 engine, with variable valve timing, produces 184kW and 343Nm. That's up from 132kW and, crucially, 220Nm in the previous 2.5-litre Carnival.The shortie Carnival continues and Kia is regularly delivering more than 200 a month to lead sales in the people-mover class.The numbers could change in coming months as Kia moves to direct distribution in Australia, but it is a winner.And it has made an impressive comeback after the early engine troubles that sent many Carnivals back to dealers for major work.The Grand Carnival is surprisingly good in a lot of ways. Most ways, actually. It is a brisk drive, handles acceptably well, is not a gas guzzler and has the sort of refinement, comfort and space which many families really need in their new car.It does a much better job of carrying people than the vast majority of four-wheel drives and it is impossible to do better on the value front.The flexibility of the cabin is incredible. The middle row of seats do a double-fold job for access to the third row, and they fold flat to the floor to create a huge boot space.The seats also lift out, there is a walk-through between the front buckets, and even the doors are sliders on both sides.And so we come to the test car, one of the vehicles Kia had at the Australian Open tennis. It's stacked with stuff not included in a regular Grand Carnival: rain-sensor wipers, full leather upholstery and electric sliding side doors.None of it is essential, unless you want to impress your friends with toys and trinkets.We disregarded the extra gear, though Grand Carnival buyers could still snap up one of these cars with about $10,000 of added fruit as a secondhand deal from a Kia outlet.Apart from the huge cabin with all those seats, we were were most impressed by the performance. The Grand really gets along, and you don't have to push it hard. It has more than enough torque for overtaking, still does well with a full load, and won't kill the budget at refuelling time.The handling is fine for the class and the job, but it will never be a sports car. And it is pretty easy to park, with a turning circle that is actually tighter than the shortie Carnival.Lined up against its rivals, the Grand Carnival does not have the class or refinement of the Honda Odyssey, but it has a lot more space and will carry more people.It is much better value than a Voyager, beats the Mitsubishi Grandis on value and space, and is far better looking and more proven than the Ssangyong Stavic.And the Tarago, the former king of the class? Too expensive, not enough space and doesn't go.Which means the Grand Carnival now runs second overall to the Odyssey, but leads the class by a comfortable margin after you have done the value adjustment and taken into account that it puts the "people" into people mover in 2006.More families should be looking at a Grand Carnival before they dive straight into a trendy four-wheel drive

Kia Grand Carnival and Hyundai iMax go head-to-head in this comparative review.

Ewan Kennedy reviews the first and second generation Kia Carnival and Grand Carnival as a used buy. Kia Carnival is a South Korean seven or eight-seat people mover that's been on sale in Australia since September 1999. Well priced and strongly built it has been a big seller in its class for many years. The older

Kia Grand Carnival and Hyundai iMax go head-to-head in this comparative review.

June 30 is D-Day. The end of the financial year is the best time to buy a new car because there are always special deals in showrooms. As carmakers and dealers aim to clear their outdated stock, Toyota uses a June push to cement its showroom leadership. Some of the special deals are on cars that have done demonstrator duty, or were built in 2012, or are just not selling as well as expected. So they're not the tastiest fruit in the bowl.But there is great buying across the board as demand for new cars fuels one of the longest growth periods in motoring. The bottom line is that you can save money -- and lots of it. So here's a look at the June sales, with Carsguide's assessment of the best deals on wheels.CITROENThe new importer is pushing hard so the Aircross SUV starts at $31,990 drive-away front-wheel drive or $33,990 with AWD, a saving of $3800. There's $5000 off the C4 Seduction turbo diesel auto hatch at $25,990. Carsguide says: The Aircross isn't great, but the C4 discount is tasty.FORDThe death notice for the Falcon and Territory has not helped buyer confidence but a 2.9 per cent finance push on Fiesta and Focus still looks good. The superseded Kuga SUV from $31,990 drive-away is a $10,000 saving. You can save about $3000 on a 2012 Escape SUV from $27,990 drive-away.The Territory gets a $6500 tickle, the TX seven-seater at $38,490 drive-away (third-row seat usually costs $2500). The impressive Mondeo liftback starts at $29,990. Good buying on Falcons, thanks to the arrival of the VF Commodore, from $33,990 and better if you haggle.HOLDENAs the VF Commodore creates queues, the outgoing Z-Series starts at $34,990 with five years' warranty and roadside assist. That also applies to the SV6 at $35,990 and the Cruze SRi and SRi-V at $23,490 and $26,990. Last year's Barina CD hatches are $15,990 drive-away with a sunroof. The Colorado is $39,990. Hard to see past the excellent Cruze SRi.HONDAClipped prices and free on-roads. The City VTi sedan is $17,990 and the (slightly) more lavish VTi-L automatic version starts at $21,990. The bigger Civic sedan is being cleared from $21,990. Free auto on the Jazz VTi at $19,990. The Civic is worth a look at $2500 off.KIAFree on-roads, discounts and $1000 gift vouchers on many models. A five-door Rio S is about $3K off at $15,990 drive-away with a $500 gift card; the three-door Rio is $14,990 and the five-door Si is $18,990. Runout Cerato TD sedans start at $17,990 for the S, saving about $5000, the Si sedan is $23,990 and hatch at $17,990. All get a $1000 gift card. Cerato SLi and SLS have drive-away pricing but miss the gift card. All Optimas have free on-roads. A 2012-build Optima Platinum is $37,990, saving about $4000 with a $1000 gift card. Most Sportage SUVs include on-roads and a $1000 gift card. Carnival and superseded Rondo pricing is drive-away. The Sportage diesel and Optima are top-notch.MITSUBISHIThe manual Lancer gets an old-school value pack on the Special Action Model for $19,990 drive-away. The Mirage is $12,990 drive-away for the ES manual, with a $500 cash-back that also applies to the auto.Driveaway prices also for the compact ASX at $24,990 for the 2WD manual, the Outlander LS 2WD auto at $29,990, Pajero GLX-R auto at $54,990 or $59,990 for VRX. Both come plus $3000 cash-back, saving about $6000.The Triton ute is now tackling Great Wall from China at $19,990 drive-away for a GL single-cab 2WD with alloy tray, or add luxury for a GLX dual-cab 4WD diesel at $31,990 drive-away with $2000 cash-back, saving about $14,000. The utes look good at those prices.NISSANA 2.9 per cent finance package, with agreed value after three years, makes the Pulsar ST sedan look good at $49 a week or $19,990 drive-away. The X-Trail ST 2WD petrol manual cops a $4000 reduction to $25,990 drive-away, while the Navara RX 4WD dual-cab manual is cheaper than ever with a $9500 cut to $30,990 drive-away. The Pulsar sedan deal is attractive.OPELThere are drive-away deals across the range. The basic Corsa is down by about $2500 to $16,990 drive-away, the Astra is from $22,990 drive-away for the 1.4-litre turbo petrol hatch with three years of free servicing, saving about $5500. The top-line Insignia sedan is from $39,990 drive-away with heated leather seats. The Astra is easily best of this breed.PEUGEOTFree on-roads at Peugeot on most models but not the cool new 208. The 4008 SUV cops a $1500 saving from $29,990 drive-away and there are deals on the outgoing 4007. Nothing to see here.RENAULTA Koleos from $26,990 drive-away looks even better with interest-free finance. The Megane hatch is from $22,990 drive-away with finance pegged at 1.9 per cent. The slow-selling Fluence and Latitude sedans are available with 2.9 per cent finance. The Megane CC convertible goes from $43,990 including on-roads. The sporty Clio RS is from $34,990 drive-away and the hotrod Megane RS has 2.9 per cent finance.Commercial deals start with the short-wheelbase Kangoo petrol manual with dual sliding doors from $20,990 drive-away, moving up to the Trafic short-wheelbase manual for $29,990 and the long-wheelbase manual for $32,990, while the Master large van starts from $46,990 drive-away. There's a five-year/200,000km warranty on all light commercials ordered in June. Hard to argue against a $3000 bonus on the Koleos but stocks are tight.SUBARUDrive-away pricing -- for savings of $3000 to $4000 -- is the bait, with Impreza pricing from $23,990 (excluding the WRX, of course). The Tribeca from $54,990 now includes on-roads but you need to visit a dealer to get the full story. Nothing outstanding.SUZUKIThe front-drive SX4 gets a Navigator pack with voice-controlled 6.6-inch satnav with Bluetooth for $19,990 drive-away for the manual and $21,990 auto. That also applies to the 2WD auto Grand Vitara at $29,990 drive-away, including reversing camera and satnav with Bluetooth. The Alto GL manual also gets satnav for $11,990 drive-away for the manual, with the Swift GL manual at $17,490 drive-away including cruise control and Bluetooth. The Grand Vitara is a polished piece.TOYOTAThere's 2.9 per cent finance on Aurion and Camry with the Camry Altise looking best at $29,990 drive-away. Other drive-away deals include $15,990 for the Yaris YR five-door, $21,490 for the Corolla Ascent automatic, $39,990 for the Kluger KX-R 2WD five-seater, $60,990 for the Prado GXL turbo diesel auto and $39,990 for the HiLux SR 4WD dual-cab ute. The right time for the cabbies' new favourite, the frugal hybrid Camry.VOLKSWAGENDrive-away pricing on passenger cars and zero finance on commercials. The Polo is $16,990 on-road, the Jetta is down to $25,990 and the Passat $36,690. The Polo is Carsguide's 2010 COTY.VOLVOFuel and servicing for three years or 60,000km plus roadside assistance. There are conditions -- with a pre-paid BP card based on 15,000km a year and $1.50 a-litre pricing -- and the latest V40 hatch is excluded. Clever twist on bargaining but a pity it doesn't apply to the V40.Paul Gover's 10 COMMANDMENTSYou must still do your homework. You must still check the fine print. You must still be prepared to haggle and compromise.But do it right, crunching the numbers and running right to the dealer's deadline, and you can drive away in something special at a special price.The starting point is all the deals, from sticker specials to cheap finance and steak knife-style free extras, being offered by most of the 60-plus brands in showrooms today.If something you want is on special, go for it. But check that the car was built in 2013, and is not a geriatric old-timer from 2012, and ensure your target is exactly what you want - not a stripped-out stocker, perhaps missing an automatic gearbox - that will cost thousands to get the way you want it.Once you lock down a target, don't think the advertised special is the end of the deal. You also need to negotiate for a better price on delivery and on-road costs, and avoid the trap of buying over-priced extras such as paint and upholstery protection, window tinting and extra-long warranties.No-one can expect to go into the ring with a showroom professional and expect to win, because buyers only get a new car occasionally and sales staff are dealing every day. But, by concentrating on the real bottom line - the changeover price - and being prepared to compromise, you can come out ahead.The best tips are the simplest. Run as close as you can to June 30 to sign the deal and get the car, because dealers are all aiming for targets that can mean tens of thousands in bonus money from headquarters. Also be prepared to take a car they have in stock, even if it's not your favourite colour, because dealers are aiming to clear everything they have on the lot.And have your finance in place before you arrive, especially if you're taking up a special deal, because that makes things quicker and you'll also be spared any hassle and potential extra costs.Watch out for 2012 cars because the warranty clock has already been running, don't forget that a big discount today will also mean less at changeover time, and remember that a demonstrator car could have had a hard life already. 

SUVs look tough and deliver a command driving position - unless everyone else is also sitting up high-and-mighty in a hulking off-roader - but they really don't have the people or carrying capacity you might expect.Even seven-seater SUVs are usually cramped in the back row and you should try fitting a family's luggage needs in the rear when all the seats are occupied.People movers aren't trendy, and they aren't attractive, but there are times when a big box on wheels really is the best solution.Volkswagen got the people movement going with the Kombi, then Chrysler switched the action to the USA before Toyota revolutionised things with the Tarago - named after a NSW country town outside Canberra.These days there are people movers to suit most families and budgets, and these are the obvious contenders:Chrysler Grand VoyagerA fading star that suffers from an ageing design and poor cabin quality, as well as pricetag that means it's a premium contender in a class where there is much better value.Price: from $57,500Seats: 7Engine: 2.8 litre turbodiesel 120kW/360NmTransmission: 6-sp auto FWDThirst: 8.4L/100km; 111g/km CO2Citroen C4 Picasso One of Europe's best people movers drives well and has some great design touches, including a front windscreen that rolls up to the roof. Hurt in Australia by the questions over anything with a Citroen badge.Price: from $39,490Seats: 7Engine: 2.0 litre turbodiesel 100kW/270NmTransmission: 6-sp auto FWDThirst: 5.3L/100km; 137g/km CO2Honda OdysseyIt's getting old but it still does the job, and the price is nice. The Odyssey is not as big as some, and the performance suffers when you load it up, but it is still a smart choice.Price: from $37,100Seats: 7Engine: 2.4L petrol, 132kW/218NmTransmission: 5-speed automatic, FWDThirst: 8.9L/100km, 212g/km CO2Kia Grand Carnival The top choice with the Carsguide crew, thanks to everything from a big body to an available turbodiesel engine and electric sliding doors on the top model. Value is great and there is a big spread of models.Price: from $38,990Seats: 8Engine: 2.2L turbodiesel 143kW/429Nm or 3.5L V6 petrol 202kW/336NmTransmission: 6-spd auto FWDThirst: 8.1L/100km (diesel),  10.9L/100km (petrol)Mercedes-Benz Viano It's the Rolls-Royce of minivans, in Australia at least, lifting the working class Vito van to new highs of comfort and class. Too boxy for some people, but the badge provides plenty of compensation.Price: from $78,990Seats: 6-8Engine: 3.0L turbodiesel 165kW/440NmTransmission: 5-spd auto RWDThirst: 8.6L/100km; 226g/km CO2Toyota Tarago The people mover that time - and Toyota - forgot. Once the best of the breed, particularly in the days of the `giant egg' model, but now just a boring box that's too expensive and doesn't come with a diesel engine.Price: from $48,990Seats: 7-8Engine: 2.4L 4-cyl petrol, 125kW/224Nm or 3.5L V6 petrol 202kW/340NmTransmission: CVT auto, FWDThirst: 8.9L/100km, 207g/km CO2 or 10.3L/100km; 243g/km CO2

Not content with dominating the people mover market for almost a decade, Kia is again piling on the pressure.This time it's with a new diesel engine for its eight-seater Carnival and the effect is like a heart transplant in an ageing body.ENGINE AND MECHANICALThe new 2.2-litre turbodiesel might be smaller in capacity than its 2.9-litre predecessor but it produces more power and torque and is smoother, quieter and more responsive. Output is 143kW and 429Nm of torque, an increase of 7kW, but more importantly an 86Nm boost in pulling power.Add a six-speed automatic transmission, up from five, and the combination copes surprisingly well with the Carnival's beefy 2100kg plus body weight. And fuel use drops 3.7 per cent to a combined average of 8.1-litre/100km.PRICE AND EQUIPMENTPrices are up by at least $2400 over the previous diesel but the Carnival is still a class act in value for money. There are three versions: the Si at $44,900, the SLi at $50,190 and the Platinum at $56,190, all about $4000 more than the petrol versions but offset by a more flexible engine, lower running costs and higher resale value.Equipment on the Si includes six airbags (front, side and curtain), stability control, 16-inch alloy wheels, a temporary spare wheel, heated mirrors, cruise control, power windows including the rear quarters, single CD audio with MP3, USB and iPod, Bluetooth, steering wheel controls for cruise, audio and phone and roof rails.The SLi adds leather trim, 17-inch alloy wheels, electric sliding side doors, a rear camera and an auto-dimming mirror. The Platinum adds a sunroof, an electric tailgate, rear parking sensors, tri-zone climate control, six-disc audio and privacy glass.Rivals in the diesel class are few, notably the more van-like Hyundai iLoad, Ssangyong's oddly styled Stavic and the more expensive Volkswagen Caravelle/Multivan. In terms of space-per-dollar and features, the diesel Grand Carnival is hard to beat.DESIGNSeating is arranged 2-3-3, with bucket seats in the first and second rows and a rear bench that split-folds 60:40 flat to the floor. The middle seats can also be removed leaving a van-like load area.Styling remains similar in silhouette to the first Carnival and the interior trim is showing its age with plenty of hard grey plastic trim and still no centre three-point seat belt in the second row, and the back seats are lap belt only.DRIVINGBut it is big, versatile, practical and serviceable. The diesel engine delivers brisk take-off, strong mid-range response and relaxed cruising. The MacPherson strut front suspension and rear multi-link design are calibrated to carry up to eight people in comfort.As a result the ride is smooth and cushy on smooth roads but with some thump and shudder over broken edges. Handling is secure enough at normal speeds but it tends to lean and wallow when stretched over secondary roads.The brakes need a decent shove but are up to the task and the steering is light and easy to manage, although with a length of more than 5m, parking is a challenge.

Mazda CX-9 and Kia Grand Carnival go head-to-head in this comparative review.

Kia pretty much owns the people mover segment and after driving the latest incarnation of the Carnival it's easy to see why. It's big, seats up to eight people, there's a substantial amount of luggage space leftover and it doesn't cost an arm or a leg. Why would you bother with anything else?Two engines and four models from which to choose: S, Si, SLi and Platinum _ all of them auto (no diesel S). The turbo diesel version costs $4000 more than a petrol V6, but it's the one you want.The range has recently upgraded with the addition of Kia's killer 2.2-litre turbo diesel together with a six-speed automatic that gives the driver the option to change gears manually.Bluetooth is also now standard across the range with steering wheel phone and audio controls and two sets of two 12 volt outlets front and back.Priced from $56,190 the top of the range Platinum comes with pretty much everything including leather, tri-zone airconditioning and a sunroof along with a power tailgate and sliding rear doors.Still basically old tech. The engine and transmission are state of the art, but the car itself is due for replacement which probably won't happen until 2013. The green lit dash is a dead giveaway because all the latest models now have orange backlighting.The 2.2-litre diesel delivers 143kW of power and an impressive 429Nm of torque. We don't have any performance figures, but let's just say it will surprise the pants off other drivers.No trip computer so no distance to empty which is also an indication of the Carnival's age. Marks deducted for the space saver spare too. Can tow a 2000kg load.Kia recently dropped the short wheelbase version which was a good move. The bigger better Grand Carnival has more room inside and especially more boot space with the third row of seats in use. Can't wait to see what Kia's design guru Peter Schreyer does with this one when he gets his hands on it? The K7 concept could point the way and looks in shape like a larger version of the Soul.Gets four out five stars for safety, with six airbags, stability control and anti-lock brakes. SLi and Platinum get a reversing camera too (built into he rear view mirror). Platinum also gets reverse parking sensors.Not based on a commercial vehicle and as such drives just like a car. Smooth and easy to steer with a high driving position. Drive is through the front wheels and for a large vehicle it is amazingly light on its feet. Five minutes after getting into this one I recalled why I like this diesel so much ... it has to be one of the smoothest and most powerful out there.Cruises easily, with good acceleration off the line and strong mid-range response. Not phased by lots of passengers and sips lightly too. Rated at 6.6 litres/100km, we got 500km out of half an 80-litre tank.Just the ticket, bus ticket that is. Does what it does with little fuss. The competition is all smaller or more expensive, with the exception of Ssangyong's visually challenged Stavic. Cheaper to buy, maintain and run that a four-wheel drive wagon and has more space inside.

The big Aussie families who need the most help into a new car have just lost a lifeline. The Kia Carnival has copped a $5010 price increase with the loss of the bottom-end family wagon and a new focus on the upmarket equipment favoured by more people mover buyers. Just like the Oldsmobile Silhouette driven by Chili Palmer in the 1995 movie 'Get Shorty', the new Grand Carnival is more like the Cadillac of minivans.The 2012 update to the Carnival lineup means the loss of the short-wheelbase models and the end to the manual gearbox, which had held the potential bottom line down to $33,890. So the starter car is now the Grand Carnival V6 auto at $38,990. That's not cheap but it is still good value and Kia Australia has figures to support its move."Why have we discontinued the short-wheelbase Carnival? Because no-one was buying it," says Kia spokesman, Kevin Hepworth. "The problem with the short-wheelbase Carnival was that it was seriously compromised as an eight-seater. It was more suitable for a family of five who sometimes took friends along. People who wanted to travel with eight found the luggage capacity was lacking."Kia says only five people bought a short-wheelbase Carnival last month, from a total of 362 deliveries, with the Grand Carnival Si - from $49,990 - accounting for more than half of all sales.The 2012 Grand Carnival has had tweak with an optional 2.7-litre diesel engine and Bluetooth across the range, while everything from the Si upwards gets roof rails, electric windows for the third-row seats, rear aircon controls and heated mirrors. The Si also picks up alloy wheels.Even the basic car has a 3.5-litre V6 engine and that gives it an edge over a Toyota Tarago, while the price line helps in a comparison with the Chrysler Grand Voyager now from $55,000 and the loaded Mercedes- Benz Viano from $74,990.The price spread for the Grand Carnival has most of its meat in in the $40,000 range, although the top-line Platinum is getting pricey from $52,190. "You can still buy a very affordable Carnival," says Hepworth. And there is the five-year warranty to sweeten any deal.There is nothing particularly special about the design or mechanical package on the Grand Carnival, although the 2.7-litre petrol engine is gone and most are now being delivered with the more powerful and efficient 3.5-litre, double-overhead camshaft.Si, SLi and Platinum shoppers can now also go for the 2.2-litre, four- cylinder R-series turbodiesel, which has more power and greater efficiency than the 2.9-litre predecessor with 143 kiloWatts and a 429 Newton-metre thump of torque. There is a transmission upgrade for the '12 cars thanks to a six-speed automatic that's actually smaller, lighter and more efficient than the old five-speeder.The Grand Carnival is a big box and there is no disguising its heft. It's the single biggest reason why some people like it - and other people movers - and others race straight to the chunkiness of an SUV. The upside is lots of space and lots of convenience, but the downside is an instant branding as a breeder.The interior of the Carnival for The Waltons has some nice tweaks and touches, from the fold-down table between the front buckets to aircon controls for the back seats, lots of cupholders, easy-fold seats - with a third row that drops down flat - and even ISOFIX child seat anchorages in the outboard spots in the middle row. The top-tether mounts are also built into the seats so you don't get metres of belt trailing around the place.There is no ANCAP star rating for the Grand Carnival, but the Carnival is a four-star performer since 2007 and that should translate directly to the long-wheelbase model. The safety package runs to ABS brakes and ESP stability control with front-side-curtain airbags in all models.The Carsguide family feels just like Chili Palmer when the Grand Carnival arrives with automatic electric side sliding doors and a tail lift in the Platinum package. There is also leather across the cabin, punchy sound and alloys on the outside. But perhaps that's a package for hotel pickups ahead of families, although the bottom line is much more affordable than the Tarago V6, Grand Voyager or Viano. The leather is good with little ones but the bottom line is likely to be the bottom line if you really need eight spots for the crew.Driving the Kia is exactly what you expect - nothing special. It rides alright, even with a big posse on board, it stops alright and the cornering is alright. But as the two-year-old says, "Where is the sports car daddy?"It does have some punch with the V6 engine but it can get thirsty around town. There is definitely a case for diesel drive for interstate work. It's easy enough to park, with a nifty rearview camera built into the rear-vision mirror and a reasonable turning circle, but it's pretty big when you head into the supermarket spots.So the Grand Carnival is all about practicality and nothing about driving, something proven by a driver's seat that's more like a cockatoo perch. It's too high, with no support, and does nothing to encourage either comfort or crisp cornering. Still, when you're loading a bunch of youngsters with bikes and balls, it does the job. And the Platinum pack makes life a little special - especially showboating with the electric doors.The Kia kicks a goal over similar rivals by combining lots and lots of space for the money, more equipment for less money, a V6 that gets it moving, and a bottom line with five-year warranty backup. Anyone who says a big van just brands you as a breeder should try one for size - and flexibility and, yes, fun.Anyway, there is always dark window tint if you cannot front up to the SUV stampede on the school run without some disguise.