Kia Carnival Long-Term Report: Long-Distance Specialist

Last month, the Kia Carnival ended up doing exactly what it was meant to do – family duty. And plenty of it. Between the daily grind and a proper road trip from Delhi to Agra and Jaipur before heading back home, it clocked roughly 1,000km over the course of the month.

And if there’s one thing the Carnival does exceptionally well, it’s devouring distance. Long highway runs are where this big MPV really makes sense. Settle into the seat, point it towards the horizon, and the kilometres simply disappear. Speaking of seats, they are easily the highlight of the entire experience. They are superbly comfortable, supportive, and the sort of seats you can spend hours in without ever feeling the need to stretch. Then there’s the space – and frankly, there’s a ridiculous amount of it. Whether it’s passengers spreading out in the middle row or luggage piling up for a weekend getaway, the Carnival just shrugs and gets on with it. For family travel, that sense of openness makes a huge difference. Even with the car fully loaded, nobody feels short-changed for room, which can’t be said for many so-called three-row vehicles on sale today. Another thing that stands out is just how effortless the Carnival feels on long drives. Despite its size, it never feels cumbersome, and once you settle into a steady cruising rhythm, it becomes a very relaxed way to cover ground. For long family journeys, that easy-going nature makes a big difference.

But the experience wasn’t entirely perfect. The ride quality, in particular, left me a little puzzled. While the Carnival is certainly comfortable overall, it never quite felt as settled as I expected. Even at lower speeds, the ride quality was a little bumpy. I experimented with tyre pressures – dropping them slightly before returning to the recommended 36psi – but neither setting made much difference. If anything, I couldn’t help but feel that the previous-generation Carnival rode with a touch more pliancy. There’s also one small feature from the old car that I genuinely miss – the integrated air purifier. It might sound trivial, but in everyday Delhi driving, it was one of those thoughtful touches that quietly made life better.

Minor gripes aside, the Carnival continues to do what it does best – move people in comfort, with space to spare, and without breaking a sweat.