Kia: Room service

The Kia Carnival's doors self-open at the press of the fob. Photo / Jacqui Madelin

Kia's Carnival is one of the much-maligned MPV breed. Maligned, because the image it invokes is of families with so many children they've given up on living life. Of families who put the practical requirements of their brood before their own; who reek of nappies and old football boots, and don't mind that they do.

Pity really, because we all know that practical choices make sense - and free up energy for those frivolous moments.

In this case, energy and space, for Carnival is to cars what Mary Poppins' arm-candy was to handbags. It fits an astonishing amount of stuff.

Press the fob to electronically open the boot, then pile your armfuls in. With eight seats in use, there's still a deep boot that lets you stand a stroller or your golf bags upright.

Access the full-size third row by swivel-folding the outer row two seats. Got more luggage than passengers? Those rear pews easily tuck into the boot floor. Want more space? The three second-row seats fold flat, swivel forward or come out entirely - although removing them's a bit of a fiddle, and you might not bother putting the middle one back - it carries just a lap belt, the only serious fly in Carnival's otherwise efficient ointment.

Odd really, for the centre seat is otherwise the safest as it's furthest from any point of impact. Odder, because plenty of cars manage a belt that pulls from the ceiling.

A lap belt is better than none, but in a crash it'll cause almost as many problems as it prevents for the person wearing it, while at least stopping them from careening into other passengers. If your baby's seat works with a lap belt, fine, but otherwise avoid using it if you can.

What else? The front seat is comfy, there are cubbies aplenty, there's an additional rear-view mirror to check the kids in the back, and the central table flips down to access the rear without exiting. There's a new USB and auxiliary port next to a cubby and power sockets, and the captain's seats are easy to get comfy in.

The 2.9-litre turbo diesel engine that now starts the range pulls strongly, thanks to peak torque delivered over a wide range of revs, and we averaged 10.3l/100km during my drive. However, the test car hadn't topped 1000km on its return, and I'd expect an improvement once the kays rose and the engine settled in.

Meanwhile, the only limit to performance is the car's handling, with the ride tending to plush and discouraging an over-keen approach to bends.

But for kids, the clincher is the electric side doors and tailgate.

I can tell you that an armful of toddlers and shopping is easier to manage when the doors self-open at the press of the fob; and so are two or more restless littlies round heavy traffic - you never need touch a rear door handle again.

Keeps them riveted with your astonishing magical powers, too.

But, even at $49,990, it's a shame those powers don't extend to one more three-point belt ...

KIA CARNIVAL

We like
Plentiful comfort and practicality

We don't like
Centre seat lap belt only, MPV image

Powertrain
2.9-litre four-cylinder direct-injection turbo diesel, 136kW at 3800rpm, 343Nm at 1750-3500rpm, five-speed auto drives front wheels

Performance
0-100km/h not available, 9.0l/100km claim

Safety
Six airbags, ESP, ABS brakes, reversing camera

What it's got
Dual-zone climate-control air, MP3 port, cruise control

Vital stats
5130mm long, 1770/1530/1390-litre boot, 80-litre tank