Kia Carnival I – suitable for a large family, if you are not afraid of independent repairs

Old cars Kia brands are not in great demand in Russia right now. It just so happened that they have a reputation for being very rotting, so it is not worth buying such a "problem", except for a while.


But not everything is as bad as it is considered. If you set your sights on it, you can find many cars with almost intact bodies. Such ones have been preserved by the owners of the "old school", who carefully look after the metal, processing it once a year according to the precepts of their fathers and grandfathers.

And if you look closely at the models of the late 90s, the first decade of the 2000s, you can find some interesting examples. Such as, for example, the Kia Carnival I.


And even though there are only 5-6 dozen of them on the used market, this model was once in stable demand here. They were even assembled in Russia, and that says a lot. And the minivan itself with a transformable interior will be interesting for a large family not burdened with extra finances.


In general, for 500 thousand you can find something close to ideal in condition, at least externally. And if you have the desire and the opportunity, then there is a chance to even restore the examples offered at the bottom of the market, yourself.

Short story

Kia Carnival is notable primarily because it is the first full-fledged family minivan of the South Korean brand. The manufacturer prepared for the release of the car thoroughly. They focused on the Chrysler Voyager and Renault Espace.


The new model has a number of features:

✅ Spacious three-row cabin
✅ Large-capacity engines for Koreans
✅ Possibility to turn the middle row to face the last one

The first cars went on sale in 1999. A few years later, the model underwent an external restyling. The latter also affected the technical part, but only slightly. In 2006, the Kia Carnival I was replaced by a second-generation model.

Body

Let's start with the exterior. The Korean minivan cannot boast of beauty. A standard family car, long, high and awkward. In general, it is far from a dream and will definitely not attract attention.

But the level of universality is off the charts. And there is another, at first glance, non-obvious nuance. Cars like the Kia Carnival I rarely fell into the hands of "racers". They were bought by pragmatic people, and such people, as a rule, take care of their cars.


As for the condition of the body, everything is complicated. The Korean essence, multiplied by age, gives a total of rust. Its amount varies on different examples, but it is very difficult to find one without "bugs".

Problem areas are everywhere, depending on the owner. The thresholds, arches, door bottoms, bottom, windshield frame suffer first. In general, the car needs to be inspected thoroughly. It is recommended to take it to a pit or lift to diagnose the power elements. If this is not possible, at least pay attention to the "glasses".

Rust on the attachments is not a big deal. They can be re-welded or bought at salvage yards. But messing with the power elements is at your own risk.

Salon

The interior of the Kia Carnival I is good – owners praise it. There are 6 or 7 seats, depending on the configuration. The trim material is velour or leather. The quality of the latter is far from ideal, it feels like it is artificial – after long mileages it wears out, cracks and tears.


But everyone in the cabin is comfortable – even the passengers in the back row. There is a lot of space, the roof is high, there are pockets, tables, cup holders. The orientation towards the US market is obvious.

The trunk is small, but it is visually present. If you need to transport something, you can remove at least two rear rows - then cabinets and sofas will fit into the Kia Carnival I.


During the inspection, everything is standard. We check the interior for general condition. If we don’t like it visually, we leave. If the car is well-groomed inside, we check the operation of the buttons. Anything that doesn’t work is a reason for bargaining.

Engines

Under the hood of the Kia Carnival I, there are both petrol and diesel engines. The former have a volume of 2,5 liters and a power of 150 to 175 hp. Not that they are enough for a heavy minivan, but they are famous for their reliability. Considering, of course, the Korean origin, that is, these are far from millionaires.


The main problem is fuel consumption. In the city it is very close to 15 liters, and this is in the summer. In winter you can burn all 17, if you drive actively.

Rarely you can find variants with 3,5 petrol engines, but this is no longer the first generation Carnival, but the Sedona – a version for the US market. Sometimes these engines are installed instead of failed ones.

Although such power units are reliable, the search for spare parts for them can take months. Therefore, if you take, then a flawless engine, or look for a more common 2,5 liter.

Diesel engines come only with a volume of 2,9 liters. The power also varies - from 126 to 144 hp. It is already clear that with these engines the Korean minivan is even more leisurely than with gasoline power units.


It is not recommended to buy diesel - the mileage is very high, and the engines are far from reliable compared to their German "classmates".

Other performance characteristics

Kia Carnival I gearboxes are available both mechanical and automatic. The former are reliable, the latter suffer even from gear wear. Not to mention solenoids and blocks.

The minivan has a very simple suspension - spring. Independent at the front, semi-independent at the rear. It is tuned for a soft ride. The most common failures are silent blocks, struts and stabilizer bushings.


Shock absorbers and springs are not record holders in terms of durability either. There is nothing to be done – the car is heavy, and the brand is far from premium. Due to the weight, the wheel bearings wear out quickly, especially the front ones – the engine is located there.

Problematic units include the generator, starter, thermostat, and sticking parking brake. Door handles often break, and it wouldn't hurt to check the sliding side mechanisms, too.

Features of operation

In Russia, petrol Kia Carnival I are more in demand. They are "gluttonous" for fuel and oil. This is primarily due to age. The problem can be solved by cleaning the intake system from carbon deposits, including the crankcase gas circulation and the throttle valve.

If after this the oil still goes away, you should pay attention to the cylinder head gasket. There are often leaks there. If this does not help, get ready for a major overhaul or replacement of the engine with a contract one.


Now they complain about the high cost of spare parts. Despite the fact that the car is Korean, the parts are mostly only original. And even though their price is not as high as for German or Japanese spare parts, it still turns out to be expensive. And because it is a minivan, and the first one from Kia.

Is it worth buying a Carnival I? Probably not. The car is fragile, and its body is short-lived. And it doesn't look like it should be cherished, pampered, and cherished.

But if you need an inexpensive family car, and a good example comes along, you can consider buying the Kia Carnival I. The main thing is that the body is intact, everything else can be “cured”.