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Kia

Carnival

YP· 2015-2020 people-mover Value
Price (AUD)
$15k-$40k
Body styles
5-door MPV (8-seat van)
Drivetrain
Front-wheel drive
Origin
Korea
Built in
South Korea

Overview

Sold from early 2015 in S, Si, SLi and Platinum grades, the YP-series Carnival (badged Sedona overseas) was the eight-seat van that finally made Kia's people-mover a default family choice in Australia - sliding doors both sides, a low flat floor, genuine adult room in all three rows and Kia's 7-year warranty from 2017. Only two engines were offered locally and both are front-wheel drive: a 3.3L G6DH Lambda II V6 petrol (206kW/336Nm) and the 2.2L D4HB R-series common-rail turbo diesel (147kW/440Nm), the latter being the volume seller for its torque and economy. A six-speed auto ran 2015 to early 2018, when the May 2018 facelift brought a new in-house eight-speed auto across the range. The early 2015 cars (pre-December 2015) carried a 4-star ANCAP rating before a redesigned pedal box and steering column lifted it to 5 stars. The diesel is the one to scrutinise: it is sensitive to oil level and service quality (high consumption, the infamous oil-filter O-ring mis-fit that has destroyed engines), with timing-chain and injector wear at higher km. Powered sliding-door electrical faults are the signature non-engine complaint across the range.

Engines & variants

3.3L G6DH V6 petrol

Engine
3.3L Lambda II GDI DOHC V6 (direct injection)
Config
V6 NA
Displacement
3342cc
Power
206kW @ 6000rpm
Torque
336Nm @ 5200rpm
Drivetrain
Front-wheel drive
Economy
10.8-11.6 L/100km combined (13-15 real world)
Tow (braked)
2000kg
Tow (unbraked)
750kg
Transmission
6AT (2015-2018), 8AT (2018-2020)
Timing chain / belt / gear
Chain-driven

Pros

  • Smooth, quiet and strong - effortless with a full load
  • No diesel emissions complexity (no DPF, EGR soot or oil dilution)
  • Cheaper to buy than the diesel and simpler to maintain
  • Refined V6 character suits a big family van

Cons

  • Thirsty (13-15 L/100km real world), especially around town
  • Far less torque-feel than the diesel for towing/hills
  • Direct-injection intake-valve carbon over time
  • Weaker resale than the popular diesel

Known problems

medium
Timing chain tensioner rattle (cold start)
The Lambda V6 timing-chain tensioner can lose the ability to hold pressure at rest, giving a brief rattle on cold start-up before oil pressure builds; ignored, a stretched chain risks valve timing damage.
Fix: Replace the tensioner(s) and chain/guides as a set; use correct-spec oil and keep up servicing.
From 120k+ km · ~$800-2500
low
Direct-injection intake-valve carbon
Like other GDI engines the G6DH has no port injection to wash the intake valves, so carbon builds up over time and can cause a rough idle or slight power loss.
Fix: Walnut-blast / intake clean as needed; quality fuel and regular oil changes slow it.
From 100k+ km · ~$300-800
medium
Head gasket / oil leaks (early build)
Early Lambda V6s have a documented history of head-gasket weeps and general oil leaks; less common on the YP than on older 3.3s but worth a cold-engine inspection.
Fix: Inspect for weeping at the heads/covers; reseal or gasket as required.
From Any · ~$1000-3000

2.2L D4HB CRDi turbo diesel

Engine
2.2L R-series common-rail turbo-diesel I4 (DPF)
Config
I4 turbo
Displacement
2199cc
Power
147kW @ 3800rpm
Torque
440Nm @ 1750-2750rpm
Drivetrain
Front-wheel drive
Economy
7.6-7.7 L/100km combined (8.5-10 real world)
Tow (braked)
2000kg
Tow (unbraked)
750kg
Transmission
6AT (2015-2018), 8AT (2018-2020)
Timing chain / belt / gear
Chain-driven

Pros

  • Strong 440Nm makes light work of a loaded van
  • Genuinely economical for the size (low-8s on the highway)
  • The volume seller, so plenty of choice on the used market
  • Far better resale than the petrol

Cons

  • High oil consumption - the engine must be checked between services
  • DPF/EGR soot issues if used only for short urban trips
  • Expensive piezo injectors and a fragile Bosch CP4 pump if fed bad fuel
  • Timing chain can stretch and rattle by ~200,000km

Known problems

high
Oil starvation from oil-filter O-ring mis-fit
A documented Australian failure mode: a misfitted oil-filter housing O-ring after a service lets the engine lose oil pressure, with cases of a snapped conrod punching a hole in the block. Compounded by the engine's high oil consumption, owners who don't check the level between services have run them low.
Fix: Use a competent diesel-aware servicer, confirm the O-ring/filter housing is correctly seated, and check the dipstick every couple of tanks - this engine drinks oil.
From Any (post-service) · ~$8000-15000 (engine)
medium
High oil consumption
The 2.2 CRDi is known to consume oil - up to ~0.5L/1000km with heavy use - which catches owners out and can lead to running it dangerously low.
Fix: Check oil regularly and top up; investigate if consumption climbs (turbo seals, injector seals, bores).
From Any · ~Running cost
medium
Timing chain stretch / rattle
The D4HB chain can overstretch and the hydraulic tensioner suffer from poor or dirty oil, giving a top-end rattle by around 200,000km.
Fix: Replace chain, guides and tensioner; keep oil clean and changed on time to prolong chain life.
From 180k+ km · ~$1500-3000
high
Injector and CP4 fuel-pump failure
The piezo injectors can cause rough running and the Bosch CP4 common-rail pump is intolerant of poor or contaminated diesel - a failing pump can shed metal that contaminates the whole fuel system.
Fix: Use clean fuel from reputable servos, change fuel filters on schedule; injector/pump rebuild or replacement by a diesel specialist if faulty.
From 120k+ km · ~$2000-6000
medium
DPF / EGR soot clogging (urban use)
Short, stop-start city running stops the DPF reaching regeneration temperature and lets the EGR and intake soot up, triggering warning lights and limp mode.
Fix: Regular longer/highway runs to complete regens; DPF/EGR/intake clean if clogged.
From Any (short-trip use) · ~$500-2500

Common problems (all variants)

medium
Powered sliding-door electrical faults
The signature Carnival complaint: powered sliding doors that become hard to open or stop moving entirely due to electrical/motor and sensor faults, including the obstruction-sensing safety feature failing to react.
Fix: Diagnose the door motor, harness and sensors; test both doors fully through their travel pre-purchase.
From Any · ~$300-1500
medium
Software / power-steering disable at startup
An uncommon but documented fault where a software glitch disables the electric power steering at start-up; the car must be restarted to restore assistance.
Fix: Apply the latest dealer software update; have any steering warning investigated.
From Any · ~$0-600
low
Front brake wear (heavy FWD van)
A heavy front-wheel-drive eight-seater is hard on front pads and rotors, particularly when loaded.
Fix: Quality pads/rotors; inspect at each service.
From 50k+ km · ~$400-900
low
Suspension bushes and front-end wear
Control-arm bushes, links and front-end components wear with the vehicle's weight and family kilometres, giving clunks and uneven tyre wear.
Fix: Replace worn bushes/links and align; routine for a heavy MPV.
From 100k+ km · ~$300-900
low
Infotainment / reversing-camera glitches
Head-unit freezes, Bluetooth dropouts and reversing-camera image faults are reported, sometimes resolved by software updates.
Fix: Software update or unit replacement; check camera and screen work pre-purchase.
From Any · ~$0-800