How far vehicle development has come in a relatively short time.

The SUV rules the roost in 2018.

Back in the 80s the eight seater van was a must have for families.

The Mitsubishi L300 and Toyota Lite Ace were the kings.

I owned a Lite Ace, and it was a fantastic vehicle clocking in excess of 300ks.

But it was basically a commercial vehicle with seats.

Comfort and safety were not a consideration.

How far we've come.

My latest road test vehicle is an eight seat Kia Carnival S Petrol.

It drives like a car.

The Carnival runs a 3.3 litre V6 putting out 206kw (276bhp).

It drives via an eight speed auto.

Fuel consumption on my test was 9/2l/100ks (29.3mpg).

The S is the entry level Carnival.

It gains five-star ANCAP safety rating.

Safety technology includes autonomous emergency braking (AEB), adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning and a reversing camera.

A big well done to Kia on the autonomous cruise control. A must for all new cars in my opinion.

The Carnival range has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, controlled through a new head unit featuring a 7.0-inch screen 

Seats are comfortable.

Luggage capacity particularly with the rear seats folded is enormous.

Leg room in the rear seats is cavenous. 

I drove the Carnival for about 1100ks and found its' handles and brakes like a car.

It goes where pointed. Acceleration is brisk. The ride is comfortable and smooth.

A big winner is Kia's seven year unlimited warranty. A market leader.

This is the most popular people mover in the country. It's not hard to see why.

RRP as tested $42490 plus on road costs. My rating 8.25/10.

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