Kia Carnival wins Best Family Car under $80K

While average family sizes may be shrinking around the country, to those with a family that is anything but average, there’s no substitute for size, space and flexibility when it comes to family transportation.

Whether it’s an immediate family that stretches beyond the confines of a medium SUV, the need to include the extended family and bring the grandparents along for the ride, or a blended family that sees two families become one – boosting the numbers in the process – some families just need more.

It might be more space for bums on seats, more space for cargo as the little ones grow into big hobbies, or it might just be a need to have that space up your sleeve as teens hit their growth-spurt stage. Whatever the need, big family cars need to be more than just a bigger version of other cars on the road.

They need to be comfortable to help keep the peace on longer trips. They need to be adaptable and carry people and cargo with equal ease. They need to be safe, with your most precious cargo on board, but there’s no reason they shouldn’t also offer easy to handle dynamics for the driver too.

With all of that in mind, the Drive Car of the Year 2024 judges have a long list of requirements in their search for the Best Family Car under $80,000 and three strong competitors in the LDV Mifa, Mazda CX-90, and Kia Carnival.

Drive’s pick: Kia Carnival SLi diesel from $59,780 MSRP

Kia’s Carnival has set the benchmark for ultimate family motoring once again in 2024, backing up its 2023 win.

While the evolution of the Drive Car of the Year awards has seen this category expand from ‘best people mover’ to a broader ‘best car for families’ title over the years, the fundamentals haven’t changed, and the Carnival meets the needs of Australian families in a way no rival can match.

With a starting price from as low as $47,480 plus on-road costs, the eight-seat Carnival remains a budget-friendly choice and doesn’t compromise on flexibility for the price. Even the entry-level model provides configurable full-size seating in all three rows, and a huge amount of cargo space.

No matter which seat you claim, the Carnival’s tall dimensions and long wheelbase ensure there’s room for adults in all three rows or enough space to make installing child seats a much, much easier process.

With 627 litres of cargo space behind the third row, or 2785 litres to the second row, the Carnival offers more cargo space than the other cars in its DCOTY segment. All the more versatile to fill in as a makeshift van when required.

The available choice of a 216kW petrol V6 or 148kW four-cylinder turbo diesel engine offers buyers the option of smooth and powerful acceleration or a strong but frugal cruising engine in all grades, depending on what best fits your needs.

The all-important interior is where you’ll find the most to explore. From second-row seats that are individually adjustable to the availability of five ISOFIX child seat mounts, the Carnival can grow with your family and stay practical no matter what stage your brood is at.

Sliding side doors that don’t need much space to open, a cavernously deep boot, seats that are easy to fold and stow, and a range of practical storage nooks up front aren’t features you might prioritise, but they soon become hard to live without once you get familiar with all the Carnival offers.

Kia also backs its Australian range with a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, making it one of the best-supported new cars in Australia. Capped price servicing also adds some surety to the ownership journey, with the ability to see ahead of time how service costs will stack up (expect $2607 over the first five years for the diesel and $2491 for the petrol).

The final crowning piece of the puzzle is a five-star ANCAP safety rating from 2021 that provides impressive levels of protection for adults and children, along with driver-assist systems that may keep you out of harm’s way in the first place.

As the entire Carnival range fits in under the category’s $80,000 price cap, there’s no bad choice in the range, but the judging panel leans towards the well-equipped but still cost-mindful Carnival SLi diesel.

The top-spec Platinum model is almost limo-like with some of its appointments and is just about unequalled as a hotel shuttle. For real day-to-day family use, though, the SLi still pampers with leather trim, a powered driver’s seat, power sliding doors and tailgate, three-zone climate control, a 12.3-inch infotainment system, and a slew of family-friendly features without breaking the bank.

Editor’s note: Since judging, Kia has paused orders of V6 models. This article retains info on V6 models as it relates to stock in dealers.