160401 Kia Carnival VS Hyundai iMax 01
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Andrea Matthews15 Apr 2016
REVIEW

Hyundai iMax v Kia Carnival 2016 Comparison

Family matters: we pit two popular Korean-built people-movers in a head-to-head comparison

Hyundai iMax v Kia Carnival Platinum
Comparison Test

The minivan segment in Australia may be small compared to SUVs but sales of seven and eight-seater people-movers have grown by 20 per cent over the past 12 months. Growth in the segment is being driven by sales of the popular Kia Carnival, Australia’s best-selling people -mover. The SUV-based Carnival sells around three times as many units as the van-based Hyundai iMax. But with the iMax undergoing a recent model update, we set out to see how the two compare today.

People-movers are hardly the glamour models of the new car market. But if you’re in need of a genuine eight-seater at an affordable price-point, then there are few options open to you.

We put the updated 2016 Hyundai SeriesII iMax to the test against the 2016 Kia Carnival Platinum. Based on the Hyundai iLoad commercial vehicle, the iMax is a full eight-seater, with a three-row layout while the Carnival has a similar layout but is based on the Kia Sorento SUV platform.

The vehicles are very similar in length, the iMax is just a touch longer at 5150mm compared to the Carnival’s 5115, however, the difference in body styles gives them a very different silhouette. The iMax casts a boxy shadow with its traditional minibus shape whereas the Carnival has a sleeker, family wagon look to it.

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From the exterior, the iMax certainly appears like it has much more spacious accommodation, particularly when it comes to headroom. But the Carnival proves itself to be quite the surprise, packing plenty of features within its streamlined form.

Boot space is expansive in each vehicle, leaving you confident that you can carry sufficient luggage for all passengers on board. The Hyundai’s rear opening is wide and deep, offering 842 litres capacity; but the Carnival can carry an additional 118 litres with all eight seats in play.

Ironically for a van-based vehicle, the fixed seat configuration of the iMax limits its flexibility to carry larger loads. It has a static eight-seat layout, and seats cannot be folded flat or easily removed.

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The Carnival, however, has a much more flexible seating arrangement, which would be familiar to drivers of SUVs. While all seats in the third row are full-sized, and can easily accommodate adult frames, when not needed they can be folded flat into the boot space, upping load capacity to 2220 litres. The rear of the Carnival becomes positively cavernous with the middle seat of the second row removed, and the car reduced to a four-seater, ballooning to 4022 litres of carrying capacity.

The sliding rear doors on the Carnival are simpler to use as they are powered by remote or by operation of the handle or buttons inside the vehicle. The rear door is also powered and will automatically raise complete with an audible warning as you approach the rear with the sensor key. The iMax requires manual operation of both rear doors and the rear tailgate.

The Hyundai does win on access to the third-row for passengers. Thanks to a much larger door aperture, and a second-row which offers 60:40 tilting seats that can be slid forward, access to the third row is easy and almost elegant for adult passengers.

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While the second-row seats tumble forward and slide more easily in the Carnival, its smaller door aperture does make for a tighter entry and exit into the third row. If you don’t need all the seat positions, however, removal of the middle seat in the second row creates a useful corridor to the third row.

Each vehicle is of course, much easier to access for child passengers who are likely to make up the majority of the third-row occupants.

Although the rear of the iMax definitely feels more spacious than the Carnival, head and legroom is surprisingly good in the rear of the Kia, and the third row in each vehicle is vastly preferable to most jump-seat options found in seven-seat SUVs.

Drive experience
The powertrains of each vehicle on test were quite different, but each showed relative merit.

The iMax is powered by a 2.5-litre four-cylinder 125kW turbo-diesel engine which is paired to a five-speed automatic. Performance from the engine is strong, and given the size and weight of the iMax, it is certainly far from sluggish.

Pick up on acceleration is good and the vehicle moves seamlessly through the five gears. While there is some noise intrusion from the diesel engine, it’s certainly not bothersome.

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The iMax has a commanding driving position which gives good visibility but it does feel a little like you are piloting a commercial van or minibus, and not a family vehicle.

The Carnival on the other hand, delivers a more satisfying drive experience and is more pleasant as a daily driver. The Platinum model on test featured a 3.3-litre V6 petrol engine matched with a six-speed automatic transmission. It’s an impressive unit that generates 206kW/336Nm. It accelerates happily and even delivers with a pleasant engine note that lets you know you’re definitely not behind the wheel of a four-cylinder vehicle.

The Carnival’s SUV-based platform comes into play once on the open road. It’s much more compliant than the iMax thanks to its shorter wheelbase and lower height which gives it a more nimble feel. You’re sitting lower in the car, more akin to a traditional SUV driver’s position and this gives a better sense of control and connection to the vehicle – important factors if you’re a driver that’s looking to move yourself as well as your guests.

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Priced to please
The contrast between the standard inclusions of the two vehicles really is quite marked as you might expect given their relative price difference.

The Hyundai iMax on test is priced from $46,490 (plus ORCs). There aren’t many options available to you if you want to pick an iMax. There’s one specification available with a choice of either a 2.4-litre petrol or 2.5 litre turbo-diesel engine, with the diesel available as either a manual or five-speed automatic transmission. You’re also only allowed to pick one of three colours, white, silver or black so if you’re a driver who likes to stand out from the crowd then the iMax may disappoint.

Kia offers a wider choice of models and options for its Carnival range. You can pick from the 3.3-litre petrol engine or 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engine. There’s no manual gearbox available with each engine paired exclusively with a six-speed automatic transmission. Four models are available, the S, Si, SLi and Platinum. We’ve tested the Platinum model here which is available for $58,290 (plus ORCs).

Feature packed
The iMax features are quite utilitarian as you might expect from the price. Cloth seats are standard fitment, and the finishes are clean but fairly basic. The updated centre stack is simple in its design, housing a newly-introduced 7.0-inch touch screen to control audio functions across the vehicles four-speakers. Hyundai has also added a much-needed reverse camera to iMax models with image displayed on the new screen.

There’s not much interior stowage available from the driver’s position in the iMax when compared to the Kia. The van-style layout means there’s an expansive area between the driver’s seat and the front passenger. It’s a good spot to throw a handbag or two, but there’s a lack of storage bins in the centre in which to stash phones or a wallet.

By contrast the Carnival offers a huge range of useful storage cubbies which are cleverly designed and easily accessible for the driver. There’s a sliding cover for the cup holders, a cavernous bin for stashing large items and a tray for bits and pieces. It feels like the designers have paid much more attention to detail in the Kia’s cabin – and it’s certainly an enjoyable place to be.

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The Platinum model has an impressive array of features too, which you’d be hard pushed to find in other vehicles at this price. Seats are leather-trimmed throughout, with the driver’s and passenger’s seats each featuring both heating and cooling functions. For chilly mornings, the heated steering wheel offers excellent comfort for the driver.

Technology is also well ahead of the pack, with the Carnival Platinum featuring a high-quality 360-degree camera to ensure pin-point accuracy when parking. While manoeuvring in tight spots, we found the rear cross-traffic alert to be particularly useful as it not only picked up approaching vehicles, but alerted us to pedestrians in the blind-spot caused by the vehicles thick C-pillar.

Other driver-assist technologies typically found on much more premium vehicles include Blind Spot Detection, Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collison Alert and front and rear parking sensors.

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The Carnival also trumps the iMax with passive safety features. It includes six airbags compared to the Hyundai’s four. Both vehicles feature driver and front passenger airbags and while front side airbags were added to this Series II update for the iMax, it still misses out on curtain airbags which are standard fitment in the Carnival.

The structure of the Carnival has also been strengthened recently to improve its performance in a frontal crash situation, resulting in an upgrade to a five-star ANCAP rating, while the iMax retains just a four-star rating.

Child restraints are well catered for in both vehicles, the iMax offering two ISOFIX points plus three top-tether anchors. The Carnival ups the ante to three ISOFIX points and four top-tether anchor points.

Warranty matters
Both vehicles are supported by their manufacturer’s exceptional aftersales packages but yet again, the Kia wins out with its comprehensive seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty. Kia offers capped price servicing which can be found on its website, offering full transparency of ownership costs. It also includes seven-year roadside assistance program and its warranty is fully transferable to the next owner.

Hyundai is supporting iMax owners with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty and 12-months roadside assistance. It also offers capped-price servicing, with details of the service schedule available online.

Each manufacturer offers the first service free of charge. Hyundai’s is offered at 1500km while Kia wants to see you again at 3000km. Expect the 12-month/ 15,000km service of your iMax to cost $422 while the equivalent service in the Carnival will cost you $349.

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The Verdict
The Hyundai iMax is a great package for its price and will transport you and your seven passengers without fuss. It’s got good accommodation throughout the cabin, and the boot space is adequate; although that lack of flexibility makes it less than attractive if your vehicle needs to serve multiple purposes.

The driving position does give a commanding view, but the trade-off is that you do feel a bit like a bus driver, ferrying your passengers around.

The Kia Carnival Platinum on the other hand serves a sold dual purpose of providing for both passengers in terms of comfort and driver in terms of convenience.

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It’s hard to think of another vehicle on the market that includes the level of features that Kia has packaged into the Carnival Platinum for the price.

It proves that you don’t need to sacrifice any of your creature comforts once the brood starts growing and is our pick of the two in this comparison.

2016 Kia Carnival Platinum pricing and specifications:
Price: $58,290 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 3.3-litre six-cylinder petrol
Output: 206kW/336Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 11.6L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 271g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP

2016 Hyundai iMax pricing and specifications:
Price: $46,490 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 125kW/441Nm
Transmission: Five-speed automatic
Fuel: 9L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 238g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Four-star ANCAP

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Written byAndrea Matthews
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