sprengBoard
Well-known member
Has anyone tried Kia’s new on-demand test drive service for the Niro EV and Carnival?
I first heard about it a couple weeks ago and signed up to drive the Carnival. A rep from Kia Corporate (not a salesperson) brought a Carnival SXP to my house this evening and we spent a little over an hour going over all the features, test driving, and chatting. Overall it was a great experience, and I hope they’ll include the Telluride in the program soon!
The Carnival is definitely a nice vehicle but there are, obviously, some major differences between it and the Telluride. I have yet to drive a Telluride, but I have been in a few. Here are my impressions of the Carnival:
www.kiamedia.com
I first heard about it a couple weeks ago and signed up to drive the Carnival. A rep from Kia Corporate (not a salesperson) brought a Carnival SXP to my house this evening and we spent a little over an hour going over all the features, test driving, and chatting. Overall it was a great experience, and I hope they’ll include the Telluride in the program soon!
The Carnival is definitely a nice vehicle but there are, obviously, some major differences between it and the Telluride. I have yet to drive a Telluride, but I have been in a few. Here are my impressions of the Carnival:
- Drives like a much smaller vehicle. Steering is quick and precise, suspension is taught and well-controlled. There was some harshness over road imperfections but the tires were still overinflated from original transport. Throttle is responsive and lively, almost sporty compared to my ‘21 Honda Pilot
- Digital gauge cluster is nice but somewhat gimmicky in my opinion. Only real difference between it and the Telluride’s cluster is the ability to change to style of the gauges, and the blind spot view is on the sides rather than in the middle. No HUD (disappointing), and no ISG(!)
- Front row feels very airy. The dash is pretty much flat, which yields a lot of knee room. Seats are comfortable but not as supportive as the Telluride’s.
- 2nd row is about average for a
minivanMPV. The Prestige 2nd row lounge chairs are nice in theory but the execution is somewhat lacking - there isn’t enough room to make full use of the leg rests (I’m relatively short at 5’7 and could put them up all the way because my feet were hurting the back of the front seat, which was in my normal driving position). In order to even think about raising the leg rests you have the slide the seat inward and back using manual handles on the outer side, then use the power buttons on the inner side (3 separate steps). When one or more of the seats are slid inward there isn’t enough room for even moderate sized people to access the 3rd row between them. There are multiple power adjustments on the lounge chairs, most of which can be used with the seats in the outward position. - 3rd row is, again, average. Adults can sit back there in relative comfort, though the seats are on the hard side. Quite a bit of reclinability (is that a real word)?
- All SX trims, Prestige or not, come standard with rear seat entertainment. Similar setup as the Telluride (faux tablets behind the front headrests) but I’ve read the Carnival’s work much better. I didn’t mess with them.
- Front end looked fabulous. Bi-projector LED low beams and high beams (8 small projectors in total) plus LED fogs. Definitely has a futuristic look. Panthera Metal paint also looked great.
KIA AMERICA INTRODUCES NEW ON-DEMAND, AT-HOME CAR SHOPPING EXPERIENCE
Embracing the on-demand, at-home economy, Kia America has announced the new “Kia@Home” product and brand experience which delivers scheduled test drives of two of Kia’s most technologically advanced vehicles direct to consumers at a convenient location of their choosing in several major cities...
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