Kia Carnival rental in Melbourne

Why choose a Carnival

The Carnival seats eight in three rows, and its sliding side doors make it much easier to load children and older passengers in a tight car park than an SUV's hinged doors. It is a van-shaped wagon rather than an SUV, so the cabin is long and the third row is easier to reach, which suits airport runs and family holidays down the coast. GT-Line is the highest trim listed for recent Carnivals and has the same eight seats.

Running costs

The Green Vehicle Guide lists the current-generation Carnival, released in 2020, at 6.5 L/100km combined with the 2.2-litre turbo-diesel and 9.6 L/100km with the 3.5-litre petrol V6. The 2024 Carnival GT-Line hybrid is listed at 5.8. The previous generation's diesel, listed from 2018, is rated at 7.6. Diesel or petrol makes a real difference over a week of heavy use, so check which engine your listing has.

Practical points

• Size: the Carnival is long. Reverse parking takes more care, and some older multi-level car parks feel tight.
• Seating: every Carnival listed by the Green Vehicle Guide from 2015 onwards is an eight-seater.
• Rideshare: Uber's Melbourne page describes UberXL vehicles as 4-door SUVs or large passenger vans seating six to seven passengers plus the driver. Whether a given Carnival qualifies depends on Uber's current rules and the car's age.

Renting one

Listings show each Carnival's year, engine, weekly rent and bond. We accept P-plates for the rental itself (Uber asks its drivers for a full licence held 6 months), and pickup is from Dandenong South.