A QUICK survey of traffic around Australia’s tourist hot-spots – such as the Gold Coast for example – and it’s clear that Kia has hit pay dirt with the Carnival people-mover. Families wanting guaranteed space for three generations of people and their possessions, groups of friends splitting the rental car bill, airport transfers, tour operators – they’re usually in a Carnival.

Sales figures back this up. At the time of writing, the Carnival comfortably dominated Australia’s sub-$60,000 people-mover segment with a whopping 56.1 per cent share, followed distantly by the Honda Odyssey on 13.7 per cent.

With no sign of its popularity waning three years into its lifecycle, the third-generation Carnival has nevertheless received an update.

And after a week put through the GoAuto grinder, it’s clear to see why these things sell like fairy floss at the fair.