The heart says Tucson, the family says Carnival and the mind says Innova Hycross.

BHPian aadiaksh recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I have already booked Toyota Hyryder and waiting for a test drive of the same.

I am in the market for an SUV/MUV with around 40 lacs in hand.

Requirement: Initially before the price reveal of Tucson, I was planning to book the same but for me, it feels around 5 lacs more than what it should be. That pushed my budget from 35 to 40 lacs as the car is striking and the diesel AWD is competent.

That led me into a rabbit hole of car reviews on here and decided to have a look at KIA Carnival Luxury Plus. The family liked the car very much. We need a comfortable 5 seater and it ticks the boxes for the whole family. Luxury, Engine, comfort and the wow factor that comes with a loaded car. It can comfortably sit 6 is an added plus which we have sorely missed in all of our previous cars.

Sometime around all this, the Innova diesel booking was stopped. And coincidently I took a relatives Innova Crysta for a 1200kms round trip with 5 people and 1 child with loads of luggage and found it to be very practical offering. That led to Hycross coming into the fold of shortlisted cars.

The heart says Tucson, the family says Carnival and the mind says Hycross.

I want to know what your suggestions might be on the subject as the process of booking the car has to start ASAP if it's not the Hycross that is finalized.

Note: Also looked at the Carens as well but removed from consideration due to safety concerns.

Here's what GTO had to say on the matter:

If you have 40-lakhs in hand, don't go for the Hyryder. Pick a superior vehicle and hold onto it for longer.

It can comfortably sit 6 is an added plus which we have sorely missed in all of our previous cars.

This single point pushes me into recommending the Carnival over the Tucson to you. Both are top-class cars. For your usage, the Carnival will offer a lot more luxury than the Innova Crysta.

Here's what BHPian GreasyCarb55 had to say on the matter:

While the KIA Carnival is a brilliant option. Great engine/transmission combo, boot bigger than a Honda City even with all 3 rows up and it's uber comfortable, only disadvantage is that the one we get in India is a last gen model and were only country that gets this model. Every other country where KIA sells the Carnival has got the latest gen model that debuted in North America in 2021.

The newly launched Tuscon is a great option too but do opt for the Diesel model, the petrol model is just "meh" to drive.

As for the Hycross I'd wait for it to be launched first, now yes it's a Toyota and their highest selling model at that, no seriously. The Innova (6036 units) sold twice as much as it's bigger brother the Fortuner (2581 units) in August 2022 and the next highest seller (regular Urban Cruiser) sold 3131 units. If you can wait for it to come out then I would wait, you can never be too sure.

I would also consider the following options:

1. Skoda Kodiaq - Since you're not necessarily looking for a 5 seater and not a 7 seater the Kodiaq is a great choice. Only disadvantage I can see is that we've now lost the 2.0 TDI diesel and it's now petrol only. So your wallet might take a beating if your usage is high. Approximate on road prices for Vapi, Gujarat are (41.35 Lakh Style, 42.44 Lakh Sportline, 44.1 Lakh L&K).

2. Citroen C5 Aircross - Now yes the recent price hike is unjustified but it's still a damn good car. The suspension and 170hp 2.0L Diesel combo is killer. Approximate on road prices for Vapi, Gujarat are (41 Lakh, Shine Dual Tone).

Here's what BHPian bijims had to say on the matter:

The Kia Carnival and Hyundai Tucson are both incredible offerings in their respective segments. The Carnival is one of the best people-movers you could get, whereas the Tucson is a modern, feature loaded SUV.

The Carnival is huge in size with 5115 mm of length, 1985 mm of width, 1755 mm of height, wheelbase of 3060 mm and a ground clearance of 180 mm. Whereas the Tucson is much more maneuverable with smaller dimensions.

The Tucson on sale in India has been recently updated whereas India is the only market where the previous generation Carnival is still on sale while other markets have gotten the facelifted version quite a while ago.

It is too early to comment on the Toyota Innova Hycross, and I would recommend you to wait till the launch and price reveal to get a clearer picture.

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.

I tried the lowest possible temperature and the highest fan speed to recheck if the AC is functioning, the result was absolutely no cooling.

BHPian vsrikkanth recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

KIA Carnival AC stops working immediately after 40000 kms service @JSP Kia, Hosur Road:

I am writing this to document the ordeal I'm going through after the 40,000 kms routine service at JSP KIA- Hosur Road , Bangalore .

The car was taken in for service on 16-07-2022. During the service, one of the service advisors (service head) informed me that a service campaign to replace 2 hose pipes for the engine coolant is due and compulsory as per instructions from Kia. When I asked why the hose pipes need replacement, I was informed that the stock hose pipes are subject to heating which may result in the pipes getting cut- leaking coolant . I therefore agreed reluctantly since I was worried about components in the engine bay being disturbed during the process . The service was completed and the car handed over by 4.30 PM . Given the Bangalore weather and intermittent rains, I did not switch on the AC . I hardly used the car for the next few days after service and those short trips was also made without switching on the AC.

Fast forward to Saturday , we started early morning 3.30 AM to Hyderabad and by about 8 am when I thought I will need AC, I noticed that the blower was functioning but there was no cooling. I tried the lowest possible temperature and the highest fan speed to recheck if the AC is functioning, the result was absolutely no cooling. Shocked by this, I called up service advisor Raja at JSP KIA - Hosur Road, Bangalore to check if he noticed any problem with the AC. He confirmed that the AC was functioning fine and denied all possibilities of wrong doings/human error by technicians at the service centre. I reached Hyderabad without AC and took the car for inspection to Kia Aautomotive in Gachbowli, Hyderabad.

Upon inspection, one gentleman (possibly the service head) was quick to conclude that my front bumper damage may have caused the rubbing between the condenser and the copper tubing. I told him that the front bumper damage happened more than 2 years ago and it is not logical / believable that the condenser which took the impact before 2 years did not fail for more than 24 months . As an evidence to my claim, I told him that he is free to check the service records at all service centres where my Kia Carvival was serviced since they will have pictures / records of damages when the vehicle was checked in and out. Then MR.Naresh accepted the possibility of technicians accidentally causing damage to the condenser while replacing the hose pipes .

Post this conversation, I shared pictures of the condenser with the service advisor at JSP Kia Bangalore. He too accepted the possibility of human error but he insisted on physical inspection of the car once I'm back to Bangalore. Therefore , I was forced to drive overnight with my wife and 2 children without AC from Hyderabad to Bangalore. I took the car for inspection today and he denied even the remotest of chances that the condenser could have been damaged due to lapses by the technicians . According to him, this is due to the impact that happened before 2 years and he believes that the perfectly fine AC which went bad immediately after service is purely a coincidence for which JSP Kia will not assume any responsibility. I am attaching the photo of the condenser as well as the front bumper for reference of the distinguished Team BHP members. It would be an under statement for me to say that the logic presented by the service advisor is plain ridiculous! Now I request opinions/thoughts/advice from Team BHP members on what is the best way forward . I'm told that the condenser replacement will set me back by atleast 25,000/- not including gas refilling.

Some of the unanswered questions in my mind:

• If the condenser was impacted along with the front bumper before 2 years, would it really take this long for the AC to fail ?
• If the condenser was indeed impacted before 2 years , how come none of the service centres across Hyderabad/Bangalore/Chennai catch this issue?
• 3. If JSP KIA, Bangalore is trying to hide the lapses of technicians behind a long existing bumper damage , how do I escalate this ?
• Is aluminum welding reliable if KIA hangs me out to dry with this issue ?

Update:

It was a wrong diagnosis. Apparently my right wheel landed in the crater and the damage was under the area around skid plate. That kind of twisted the condenser clamp and the copper piping rubbed against the condenser causing the damage and leak. Another ASS was able to diagnose this and explain the reason to my satisfaction. They even showed the area of impact. The old ASS who performed the routine service never checked the AC and upon raising a complaint they have probably lied that the AC worked fine when the vehicle was in their custody.

It happened before the routine service due to infamous Bangalore roads. It was a blind turn and I did not see the deep crater coming. Any car except Thar would have suffered some damage. The old ASS should have caught it if they had done their checks properly. Kia mandates 42 point check which includes AC too but am sure they won't check unless customer reports any issue. But it was a coincidence that the AC failed immediately after the service. The only fault of ASS is not running all checks and lying that the AC was functioning properly when they gave delivery. Given the climate in Bangalore, you will never notice AC issues immediately.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

I spent 4 lakhs on mods for my Maruti Ciaz a year back, but have started to find it uncomfortable for long highway drives now.

BHPian GoAudiJOSHI recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hello BHPians,

I have been using a Ciaz ZDI as my main driver (have clocked close to 1L KMs). I also have a Santro Automatic (2021) that I bought recently for local drives.

So the Ciaz is only used for longer runs, on average we clock about 20k KMS a year in ciaz (with multiple 700-800+ KMs per day routes)

1 Year back I went full retard. Spent over 4 Lakhs on the Mods (video). So I think it is time to start looking for a upgrade that will keep me and my family fresh even after a long highway drive.

My first thoughts were to look only for a 6/7 seater as we are a family of 4 adults + 2 kids (3 and 4 year old). But i do not want to compromise on other criteria and i am fine to stick to a sedan as full family traveling is only occasional.

My main criteria are

1. Needs to Be a Automatic
2. 6 Airbags
3. Should not be a boring car to drive.
4. Car should be keen to tackle corners and hills.
5. Ideal Budget ~30-40 Lakhs
6. No specific preference on Brands/Badge. (But i really dont want a waiting time that is more than 3 months)
7. All round Comfort for 5 passengers. Would be a blessing if there are any 6 seaters that can do this

Thanks in Advance

Narayan Joshi

Here's what GTO had to say on the matter:

1. 20,000 km a year = diesel preferred.

2. 90% highway = safety a top priority.

3. Comfort for 5, would be nice to accommodate 6.

New car options = Kia Carnival (mind-blowing comfort + space + excellent engine + gearbox), C5 Aircross (mind-blowing comfort & depth of engineering), Octavia (fun, but petrol). Drive these 3 and you'll be an instant convert. Close cousin recently bought an old stock 2021 build Octavia Style variant for 28 lakhs.

Options worth stretching the budget for, or you can consider them pre-owned = Camry (a Lexus with a T badge and reasonably fun to drive), Superb & Kodiaq (but petrol). You should strongly consider a pre-owned Kodiaq Diesel.

You should also consider a current-gen pre-owned 320d, 3-GT (lots of space) or 5-Series. BMW's reliability is very strong.

Here's what BHPian Excommunicado had to say on the matter:

Only one car meets your criteria to the fullest in your budget and its the Skoda Octavia. You must try it atleast once even if you go for something else later. Just think about the following points.

1. No SUV can beat the beauty and grace of a sedan.

2. Most heads of state have sedans as their 'Official state car'. I just had quick look through a wikipedia page with same title.

3. The Octavia has great proportions too. It is neither too massive to become a pain in the gluteal region while parking et al nor too small to be bullied by others in traffic or highways. Perfect!

4. The driving dynamics are great. There is no harm in calling it German. You can get away with it while doing so. It is acceptable.

5. The basics like safety and reliability are again top notch. You won't have to worry one bit. Recently BHPian roy1010's wife met with an accident in her Octavia. She came out unscathed with God's blessing and Octavia's great build quality.

Buy whatever your heart desires buddy and gives you peace of mind. You may wait for the Tucson which is arriving soon. It will be one heck of a competitor in < ₹40 lakh range. But as for my pick, it is the Octavia.

Here's what BHPian kushagra452 had to say on the matter:

There is no better highway cruiser than the Innova Crysta. The top model is well within your budget. The bullet proof reliability and the awesome resale value are legendary. IMO you should seriously consider the top diesel automatic variant of the Innova Crysta.

Here's what BHPian shreyans_jain had to say on the matter:

You can safely limit your options to Compass, Kodiaq, Meridian and Octavia. All very competent cars, and fair variety to accommodate different preferences. C5 Aircross as well, if you can make do with that weird rear seat. Will not suggest Carnival, the model will soon be phased out. The new generation is already on sale in international markets.

Your heavy running skews it in favour of diesel. Both Compass and Meridian have terrific highway fuel economy. Do note that none of these cars can truly accommodate 3 at the back, that kind of width is just not there. They all are super comfortable 4 seaters, but the rear bench is best for 2 adults + 1 kid. If you insist on accommodating 3 adults in proper comfort, your only options are the MG Gloster, and the soon to be replaced Kia Carnival. And they are no corner carvers.

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.

I think the best car to buy right now is a used Ford Endeavour 3.2. It had an update in 2018 with keyless entry and a few visuals changes and I absolutely love the way this model looks.

BHPian AutoV recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

No Perfect car in the 40L-45L range?

Hi Petrolheads, A quick introduction of me. I'm a 23years old Automobile Engineer. We are a Family of 5. My family loves road trips. We sold our 2013 Toyota Innova before the pandemic since it has crossed 5,00,000kms. This should give you an idea of our usage. We also have a 2013 Ford Endeavour 3.0 AT at home. After using and loving every minute of my 2013 Ford Endeavour 3.0 AT we have decided to sell the car and get another SUV to replace it.

The problems with our Endeavour are:

• The rear is very bumpy(due to the leaf springs).
• The floor is too high you sit in a slight knees-up position in the second row. The third-row seats are not for adults.
• The car somehow became noisier than when it was new. (the engine sound and the TC gearbox).
• Fuel efficiency is below average.

Expectations from the new car:

• Should have a very comfortable ride and very good NVH
• Must be a safe car with all the safety features, NCAP rating, etc.
• Nice and plush interiors.
• A long list of features and creature comforts.
• Hassle-free after-sales Network.
• Reliable and fuss-free ownership.
• Fun to drive, Mile muncher and highway cruiser.

So here’s the question.

Is there any perfect/good car for sale in India in the 40-45L range?

As far as I know, the answer is actually no.

First in consideration was the  Ford Endeavour. The Endeavour really was the best car in that price range but it failed to sell in good numbers compared to the Fortuner. Now that Ford India has shut shop here what are we Indians left with:

• Overpriced Fortuner.
• Outdated Kia Carnival.
• MG Gloster.
• Used Ford Endeavour 3.2.

Cars we considered:

Ford Endeavour 2021:

I drove the previous 3.2l Ford Endeavour and I can't help but notice how the performance is let down in the 2.0L one. It's a fast SUV but it is not as fun to drive as the 3.2. the new gearbox tries to hide the downsizing of the engine well but the punch from the 3.2 is still missing. But the Endeavour is cheaper to maintain than the competition. Moreover, I'm annoyed by the way Ford India keeps on removing features from the Endeavour. They removed Active Noise Cancellation,10 speakers system, Rear A/c with heating, Ambient lights near the door pads, backlight on the gear lever. Thought of waiting till the bi-turbo is launched but after Ford India’s exit, have to remove a brand new Endeavour from the list.

Used Ford Endeavour 3.2L 2018:

I think the best car to buy right now is a used Ford Endeavour 3.2. It had an update in 2018 with keyless entry and a few visuals changes and I absolutely love the way this model looks. Panel gaps are tight and this makes the whole car look strong and well built like a tank IMO. But the main problem here is there are not many 2018 Ford Endeavours 3.2 for sale in Hyderabad right now. I couldn’t find even one in the whole of Telangana in OLX. According to me a 2018 Endeavour 3.2L with 20,000-25,000kms on the odometer will be a good buy. If anyone here has any leads please help me find one.

Toyota Fortuner:

This car sells in good numbers and has slightly more road presence than any other SUV in this price range. Because it sells more, the resale value is also good (same with the Endeavour too, but people are not noticing it yet). I know some people who knew that Endeavour is a better car and still chose Fortuner because Fortuner is looked at as an investment. For example, a 3-year-old used Fortuner with 1lakh km on odo will easily fetch you 30-35l in Hyderabad. as a Toyota owner, I know that the after-sales service is on point though I think the service costs are a little on the higher side. The car is overpriced for sure and even after the new facelift it still misses many features. the ride is bumpy, my 2013 Endeavour rides well than the current generation Fortuner the NVH is also not as good as you expect. After paying 45.25l on road on would not like to hear the diesel clutter inside the cabin. The top-end costs 50L which is not justified according to me. My family hates the Fortuner. So it is not an option for me. But now I think there’s no competition for the Fortuner

Toyota Innova Crysta:

We already have an Innova Crysta in the family and we don't want to buy a new one the recent facelift is a minor one without any major changes the fact that the top end z variant gets only captain seats in the second row and the way the wheel wells eats up the space in the third-row seats didn't go well with my family we recently went to Tirupathi a one-way journey of 600kms from my place made my mom mad about the insufficient space in the third row. she used to sit in the third row of our old Innova and not complain at all the whole trip. the price of the Crysta is 28.7l for a manual which is overpriced for sure. the Crysta is also not an option for me.

Kia Carnival:

Haven't had a test drive in it yet but from the reviews, I saw I know that it has a low ground clearance. With 7 people on board, it will not only scrape the underbelly of the car on a speed breaker but will also cause some serious underbody damage if the driver couldn't notice the breaker on time. The ingress to the third row in the limousine variant looks hard. The fact that the driver gets cooled seats on the front passenger doesn't get one really annoys me. It has a small infotainment display but has two separate screens behind the headrests for the second and third-row passengers. The car looks very wide which will be a problem to drive and park on narrow roads. This is strictly a chauffeur-driven car I don’t think I’ll enjoy driving it as much as other cars. I don't have any serious complaints about the carnival. But the fact that the latest generation of carnival isn't being offered in India is holding me from buying the carnival.

Mahindra Alturas:

I don't like the looks of this SUV it is more car-like. It doesn't have enough road presence. The third row feels claustrophobic. The interior looks nice and premium. But I don't wish to own a 38L Mahindra. I worked as an intern in a Mahindra dealership service and seeing the way they treat a customer I would not invest a single lakh of my hard-earned money into buying a car from them. This dealer's service is really pathetic. This particular dealership where I worked is the worst I would wait at least 5 more years before buying a Mahindra I don't know about the other dealership. Hyderabad has only two major dealers. But my experience at this particular dealership where I worked has scared me for my life. Also, I don’t think they’re still selling the Alturas G4 anymore.

MG Gloster:

MG Gloster is packed with features and ADAS. But it’s a relatively new car and I’m a little sceptical about investing 47L on road for a freshly baked car. I test drove the Gloster the car felt a little bumpy at 20-25 speeds the car didn’t feel well put together and during the whole test drive which was for 30-40mins the navigation in the MID was not showing anything except a loading animation. The resolution of the 360-degree surround camera is not so great. I felt it didn’t have enough road presence. As mentioned in the Team BHP official review the low-end turbo lag is very evident and this makes the drive not as enjoyable as I would like. On the plus side, it is the longest with the best in class wheelbase amongst the competition.

Please help me decide on my next car. I didn’t consider Skoda Kodiaq because they’re all sold out. I can’t hold the purchase for later and need to book the car before Aug 2022.

Here's what GTO had to say on the matter:

No such thing as the perfect car, buddy, not even when you're spending 2 - 3 crore rupees. Every car has its pros & cons. You just have to pick that magical one that your head-and-heart agree on.

As per your expectations, the Kia Carnival is perfect for you. Either get the current one (super luxurious) or wait for Kia to launch the next-gen Carnival. An Innova Crysta 2.4L AT (with captain seats) will also suit your requirements really well.

Suggestion = take a spin in the Toyota Camry Hybrid. 15 kmpl in the city, almost "Lexus" levels of luxury, decently fun-to-drive and will easily last 300,000 - 400,000 km with proper maintenance. Drive it and you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Would've suggested the Kodiaq, but no way your high running can accommodate the usual Skoda nonsense & lack of reliability.

Here's what BHPian cool_dube had to say on the matter:

The "elusive" perfect car does not exist, my friend.

Since you have already ruled the Fortuner out (not sure if you test-drove the facelift version), you don't seem to have many options:

• XUV 7OO could pleasantly surprise you and save you some money as well, though waiting periods are a bummer.
• Facelifted Tiguan is a good mile muncher but running costs might be a deterrent, given your high usage.

If you do not find a well maintained Endeavour 3.2, your best bet is an Innova. Do try the facelifted Fortuner, it is a surprisingly good package.

Here's what BHPian SR-71 had to say on the matter:

A bit off topic, its interesting to see quiet a few recent posts including one from me on the same subject, in recent past. The common denominator is, what car in the 40 to 50L OTR price bracket! Clearly this is a space that is lacking choices. Either the options are overpriced for what they offer or the reliability is suspect. Options that existed at one point in time but are sorely missed now are the Endeavor, Accord, CR-V, Passat and Santa-Fe. It would have been lovely to have more of these options. Personally I have started believing that it might be worth waiting out this crazy demand vs supply mismatch to cool off.

Here's what BHPian CoolFamilyGuy had to say on the matter:

We own a Carnival Limousine Plus since November 2021. Haven't faced a ground clearance issue even with 7 passengers. Have tried some large speed breakers in nearby tier 2 towns and had no problems.

The new Kia Carnival launched outside India has the same power train and engine as the current one - and they work really well - never felt short on power and gear shifts have been sufficiently fast and smooth. Yes there is better electronics on offer in the new Carnival launched globally including a digital cockpit and 360 degree camera. If that's a deal breaker for you, then you might want to wait.

I drive the car myself, have personally not been using the ventilated seat as much, but again, thats my preference. If ventilated seats are very important then you might want to try other cars.

We are a family of 5 who could not sit comfortably in a 2 row car and really wanted a car with functional 3rd row and luxurious interiors with a comfortable ride. And of course reliable mechanicals and safety were top on our list of priorities.

Driving on narrow streets has been tricky but manageable. Parking however has been tough, especially in the city. However, if you are looking for a highway cruiser, then you might want to test drive the Carnival and decide for yourself. The only thing I am not sure of is long term reliability as compared to Toyota - given that you use your vehicle for a long term, you may want to stick to the Japanese options.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Prices of the Carnival MPV have increased by up to Rs. 54,000.

Just like other carmakers, Kia has also increased the prices of its models. Prices of the Sonet and Seltos have increased by up to Rs. 20,000.

Depending on the variant, prices of the Sonet have increased by Rs. 4,000 to Rs. 20,000. Seltos prices have increased by up to Rs. 10,000. The cost of the base 'HTE' variant remains unchanged.

Kia has also increased the prices of the Carnival MPV. The Premium and Prestige variants now cost Rs. 54,000 more, while the prices of the Limousine Plus variants has gone up by Rs. 50,000.

Kia is likely to discontinue the Carnival 9-seater variant and replace it with a 6-seater version.

The Kia Carnival Prestige 9-seater variant is likely to be replaced with a 6-seater version. According to a leaked price list, the new Prestige 6-seater variant could cost Rs. 28.95 lakh (ex-showroom).

The Carnival is available in four trims - Premium, Prestige, Limousine and Limousine Plus. The base variant is offered in a 7-seat or 8-seat configuration, while the Prestige trim comes in 6/7 seat layouts.

The top-spec Limousine and Limousine Plus variants are only available with 7-seats. These come equipped with features such as an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, 10.1-inch rear-seat entertainment system, a 10-way power driver seat with seat ventilation, tyre pressure monitoring system, to name a few.

The Kia Carnival is powered by a 2.2-litre, 4-cylinder diesel engine. It produces 197 BHP @ 3,800 rpm and 440 Nm @ 1,500-2,750 rpm. The engine is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission.

Source: Rushlane

In short, better interiors and stronger performance at a slightly cheaper price due to discounting sealed the deal for me. Finally, my mother really liked the Carnival, although she wouldn't say so for the fear of influencing me such that it impacts my rational thinking.

BHPian rrsteer recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Two months back, I bought a Kia Carnival (base variant) because of the Rs. 3.75 lakh discount being offered on it, which made it cheaper to purchase than the Innova Crysta VX - otherwise my preference.

I think there is almost an unwritten rule; all Innova buyers have to upgrade to  a Crysta. I can count at least 5-6 knowns who did exactly that. I was no different. I had gone to the Toyota showroom with the intent of booking a Crysta VX - a formality, in my eyes then, when we thought of making a trip to Kia just to check what was on offer with the Carnival, after being slightly disappointed with the Crysta's interiors and its pricing.

Needless to say, we were very impressed by the Carnival's interiors and who would not like to own a 200 bhp van? So, when the sales advisor put up a quote for the Carnival's base variant which was less than the Crysta's, we seriously started evaluating the Carnival. My big concern was its size, the width specifically and its overall reliability. Did a few test drives to allay our concerns around its size and spent some time on Google researching about its reliability. Turned out that it was a top pick in minivan segment in US by consumer reports in the year 2018 (from what I recall now), it fared the best among minivans in the JD power survey results for a few years and this particular generation was a best seller in Australia, and had a lot of positive reviews for the diesel variant from down under. In addition, the Aussie media or at least some of them reported that Hyundai/Kia along with Mazda were the companies that had little or relatively very less issues with DPF. In short, better interiors and stronger performance at a slightly cheaper price due to discounting sealed the deal for me. Finally, my mother really liked the Carnival, although she wouldn't say so for the fear of influencing me such that it impacts my rational thinking. She is huge on doing long driving holidays with the full family. So this was also a birthday gift to her. Bought it home on her birthday, much to her delight.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.