IT’S fair to say Kia is on a roll at the moment, pumping out some of the best cars available across just about all of the segments it’s present in, and that trend looks set to continue with the new fourth-generation Carnival people carrier.

Riding on a new platform and brandishing a whole new look, Kia is marketing the latest version of its biggest family hauler as a GUV – a ‘grand utility vehicle’ – given its resemblance to a plus-sized SUV.

According to global Kia executives, the new Carnival was specifically designed to “appeal to progressive young families, with a leading combination of innovation, flexibility, and style”.

Pricing for the new model starts at $46,880 plus on-roads for the entry-level S petrol and tops out at $66,680 for the Platinum diesel, marking price increases of between $3000-$4000 across the range.

For the extra outlay however, punters score an updated platform and drivetrains, increased refinement, more standard kit and more standard safety gear across the range.

To see how fit the new model is to take over the mantra as Australia’s best-selling people carrier, we spent some time putting the flagship diesel through its paces both around town and on the open road doing all the things a giant family hauler could be expected to do.