Is this Kia Carnival a good buy?

Would I have trouble with a 2007 Kia Carnival 2.9 diesel with 80,000km on the clock? When does the timing belt need replacing and are they reliable? Priced at €6,950 - is this fair?

Thanks

Dorothy Byrne (Dublin)

Jun 2013 Filed under: choosing used car

---

Expert answer

Hi Dorothy,

OK, the official schedule for changing the timing belt is 60,000 miles so if the one you're looking at hasn't had it done, it's on serious borrowed time. Other than that, they're very reliable, one of the most solidly built cars you can buy. We've heard reports of intermittent issues with the electric sliding side doors and some problems with the infotainment system, but the main mechanical package is pretty tough. In 2010, the Carnival got upgraded to the full Kia seven-year warranty, so that just shows you the faith Kia has in it.

Neil Briscoe - Complete Car Adviser
@neilmbriscoe