Kia Carnival's dealer-level support experience in non-metros

The support is no match to what Toyota provided when I had the Innova.

BHPian rrsteer recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Thought I will use this thread to update members on dealer-level support for Carnival in non-metro cities in case of a mishap or for want of non-regular parts, and also an update on the performance of the Carnival that I bought in August last year and since then, have driven for over 7300 km.

First, the twin tragedies that struck the car and the support given by the local dealer.

First tragedy: A rat bite. On my way to Delhi and only after I entered the open highway, did I notice the clumsy acceleration and lack of top end? A quick review on the spot confirmed a rat bite. The thing to note here is that the car is parked in the same parking area where I used to park the Innova (the car, Carnival replaced). Never before had an incident of a rat bite in the 9 years or so that the Innova occupied the space!

The rat bite:

The local Kia dealer concluded that the whole engine wiring would need a replacement - costing about Rs 70k (which was covered under the insurance I bought). They were upfront that the wiring is not readily available and it would take about 15 days to get the part from the factory. But after waiting for over 20 days with only half-answers coming from the dealer and an attitude of nonchalance, I called up the Kia helpline. They asked me to try another nearby dealership. So I called up the Ludhiana Kia dealership, shared pics with them, who in turn opined, it was just a repair job. Long story short, the next day the car was back to proper running condition (it took them 30 mins and I wasn't charged), and promptly took it to Delhi to complete unfinished business.

Second tragedy. On the way back from Delhi the car was parked on the roadside. It was dark but the area was well lit and I had the blinkers on. An electric rickshaw just came and scraped along the length of the standing car. The result is below:

As per the local dealer the rear bumper, front door and the quarter panel need replacement. It's been 2 weeks now, and am still waiting for the parts to arrive. I am told they will receive the parts tomorrow. Overall, I find the support from the local Jalandhar Kia dealership to be poor. I miss the Toyota treatment. Let me say this in capital letters - IN MY BOOKS TOYOTA DESERVES THE PREMIUM THEY CHARGE ON THEIR CARS. THEIR SERVICE IS HEAD & SHOULDERS ABOVE OTHERS.

Performance update:

I will keep it simple and list the biggest positive and negative for me in the +7k km that I have driven the car.

Biggest positive: The engine gearbox combo. I just love to drive this behemoth. And, this hasn't cost me the bank yet. Have a look at the FE figures below. (Yes, it's mostly highway driven and I use cruise control liberally - but even so, it's a step up from the last car, with added comfort, convenience and speed!)

Biggest negative: Handling over bad roads. I drive the car on almost the same roads as the Innova. What's new to me is how frequently I find myself in a position where the rear of the car is losing grip over slightly broken roads or when driven over the rumble strip. Never noticed this on the Innova.

PS: The official T-Bhp review had got me somewhat scared about the car's GC or lack of it. I think it's a non-issue, have not scrapped the car anywhere so far. (Touchwood though, given the recent tragedies that have befallen the car)

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

Sorry for the trouble you are facing. I have a feeling this delay in parts has more to do with having an uncommon car and is not manufacturer specific. An Innova or Fortuner does not face parts delay because they are so common and even the rural dealerships stocks parts for them. Imagine having a Camry or Vellfire. You will probably face the same delay with Toyota. Similarly, I don't think a Seltos or Sonet will face such part delays.

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