1 star.
At the end of the day, we signed the paperwork, so we take responsibility for not slowing down and triple checking every feature and trim level ourselves. However, the issue we had was the amount of incorrect information given by the sales staff regarding the Kia Carnival trims and features.
About two months before purchasing, we did our first test drive with one salesperson who told us we were driving the base model, when it was actually the EX trim. Recently, when we came back and purchased with a different salesperson, features were discussed as if they were included on the trim we bought. Because of those conversations, we believed we were only stepping down one trim level and giving up a few small features, not buying the actual base trim.
After getting home and spending time with the vehicle, we realized multiple features we thought were included were not there. Again, we accept responsibility for signing the paperwork and not researching more deeply ourselves, but the dealership employees should know their own vehicles and trims before advising customers.
I will recognize they did meet one of our needs. I had a limited amount of time because I was on a work break, and they did a lot of the negotiating and paperwork preparation over the phone before we arrived. That part of the process was smooth and appreciated.
However, we had multiple needs, not just speed. We specifically mentioned multiple times that the SX trim was the one we really liked, and that we were okay stepping down one trim level to save money. At no point did anyone stop and clearly explain, "Hey, this is actually the base trim, so you are losing a lot compared to both the SX and the EX." If someone had simply explained that clearly, we would have immediately realized the mistake before signing.
That kind of honesty and product knowledge would have made us even more loyal customers long term.
What disappointed us most was the lack of willingness to reasonably work with us afterward. We were willing to trade up immediately into a higher trim, meaning the dealership would have made another sale at a higher price. We understood there would be some loss because vehicles depreciate once driven off the lot, and we were realistic about that.
However, being told the vehicle had essentially lost around $11,000 in value after only 3 days and minimal use was not something we could financially justify. Especially considering we received a strong deal originally, the dealership could have likely resold the vehicle close to what we paid and worked with us somewhere in the middle. Even something closer to a small loss on our side would have kept us loyal customers long term.
Instead, it felt like once the paperwork was signed, customer service no longer mattered.
The Carnival itself is a great vehicle. This review is strictly about the dealership experience and the lack of product knowledge and post-sale support. Buyers should absolutely triple check every trim, package, and feature themselves and not rely solely on the expertise of the sales staff.
Unfortunately, because of this experience, we will not be recommending this dealership to friends or family. read more