The 'Good' ratings awarded by the IIHS are its highest possible rating and, according to the institute, represents the best protection for people of all sizes in a typical rear-end crash.

"It is becoming well-known that Kia builds safety into all of its vehicles and the (Carnival) and Sorento are just the latest examples to pass independent testing," said Len Hunt, executive vice president and COO of Kia Motors America (KMA). "We strive to provide our customers with quality vehicles that are equipped with the best available safety features."

The IIHS bases their ratings of Good, Acceptable, Marginal or Poor on geometric measurements of head restraints and simulated crashes that, according to the IIHS, when combined assess how well people of different sizes would be protected in an average rear crash.

The Carnival and the Sorento continue to perform well in both crash safety tests and owner satisfaction surveys. Both the Carnival and the Sorento were recently honoured with the "Best Bet" distinction from The Car Book 2007 in the USA.

The Carnival has collected a number of accolades, including receiving the "Top Safety Pick" from the IIHS for the past two consecutive years and the 2007 "Best Minivan" award from Motorweek.

When the Motorweek award was announced earlier this year, John Davis, executive producer, host and producer of the programme said, "The leaps that Kia has made in perceived quality with each new vehicle are well documented and the (Grand Carnival) is just the latest example. From school bus to apartment-moving, minivans are the most versatile vehicles on the planet and this one is tops."