Details of Cars

Kia Joice: the seven-seat MPV shared with Hyundai

KIA

Kia Joice at Lyon
Kia Joice 2.0 in Lyon. Photo by Guillaume Vachey, CC0 via Wikimedia Commons.

The Kia Joice was a seven-seat compact MPV that Kia produced between 1999 and 2002. It was developed together with Hyundai and shared its platform with the Hyundai Santamo, and the same vehicle was also sold under the Kia Carstar name.

Kia Joice at a glance

Kia Joice key facts
Maker Kia Motors
Production 1999–2002
Also called Kia Carstar
Developed with Hyundai Motor Company
Platform shared with the Hyundai Santamo
Engine 2.0-litre petrol
Power 120 to 139 hp
Seats seven
Facelift 2001, for the European market

Based on one short source, the English Wikipedia article on the Joice.

History of the Kia Joice

The Joice was one of the first cars Kia developed jointly with Hyundai, after the two companies came together, and it used the same platform as the Hyundai Santamo. It was a compact MPV with three rows of seats, a body shape that was growing quickly in Europe at the time.

Kia Joice, rear view
Kia Joice from the rear. Photo by Guillaume Vachey, CC0 via Wikimedia Commons.

Engine

A single 2.0-litre petrol engine was offered, rated between 120 and 139 horsepower depending on the version and market. The car was intended as a family vehicle rather than a fast one, and the seven-seat layout was its main selling point.

Facelift

In 2001 Kia introduced a facelifted Joice for the European market, revising the car towards the end of its short production run. The same vehicle was sold in some markets as the Kia Carstar, a name that was used for the commercial or entry-level version of the MPV.

Production ended in 2002. The Joice was one of the models that prepared the ground for Kia’s later MPVs, the Carens and the Carnival, which were developed entirely by Kia and sold in far greater numbers.

Design and features

  • Seven seats: three rows in a compact body, aimed at families.
  • Hyundai link: co-developed with Hyundai and based on the Santamo platform.
  • Two names: Joice in most markets, Carstar for the other version.
  • Short life: built for only three years.

Kia Joice versions

  • Joice (1999–2001): the original seven-seat MPV.
  • Joice facelift (2001–2002): revised for Europe.
  • Carstar: the alternative name used for the same vehicle.

The Joice came before Kia’s better-known Carens and Carnival MPVs, and it shared its platform with the Hyundai Santamo. More Kia models are in the Kia collection.

Sources

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