How to get US seats to Australia?

[chrisbepost]

Hi there,

Can anyone help me find out whether the US Kia Sedona seats fit in the Australian Grand Carnival, and if so how to order them to Australia?

I am in Australia and want to buy a Grand Carnival. The thing that deters me at present is that the rear centre seats are both with lap-only belts.

According to KIA, the seats with 3-point belts don't meet an Australian Design Regulation.

However, I feel that this regulation is not right if denies Australians proper 3-point seat belts on all seats. I know that a lap and shoulder belt in the center rear is required for all new cars sold in the U.S. since September 2007(Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Occupant Crash Protection. Final Rule).

Can current Sedona owners confirm that post 2007 Sedonas have 3-point belts?

Also, does anyone have a good hook into KIA? I want to find an engineer who can confirm that Sedona seats would fit into Australian Grand Carnivals. The plan is to then order the centre seats with 3-point belts from the US and use them instead fo the current ones.

I feel my passenger's safety in 2009 has priority over some regulation. Especially when it requires KIA to sell this safety concious car with technology that was superseded in 1959 by Volvo's invetion of the 3-point belt, and technology that was abolished for passenger car seats in the US in 2007.

Thanks for your help.

Chris

[Shogunl]

I got 2006 Sedona and can tell you that it has 3 point seatbelts for ALL 7 passengers.
It is a Canadian vehicle and I am told that it is same in US

[chrisbepost]

Shogunl,

Thanks for the info. The Sedona/Carnival here in Oz is an 8 seater though. The 3rd row is a 50/50 split bench.

Though the front middle seat may fit. Can you take the one you have out easily?

Chris

[Shogunl]

It is stow and go 3rd row seat. I will take a look and see. I would say it should not be too hard to remove.