Kia insists the Carnival isn’t a minivan—it’s a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV). Call it whatever you want, but at the end of the day, it’s designed to move people and cargo with ease and comfort. Despite being on the market for only a few years, Kia has already decided it’s time for a major refresh.
For 2025, the Carnival gets a hybrid option, a fresh new look at both ends, and several interior upgrades. The infotainment system is faster and more intuitive, the safety features have been refined, and overall, it’s a more polished package. But why such a major refresh so soon?
Read: 2025 Kia Carnival Rocks A Swankier Face And Goes Hybrid, Tech-Heavy For U.S. Release
We drove the original Carnival a little less than two years ago and really enjoyed it. Did Kia improve upon that recipe or did it add a few too many brush strokes to an already good painting? To find out, we just tested the latest version for a week.
We packed it with people more than a few times, put it through its paces on highways and city streets, and even used it to haul gear and furniture. What we found? While Kia made a couple of minor missteps, the big picture is clear—this minivan (sorry, MPV) has gone from very good to genuinely great.
QUICK FACTS
A Minivan That Wants to Be an SUV
Perhaps the most striking change to the Carnival is obvious from the outside. This people mover looks a lot more like an SUV than ever before. In fact, having driven it back to back with the Sorento, it basically looks like a larger version of the smaller three-row SUV. The headlights and tail lights both get Kia’s latest design iteration with lengthy light bars and sharp angles.
The updated Carnival uses a great deal of darkened body pieces, and in our case black wheels, for a more rugged look. To my eyes, it’s quite attractive compared to other competitors in this space. If anything, it feels like the most cohesive and modern exterior design among minivans currently available on the market.
An Interior Built for Real Life (Mostly)
The Carnival’s new interior might be the change families will appreciate the most. There are several little nips and tucks here and there to improve the experience. The dash design is a little cleaner, which makes finding controls easier. The infotainment system continues to be a highlight, with quick reactions and native support for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
The seats are comfortable and spacious, with the second row being a standout. Our test car featured the 40/20/40 split second-row bench and it’s great. When hauling just two people in the back, the middle seat can fold down to become a tabletop/cup holder. The magic really happens when there are three people though, because the one sitting in the middle gets to decide how to ride.
By that, we mean that they can huddle up in the third row or use the in-floor sliding system to move the middle second-row seat far back to the point that they have the best legroom in the building. Moreover, the third row isn’t bad at all. Not only does it stow totally flat in the floor but it’s comfortable when deployed. All passengers in this particular Carnival benefited from the dual sunroof which opens fully.
Photos: Stephen Rivers/Carscoops
It’s also worth noting that Kia might have paid attention to those who have complained about the piano-black plastics in the cabin. Sure, there are still some and they to pick up smudges and fingerprints constantly, but their use is heavily diminished compared to the 2024 model.
Not everything is a move in the right direction though. For 2025, the Carnival now has the same climate control system as several other Kias dating back to 2022. It functions well, but it requires users to switch between it and the media controls. The two are not accessible at the same time.
That’s probably a small thing and one that drivers get used to over time, but after testing several cars from Kia, at times I still inadvertently turn up the heat when I’m trying to turn up the volume. It’s annoying and as we’ve noted in other reviews, there is space for a second row of buttons which would solve the issue.
Other slight gripes are almost completely gone for the 2025 Carnival. For example, the lounge chairs that were previously standard on some trims are now optional. That’s great because while they’re very comfortable and awesome on long road trips, they’re not very practical since they can’t be removed or stowed.
That out of the way, let’s talk a little about storage. The Carnival offers up to 40 cubic feet behind the third row. That’s gargantuan by most SUV standards. For example, it’s just 1.5 cubic feet short of what’s available behind the third row of a Cadillac Escalade ESV. And the Kia fits just as many people as the Escalade, but with more space for each of them. Fold the seats down and the cargo hold expands to 87 feet which, again, is very good. Despite that, some rivals like Honda and Chrysler offer slightly more.
Smooth Ride, Surprisingly Fun to Drive
We liked the way the Carnival drove when we first sampled it in mid-2023. While Kia has provided several updates worthy of comment, there aren’t any regarding the driving experience. At first, that might seem normal, but remember that this is a new drivetrain. The old V6 is still available, but this new 1.6-liter hybrid engine is mated to a six-speed automatic rather than an eight-speed.
In addition, the hybrid offers 242 hp (180 kW), which is less than the gas-only version’s 290 hp (216 kW). Despite that, the dynamics of the sharp but not overly darty minivan are unchanged. The steering is great, the brakes are linear, and the throttle is responsive. Less power might seem like a negative, but the 72 hp (53 kW) electric motor driving the front wheels makes up for that.
Minivans are best when they drive as much like a car as possible, and the Carnival does that. At times I found myself zipping in and out of lanes, intersections, or other traffic situations with a higher degree of confidence than I expected behind the wheel of something this large.
Body roll continues to be a non-issue and visibility is excellent. In reality, some of the driving dynamics here matter less than the comfort on offer. Thankfully, that’s above average too. The cabin is kept quiet thanks to a largely smooth-riding suspension and, in this case, a set of Continental tires. Sometimes regenerative braking systems like the one here can be a bit uncivilized as they switch between regen and conventional braking components. While we’ve heard reports of this in the Carnival Hybrid, we didn’t experience the same problem in our testing.
What we did end up experiencing though was a slight gap between EPA-estimated fuel efficiency figures and our results. Rather than achieve up to 34 mpg in the city and 31 on the highway, we managed just 27.4 mpg in combined driving. Some of that might come down to driving many miles with a Carnival full of adults, and some of it could’ve come from a heavier right foot than the average Carnival driver might have. Either way, it’s worth keeping in mind.
How It Stacks Up Against the Competition
Rarely in today’s age is a segment so tight and straightforward, but the world of MPVs is exactly that. Chrysler, Honda, and Toyota are the only other players in this space and each provides a unique take on their models. In my view, none look as good as the Kia. That said, it’s important to consider the strength of each platform.
The Odyssey features great driving dynamics for a minivan and is also the quickest of the bunch. Beyond that, it’s not really any more innovative than the Carnival or other rivals. It, like the Kia, it is only available with front-wheel drive. Unlike the Korean model, though, it’s not available with a hybrid drivetrain.
Speaking of hybrids and all-wheel drive, those are the big keys to the Toyota Sienna. It’s only available as a hybrid and buyers can add all-wheel drive should they desire. On top of that, it’s comfortable, fully modernized, and can achieve up to 36 mpg combined.
Finally, the Chrysler Pacifica, which we generally liked when we drove it recently, is available as a PHEV. That means outstanding fuel economy compared to everything here when owners don’t drive very far each day. In our week with it we achieved over 37.5 mpg in mixed driving. On top of that, it’s one of, if not the most comfortable minivan in the segment when optioned correctly.
Where the Carnival really stands out is in that it does most of this stuff at a very competent level. It’s capable of getting great fuel economy, it’s comfortable, it’s full of modern tech, including high-level safety equipment. On that last subject though there’s something important to consider.
Both the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna are IIHS Top Safety picks. The Chrysler Pacifica scored the same award in 2024. The Carnival was also a winner in 2023 but hasn’t achieved the accolade since. Things could change when the next set of awards comes out but for now, the Kia doesn’t have the same safety rating.
Finally, those thinking of owning any of these vehicles for the long term can’t ignore the warranty coverage. Kia puts every other brand to shame with a full five-year or 60,000-mile limited warranty and a 100,000-mile or 10-year powertrain warranty.
Every other option comes with three years or 36,000 miles of limited converge and five years or 60,000 miles of powertrain warranty. One saving grace for Toyota is that it also offers two years or 25,000 miles worth of complimentary maintenance which is unique in the segment. By comparison, Honda offers a year or 12,000 miles of free maintenance.
Verdict: A Minivan Worth Considering (Even If You Swear You’d Never Buy One)
The 2025 Carnival is a great MPV. Heck, it’s a great minivan too even if Kia doesn’t want to call it that. Frankly, the average three-row SUV buyer would find themselves a lot more satisfied with something like the Carnival if only they’d get over the stigma associated with minivans.
It’s far more fuel efficient than most three-row SUVs, looks good, drives well, and chauffeurs passengers in comfort and even a bit of luxury depending on trim and options. If you’re in the market for something that can haul lots of people and things at the same time, you’d be missing out to not at least give this a chance.
