2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid

We’ve been fond of the non-hybrid Kia Carnival (which we review separately) since our initial turn behind the wheel. Our readers’ positive comments have only cemented our good feelings about this people hauler with its wide-open space, rugged good looks, and a plethora of cutting-edge technology.

Not sleeping on its laurels, with this midcycle update, Kia launches a double-pronged strategy to broaden the Carnival’s appeal. It starts with what’s lurking under the sheet metal — the arrival of a hybrid drivetrain. The second, easier-to-spot portion of this strategy is the reworked exterior.

In our mind, the result is an even more compelling conveyance to transport a family in comfort and safety.

We’ve logged hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of minivans, including the Kia Carnival MPV.

The headline update is the arrival of a hybrid drivetrain for the first time in the Carnival. Other improvements from the Carnival Hybrid’s refresh consist of revised front and rear styling, including reshaped headlights and taillights, a larger front grille, and new wheel designs. Also available for the first time on the Carnival are ambient interior lighting, an 11-inch head-up (HUD) instrument display, and Highway Driving Assist 2.0 — the latest version of Kia’s semi-autonomous driving aid.

The Carnival Hybrid’s pricing is about $2,000 higher than the same trim in the non-hybrid model. It’s also in the thick of rivals like the Chrysler Pacifica, Toyota Sienna, and Honda Odyssey. However, only the Sienna comes standard with a hybrid powertrain. (Honda presently doesn’t offer a hybrid drivetrain in its well-respected family hauler.) Chrysler does have a Pacifica plug-in hybrid (PHEV) model in the Pacifica lineup, though it comes with a steep starting price in excess of $52,000.

Before buying a new Carnival Hybrid minivan, be sure to check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to understand what you should be paying. When it comes to resale values, the Carnival has routinely come in behind the Odyssey and Sienna. Recouping more money when you sell a vehicle can mean being able to place a bigger down payment and enjoying lower monthly payments on your next one.

Kia wasn’t bashful about plotting a demanding route for our initial test drive during a media event held in and around San Diego, California. Once clear of city traffic, we headed due east onto long stretches of twisty roads that rolled through picturesque valleys and hugged steep hills (Author’s note: As someone who hates heights, it was tempting to refer to these as towering mountains).

The Carnival Hybrid proved a smooth and comfortable driving companion, even during don’t-look-down curves with little margin for error. The steering is light but accurate and linear, while the suspension keeps everything on an even keel. Only the worst roads brought out some body jostles and tire noise. Occasionally, wind noise around the side mirrors also became slightly elevated at highway speed. Yet, by and large, the Carnival Hybrid exceeded our expectations for driving refinement and the confidence inspired when behind the wheel.

Much credit is due to the hybrid drivetrain itself. Not too long ago, opting for a hybrid vehicle often meant putting up with strange whirrs and buzzes as the gas-fed engine worked with the electric motor(s). Braking could be overly sensitive or wooden-like, all in the name of powering up the onboard battery via regenerative braking. This is not so with the Carnival Hybrid; it operates seamlessly, and the gas/electric powertrain works in harmony with the 6-speed automatic transmission.

Acceleration is more than adequate when merging onto highways or pulling away when a traffic light turns green. Enthusiastically flooring the throttle, though, doesn’t produce much additional reward. There’s only so much thrust the 242-horsepower turbo 4-cylinder engine and electric motor can manage versus the Carnival Hybrid’s hefty 4,800-plus-pound curb weight. To be fair, few car shoppers considering a minivan are looking for tire-smoking performance. One more notable drawback is that, unlike the Pacifica and Sienna and almost every comparably sized SUV, the front-wheel-drive (FWD) Carnival does not offer available all-wheel drive (AWD).

Fuel Economy

The Kia Carnival Hybrid returns an EPA-rated 33 mpg combined city-and-highway average. This is a significant improvement over the V6-powered Carnival, though it’s a few MPGs shy of the Toyota Sienna (36 mpg combined). It also doesn’t have the electric-only range (32 miles) offered by the Chrysler Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid.

In its 8-passenger configuration, the Carnival Hybrid provides 40.2 cubic feet of storage behind the stowable third row. With the rearmost seats folded away and the second row removed, capacity expands to a Costco-conquering 145.1 cubic feet. For context, the Odyssey has more cargo capacity at 155.8 cubic feet, while the Sienna offers less at 101 cubic feet.

Functional, modern, and airy are three descriptors summing up the interior of the Carnival Hybrid. The driver has a commanding seating position, and outward visibility is good. Unlike many midsize SUVs with three rows of seating, adults will be happy no matter where they’re relegated. We spent time clambering throughout the cabin and noted the generous amounts of headroom and legroom, not to mention ample storage nooks and USB-C ports. And because this is a practicality-minded minivan, it’s worth mentioning that in this era of ever-expanding water bottles and coffee cups, Kia saw fit to increase the diameter of the two center console-mounted cup holders from 2.9 inches to 3.5 inches. Staying hydrated or heavily caffeinated will not be an issue.

The standard 8-passenger layout includes what Kia refers to as its Slide-Flex seating system. This includes a second row with a middle section that can slide forward and backward or fold down to serve as a handy table between the two outboard seats. We appreciate that standard touches like dual 12.3-inch dash-mounted screens, power-sliding side doors, and heated seats are included on even the base LXS trim.

We found the infotainment system easy to navigate, and response times to inputs were quick. One annoyance was the HVAC/audio controls, which share a common touch panel in the middle section of the dashboard. They can’t be accessed at the same time; a button toggles back and forth between ventilation and audio controls. It’s a minor issue, but this added layer of distraction is odd, considering other tech touches seem well thought out.

Our SX Prestige test vehicle was kitted with extras like a power-operated tailgate, a Bose audio system, ambient interior lighting, dual power sunroofs, a digital rearview mirror, and a head-up (HUD) instrument display. One of the few things it didn’t have was the optional VIP lounge seats. These swanky captain’s chairs have heating and ventilation controls and come with a power-operated recline function and leg rest. However, if cargo hauling is a top priority, be advised that these posh lounge seats are not removable, unlike the standard tilt and sliding second row.

We find more than a bit of irony in Kia, actively setting out to create a minivan that stylistically bridges the gap to more rough-and-tumble SUVs, slapped on a nameplate that conjures up clowns and cotton candy. This refreshed 2025 Carnival adds even more machismo to its exterior thanks to its wider grille and sculpted front and rear lighting. It has a robust look and a planted stance. Dare we suggest this Kia minivan could seriously turn some heads when rolling up to a PTA meeting? We do.

Dark Edition Package

Adding a bit more visual menace to the Carnival is the Dark Edition appearance package. Optional on the SX and standard on the SX Prestige, it includes 19-inch black-painted alloy wheels, a blacked out front grille and roof rails, and black trim on the side mirrors, tailgate, and along the C-pillars. If Darth Vader opted to settle down for a quiet life in the suburbs, this would be a suitable means of transportation.

VIP lounge seats

If you don’t mind them being firmly fixed in place, the available second-row lounge seating in the SX Prestige model will spoil rear-seat passengers. They slide, recline, and have leg extensions for kicking your feet up for protracted journeys. They’re also heated, ventilated, and come with a dual-screen rear entertainment system.

Onboard intercom

Should those seated aft of the first row start to get rowdy, an available onboard intercom system allows the driver to pipe his or her voice to the rear stereo speakers. It’s a thoroughly 21st-century solution to the timeless “don’t make me pull over” driving conundrum. On the test drive, we used it to startle awake snoozing Kia staff along for the ride.

Towing capacity

The V6-powered Carnival reigns with more overall towing capacity at 3,500 pounds. Yet the 2,500-pound capacity afforded by the Carnival Hybrid is sufficient for toting along a decent amount of adventure gear.

Slide-Flex seating

You don’t have to go whole hog and spring for the SX Prestige model and its lounge-like second row to get clever seating. The Carnival’s Slide-Flex seats slide forward and back, and even side to side. The center seat can also be folded down, serving as a convenient table complete with a pair of cupholders.

The Carnival Hybrid features a turbocharged 1.6-liter 4-cylinder paired with an electric motor and 6-speed automatic transmission. Together, they generate 287 horsepower and 271 lb-ft of torque. A 6-speed automatic transmission hustles output to the front wheels. For comparison, the Honda Odyssey makes 280 hp, while the Toyota Sienna puts out a combined 245 hp.

Although the non-hybrid Carnival has a lower purchase price than the Carnival Hybrid, driving by gas stations will put a smile on your face. The 12 mpg difference in the fuel economy between the non-hybrid Carnival and the Carnival Hybrid means filling up less frequently. Consequently, driving the Carnival Hybrid costs less. For example, at $3.25 per gallon, the gas to go 100 miles in the non-hybrid Carnival would cost about $10. Driving that same distance in the Carnival Hybrid would cost roughly $15.

Excellent Warranty

Kia’s warranties rank among the best. Bumper-to-bumper coverage is five years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first. This also includes roadside assistance. Powertrain coverage extends to 10 years or 100,000 miles.

Safety Ratings

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) hasn’t tested the Kia Carnival. Although the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has tested the non-hybrid Carnival (IIHS test results extend to hybrid versions of tested models), naming it a 2022 Top Safety Pick, it changed its testing protocol for 2024. The Carnival received an Acceptable and a Marginal rating in its two new tests.

Standard safety features consist of forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, rear cross-traffic collision avoidance assist, rear occupant reminder, lane-keep assist, lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, safe exit assist, and front and rear parking sensors.