2026 Kia Carnival

The Kia Carnival doesn’t carry the same trusted longevity as its more established rivals in the minivan world, but it’s a vehicle that makes plenty of sense for a lot of families. With a boxy shape, a flat nose with a big grille, and the tallest ground clearance in its class, the Kia Carnival is a minivan that kind of looks like an SUV, but retains minivan practicality with sliding doors and a spacious 3-row interior. So spacious that it boasts the most cargo room in its class. Add in the fact that it has the lowest starting price and the longest warranty coverage of any minivan, and the Kia Carnival makes a strong case for practical and value-conscious family transportation.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of minivans, including the 2026 Kia Carnival.

Following a thorough refresh in 2025 that gave the Kia Carnival more SUV-like styling and a new hybrid option, this minivan carries over into 2026 unchanged.

The Kia Carnival has the distinction of being America’s most affordable minivan. It’s the only one that still starts at under $40,000, making it appealing to families who need affordable transportation and want the benefits of a new car, like Kia’s class-leading warranty. The Toyota Sienna and Chrysler Voyager start at a little over $40,000, while the Honda Odyssey and Chrysler Pacifica start in the mid-$40,000 range.

Before buying a Carnival, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay. Kia Carnival resale value is about average for the segment. Recouping more money when selling a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on the next one.

The 2026 Kia Carnival is powered by a 287-horsepower V6 engine matched with an 8-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. Even when full of passengers, we’ve found the Carnival offers ample acceleration. Except for the notably slower hybrids in this class (Toyota Sienna and Chrysler Pacifica Plug-in Hybrid), the Carnival’s merging and passing power is on par with the rest of the minivan segment.

We found the Carnival well suited for family hauling duties. We’ve tested it (full of children) running errands around town and on longer highway trips and came away impressed with no complaints.

The automatic transmission shifts gears sweetly, the steering is easy yet precise, and the brakes feel confident without being too sharp. Meanwhile, the suspension has a just-right balance of comfort and agility for a family hauler.

Fuel Economy

The Kia Carnival is rated at 21 combined mpg, one mpg worse than the Honda Odyssey and the front-wheel-drive, non-hybrid version of the Chrysler Pacifica. The hybrid Toyota Sienna is much more efficient at 36 mpg, and the Chrysler Pacifica Plug-in Hybrid can travel up to 32 miles on electricity alone and gets 30 mpg once the battery has been drained. Meanwhile, the hybrid version of the Carnival returns 33 combined mpg.

The Kia Carnival’s cabin is roomy and well-appointed. At either end of the lineup, the LX and SX Prestige models accommodate seven. The LSX, EX, and SX trims have seating for eight as standard. The Carnival features sliding/removable second-row and reclining third-row seats that fold into the floor.

The SX Prestige comes exclusively with second-row VIP lounge seats that slide and recline while also having leg extensions — all at the push of a button. These seats are comfy but not removable if you need extra cargo space.

We’ve tested the Carnival with child car seats and can confirm they’re easy to install. It’s also pretty easy for kids to climb into the third row, especially with second-row captain’s chairs. However, we found that the optional rear entertainment system screens — mounted on the backs of the front seats — can create a bit of an obstacle to third-row entry and exit.

The available dual panoramic displays, consisting of two 12.3-inch screens, create a high-tech look and feel from the front seats of the Carnival. As is often the case in Kia models, the infotainment system is straightforward and user-friendly, and we love that Android Auto and Apple CarPlay come standard.

Interior space is important to minivan shoppers, and the Kia Carnival has a lot of it. At 35.6 inches of third-row legroom, it’s about on par with the Chrysler Pacifica, while the Toyota Sienna and Honda Odyssey have more room in the third row. However, the Carnival is the king of cargo space, with 40.2 cubic feet of room behind the third row and 145.1 cubic feet of max cargo room behind the first row. These cargo dimensions are good even by minivan standards, and it’s dramatically more cargo room than any midsize 3-row SUV.

Revamped styling from last year evokes Kia’s futuristic approach with its EV9 all-electric 3-row SUV. Both vehicles get the thumbs-up from us. The Carnival is distinct from other minivans because of its SUV-like look, yet it still has practical minivan aspects, such as sliding side doors. And the kind of ride height that makes strapping a child into their special seat much easier than hoisting them up into a higher SUV. It’s little day-to-day details like these that help to make the Carnival such a great family vehicle.

Highway Driving Assist
Keep an attentive hand on the wheel, and the Kia Carnival can do much of the steering, braking, and accelerating in various traffic conditions. No minivan does it better.

Quiet Mode
From the EX level and up, the audio system has a Quiet Mode, which pipes sound through just the front speakers. This feature is great when little ones (or even big ones) are napping in the back.

Driver & Passenger Talk
This clever intercom system facilitates communication with your rear-most passengers without raising your voice.

Dual Panoramic Displays
The upper trims of the Kia Carnival come with a 12.3-inch infotainment system and a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster with beautiful graphics, an intuitive interface, and connectivity features like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

Slide-Flex seating
The 8-seater EX and SX models have this feature. The center seat in the second row can slide forward, making it easier to reach a child sitting there. When not used to accommodate someone, this seat can turn into a table when needed.

VIP lounge seats
The SX Prestige comes exclusively with a second-row VIP lounge setup, featuring heated/ventilated seats that slide, recline, and activate leg extensions — all at the push of a button or a voice command. Keep in mind these particular seats aren’t removable, though.

The 2026 Kia Carnival uses a 3.5-liter V6 that generates a muscular 287 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque — figures that nearly mimic those of the Chrysler Pacifica and Honda Odyssey. This V6 drives the front wheels (all-wheel drive is not offered) through an 8-speed automatic transmission. The Kia Carnival is rated to tow a maximum of 3,500 pounds.

The Carnival Hybrid, which was released in 2025, pairs a turbocharged 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine with an electric motor to create 242 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque.

5-Year/60,000-Mile Warranty

Kia’s warranties are the best in this class. Bumper-to-bumper coverage is five years or 60,000 miles, whichever happens first, including roadside assistance. Powertrains are covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles.

Safety Ratings

Although once named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), updated tests have downgraded the Carnival in its most recent testing. It took top scores of Good in most crash-test categories, except for front overlap and side impact scenarios, which earned Marginal and Poor, respectively. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded it a 4-Star (out of five stars) overall safety score. Standard safety features include forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, plus blind-spot monitoring.