2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid Review: Smart Update Makes Good

Kia insists that Carnival is not a minivan, it is Multipurpose car (MPV). Whatever you want, call it, but at the end of the day, it is designed to move people and goods easily and comfortably. Despite being only on the market for a few years, Kia has decided it’s time to make a major refresh.

In 2025, the Carnival gets a hybrid option, a new look at both ends, and several internal upgrades. The infotainment system is faster and more intuitive, and the security features have been perfected, and overall it is a more refined package. But why is such a big refresh very fast?

Read: 2025 Kia Carnival rocky face, spoiled, tech-heavy release

We drove the original carnival less than two years ago and really loved it. Can Kia improve this recipe or add 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, paced on highways and city streets, and even used it to haul gear and furniture. What have we discovered? When Kia made a few small mistakes, the big picture was clear – this minivan (sorry, MPV) went from very good.

Quick facts

Minivan want to Become an SUV

From the outside, the most eye-catching changes in the Carnival are perhaps obvious. This guy looks more like an SUV than ever. In fact, after Sorento turned it back to the back, it basically looked like a larger version of the smaller three-row SUV. Both the headlights and taillights come with Kia’s latest design iterations, with lengthy light bars and sharp angles.

The updated carnival uses a lot of black body fragments, and in our case the black wheels are more solid. In my opinion, this is very attractive compared to other competitors in this field. If anything, it feels like the most cohesive and modern exterior design of the minivan currently available on the market.

Interior decoration built for real life (mainly)

The new interior of the Carnival may be the change that families appreciate most. There are a few small nips and tucks everywhere to improve the experience. The dashboard design is a bit clean, which makes finding controls easier. The infotainment system remains a highlight, with new reactions and native support for Android Auto and Apple Carplay.

The seats are comfortable and spacious, and the second row is outstanding. Our test car features a second row bench separated by 40/20/40, which is great. When dragging two people only in the back, the middle seat can fold to become a tabletop/cup stand. The magic does happen when three people are sitting in the middle of the game to decide to ride.

This means they can squeeze in the third row, or use an on-ground sliding system to move the middle second row of seats far to the best legroom in the building. Moreover, the third line is simply good. Not only does it sit completely flat on the floor, it is also comfortable to deploy. All passengers in this special carnival benefit from the fully opened double sunroof.

Photo: Stephen Rivers/Carscoops

It is also worth noting that Kia may have been following those who complain about the black plastic of piano in the cabin. Of course, there are still some that they can constantly pick up smudges and fingerprints, but they have a lot of less use than the 2024 model.

However, not everything is moving in the right direction in the right direction. In 2025, the Carnival now has the same climate control system as several other KIAS in 2022. It works fine, but it requires the user to switch between it and the media control. Both cannot be accessed at the same time.

This can be a small thing and over time the driver gets used to it, but after testing a few Kia cars, sometimes I still accidentally raise the heat when I try to raise the volume. This is annoying, and as we pointed out in other comments, there is also room for buttons that can solve the problem.

For the 2025 carnival, other slight grips are almost gone. For example, a lounge that was previously standard on certain decorations is now optional. Great because although they are very comfortable and excellent on long trips, they are not very practical as they cannot be deleted or stored.

That’s solved, let’s talk about storage. The Carnival offers up to 40 cubic feet behind the third row. By most SUV standards, this is the Gargantuan. For example, it’s only 1.5 cubic feet behind the third row of the Cadillac Escalade ESV. Kia is the same number as Estallard, but everyone has more room. Fold the seat down and the cargo stays inflated to 87 feet, which is again very good. Still, some competitors like Honda and Chrysler offer more.

Riding smoothly, driving is fun

When we first sampled in mid-2023, we like the way the carnival drives. Although Kia offers some updates worth reviewing, there is no information on the driving experience. At first, this seems normal, but remember, this is a new powertrain. The old V6 is still available, but this new 1.6-liter hybrid is paired with a six-speed automatic variable instead of an eight-speed.

Additionally, the hybrid offers 242 hp (180 kW), which is less than the 290 hp (216 kW) of the gas-only version. Still, the dynamics of the sharp rather than overly darted minivan remain unchanged. The steering is great, the brakes are linear and the throttle responds quickly. Less power seems negative, but the 72 hp (53 kW) motor that drives the front wheels can make up for that.

When minivans are as good as cars as possible, they are the best, and Carnival does that. Sometimes I find myself more confident in driving lanes, intersections or other traffic conditions than I would expect behind something that big.

Body rolling is still a non-issue, with very good visibility. In fact, some driving power here is less comfortable than it provides. Thankfully, this is also above average. The cabin remains quiet due to the suspension suspension, in this case, a set of continental tires. Sometimes, like the regenerative braking systems here, they can be a bit uncivilized when switching between regenerative and conventional braking components. While we heard about this in the Carnival Hybrid, we didn’t have the same problem in our tests.

What we end up experiencing, though, is that the gap between the EPA estimated fuel efficiency figures and our results is small. Rather than reaching 34 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway, it can only manage 27.4 mpg in combined driving. Some of them may boil down to carnivals full of adults on the carnival, some of which may come from a heavier right foot than the average carnival driver. Either way, it’s worth remembering.

How it conflicts with the game

In today’s era, it’s rarely a so close and direct market segment, but that’s how the world of MPV is. Chrysler, Honda and Toyota are the only other players in the field, each offering a unique view of their own models. In my opinion, none of them are as good as Kia. That is, it is important to consider the strength of each platform.

Odyssey provides excellent driving power for minivans and the fastest driving power. Beyond that, it is no more innovative than Carnival or other competitors. It works just like a Kia and only works with front-wheel drive. However, unlike the Korean model, the hybrid drivetrain is unavailable.

Speaking of hybrid and all-wheel drive, these are important keys to the Toyota Sienna. It is only available as a hybrid, and buyers can add all-wheel drive to what they want. On top of that, it is comfortable, completely modern, and can combine up to 36 mpg.

Finally, the Chrysler Pacifica we usually liked when driving recently can be offered as a PHEV. This means excellent fuel economy compared to everything here compared to the situation where the owner drives not far every day. During our week we achieved over 37.5 mpg in hybrid driving. Most importantly, when selected correctly, it is one of the most comfortable minivans in this section.

What really stands out in Carnival is that it does most of these things at a very capable level. It has the ability to get excellent fuel economy, comfort, and is full of modern technology, including advanced safety equipment. Regarding the last topic, although there are important considerations.

Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna are both the highest safety options for the IIHS. Chrysler Pacifica received the same award in 2024. The Carnival is also the champion of 2023, but it has not won any honors since then. Things may change when the next set of rewards appear, but for now, Kia does not have the same safety rating.

Finally, those who want to own any of these vehicles for a long time cannot ignore the warranty coverage. Kia is ashamed of all other brands with a full five-year or 60,000-mile limited warranty and a 100,000-mile or 10-year powertrain warranty.

All other options come with a three-year or 36,000-mile limited convergence and a five-year or 60,000-mile powertrain warranty. One of Toyota’s saving graces is that it also offers two years or 25,000 miles of free maintenance, which is unique in this segment. By comparison, Honda offers free maintenance for one year or 12,000 miles.

Verdict: A minivan worth considering (even if you swear you will never buy it)

Carnival 2025 is a great MPV. Heck, even if Kia doesn’t want to call it Kia, it’s a great minivan. Frankly, if they can overcome the stigma associated with minivans, average three-row SUV buyers will find themselves more satisfied with things like Carnival.

It’s much more fuel efficient than most three-row SUVs, looks good, drives well, and is comfortable for drivers and passengers, even depending on the trim and choice. If you can drag a lot of people and things away at the same time in the market, you’re missing out on the opportunity to at least give this opportunity.

Photo: Stephen Rivers/Carscoops