2025 Kia Carnival review

2025 Kia Carnival Review:

Combining the classic minivan strengths of passenger and cargo flexibility with SUV-like styling, the 2025 Kia Carnival is a high-tech alternative to its rivals. Like most minivans, it uses a V6 engine that sends power to the front wheels, providing competitive fuel economy and acceleration. For 2025, Kia updated the exterior styling and introduced a hybrid version that saves significantly on fuel. 

For 2025 Kia also upgraded the interior, the most obvious change being a new continuous display panel that combines the instruments and touchscreen. The interior feels high-quality throughout, and it's available with luxury touches like reclining second-row seats complete with footrests. While the Carnival's front seats offer excellent support and comfort, the suspension doesn't soak up broken pavement as well as some competitors. Also, some of the vehicle's controls can be distracting to use while driving. Still, this minivan is worth a close look for anybody needing a sharply styled family hauler.

• Technology

• Comfort

• Cargo and storage

• Ease of use

• Driving

What tech does the 2025 Kia Carnival have?

Connectivity

One of the best things about the Carnival is its plentiful technology, and that starts with its smartphone integration. Wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ smartphone integration is standard on all models, and they look great on the big 12.3-inch touchscreen that's standard on all but base LX Carnivals. Wireless smartphone charging is also standard on all but the LX and LXS trims, and for everyone else, plenty of USB ports are spread throughout the cabin for first-, second- and third-row passengers. 

Audio quality is good, with the crown going to the Bose® system found on top-end trims. The Carnival can also be found with a rear-seat entertainment system that accommodates device mirroring and streaming media through built-in apps. 

Infotainment

The standard eight-inch touchscreen on LX and LXS trims is adequate and about the size of the "upgrade" screen on some competitors, but the real gem is the 12.3-inch screen on EX and above trims. Not only is the big screen pretty to look at, it's quick and responsive to touch inputs, and the large size makes it easy to use the van's multiple tech functions. The rear seat camera, for example, looks sharp on the touchscreen, making it easy to see what your kids are up to without having to turn your head away from the road. 

Like many modern vehicles, the Carnival features a voice-control function that lets you change climate control temperature, program the native navigation system, and more, simply by pressing a button on the steering wheel and speaking. Unfortunately, during testing Edmunds found the system didn't always respond well, or sometimes at all. 

Driver- Assist Tech

For the 2025 model year, Kia upgraded the standard driver-assist package to include adaptive cruise control and Highway Driving Assist, which combines the various driver aids under a single umbrella. It's not totally hands-free driving, but it can help make long journeys in the Carnival less stressful. Carnival SX and SX-P trims get an even better package that includes a surround-view camera system, a more sophisticated automatic emergency braking system, and more. Best of all, the 2025 models show a significant improvement in refinement over earlier Carnival model years, with the adaptive cruise control accelerating more steadily and lane-keeping assistance more consistent. 

If you rely on cameras to navigate parking lots, traffic, and even the rear seats, the Carnival has you covered. The surround-view cameras system on SX and higher trims makes navigating tight parking spots easy thanks to its top-down view, and the same trims come with a Blind-Spot View Monitor that shows what's in your blind spot on either side of the vehicle when the turn signal's activated. As for the in-cabin rear seat monitor, you only have to move up to EX, and it's worth the upgrade to keep your eyes on the kids. 

How comfortable is the 2025 Kia Carnival?

Front Seating

It's entirely possible the Carnival has the most comfortable front seats of any minivan. There's plenty of cushioning and support, heating is available or standard on all trims, and on SX and higher trims, the front seats are also ventilated and have an integrated memory function. The steering wheel and seat adjustments complement each other, and it's easy for drivers of virtually any stature to find a comfortable driving position. 

The climate control system is also powerful enough to keep the whole van cool, and EX and above trims have three-zone climate control with independent settings for the rear seats. Parents take note: The Carnival also uses ceiling-mounted vents, which are easier to aim at kids in child seats. The downside is using the system itself. For 2025, Kia combined its audio and climate controls into a single panel, with a toggle button to choose which system the panel controls. It's not very intuitive, and we wish they had remained separate, but with physical buttons. 

Rear Seating

Minivans are all about the second and third rows, and here the Carnival shows it's good but not great. The second and third rows both have comfortable seats, and on SX Prestige models with the lounge-type seats, the second row is heated and ventilated. Just note that when adults are in all three rows, the legroom can be limited. Accessing the third row is by a simple lever on the second-row seat, which tilts and slides forward to create a large gap.

On SX Prestige trims, the second row can be had with two reclining captain's chairs with an extending footrest. It's a cool trick, with a couple of caveats. When fully reclined and in use, there's virtually zero room for a third-row passenger to sit. Additionally, the footrest doesn't extend very far, so taller passengers won't really benefit. With that in mind, it's a nice way to lean back and watch a movie on the Carnival's available rear entertainment system. 

Ride Quality and Interior Noise

Under most circumstances, the Carnival's suspension has enough control to keep the van from bouncing into carsickness territory. However, in some circumstances the suspension is too stiff. During testing, Edmunds found that freeways with steady small bumps made the ride quality feel harsh, and that overall the Carnival wasn't as adept at coping with small sharp bumps as other vans.

Engine noise is well muted under acceleration, but there's notable road and tire noise inside the van. This factor, coupled with the occasionally stiff ride, could compromise the Carnival as a long-distance hauler. 

Does the 2025 Kia Carnival have good storage?

Cargo 

Minivans are designed to haul people AND things, and the Carnival is no exception. It has plenty of space behind the third row of seats. There's space for strollers, gear bags, groceries, or whatever your warehouse store run could possibly require. Need more space? The third row quickly folds into the floor to open up even more room, with a low liftover to make getting cargo in and out simple. If you need full cargo space, the Kia has plenty, but note that maximizing it requires removing the bulky and heavy second-row seats, and that the cool recliner chairs don't remove at all. If you frequently maximize cargo space, the Chrysler Pacifica's Stow 'N Go® seats are a better solution.

Storage

Like any modern van, there are cupholders aplenty in the Carnival. You'll find them mounted in the doors, the center console, the fold-down center seat in the second row, the sliding doors, and in the third row. There are also storage bins strewn throughout the interior for items big and small. However, the Carnival's SUV-like exterior styling extends to the interior, with a large center console between the driver and front passenger. There's plenty of storage inside, but unlike other vans, there's no open place between the seats to store items like a purse or other small bag. 

How easy is the 2025 Kia Carnival to use?

Entry, Exit, and Car Seats

Minivans excel in ease of use, and the Carnival is no exception. The front doors open wide, and the front seat is raised enough to be easy to sit in without climbing up. The sliding doors also open wide, and the Carnival comes standard with a clever hands-free opening for them and the hatch. Rather than wave your foot under a designated spot, simply stand next to the door for a few seconds, and it automatically opens. Once inside, there are five positions for LATCH-equipped child seats, and the lower anchors are easy to reach. 

Interior Layout and Visibility

The Carnival's SUV-like center console makes this van feel less van-y, which could be a boon for some drivers. The layout is clean and simple, with the gauges easy to see and the big touchscreen angled enough toward the driver that it's easy to reach. The Carnival's primary controls for things like headlights, windows, wipers, etc., are also simple and straightforward and should be familiar to just about anybody. Visibility is also very good, especially in upper trim levels with the surround-view camera system.

Just note that the Carnival uses a lot of touch-sensitive controls, and since they don't offer any sort of tactile feedback, they can be distracting to use while driving. 

What’s the 2025 Kia Carnival like to drive?

The Carnival has the most powerful V6 engine in its class, but it's no quicker than other vans. That's fine, though, because the V6 has plenty of power in reserve to get the Carnival up to freeway speeds with little drama or concern. 

The new hybrid uses a four-cylinder engine combined with an electric motor. While its 242 total horsepower trails the 287-hp V6, the hybrid actually has more torque (271 lb-ft vs. 260 lb-ft). The upshot is that the hybrid significantly improves fuel economy with only a slight penalty to acceleration performance.

The V6 comes connected to an eight-speed automatic, while the hybrid gets a six-speed auto. Both transmissions shift smoothly but somewhat slowly; combine that with the extra pedal travel needed for strong acceleration and the Carnival can feel less powerful than it actually is. The steering also feels too light and not very precise, meaning you'll need to make more adjustments on the highway than you would in other vans. Combined with the aforementioned sometimes stiff suspension, the Carnival, well, drives like a minivan. If you're looking for a more dynamic driving experience in your family hauler, the Honda Odyssey has a better-tuned chassis. 

Towing

While towing isn't something minivans are generally known for, the V6 Carnival holds its own against competitors. When properly equipped, it can tow up to 3,500 pounds, matching other vans. The hybrid can tow up to 2,500 pounds when properly equipped

.

Fuel Economy/Electric Efficiency

According to the EPA, the V6 Carnival gets 22 mpg on the combined cycle

, which is in line with most other vans. If you're willing to take a slight performance penalty, the Carnival Hybrid gets an EPA-estimated 33 mpg on the same cycle, a significant improvement, although still behind the Toyota Sienna. 

EPA Fuel Economy Estimates