Rank
Pros
Cons
What's New for 2025?
An increased base price of nearly $3k buys you a significantly revised Carnival this year. Its dimensions haven't changed, but much else has. Highlights include updated exterior styling, a newly standard widescreen infotainment module and an available hybrid model rated at 33 mpg.
2025 Carnival Selector
2025 Kia Carnival
FAST FACTS
"The Carnival is a serious contender for minivan supremacy, especially now that a refresh for 2025 has brought an available 33-mpg hybrid variant and a revamped interior with a single-frame widescreen dashboard display. The satisfying V6-powered version remains the standard choice, and no matter what's under the hood, the Carnival impresses with its refined ride and reasonably capable handling. We still give the Sienna the edge due to its superior fuel economy (versus the Carnival V6), proven hybrid powertrain, available all-wheel drive and its own upgraded tech interface this year. But if you care more about acceleration than efficiency, and especially if you want to be able to fold or remove all the seats for maximum hauling versatility, the 2025 Kia Carnival might be the top dog on your list."—Ranked #2 out of 5 Minivans
MotorDonkey's proprietary vehicle data identifies every significant version of each model so that you can compare and decide. Ordered by price from low to high, here are the versions of the 2025 Kia Carnival that you need to be aware of, along with our expert analysis and recommendations.
The Carnival can't hide its minivan-ness despite all the SUV styling cues, but there's no shame in that. It's a really nice minivan, especially with the numerous revisions for 2025.
You might expect the Carnival Hybrid to be about as quick as the regular van, but it weighs at least 300 pounds more in the lightest eight-passenger configuration. That's probably why it's a few ticks slower to 60 mph, although in real-world driving, the combination of turbocharged torque and electric-motor assist makes this Kia feel sprightly enough.
What are the different versions of the 2025 Carnival, and how much do they cost? Select a version below or just hit the button to see our full 2025 Carnival specs and model data.
| Version | Price | Fuel | MPG | Power | Torque |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Kia Carnival 3.5 Front-Wheel Drive | $36,500 | Gas | 21 | 287 hp | 260 lb-ft |
| 2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid (1.6T Front-Wheel Drive) | $40,500 | Hybrid | 33 | 242 hp | 271 lb-ft |
Publisher and Donkey-in-Chief
Josh has been reviewing cars professionally since joining Edmunds.com fresh out of grad school in 2008. Prior to founding MotorDonkey, he spent 15 years shaping Edmunds' expert automotive content in various capacities, starting as an associate editor and ultimately serving as a senior editor before wrapping up with a five-year term as the company's first-ever director of content strategy. Josh is a card-carrying member of the Motor Press Guild and a lifelong car nut who has driven, compared and critiqued thousands of cars in his career. Helping people find their perfect car never gets old—seriously!
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