Starts at $36,500
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
Publisher and Donkey-in-Chief
Josh has been reviewing cars professionally since joining Edmunds.com fresh out of grad school in 2008, personally driving most new cars on the market every year since. He also served as the project manager for Edmunds' expert vehicle rankings from their inception in 2018, building the product out from the back end to the front end. Josh is a card-carrying member of the Motor Press Guild and a lifelong car nut who has tested, compared and critiqued a ridiculous number of cars in his career.
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