2025 Kia Carnival: Now With Optional Hybrid Power

Competes with: Chrysler Pacifica, Honda Odyssey, Toyota Sienna, a dozen big SUVs

Looks like: A Carnival wearing a Telluride costume

Powertrains: 287-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 engine with eight-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive or 242-hp, turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder paired with an electric motor and six-speed automatic transmission

Hits dealerships: Summer

Kia’s Carnival is one of our favorite minivans, as it comes with all kinds of family-friendly tech, comfortable chairs, SUV-like styling and a seemingly endless supply of surprise-and-delight features. Despite the fact that it just got a tweak to content for the 2023 model year, Kia decided that a more extensive redo was in order. Now, the 2025 Carnival minivan wears new styling, has a new interior, comes laden with even more technology — and even sports a new hybrid powertrain.

Related: More 2024 Chicago Auto Show Coverage

Electrified Performance

The big story for 2025 comes under the hood. The Carnival’s prior gas engine carries over for the 2025 model year; the snappy 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V-6 makes a stout 287 horsepower and 260 pounds-feet of torque and is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission that drives the front wheels. But new for 2025 is a first-ever Carnival Hybrid, which combines a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with a 54-kilowatt electric motor and a six-speed automatic, making a combined system total of 242 hp and 271 pounds-feet of torque.

The Hybrid model only gets 17-inch special aerodynamic wheels, and its regenerative braking can be adjusted in the vehicle’s Eco/Smart drive mode. Called Electrification-Vehicle Motion Control, the Carnival allows for three levels of regenerative braking control, which is adjusted through the paddle shifters. The hybrid variant will also have an unusual level of electric handling assistance, including E-Handling (designed to improve cornering response), E-Ride (special shocks meant to improve ride quality) and E-Evasive Handling Assist (for emergency steering maneuvers).

There’s no mention yet on what kind of fuel economy benefit the new Carnival Hybrid might provide; presumably that will be coming closer to the vehicle’s on-sale date.

No One Likes a Minivan Look, So …

It’s indisputable that minivans make the best family vehicles, hands down — but that doesn’t mean that people want to be seen driving them, as minivans also come with an image that can’t really compete with big SUVs. With that understanding, Kia takes yet another step into making its minivan into an “SUV with sliding doors” by redesigning the front and rear ends to match the rest of the high-tech Kia look.

The “Opposites United” design language (yeah, I’m not sure what that means, either) is present here, with a much more chiseled look to the front and rear end, cubelike headlamps and the amber “Star Map” daytime running lights that definitely lend a family resemblance to the new electric EV9 or smaller Niro. It’s the same out back with new taillights, and new wheels range from 17 inches to 19 inches depending on which trim you choose (LX, LXS, EX, SX and SX Prestige for the gas model, or LXS, EX, SX and SX Prestige for the hybrid). A new Dark Edition package blacks out much of the exterior, including the roof rails, skid plates, exterior mirror covers, grille and wheels, plus the trim on the C-pillar, side doors and tailgate.

New Cabin, New Tech

Inside, the Carnival’s interior also has been updated to reflect the latest Kia shapes and textures. More use of ambient lighting is available via a full-width hidden light strip spanning the dashboard, while more horizontally oriented information displays and climate controls have been added. Up front are two big 12.3-inch screens, one for the driver display and the other for the central touchscreen (the base versions use a smaller 4.2-inch driver display with regular gauges and a 12-inch touchscreen). For added visibility, a full-color heads-up display is optional, as is a rear camera mirror that replaces the traditional one, useful for seeing behind the vehicle when the interior is loaded up with people and cargo.

As before, seven- or eight-occupant seating is available, and the VIP Lounge Seat Package returns with second-row captain’s chairs that can be fully reclined with leg extensions; they’re now deployable on voice commands. In fact, voice commands are expanded in the new Carnival to do all kinds of new things, such as lower the windows with a word or two. Saying “Hey Kia” out loud in either of the first or second rows (the Carnival now knows which is which) allows for such personalized control with voice commands for key activations.

Connectivity has been improved, as well, with the Carnival now offering Kia’s next-generation Connected Car Navigation Cockpit operating system, which the company promises is faster and displays in higher resolution; it also offers future over-the-air updates. For the backseat crew, the available rear entertainment system features two 14.6-inch screens with full HD resolution that can be used for popular streaming services. And the Digital Key 2 system allows compatible smart devices or a near-field-communication-enabled smart card to lock, unlock and drive the vehicle without a key.

Safer as Well?

The company aims to boost the Carnival’s safety by updating the vehicle’s standard and optional driver-assistance systems. Forward collision avoidance assist is standard and includes emergency autonomous braking, while optional systems include junction crossing, oncoming and side lane change warnings, and evasive steering assist. A more advanced Highway Driving Assist 2 cruise control system is also highlighted; it combines adaptive cruise control with lane-centering steering and can assist with lane changes. However, no changes are indicated to the Kia Carnival’s crash structure, which is something that became an issue in the prior model due to a poor side impact ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety testing.

Pricing and Availability

The 2025 Kia Carnival’s pricing will be announced closer to the vehicle’s on-sale date, which is expected to be the summer of 2024.

More From Cars.com:

• 2024 Kia Carnival Carries (Your Whole Family) Over, Starts at $34,565
• Is the 2023 Kia Carnival Good for Carrying Aging Parents?
• Kia Adds Interior, Tech Tweaks to 2023 Carnival
• Do You Need an All-Wheel-Drive Minivan?
• Research the Kia Carnival

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