Reviewed: The Kia Carnival Seeks to Redefine, and Rename the Minivan

by Jordan Marmara

Minivans are the best mainstream vehicles on the market. There, I said it. They’re the multi-purpose tool for all the many facets of the very busy lives of families across the globe. They carry kids, dogs, furniture, sporting gear, vacation luggage, even groceries from the big-box store—and they do it all with more comfort and convenience than just about any SUV. The problem is, minivans are notoriously uncool in the eyes of the general public. And in the automotive world, perception is everything. “Uncool” usually means “doesn’t sell well.”

That hasn’t stopped Kia from trying to rewrite the narrative. In fact, Kia outright refuses to call the 2025 Carnival a minivan. Instead, it’s branded as an MPV—Multi-Purpose Vehicle. It’s not the first automaker to attempt a rebrand in this space, but the timing makes sense. The SUV boom is still in full swing. Sales have exploded not just domestically in North America, but internationally too. What began as rugged, agricultural vehicles have morphed into luxury family haulers with soft suspensions, leather upholstery, and Wi-Fi hotspots. In truth, modern crossovers are essentially minivans with less convenient door openings and more compromised packaging. But hey—they look cool. And in this business, cool counts.

We decided to give the Carnival a fair shot at what minivans—er, MPVs—do best: carry people and stuff in comfort and safety. Our proving ground? A weekend trip to Gibson Mill in Concord, North Carolina. The Carnival Hybrid would be our family shuttle for the day, and I wanted to see if this “SUV alternative” could deliver more than just a stylish badge.

The Fine Print: Kia wanted us to review the Carnival so badly it dropped it off at my house with a full tank of gas—and no Greg.

My usual review partner bailed, still unconvinced of the understated brilliance of the minivan lifestyle. Instead, my wife and our dogs came along, because if you want to test out space, comfort, and family functionality, you bring the whole crew.

The destination was worth it. While North Carolina offers no shortage of road trip-worthy spots, Gibson Mill is a particularly unique destination. Nestled in Concord—otherwise known as NASCAR’s “Home of American Racing”—the former textile mill has been transformed into a sprawling cultural hub. Today it houses antique shops, craft breweries, local food vendors, and even a curated collection of classic cars. It’s the kind of place where you can enjoy a great meal, hunt for one-of-a-kind finds, and then cap it off by admiring a vintage Mustang or Corvette. For a vehicle designed to haul both people and stuff, Gibson Mill was the perfect place to put the Carnival’s versatility to the test.

Under the hood, the Carnival Hybrid features a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder hybrid engine. On paper it makes 242 horsepower and 271 lb-ft of torque—numbers that matter more than they might sound. For comparison, the Toyota Sienna Hybrid makes just 245 horsepower and about 100 lb-ft less torque. In real-world terms, that means the Carnival feels more confident when merging onto highways or passing slower traffic. It never strains, never whines, and never leaves you wondering if you’ll make it up the on-ramp in time.

Over the roughly 80-mile trip to and from Gibson Mill, the Carnival felt planted and easy to drive, with enough torque to keep things stress-free. Kia claims 33 mpg combined, and unlike a lot of manufacturers’ estimates, this one proved accurate in our hands. That’s slightly less than the Sienna Hybrid’s 36 mpg combined, but the extra grunt is noticeable—and arguably worth the trade-off if you value effortless acceleration as much as sipping fuel.

Adding to the confidence is Kia’s Highway Driving Assist suite, which includes adaptive cruise control, lane-centering, and lane-change assist. On long stretches of interstate, the system takes much of the stress out of highway driving, smoothly adjusting speed with traffic, keeping the Carnival neatly in its lane, and even helping to make safe lane changes with just a tap of the signal stalk. It doesn’t replace the driver, but it does make the Carnival one of the most relaxed minivans to commute or road-trip in.

Where the Carnival Hybrid really separates itself is inside the cabin. Our test model came equipped with two full benches behind the front seats, which means seating for up to eight passengers, finished in navy and light gray leather.

That’s already a win compared to most three-row SUVs that typically feature a six-seat arrangement, some times a seven+1 seater setup at best. If maximum comfort is the priority, Kia also offers VIP lounge seating in the second row. These reclining captain’s chairs come with extendable leg rests, turning the Carnival into a kind of business-class lounge on wheels. They do eat into cargo space, but for some buyers, they’re irresistible.

Technology is everywhere you look. Up front, twin 12.3-inch displays dominate the dashboard, with one serving as the digital gauge cluster and the other as the infotainment hub. The interface is straightforward, responsive, and refreshingly easy to learn. There are USB ports for every row, plus wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Kia’s family-focused tech really impressed me.

The Passenger View wide-angle interior camera lets you keep an eye on kids, or dogs, without craning your neck, while Passenger Talk, the built-in intercom system, projects the driver’s voice through the rear speakers, making long-distance parenting infinitely easier. For moments when you want quiet in the back, Quiet Mode lets you drop the audio to the rear rows so kids can nap while parents still enjoy a podcast or music up front. Only Chrysler offers something similar with its FamCam, but Kia’s integration feels a touch more polished and user-friendly. To top it all off, literally, the Carnival adds to the visibility of the great outdoors for its passengers with its available dual full tilt and opening moonroofs.

For all the Carnival Hybrid’s strengths, it isn’t perfect. Unlike the Toyota Sienna and Chrysler Pacifica, the Carnival doesn’t offer all-wheel drive. That decision might make sense for Kia’s target buyers—many of whom live in milder climates—but families in snow-prone regions will find it limiting. Another quirk: the sliding door tracks are fully exposed, running along the side just beneath the rear windows. Competitors like Honda and Chrysler tuck theirs away neatly, giving the profile a more upscale, SUV-like appearance. It’s a small detail, but one that reinforces the minivan stigma Kia is working so hard to shake.

Still, those trade-offs are less important if you’re honest about what this vehicle is designed to do. The Carnival isn’t about off-roading or flexing in the school pickup line. It’s about ferrying families in comfort, safety, and efficiency. On those points, it succeeds brilliantly.

At the end of the day, the 2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid makes a strong case for why families should rethink the “uncool” narrative. It’s efficient without feeling underpowered, spacious without being overwhelming, and loaded with tech that actually makes everyday life easier. Our crew—dogs included—had a stress-free trip to Gibson Mill, and the Carnival proved itself every bit as versatile as Kia claims.

Pricing starts at around $37,000, with well-equipped hybrid trims landing in the low-to-mid $40,000s. That’s thousands less than similarly equipped Toyota Sienna or Chrysler Pacifica hybrids, and you still get Kia’s excellent 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. For families who want SUV utility without SUV compromises, the Carnival Hybrid is arguably the smartest buy in the segment.

Cool? Maybe not in the traditional sense. But practical, efficient, and family-friendly? Absolutely. And in the real world, that’s what matters most.