The 2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid blends gas-electric efficiency with a sleek design, proving that a minivan can rival SUVs in style and substance without ever saying the “M-word.”
A Minivan in Disguise
In a world where cars love to play dress-up, the Kia Carnival stands out. Hatchbacks masquerade as rugged SUVs, sedans flaunt coupe-like curves, and the Carnival? It’s a minivan dodging the label entirely—Kia calls it an MPV instead. A recent facelift sharpens its front end to mimic an SUV, like a toned-down Sorento. Cover the sliding doors, and you might buy the ruse. But those sliders spill the truth: this is a van, through and through.
For 2025, Kia introduces a hybrid option, joining the Toyota Sienna and Chrysler Pacifica in the electrified minivan club. It’s a smart move for a vehicle that’s all about hauling people with flair and frugality.
What’s Under the Hood?
Launched in 2020, the current Carnival got a bold redesign in 2023, and now the hybrid powertrain steals the show for 2025. Swapping the standard V-6 for a turbocharged inline-four paired with an electric motor, it trades a bit of horsepower for extra torque. At $2,000 more than its gas-only sibling across all trims, the hybrid shines with EPA-rated fuel savings—20% better on highways and a whopping 89% in city driving.
Vehicle Tested: 2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid
Base Price: $42,235
As Tested: $57,255
Test Location: New York
Driving the Kia Carnival Hybrid
The hybrid setup is classic: a 1.6-liter turbo engine, an electric motor, and a small battery delivering 242 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque. It’s no speed demon—minivan dreams of racetrack glory remain just that—but it’s plenty peppy for the class. Paddle shifters switch roles by mode: gear swaps in Sport, regen tweaks in Eco and Smart. Around town, the electric boost makes it feel livelier than the numbers suggest. Push it hard, though, and the engine wheezes like it’s begging for a break.
Dynamically, it’s no sports car, but it holds its own. The brakes start soft yet firm up nicely, though ABS jumps in early. Steering feels vague in tight turns but gains heft when pressed. The suspension, tuned for comfort, stays composed unless you’re pushing family-hauler limits. Plus, its lower stance beats SUVs in cornering stability—a perk of van life.
Living with the Carnival Hybrid
Kia doesn’t skimp on goodies. The base model, at $42,235, packs heated seats, blind-spot monitoring, parking sensors, and tri-zone climate control. Climb to the SX Prestige ($53,995), and you’re swimming in luxury—think Bose audio and a head-up display. Add the free VIP Lounge Seat pack and $2,500 Rear Seat Entertainment, and it’s as close as America gets to those plush overseas vans.
The second-row captain’s chairs are the stars—power-reclining into “Relaxation mode” (voice-activated, no less), with heat, ventilation, and lateral slide for cozy or solo vibes. Dual screens offer Netflix, HDMI, and USB, though a Kia ad oddly haunts the menu. The third row fits adults decently—I’m 6’4” and had room, hat off, with the second row slid forward. But those fixed VIP seats mean a tight squeeze to get back there.
Up front, the driver and passenger enjoy cushy seats and a classy Deep Navy/Misty Gray cabin (black’s an option, but less chic). Twin 12.3-inch screens—one for gauges, one for infotainment—merge seamlessly, though the climate-touchscreen combo can frustrate; I kept blasting heat instead of tunes. Cargo? Stellar. A deep well with the third row up, a flat expanse when down—big enough for a dog pack to nap.
One quirk: the power liftgate auto-closes with a countdown and beeps, stoppable only by a button press each time. It’s meant to help busy parents, but feels overengineered—especially since halting it takes a firm push.
Should You Get One?
Minivans are a shrinking breed, edged out by SUVs. The Carnival Hybrid battles the Honda Odyssey, Toyota Sienna, Chrysler Pacifica, and VW ID.Buzz. The Sienna matches it on hybrid tech and adds AWD, but Kia wins on looks. The Odyssey’s V-6 is a hoot, yet it’s dated next to Kia’s features. The pricey, range-limited ID.Buzz leans on retro charm over practicality.
At its peak, the SX Prestige oozes luxury no rival touches—a Kia glow-up for the ages. Fuel savings, loaded trims, and standout style make it a winner, even if the powertrain’s polish and third-row access lag.
Pros and Cons
Love: Luxe cabin, feature-packed trims, hybrid efficiency with no power loss.
Not So Much: Engine refinement, tricky third-row entry, no AWD option.
