Text by Tom Appel
2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid SX Prestige
Specs
Class: Minivan
Country of Manufacture: South Korea
Color: Ceramic Silver
Seating Capacity: 8
Miles driven: 110
Real-world fuel economy: 38.0 mpg
| CG Report Card | |
|---|---|
| Room and Comfort | A |
| Power and Performance | B- |
| Fit and Finish | B+ |
| Fuel Economy | A |
| Value | B+ |
| Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus other vehicles in the same class. Value grade is for specific trim level evaluated, and may not reflect Consumer Guide’s impressions of the entire model lineup. | |
| Big & Tall Comfort | |
| Big Guy | A |
| Tall Guy | A |
| Big & Tall comfort ratings are for front seats only. “Big” rating based on male tester weighing approximately 350 pounds, “Tall” rating based on 6’6″-tall male tester. | |
| Drivetrain | |
| Engine Specs | 242-horsepower 1.6-liter |
| Engine Type | Hybrid 4-cylinder |
| Transmission | 6-speed automatic |
| Drive Wheels | Front-wheel drive |
Driving mix: 60% city, 40% highway
EPA-estimated fuel economy: 34/31/33 (city, highway, combined)
Fuel type: Regular gas
Base price: $52,600 (not including $1395 destination charge)
Options on test vehicle: Special paint ($495)
Price as tested: $54,490
Pros and Cons
The great: Minivan practicality, best-in-class pricing
The good: Excellent fuel economy, fresh design
The not so good: No AWD, squeaky 3rd-row seats
Review
For 2025, Consumer Guide named the Chrysler Pacifica its Minivan Best Buy. The reasons for this are many, but the primary drivers are the Pacifica’s long-haul comfort, refined cabin, and it’s now legendary Stow’n Go seating and storage system. This author knows first hand that Pacifica owners are famously happy with their vans.
Minivan Segment
That said, the Pacifica has gotten expensive over the last few years, and though available with a hybrid powertrain, access to that system is additionally costly. For these reasons, we recommend shoppers in this category take the time to evaluate all four entries, because each has its charms. A few thoughts on segment:
Chrysler Pacifica
Base Price: $44,445
Hybrid Base Price: $53,050
AWD: Available
The Pacifica shines in terms of comfort and refinement, but going hybrid means spending north of $53,000 for the plug-in hybrid system, which is likely more commitment than most minivan shoppers are looking for.
Honda Odyssey
Base Price: $43,670
Hybrid Base Price: N/A
AWD: N/A
As big and roomy as any of the other vans on this list, but Honda’s people mover has grown long-in-the-tooth, and isn’t known for its fuel economy. That said, the Odyssey rides and handles well, and thanks to its stout V6 engine is easily the most rewarding to drive.
Toyota Sienna
Base Price: $40,635
Hybrid Base Price: $40,635
AWD: Available
Toyota’s well-loved Sienna went all-hybrid last year, and is the only minivan available with a hybrid drivetrain and AWD. While the Sienna cabin can appear a bit pedestrian, especially compared to that of the Carnival and Pacifica, the van itself shines thanks to its functional nature, approachable base prices, and outstanding real-world fuel economy.
And what of the Kia Carnival?
Carnival Updates for 2025
All new for 2022, the Carnival has been treated to an update for 2025. Tweaked exterior styling and a new dashboard layout head the list of changes for the new year. Carnival joins the long list of vehicles now sporting a single, contiguous infotainment/instrument-panel touchscreen, which cleans up the dash a bit, and generally simplifies usage.
Engines
The big Carnival news for 2025 comes under the hood, however. Joining the van’s venerable 287-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 is a new hybrid option. The hybrid system incorporates a turbocharged 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine and a pair of electric motors for a combined system output of 242 horsepower. An 8-speed automatic transmission mates to the V6, while hybrid models come with a 6-speed auto.
Prices and Trim Levels
For ’25, the Carnival is offered in five conventional and four hybrid trim levels. Here’s the breakdown:
- LX: $38,235
- LXS: $40,235
- LXS Hybrid: $42,235
- EX: $42,435
- EX Hybrid: $44,435
- SX: 47,335
- SX Prestige: $52,335
- SX Prestige Hybrid: $54,335
(In terms of value, it’s worth noting that the least-expensive Carnival Hybrid comes in just $240 higher than Chrysler’s fleet/rental special Voyager model ($41,995), which cannot be had with a hybrid powertrain. For 2025, the Voyager is available for retail sale, though isn’t available with many of the amenities found on the Pacifica.)
Consumer Guide recently spent a week behind the wheel of the 2025 SX Prestige Hybrid in Ceramic Silver. All told, including destination charge, our test van came to $54,490.
Room and Comfort
Like every minivan currently offered for sale in the U.S., the Carnival boasts family-pleasing features including a roomy middle seating row, adult-friendly 3rd seating row, and enough cargo space to move a college freshman from home to campus in a single trip. And like every other minivan, the Carnival does these things while serving up plenty of comfort, and generally easy driving.
We applaud the updated infotainment setup. We’ve long been fans of Kia’s simple touch-screen setups, and the updated system remains easy to read and uncomplicated to use.
Stepping into the Carnival front-seating row is easy enough, and there’s plenty of space once seated. Second-row accommodations are similarly generous. The standard center-row seats are very comfortable, and accommodate three passengers. The available “VIP Lounge” seats swap the 3-across setup for a pair of captains chairs which can be difficult to remove. If you opt for the 2-passenger arrangement, make sure your salesperson demonstrates how to extract the seats from the van–should you ever need to do so.
Accessing the 3rd-row means sliding the center-row seats forward, an action which requires a little more muscle than we anticipated. The path rearward is a little narrow, but passenger space in the way-back seating area is very generous, with plenty of adult head- and knee room—even with the center row adjusted rearward.
Power and Performance
Underway the Carnival performs well. There’s plenty of power from the hybrid drivetrain, with ample pull from a stop, and enough muscle for highway passing and merging maneuvers, even with a decent load of people and stuff. The engine sounds generally refined when pushed, and quiets down nicely on the highway. And, over 100 miles, we averaged a solid 38 mpg, comfortably exceeding the EPA combined estimate for the Carnival Hybrid.
Ride and Handling
Ride comfort is about class normal, with most road imperfections absorbed with little drama. That said, the Carnival does not ride as smoothly, or cruise as quietly as the class-leading Pacifica. The Carnival does handle well, though, and is generally a little more fun to push than the other vans, save for the Odyssey. Sadly, the Bose-brand audio system, standard on the EX Prestige, sounds fine, but does not live up to its billing as a premium system.
We did take note of a disappointing rattle from the cargo area when the 3rd-row seats were laid flat. Returning the seatbacks to their upright position eliminated the noise.
Design
While the Carnival may struggle to outdo the competition in any key substantive category—except for price—there is another metric by which Kia’s people mover leads the pack: It’s cool. Cool looking, and cool to drive.
While the Chrysler is arguably good looking, it still looks like a minivan. But the Kia comes off looking like a crossover, and a nice crossover at that. Combine the cool exterior design with the modern cabin, and the Kia wins the anti-minivan-stigma contest hands down.
This editor has dubbed the Carnival the “bachelor-dad party pad,” thinking it the perfect minivan for dad’s who need a pleasant, stigma-free ride for daily commuting, and a kid-friendly van for weekend visitations. Going hybrid and saving money on gas is just a nice bonus.
Value
Note again, the Carnival cannot be had with AWD, which may be a demerit for folks in the Snowbelt. But note that minivans, even without AWD, are general pretty capable in the white stuff.
While the Carnival does not match the Pacifica for refinement, it costs less than that Chrysler, and looks cooler, too. We strongly suggest that shoppers in this segment test drive all the models available, taking note of easy of entry, trim level prices, and the cost of things like rear-seat entertainment systems. Individual needs will play a key role in pricing, and unfortunately, minivans can get very expensive. That said, don’t overlook the Carnival, there’s a lot here to like.
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2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid SX Prestige Pictures
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2024 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid Premium S Appearance: Review, Prices and Specs