2025 Kia Carnival Quick Guide | Latest Features, Trims, Colors

Carnival Overview There is no style of vehicle on the road that can move passengers and cargo as comfortably and efficiently as a minivan. However, many consumers have shunned this useful mode of transport in favor of the crossover SUV, and now only a few car companies offer a minivan anymore. Kia has had a minivan in its lineup for over 20 years, and the Korean brand is fully embracing the people mover with the latest version of the Carnival.

While the 2025 Carnival delivers all the desired attributes of a minivan, the company understands its audience. The Carnival carries styling cues that make it look like an SUV, and Kia won't even call it a minivan, using the MPV (multi-purpose vehicle) label instead. But the Carnival is a minivan and a very good one at that.

Kia replaced its aging Sedona with the Carnival in 2022, and for 2025, the Carnival gets a fresh look that further embraces the SUV style. However, as a true minivan, the Carnival features power sliding doors for easy entry and exit, and there's space to seat up to eight passengers comfortably while leaving substantial room for cargo. USB ports at each row, a new rear-seat entertainment system, and a cabin camera and intercom system to help front passengers keep tabs on what's happening in the rear seats help to set the Carnival apart from the competition.

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The Carnival has quintessential minivan interior qualities. It's spacious, versatile, and easy to get in and out of. The Carnival's exterior design makes the rear sliding doors look smaller than those on other vans, but functionally the openings are just as big. Another advantage is the highly adjustable driver's seat; drivers of all sizes should find a comfortable spot. Outward visibility is excellent. The big windows and available surround-view camera system make it easy to know what's around you.

All of the higher trim levels have an eight-passenger configuration with a second-row bench seat in which the center section can be converted into a table. Two VIP Lounge-style power-operated captain's chairs featuring full recline and deployable leg rests are optional at no additional cost. Those chairs also can scoot toward the center of the vehicle to allow easier access to the rearmost bench, although it's more of a stretch than with the standard fold-away second-row seats. Typical of minivans, that third-row seat is roomy enough for adults. 

The 2025 Kia Carnival LX and LXS trims have an 8-inch touchscreen featuring wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while higher trims get a 12.3-inch unit. Both use Kia's new Connected Car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC) operating system, which delivers a quicker response on a higher-resolution display.

The Kia system also has a "sounds of nature" feature that plays ambient sounds, such as falling rain or a crackling fireplace, as a relaxing alternative to music. That novelty aside, this updated system is impressive for its simple menu structure and haptic touch buttons that go directly to the main functions. Wireless charging is standard on EX and higher trims. There are six to nine USB ports (depending on the model) to keep everyone's devices juiced.

The 2025 Kia Carnival has two available powertrains. The 3.5-liter V6, which produces 287 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, carries over from 2024. For 2025, Kia adds a hybrid system with a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine teamed with a powerful electric motor to deliver a total of 242 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque. The V6 is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, while the new hybrid gets a six-speed auto.

The Carnival comes standard with an extensive list of advanced driver-assist features, including automatic emergency braking with car/pedestrian/cyclist detection, blind-spot collision avoidance, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping and lane-following assist, rear occupant alert, and safe exit assist. The navigation-based adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go can automatically use navigation info to slow down for curves and adjust the set speed based on the speed limit (both can be disabled if preferred). The surround-view monitor in SX and SX Prestige models is one of the best, with super-sharp imaging. It can show two views at once, including a forward view for nose-in parking.

A range of deep, rich, premium paint colors including Panthera Metal, Ceramic Silver, Ivory Silver, Snow White Pearl, Aurora Black Pearl, Deep Chroma Blue, Flare Red, and Astra Blue are available for drivers who demand a rich finish.