Goodbye to the Minivan: Hello to the MPV
For all those “I will never own a minivan” people, Kia wants them to take a look at the 2025 Carnival MPV (multi-purpose vehicle). Launched in 2022 with a gasoline engine, the 2025 Carnival now has a hybrid option for those seeking better fuel economy and performance.
In a world where SUVs and crossovers are the rage, those in-the-know are in on the best secret that’s right in front of everyone—there is no better vehicle on the market that can transport up-to eight people in comfort, convenience and style.
Kia invited the international media to San Diego, California, last week to drive the updated 2025 Carnival SX Hybrid Prestige Dark Edition. This Flash Drive will hit the high points with a more detailed road test to follow in the coming months.
Drivetrain
Clean Fleet Report drove the 2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid SX Prestige with a 1.6-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder gasoline engine mated to a 54 kW electric motor and 6-speed automatic transmission driving the front wheels. All-wheel drive is not offered. The package produces a combined 242 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque.
The EPA rates the fuel economy at 34 mpg city/31 highway/33 combined. When Clean Fleet Report has the Carnival Hybrid for a week or more we will report real-world fuel economy driving several hundreds of miles. Until then, these are impressive numbers for a vehicle weighing 4,967 pounds that can seat up-to eight people.
The Carnival hybrid has a combined fuel economy (33 mpg) on par with the Chrysler Pacifica (32 mpg) and Toyota Sienna (36 mpg), which are both hybrids. The Honda Odyssey is the only minivan that doesn’t offer a hybrid, which shows in its fuel economy (22 mpg—11 mpg less than the 2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid).
Driving Experience: On the Road
The Carnival’s 6.8-inch ground clearance, along with the Continental CrossContact 235/55 all-season touring tires on Dark Edition 19-inch machine-finished black alloy wheels, helps it handle as well or better than a full-size SUV. At freeway speeds road imperfections were absorbed without any jolts, delivering an overall stable and comfortable ride. The electric power steering made turning easy and contributed to the Carnival not driving as large as it is.
When cornering, there was little body roll or side-to-side shifting, but since the Carnival isn’t marketed as being sporty, why would you aggressively attack twisties in the first place? The Carnival Hybrid has a maximum tow rating of 2,500 pounds when equipped with the tow brake package.
Stops were solid and consistent with a power-assisted braking system consisting of vented front and solid rear discs, as part of the anti-lock brake system with electric stability control.
The Carnival is one of only a few hybrids with driver adjustable brake regeneration where kinetic energy is converted into electricity when slowing or coasting and then returned to the battery. Controlled by steering wheel paddles—three clicks on the left paddle increases the regen, three on the right paddle reduces it—at max regen the Carnival will slow to almost a full stop. Engaging the auto hold switch will keep the Carnival stationary until you press on the accelerator.
Highway Driving Assist 2 is a handy feature that can reduce fatigue on long road trips. After setting the adaptive cruise control, speed limit, and distance to the vehicle ahead, a green steering wheel icon will appear on the instrument panel indicating hands can be removed from the wheel. The system uses cameras and GPS to stay between the lane lines, even when taking sweeping turns on the highway. It has the ability to change lanes hands-free.
Exterior Styling: SUV or Minivan?
Calling it a MPV is tipoff to the Carnival design. It is unique, causing a double-take—Is it an SUV or a minivan? Kia has been crafty by incorporating traditional SUV and minivan design cues that result in an appealing look.
The long hood, with the stylized KIA logo, is fronted by a wide grille framed by distinctive vertical projector LED headlamps. Fog lights lie in the outer edges of the lower fascia, and the daytime running lights and turn signals share a stylized accent strip. The black-painted matte chrome grille has a series of small, horizontal U-shaped rectangular blocks that form a slight concave shape.
From the side, the hood, windows and roof make the Carnival look longer than it feels when driving. The Dark Edition we drove had darkened exterior elements on the roof rails, skid plates, C-Pillars, power sliding side doors, power tailgate, power exterior side mirror covers, front grille and wheels.
The rear features a hands-free power lift gate with an integrated spoiler and a hidden rear window wiper. The lower fascia has a skid plate-like design element. A reflector strip separates the LED tail lights on the lift gate.
Interior: Space To Spread-out
There are four different Carnival trim levels—LXS, EX, SX and SX Prestige—the last being what Clean Fleet Report drove on the media launch program in San Diego. With seating for seven or eight, there is plenty of room to spread out and for storing cargo.
Thanks to sound deadening material placed between the cabin and engine, solar and acoustic glass on the windshield and side windows, and the carpeted floor mats, the cabin in the Carnival was pleasantly quiet. The fit and finish of the Carnival’s cabin rivals what we have seen in premium vehicles.
The supportive and comfortable front seats were heated and ventilated, with the driver having
8-way power adjustments, including lumbar and memory. The front passenger gets 8-way power adjustments, but no memory or lumbar. There is even a switch for the driver to power adjust the front passenger seat to allow for access to the second and third rows.
Combine the multiple seat adjustments with the manual tilt and telescoping steering column, and the driver had no problem finding a comfortable driving position.
Clean Fleet Report’s Carnival SX Prestige Dark Edition hybrid had eight leather-trimmed seats. The power sliding doors on each side provide wide access to the second and third rows. The sliding second row seats recline and are removable, a three-part system that, when the second row center seat is folded, has a table with a tray area, and cup holders. When the second row is removed, and the third row seats are tucked nicely under the floor, the cargo space is impressive and generous, for luggage and other cargo, including being able to accommodate a 4×8 piece of plywood.
The Carnival has second and third row USB ports, a second row AC 115V plug outlet and a 12V accessory plug. Cup holders, a fold-down center armrest, adjustable climate controls and air vents and side window shades are nice features. The panoramic power sunroof opens above the second row. The dual screen entertainment system, located on the backside of the front seats, is an option on the SX and SX Prestige trims.
Connections, Sounds and Tunes
The interior solitude made for fine listening to the Bose 12-speaker audio system. It was easy to use and met Clean Fleet Report’s minimum requirement for being driver-friendly as it had channel and volume knobs. Standard on all four trims are the curved, panoramic dual 12.3-inch color displays, one for the digital instrument cluster and the other for the sound system, navigation and a multi-view camera. The Bose system includes AM/FM HD radio, SiriusXM, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with Bluetooth streaming audio and USB ports.
The voice recognition, for hands-free telephone dialing and other vehicle functions, worked well by simply saying “Hey Kia!” Alternatively, there are controls on the steering wheel for the phone, radio and navigation-based adaptive cruise control.
Adding to the interior comfort and convenience were wireless charging, push button start, tri-zone automatic climate control, power windows with one-touch up/down, power door locks, power heated outside mirrors with turn indicators, Wi-Fi and a rearview mirror with Homelink.
Safety and Convenience
Technology abounds as the 2025 Carnival comes with front, front seat-mounted, first row side, driver knee and full-length side curtain air bags. The advanced driver assist systems (ADAS) include forward collision warning and avoidance, lane departure and driver attention warning, lane keep assist, blind spot collision avoidance, rear cross traffic collision and parking distance warning, and pedestrian forward collision avoidance.
The Carnival has Passenger View and Passenger Talk, which includes an interior rear facing camera, with infrared night illumination, so the front passengers can keep an eye on those messing around in the back two rows. The talk feature allows conversations between front and rear passengers without having to raise your voice. When activated any audio coming through the speakers is muted. Both features are easily accessed and operated through the touch screen.
Pricing
The 2025 Carnival base prices are before options, but include the $1,395 destination charge.
LXS $41,895
EX $44,700
SX $48,995
SX Prestige $53,995
Observations: 2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid
Kia says the 2025 Carnival Hybrid is “An MPV that pushes the boundaries.” When Clean Fleet Report reviewed the 2022 Carnival, its first year, we were impressed. We said: “The real world usability and practicability of the Carnival is what makes it a must shop.” The 2025 Carnival, with the all-new hybrid, reinforces our earlier thoughts.
The clean, class-bending styling, with a comfortable interior and convenient and desirable seating and storage flexibility, is what anyone could hope for from a minivan that isn’t a minivan. The urge to buy a large SUV will be tempered just a bit. Maybe a lot.
Brad May, director of brand experience, says the “Carnival Hybrid gives us another powertrain for what consumers have already said they want. Plus the SUV styling with the interior space for families. We now give them a choice of an ICE (internal combustion engine) or hybrid version.”
The people saying “I will never own a minivan!” are encouraged to randomly walk-up at the mall or DIY center, to talk with a Carnival owner and ask about their experience. Their enthusiasm about the passenger and cargo space will begin to erase the “never own” stigma.
Brad May went on to say: “If consumers are looking at specific features and capabilities, they will look at other Kia vehicles. The Carnival is not the Telluride, Sportage, or Sorrento, as it has a form factor the others don’t have. The importance of the Carnival to Kia is it is not like the others. It fits a certain function within the line-up.”
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Story and photos by John Faulkner.
Hands-Off Highway Driving
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