MotorwayAmerica.com

By Jim Meachen
Editor, MotorwayAmerica.com

(December 22, 2024) When a carmaker takes a really good product — well received over its first three years of existence — and adds nearly 50 percent more gas mileage without losing any performance and usability, than I say that carmaker has hit a home run. Kia has done just that with 2025 Carnival minivan by adding a hybrid variant rated at 34 mpg city, 31 highway and 33 combined.

That trumps the standard V-6 engine by 12 miles per gallon. That's a big deal measured by prevailing pump prices. For instance, if you drive 10,000 miles a year you will use on average 303 gallons of regular gas in the hybrid. That amounts to an outlay of $985 based on $3.25 a gallon. At 21 mpg combined, the V-6 will use 476 gallons equalling $1,547.

The Hybrid on average will cost $2,000 more at the time of purchase than the standard V-6 with the same equipment, based on Edmunds pricing. This means it will take you about 40,000 miles to break even, BUT over those miles you will use 692 fewer gallons of gas — which is a good thing.


MotorwayAmerica.com

Over 250 miles of driving, I averaged 31.5 miles per gallon in my SX Prestige test vehicle.

Here's what you get with the hybrid — a 1.6-liter four cylinder along with a 72-horsepower electric motor driving the front wheels. This combination equals 242 horsepower, which is slightly less than the non-hybrid Carnival powered by a 287-horsepower V-6. A six-speed automatic is standard, which we find more refined and offering a better driving experience than the continuously variable transmission in the Toyota Sienna hybrid.

I found the Carnival Hybrid to be as powerful, refined, and pleasant to drive as the standard model. The ride is smooth, the cabin is quiet, and handling is secure. Much like an all-electric car, the hybrid has different settings for the regenerative braking system that can slow the car at varying levels when you lift off the brake.

Launch it from a stop, and the van obliges. In fact, its 7.8-second run to 60 mph ties it with the V-6 Carnival. The hybrid's transmission steps through the gears like any other and doesn't run out of breath until you get upwards of 80 mph.

The Carnival's styling is handsome without screaming, "this is a minivan." While the basic minivan approach remains, the longer hood, tall body sides and chopped greenhouse give it an SUV look at a quick glance. The very appealing black wheels on our test car aided in giving it the "cool" appearance other manufacturers have sought with their new minivan offerings, but have not quite succeeded like the Kia has with the Carnival.

The textured grille makes a strong first impression, and the interesting shiny C-pillar trim is an upscale touch.



What all minivans have these days is flexibility, connectivity, the latest in safety features, and more hauling capacity than all, but the biggest SUVs. The Carnival can be configured as either a seven-passenger van — with a pair of captain's chairs in the second row — La-Z-Boy-like recliners for long-distance comfort — or with a second-row bench-type seat that makes it an eight-passenger vehicle. And the way-back third-row will accommodate full-size adults.

FYI: The second-row captain's captain's chairs are affixed permanently to the floor which is a big detriment if you occasionally want/need to haul a lot of cargo. The bench seat in our tester looked great and is removable.

Inside, the Carnival's dash layout and front-seat area are both modern and accommodating with a large center consul and an optional dual-screen infotainment system with a digital gauge display as found in several other new Kia vehicles including the Sorento compact crossover. A single eight-inch infotainment screen is standard, and the optional dual 12.3-inch display stretches across two-thirds of the van's dashboard. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto wireless connectivity is standard. And there are a minimum of seven USB ports as standard equipment — three front, two middle and two rear.

Safety is paramount for families with children and the Carnival answers the call with such standard safety as rear occupant alert, blind-spot monitor with cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, drive attention warning, and forward collision mitigation. Adaptive cruise control comes as standard equipment on all but the base LXSs. And all Carnivals have what Kia calls safe exit assist that can prevent a rear passenger from opening a door into traffic approaching from behind.

The Hybrid comes in four trim levels — LXS, EX, SX and SX Prestige — starting at $41,895. Pricing tops out at $53,995 for the SX Prestige. Our SX Prestige test van carried a bottom line of $54,755.

All Carnivals carry a 10-year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty and the hybrid adds a 10-year/100,000 mile battery warranty. The basic warranty is still one of the best in the business at 5 years/60,000 miles.

If you are in the market for a minivan I recommend that the Carnival Hybrid be a "must see" on your shopping list. FYI — All-wheel drive is not available on the Carnival.

2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid

Essentials
Base price: $41,895; as driven, $54,755
Engine: 1.6-liter 4-cylinder, electric motor
Horsepower: 242 total
Torque: 271 pound-feet
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Drive: front wheel
Seating: 2/3/3
Length: 203 inches
Wheelbase: 121.7 inches
Curb weight: 4,852 pounds
Luggage capacity: 40.2 cubic feet
Cargo capacity: 145.1 cubic feet
Fuel capacity: 19 gallons (regular)
EPA rating: 34 city, 31 highway, 33 combined
0-60: 7.8 seconds (Car and Driver)
Also consider: Toyota Sienna, Chrysler Pacifica, Honda Odyssey

The Good
• Outstanding gas mileage
• Stylish exterior design
• Considerable standard equipment

The Bad
• Some controls require too much attention

The Ugly
• AWD not available