2025 Kia Carnival Reviews, Minivans are the most practical family vehicles on the road today, no doubt about it! But they don’t have the same cool factor as SUVs, so they often lack the respect they deserve. It’s a real shame, but Kia has come up with a clever solution with the Kia 2025 Carnival. They’ve given it SUV-inspired styling that helps it blend in with the other cars in suburban areas. This clever automotive code-switching is a great way for the Carnival to blend in with all the other three-row crossovers at the school pickup line. But, when the sliding side doors motor open, it’s time to unleash your offspring onto the awaiting faculty! No matter whether you’re embarking on a long road trip or just running a few errands around town, the 287-hp V-6 engine will keep you smooth and powered up, while still being kind on your wallet. While all-wheel drive isn’t an option here, we found that the Carnival’s front-wheel drive layout and a set of snow tyres made for excellent winter traction. The interior space is absolutely huge compared to three-row SUVs! That’s the minivan superiority we were talking about earlier. But the Chrysler Pacifica and the Honda Odyssey are even roomier! You can get the Kia with a set of second-row lounge chairs that are perfect for parking for extended trips. The only downside is that they can’t be removed, which would make the van even better for hauling stuff!
2025 Kia Carnival Reviews
We’re so excited to see what’s new for 2025!
Kia only introduced the Carnival to the U.S. market in 2022, but they thought it was already time for a little styling enhancement! The 2025 model has some lovely new updates, including a fresh look for the grille, headlamps, taillamps, wheels, and lower body panels. They’re inspired by the company’s new EV9 electric three-row crossover, which is pretty cool! The interior has also seen a few little changes, with the centre console now having a slightly revised look and the climate control panel being separate and mounted on the dashboard, rather than part of the console itself. The infotainment system has been given a little makeover with Kia’s latest interface, which now includes a more robust voice assistant that can perform more tasks than before. We’re so excited to tell you about the new lane-centring feature! It works perfectly with the Carnival’s adaptive cruise control system to help keep you on track when you’re travelling on the highway.
The Carnival is available in five different trim levels, ranging from the value-oriented LX to the deluxe SX Prestige. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! The EX represents the perfect sweet spot between features and price. The EX trim comes with lots of handy features that make it well worth the extra cost, including a power-operated rear liftgate, an in-cabin intercom, and a voice-control system that lets rear-seat passengers give commands to the Carnival’s infotainment system.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance of the 2025 Kia Carnival
It’s powered by a 3.5-litre V-6 engine that produces a healthy 287 horsepower, and it comes with an eight-speed automatic transmission as standard. Unfortunately, all-wheel drive isn’t available on the Carnival, as it’s only offered as a front-wheel-drive model. Kia also offers the Carnival Hybrid, which gets a 242-hp turbocharged hybrid powertrain, but we’ll be taking a look at that model in a separate review. We were really impressed by the way the Carnival handled, it was so smooth when you were just cruising along, but still really composed when you were taking corners. The lovely V-6 engine provides a really lively acceleration, and it was able to get the Carnival up to 60 mph in just 7.0 seconds at our test track
Fuel Economy, Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
The Carnival a fuel economy rating of 19 mpg in the city, 26 mpg on the highway, and 22 mpg combined. We put a Carnival through its paces on our 75-mph highway fuel-economy route, which is just one of the many tests we run. It did really well, returning 28 mpg highway.
The Carnival’s dashboard and front-seat area are both modern and oh-so-accommodating! There’s plenty of storage space for all your little bits and pieces in the large centre console. And if you fancy it, you can even get an optional Mercedes-style dual-screen infotainment system with a digital gauge display, which makes it really easy to access all the van’s connectivity features. If you’re looking for a little extra luxury, the upscale SX Prestige trim is a great choice. It comes with leather upholstery and you can even order it with reclining second-row seats that have pop-up footrests! While these “VIP Seats” are a great way for passengers to relax on a long road trip, they unfortunately can’t be removed or stowed in the floor like in rival minivans, which means the Carnival’s maximum cargo space is a little limited. The great news is that you can get a panoramic sunroof as an option, which provides a large opening over the second row so the kids can get some fresh air. We had a lot of fun testing this out! We managed to fit 14 carry-on suitcases behind the third row of seats and a whopping 48 in total with all seats folded. That’s a lot of cargo space! It’s worth mentioning that both the Pacifica and Odyssey have slightly more space.
Infotainment and Connectivity of the 2025 Kia Carnival
The standard model has a single 12.0-inch infotainment screen, but if you’re looking for something a little different, you can opt for the dual 12.3-inch display option. This stretches across two-thirds of the dashboard and is made up of two screens: one serves as a digital gauge display and the other performs infotainment duties. The infotainment software is equipped with a voice assistant, so you can simply ask your car to perform various tasks, such as opening a window, adjusting the climate control, or even navigating to your destination! You’ll be pleased to know that Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both standard. There are seven USB ports dotted around the Carnival’s cabin, and there are two regular power outlets too. The rear-seat entertainment system adds two 14.6-inch monitors in the back, so passengers can stream content while on the go. And if you’d like to treat your ears, you can choose a 12-speaker Bose stereo.
2025 Kia Carnival Prices in UAE?
UAE Prices Yet To Announce, but in the International market as price of the 2024 Kia Carnival starts at $34,995 and goes up to $48,095 depending on the trim and options. The Carnival is offered in four trim levels ranging from the value-oriented LX to the deluxe SX Prestige, but the EX represents the sweet spot between features and price.
