As a lot as Kia desires you to assume its Carnival is a genre-bending automobile, advertising and marketing it as an MPV with SUV styling and the house of a van, on the finish of the day it’s actually only a minivan. But we love minivans, and in my view the Carnival is one of the best you should buy because of its distinctive design, glorious inside and nice driving dynamics. For 2025 Kia is making the Carnival even higher with some main styling updates and the addition of a brand new turbocharged hybrid powertrain.
The commonplace engine stays a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 that sends 287 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque to the entrance wheels by way of an 8-speed automated transmission, barely down from the 290 HP and 262 lb-ft of final yr’s mannequin however 8 HP greater than the Honda Odyssey’s V6. The new hybrid powertrain is out there on all however the base Carnival trim degree, and it makes use of the identical fundamental setup as the Sorento hybrid, however with just a little extra energy. A turbocharged 1.6-liter inline-4 is paired with a 72-HP electrical motor and 6-speed automated transmission to ship a complete of 242 HP and 271 lb-ft to the entrance wheels. While it’s not a plug-in hybrid such as you get with the Chrysler Pacifica, and the Toyota Sienna’s commonplace hybrid powertrain has two electrical motors and three extra horsepower general, I’ve a sense the Carnival hybrid would be the greatest one to drive.
Opting for the hybrid will get you three totally different ranges of regenerative braking to select from, one thing the Sorento hybrid lacks. Other hybrid-specific (and vaguely described) options embrace E-Evasive Handling Assist, which helps management the automobile in emergency maneuvers; E-Handling, which Kia says improves responsiveness when cornering; and E-Ride, which makes use of specifically tuned shocks to easy out bumps. The Carnival hybrid additionally will get a 17-inch aerodynamic wheel design. EPA figures have but to be introduced, however they need to be a reasonably large bump over the V6 Carnival’s 22 mpg mixed determine.
Regardless of which powertrain you select the 2025 Carnival will look the identical, and its up to date design is now extra in step with the facelifted Sorento. The grille is greater and blockier, the decrease bumper is extra streamlined and loses its aspect intakes, and the headlights are actually massive vertical pods which have amber working lights that wrap across the prime of the grille. Around again the license plate has been repositioned decrease within the tailgate, and the taillights additionally lengthen vertically down the corners of the rear finish. Wheels as much as 19 inches are provided, and a Dark Edition package deal darkens all the exterior trim. I at all times thought the pre-facelift Carnival was a looker, and whereas the brand new one is likely to be much less modern, I actually just like the bolder design.
The inside has at all times been one of the best a part of the Carnival, and Kia has made it even nicer — that’s, until you’re a bodily management die-hard. The local weather and media controls on the dashboard have been condensed into one multi-purpose touchbar, the identical unit present in automobiles just like the EV6, which has two knobs that carry out totally different features relying on the mode. Kia additionally changed the normal shifter with a rotary knob and repositioned the USB shops. This freed up extra middle console house for storage and allowed Kia to make the cupholders larger.
A 12-inch central touchscreen replaces the outdated 8-inch unit, however base Carnivals nonetheless have bodily gauges with a 4.2-inch display screen within the center. As an choice you may get a curved show that mixes two 12.3-inch screens below one panel, which seems to be sleeker than the outdated setup however is identical by way of display screen dimension. The Carnival is working Kia’s next-generation infotainment system that has customizable shortcuts and over-the-air updates. New choices embrace a digital rear-view mirror, a colour head-up show, an improved digital key, a rear-seat leisure system with twin 14.6-inch screens, and the Carnival now has seven USB-C ports, two energy shops and two 115V inverters.
Blissfully, within the SX Prestige trim you may nonetheless get the VIP Lounge Seat package deal, which options two second-row captain’s chairs that energy recline and have an extendable legrest — and now the “relaxation mode” will be activated along with your voice, as each entrance and rear passengers can say “Hey Kia” to regulate the seats, home windows, local weather management and different options. Seating for as much as 8 is out there, and relying on configuration you may get a sliding second-row middle seat.
Kia additionally up to date the Carnival’s driver-assist options. Forward collision warning with pedestrian detection and automatic emergency braking is now commonplace, and the system will be upgraded with evasive steering help, lane-change help and junction crossing features. The 2025 Carnival will also be had with Kia’s Highway Driving Assist 2 system and navigation-based adaptive cruise management.
The 2025 Kia Carnival will go on sale within the U.S. this summer time. It’s essentially the most underappreciated minivan by way of gross sales, with 43,687 being offered within the U.S. in 2023 — over the identical 12 months, Toyota offered 66,547 Siennas, Honda offered 74,738 Odysseys, and Chrysler offered 120,554 Pacificas, although an enormous chunk of the latter seemingly went to fleets. The Carnival’s up to date styling and new hybrid choice ought to broaden its attraction and assist it discover extra patrons, which this minivan deserves.
Source: jalopnik.com