2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid: 4 Reasons to Love it, 2 Reasons to Think Twice
Minivans are among the most competitive models in the industry, but that largely boils down to the fact that there are so few to choose from. The 2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid enters the arena with excellent efficiency and a spacious interior perfect for families and friends alike. Even with all its pros, the Kia Carnival Hybrid has a handful of cons that are along for the ride.
The V6-powered Kia Carnival minivan has been around for a little while now, but the hybrid version is the new kid on the block. The Kia Carnival Hybrid is more expensive than the gas-powered model, and it only comes in four trim levels as opposed to the ICE-only Carnival's five.
For years, minivans have prioritized a spacious interior over fuel economy, but the 2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid offers the best of both worlds. It is equipped with a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with a single electric motor that boosts the front wheels. A six-speed automatic transmission comes standard.
The electric motor generates 74 horsepower, bringing the hybrid powertrain's total output to 242 horsepower and 271 lb-ft of torque. That performance falls short of the gas-only Kia Carnival's 287 horsepower. With that tradeoff in performance, however, the 2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid earns 34 city mpg, 31 highway mpg, and 33 combined mpg. That's a huge jump from the standard Carnival's 18 city mpg, 26 highway mpg, and 21 combined mpg.
Minivans need a spacious interior in order to accommodate both passengers and cargo. As it turns out, the Kia Carnival Hybrid offers best-in-class cargo space. The Carnival Hybrid's battery is located under the second-row floor, which means this minivan doesn't sacrifice any interior space.
The Kia Carnival Hybrid offers up to 40.2 cu ft. of cargo space with all three rows in their upright position. Folding down both rear rows brings cargo space to 145.1 cu ft. The Honda Odyssey offers 140.7 cu ft., and the Toyota Sienna tops out at just 101 cu ft. of cargo volume.
When it comes to tech, the Kia Carnival Hybrid is a well-equipped minivan. All models come equipped with a 12.3-inch touchscreen display and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. All models except the base LXS trim get a standard wireless phone charger. All three rows of seating come with two USB-C charging ports that enable passengers to stay connected on the road.
Safety should be the last thing you need to be concerned about in a minivan, and the Kia Carnival Hybrid keeps the beat. The base model comes equipped with advanced driver assistance tech, like Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist, Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist, Parking Distance Warning, and Highway Driving Assist. In all, the base 2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid comes with 17 standard active safety systems.
With an MSRP of $40,800, the 2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid lands in the middle of the minivan segment when it comes to price. At that price, it undercuts the ever-popular Honda Odyssey, which starts at $42,220. Kia's hybrid minivan is also more affordable than the Chrysler Pacifica Plug-in Hybrid and its $51,055 price tag.
Most minivans have enough interior space for bulky cargo, but sometimes you need an additional trailer for all your family's gear. The Kia Carnival Hybrid can tow up to 2,500 lbs. when properly equipped, but that's on the low end compared to most competitors. The Chrysler Pacifica can tow 3,600 lbs. The Toyota Sienna, which also features a hybrid powertrain, Honda Odyssey, and gas-only Carnival, can all tow up to 3,500 lbs.
All-wheel drive is far from the standard when it comes to the minivan segment, but there are a couple of models that offer it as an upgrade. Unfortunately, the Kia Carnival Hybrid isn't one of them. If you prefer or need a minivan with all-wheel drive, the Toyota Sienna is the go-to model, especially once you take cost into consideration.
With excellent fuel economy and best-in-class passenger and cargo space, the 2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid is a minivan designed for family road trips. Unfortunately, when it comes to capability, interior space is where the Carnival Hybrid's advantages end. Give the $39,185 2025 Toyota Sienna a test drive before you settle on the Kia Carnival Hybrid.
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