The refreshed 2025 Kia Carnival MPV (multi-purpose passenger vehicle) made its North America debut at the Chicago Auto Show on Thursday. The minivan that's disguised as an SUV is widening its options with a hybrid powertrain to better take on the Toyota Sienna and the segment-leading Chrysler Pacifica, both of which have hybrid variants.
The comes with a new look too, starting with a bolder grille and thinner and wider, amber-colored daytime running lamps, similar to the rest of the refreshed lineup. It continues with cube-shaped LED headlights and a chiseled hood. In back, the license plate housing has been moved lower and is flanked by the Star Map LED taillights.
Its design bucks industry trends. Between the shape, fenders and the skid plates it all looks very rugged, despite lacking of all-wheel drive. The Toyota Sienna, now only available with a 36-mile-per-gallon, 245-horsepower (hp) hybrid powertrain, has both luxury and sporty models, but neither looks like it could go off-road.
The Pacifica Hybrid is offered as a plug-in hybrid minivan. It has an all-electric range of 30 miles before the gasoline engine needs to turn on, and will run in a hybrid mode from them on out. Total system power in the Chrysler is 260 hp.
The standard Carnival is still powered by a 3.5-liter six-cylinder engine producing 287 hp and 260 pound-feet (lb-ft) of torque with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
The front-drive 2025 Carnival Hybrid, on sale in summer of 2024, has a 1.6-liter turbo-hybrid engine paired with a 54-kW electric motor and a six-speed automatic transmission. That setup delivers 242 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque. Kia hasn't revealed its Environmental Protection Agency-rated fuel mileage numbers.
The hybrid comes with special electrified powertrain modes including Eco/Smart mode where a driver can adjust the amount of regenerative braking with a three-level deceleration control. E-Handling, which is designed to help improve vehicle responsiveness; E-Ride, which smooths out bumps with specially tuned shocks; and E-Evasive Handling Assist, which helps during emergency steering, are specific to the Carnival Hybrid.
"While the Chrysler Pacifica and Honda Odyssey remain number one and two best-sellers in the minivan space, respectively, Kia Carnival's sales growth has been remarkable over the last few years. It's closing the gap on the third best-seller, the Toyota Sienna. This latest refresh only makes the Carnival more compelling by adding a hybrid powertrain, updated styling, and a continued effort to pack a ton of value into every trim level," Paul Waatti, manger of industry analysis at AutoPacific told Newsweek.
The Carnival's cabin features a curved panoramic dual-display features full digital instrumentation with an available 12.3-inch cluster and 12.3-inch infotainment display. A 12-inch screen is standard. An optional, full-color head-up display projects driving and navigation information onto the windshield. It has seven standard USB-C ports, two power outlets, and two 115-volt inverters.
Its voice control system can distinguish between the first and second row, adjusting climate and windows accordingly. The optional VIP Lounge Seat package returns, where second-row passengers can activate their seat's relaxation mode, reclining the seatback and deploying the leg extension. It also continues with best-in-class 145.1 cubic feet of cargo room behind the first row. The second row also slides to offer better access to the third row. A feature now shared by most of its competition.
The Sienna has of most of the same equipment, sans the VIP lounge seat. It offers slightly less space at 140.5 cubic feet.
The 2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid also has the latest editions of the company's safety features including forward collision warning and automatic braking. Collision warnings for intersections, lane change and oncoming traffic are optional. Highway Driving Assist is also available. It controls the steering, accelerator and brakes and will change lanes under certain conditions. However, it is a hands-on system. Navigation-based Smart Cruise Control and Intelligent Speed Limit Assist are optional.
"The Carnival lacks an all-wheel drive option that the Pacifica and Sienna offer, which might make those a better fit for some buyers. Nonetheless, Carnival should continue to see market share growth despite an overall decline in minivan sales as consumers continue choosing SUVs and crossovers as their bodystyle of choice," said Waatti.
Kia didn't reveal a price for the 2025 Carnival Hybrid. The current gasoline model starts at $33,200 for the base LX trim, the SX Prestige is $48,095. The Toyota Sienna is close with a base price of $38,280 while the Pacifica is $38,625. Kia will release more information on the Carnival closer to its arrival at dealerships.
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