Your options for a hybrid minivan have just increased as the 2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid makes its debut. This minivan provides a versatile cabin with the economy of a compact car.
Performance
Engine – Under the hood of the 2025 Carnival Hybrid is the 1.6L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that is found in a few other hybrid Kia and Hyundai vehicles. On its own, the engine produces 177 hp & 195 lb-ft of torque (132 kW & 264 Nm). The electric motor provides an additional 72 hp & 224 lb-ft of torque (54 kW & 304 Nm) with a combined total output of 242 hp & 270 lb-ft of torque (180 kW & 366 Nm). Because Kia likes to use a turbocharged engine with their hybrid powertrains, it means that the Carnival has a bit more pep in its step when compared to the Toyota Sienna. Of course it can’t quite match the power of the V6 in the Honda Odyssey but this Kia Carnival Hybrid does not feel like a sloth. Under normal driving conditions, the engine revs between 1,500 and 2,000 rpms. But on occasion when encountering a steep hill, don’t be surprised if you see the rpm indicator hit 3,500 or 4,000 rpms.
Like many other hybrid vehicles, the engine will provide the brunt of the power when accelerating from a stop. Then, once the minivan is up to speed, it will shut off for brief periods and drive on electricity alone to maintain the vehicle’s speed. On highways, this happens less often as the engine tends to provide power at almost all times. By default, the Kia Carnival Hybrid will be in Eco mode with Sport and Smart available for different driving situations.
Fuel Economy – For a vehicle that weighs at 2,201 kg (4,852 lbs), the 2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid returns some very efficient fuel economy numbers. It is rated for 6.9 L/100km (34 MPG) in a city and 7.6 L/100km (31 MPG) on a highway. Better yet, it’s possible to get better fuel economy as I did at 6.7 L/100km (35 MPG) during my time with the 2025 Carnival Hybrid.
Transmission – Unlike most other hybrid powertrains, the Carnival Hybrid’s engine is paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission rather than an eCVT. The 6-speed provides a more natural driving demeanor than an eCVT. You can hear when the transmission is shifting gears but, for the most part, you don’t feel them. The only times that the shifts are more noticeable is when the car is in Sport mode and you have your foot planted on the throttle pedal. But don’t expect quick shifts from this transmission and don’t expect fast response times should you want to use the paddle shifters.
Braking – Unlike other self-charging hybrids, the 2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid will allow the driver to choose different regenerative braking modes. There are levels 1, 2 & 3 with each providing more and more regen force. There is also a Smart Regeneration setting which automatically adjusts the regen force. Personally I don’t like any of these under normal driving situations because levels 1 to 3 provide instant regen and it is almost impossible to control it. This makes the deceleration feel like an on/off switch. The only time I found myself using these was whilst going downhill. As for the Smart Regen, it constantly changes based on the vehicle ahead. I’d much rather control the regen braking through the brake pedal which is what this car also allows by default. It’s a much smoother deceleration.
As for the brakes themselves, they’re good enough. They have enough stopping power to bring the 2.2 tonne minivan to a stop in emergency situations. Brake pedal feel is firm the harder you press on it and it is easy to module for smooth stops so long as the different regen modes are switched off.
Handling – Minivans are not known for their exciting driving demeanor and this one is no different. Like all other minivans, the Kia Carnival is easy to drive in a city and on highways. It doesn’t feel straining whilst sitting in the driver’s seat for hours on end during a family road trip or during a long commute to work. The steering is light but it firms up just enough on highways to keep the van stable. It also has a pretty decent turning circle so that you don’t have to perform a 3-point turn every time you need to turn around. But unlike the other two hybrid minivans on sale, this one is FWD only. There is no AWD option.
Comfort
Ride Comfort – The 2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid has a smooth ride over most bumps in the road. Deep potholes or very uneven manhole covers are about the only things that can really disturb the ride of the Carnival Hybrid. Otherwise, you don’t need to swerve when encountering smaller bumps in the road. The suspension soaks them up nicely. This is more impressive when taking into consideration the 19” wheels with lower profile tires. For added comfort, consider the LX+ trim with its 17” wheels and larger diameter tires.
Interior Space – Starting with the front seats, they are plenty spacious for tall adults. This EX trim has synthetic leather which feels pretty good to the touch but the seats themselves are a bit too flat. Both are power operated on this trim with the driver having power lumbar adjustments.
In the 2nd row, the sliding doors are power operated and can be remotely opened or closed. This EX trim has 3 passenger seating while the SX+ trim adds VIP style lounge seats in the 2nd row. These bench seats can slide and recline individually and each outer seat has its own arm rest. Additionally, you can remove these seats one by one for more cargo space. But be aware, these seats are very heavy. Space back there is plentiful as well for taller individuals.
In the 3rd row, there are 3 seats with space being a bit more limited compared to the 2nd row. However, if individuals sitting in the 2nd row are generous, they can move their seats a bit more forward to allow for more legroom in the 3rd row. There are sunshades in this 3rd row, as well as the 2nd row, and a USB-C port to either side.
Behind all rows of seats, the Carnival Hybrid has 1,139 L (40.2 cu-ft) of cargo space with a deep cargo area. There are a couple of small storage bins on the left side and power plugs on the right. The 3rd row seats fold neatly into the large cavern in the floor but as I mentioned earlier, the 2nd row seats have to be individually removed if you want more cargo space. With all seats stowed or removed, the 2025 Carnival Hybrid has 4,110 L (145 cu-ft) of cargo space which is a bit more than the other minivans on sale. If you’re wondering, the Carnival Hybrid receives a tire mobility kit rather than a temporary spare wheel like the V6 version.
Noise, Vibration, & Harshness – For the most part, the cabin of the Carnival Hybrid is generally quiet around town. The engine is not too loud and more often than not, you can feel the slight vibrations of this engine through the throttle pedal. It’s when you need to go up a hill that the engine gets very, very loud. Otherwise, wind and tire noise are not too intrusive while driving on a highway.
Odds and Ends
Pricing – The 2025 Kia Carnival LX+ starts at $46,545 CAD ($40,800 USD, LXS). This EX trim will cost you an additional $2,900 CAD ($2,200 USD) while the top of the line SX+ trim will cost you $56,445 CAD ($52,900 USD, SX Prestige).
Gadgets – The LX+ trim of the 2025 Carnival Hybrid has quite a few convenience features as standard. Some of these include heated front seats along with a heated steering wheel, a heated windshield (which is quite rare to see), the aforementioned sliding rear doors, 3-zone automatic climate controls, power liftgate, built-in navigation along with wireless Apple CarPlay & wireless Android Auto connectivity, a backup camera, keyless entry with push button start, front & rear parking sensors, and navigation-based smart cruise control with stop & go function.
This EX trim further adds a wireless phone charging pad, the synthetic leather upholstery, the 19” wheels, full LED tail lights, power folding mirrors, and rain sensing wipers which have a mind of their own. Intermittent wipers are far superior to automatic wipers.
The infotainment system is displayed on a 12.3” touchscreen and it is the same one that is found in many other current Kia vehicles. It’s logically laid out with clear graphics and large icons. One helpful feature is the trailer checklist function. This provides a step-by-step checklist of how to hook up a trailer which the Carnival Hybrid can tow. But it has to weigh below 3,000 lbs.
Interior Design – The dashboard design of the 2025 Carnival Hybrid looks similar to other Kia vehicles with a dual-screen layout, climate control below, and a rotary style gear selector. On the subject of the climate controls, they are displayed on a touchscreen of sorts that also doubles as a quick access for certain infotainment controls. What some may find annoying is having to switch between the climate controls and the quick access buttons in order to change the temperature or adjust the radio volume because both use the same knob. I just left it on the climate controls and used the steering wheel controls to change the radio volume.
Exterior Design – The exterior styling has been given a slight facelift of this model year. It has more pronounced amber daytime running lights with a stack of vertical LED headlights. This design was first featured on the mid-cycle update of the Kia Sorento. In the back, it follows a similar design style with a stack of LED taillights. It’s a good looking design and I especially like the 19” wheels that look almost like squares.
Safety – Opting for the EX or SX+ trims will not add too many safety features on the Carnival Hybrid. Rear seat reminder, rain sensing wipers, reverse parking collision avoidance and side parking sensors are the only additions between the two trims. The base LX trim is already equipped with a lot of safety Driver aids including automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning with lane keep assist and lane follow assist, blind spot sensors, rear cross traffic alert, and so on.
Warranty – In Canada, the 2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid is covered by a 5 year / 100,000 km new vehicle and powertrain warranty. The battery is covered by an 8 year / 160,000 km warranty while the hybrid components are covered for the same tire period but 150,000 km. In the United States, the basic warranty is 5 years / 60,000 miles and the powertrain warranty is 10 years / 100,000 miles. The battery and hybrid components are covered for 10 years / 100,000 miles. For more information on Kia’s Canadian warranty, click here. For Kia USA warranty information, click here.
Conclusion – The addition of the hybrid powertrain to the 2025 Kia Carnival takes it right up to almost the top spot of the minivan ladder. The Toyota Sienna still has it beat with its better fuel efficiency and AWD option but this Carnival is not far behind with its smoother ride, spacious cabin, and lower price tag.
Thank you to Kia Canada for providing the Carnival Hybrid. www.Kia.ca
2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid Gallery
