You may already know this, but in case you missed our Long Term test, we love the Kia Carnival. So, imagine how stoked we were to find out the 2025 Carnival was getting a major update— and better yet, we were invited to San Diego, California to drive it.

This “multi-purpose vehicle,” or MPV’s most important improvement is a first-time hybrid powertrain: A 1.6-liter turbo-four paired with an electric motor. 242 horsepower and 271 lb-ft of torque is appreciated, but not as much as the EPA estimated 33 Combined mpg, a 50 percent gain over the V6-powered 2022 Carnival we spent a year with.

KYLE SCANLON: “We’re driving outside of San Diego on some beautiful, windy country and mountainous roads in the Kia Carnival HEV; and let me tell you, it does a great job. Now, you have a little less horsepower than you do with the V6 version, but you get about 15 more lb-ft of torque which, on hilly conditions like this, you can really feel it working and it helps you get you up to speed much more quickly and much more efficiently cause you don’t have to burn as much gas as you would in the V6.”

All that said, the 287-horsepower V6 is still up for grabs should you prefer it.

The Carnival can be had in either a seven- or eight-passenger layout, the deciding factor being Kia’s super comfy second row captain’s chairs. Higher trims receive Kia’s panoramic display, consisting of two 12.3-inch screens; and available rear entertainment units round it out as the ultimate road tripper.

Available now, the 2025 Kia Carnival starts around $38,000, followed by the first hybrid at $42,000. Whether you call it an MPV or a minivan, the Kia Carnival remains a premiere choice for family hauling.
And we’ll have more Quick Spins… soon!