The long-running Sedona was replaced in 2020 for the 2021 model year by the Kia Carnival, a front-biased minivan twinned with the Sorento crossover on the Hyundai-Kia N3 platform. Although it looks much better than the Sedona before it, Kia's new family hauler failed to deliver in terms of sales.
Last year, the South Korean automaker posted its all-time best annual sales in the US market, delivering 782,451 vehicles in total. How did the Carnival fare? 43,687 units, which is a big improvement over the 19,706 units sold in 2022.
Be that as it may, the Carnival is far behind the segment-leading Chrysler Pacifica (120,554 deliveries in the United States of America last year). Similarly, the South Korean multi-purpose vehicle doesn't pose a serious threat to the Honda Odyssey (74,738) and hybrid-only Toyota Sienna (47,753).
The tables could turn in 2024, though, because Kia has updated its minivan for the 2025 model year in many respects. First and foremost, the standard free-breathing V6 has been joined by a 1.6-liter turbo four-cylinder lump with hybrid assistance. The latter setup cranks out a combined 242 horsepower and 271 pound-feet (367 Nm), with Kia claiming up to 72 horsepower from the electric drive unit.
EPA figures have yet to be finalized. Kia couldn't be bothered to give us an internal estimate, but in any case, you can bet your sweet bippy the 1.6-liter turbo hybrid is more frugal than the 3.5-liter V6. As a brief refresher, the direct-injected sixer offers an EPA-rated 22 miles per gallon (10.7 l/100 km).
Photo: Kia
The V6 soldiers on with an eight-speed automatic, 287 horsepower, and 260 pound-feet (353 Nm) to its name. For the hybrid option, Kia changes to a six-speed automatic. That shouldn't come as a surprise, for Kia uses a sixer in the Sportage Hybrid and Sorento Hybrid as well. They're good for 227 hp and 258 lb-ft, which makes the Carnival Hybrid a bit punchier than its crossover-bodied siblings.
As far as exterior styling is concerned, the front end makes the 2025 model year stand out from 2024 and earlier pre-facelift models. The headlight design is obviously inspired by the zero-emission EV9. Another change for 2025 is the Carnival Dark Edition, which – as implied – exchanges the fake chrome garnish for blackout exterior trim pieces.
Going on sale this coming summer, the refreshed minivan further sweetens the deal with a better-equipped interior. The standard configuration is 12 inches for the touchscreen and 4.2 inches for the instrument cluster's information screen. Prospective customers are presented with an available 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment, as well as a head-up display that can project sat-nav data onto the vehicle's windshield.
The most high-tech goodie that you can get in the 2025 Kia Carnival would be Highway Driving Assist 2, a semi-autonomous driving suite that made its debut in the United States on the EV6 compact-sized crossover. It's a Level 2 advanced driving assistance system that combines adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go function with lane-centering assistance and lane-change assistance. Navigation-based Smart Cruise Control and Intelligent Speed Limit Assist are also available.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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