Yes, The 2025 Kia Carnival Is a Minivan...And It’s Darn Good!
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#kia #carnival #kiacarnival2025
It’s the women…as a man I’ve been trying to get a minivan over a suv for years. But the wife, once she gets the van she loses her “cool” factor. SUVs can’t compete for a family hauler.
I agree, it took me forever to be able to drag my wife to test drive a minivan, once she did though she knew we needed one
Agreed! I finally convinced my wife. A minivan checks all the boxes for a family vehicle.
Just tell your wife that a minivan is the ultimate cockblocking tool.
Same. I just can’t convince her to get one. She wants a truck ironically lol
They are compensating for something apparently. Not sure a suv convinces me some suburban mom is suddenly cool…
Only reviewers hate on the dual purpose display for radio and hvac. People who own these set the default to what they want and use the most, and they just know what they need to do for the task they want. It's very not complicated. Just like with everything else reviewers hate on, owners have zero issues. Some things may take a week or two to get used to, but never an ongoing problem like these guys want to make them out to be.
Nice review. I've had two vans, the most recent one is a 2017 Grand Caravan. It's been reliable, versatile, and comfortable. Leather, tri-zone climate control, stow and go. I look at the Carnival and it could be my next vehicle. You can't beat a V6 for nice smooth power delivery, and the gas mileage compared to some turbo 4 motors is not that different. Vans are the most efficient ways to haul people and things, so despite the 'soccer mom' stigma, I'm a happy van guy. They just work, they are like the Swiss army knife of vehicles. AWD would be nice, but I put a set of Pirelli Scorpions on my GC and no issues. Now, I'm not out making donuts in parking lots during snow storms, but I can get where I want to go in comfort, with very little drama. So, thank you Kia for raising the bar and being innovative with such an under rated vehicle genre. And please don't phase out the V6.
I still remember Nathan's review of the Carnival from just 2-3 years ago with the giant teddy bear in the back seat and cup holder count review.
I remember the video from just a couple of years ago with Nathan using the stuffed bear in the back seat.
I've been vacationing in Vietnam and the Kia Carnival has been one of their most popular cars on the street. I have seen more of them here then I've seen in the states.
Viet Cong used them during the war.
It's a Sport Utility Van... Still an SUV in my eyes, and more useful than a traditional SUV.
Plus you won't lose your rear door to traffic! 😂
About the climate controls, if you hold the switch button, you can choose which set of controls are default, so they always refer to what you selected. That was the case on the ev6, i would guess this is the same
Ok, the “timeout” chair is the best feature 😂
The proplems with vans is they are always related with Scoccer moms .
Now vans are replaced by 3 row SUV... an other soccer moms car .
This is the most handsome van/suv vehicle around. Yes even better than the Chrysler Pacifica. The interior is well thought out and they have every feature imaginable for a family like front heated/cooled seats for the two adults(parents) , heads up display on the driver’s sight, heated steering wheel for the cold climates, rear seat camera, time out seat, excellent storage & flexibility moving rear seats, awesome screens/display, wise interior trim color, V6 engine… the list is endless on the benefit of getting this over crossovers and giant SUVs. . 👏
I could see this having more appeal than a sterotypical minivan. This looks more like an SUV with sliding doors. Maybe that's not enough though.
Since you don’t need to physically slide the rear door, they should have put the rear door handle at the back of the door so that it looks like a regular rear door. With the shape of this vehicle the only thing that really gives it away as a minivan from the outside is the placement of the rear door handle. They could call it an SUV with a sliding rear door.
Been a Kia van fan. I had a 2014 Sedona and now a 2020 Sedona. Comfortable for carrying people and making cargo runs in. Saved me from needing a pickup truck at times.
just love that interior color scheme
It’s hybrid SUV look and features of minivan.
Have to say it looks almost like a suv. And to a point sliding rear doors are good and easier for the kids. 😅
This would be even more amazing if it came with AWD. We need it in snowy areas.
Not really. If it ever comes with AWD it will be the type that helps you accelerate quicker on slippery pavement and works up to 30 mph. You need winter tires for braking and directional control not AWD that does nothing in that department.
If you use Android auto or CarPlay and use music from your phone, leaving the ac controls active is not a problem.
I tend to leave the system on Auto in my car personally, works well enough for me and my family. I could never understand why people need to fiddle with climate controls so often.
The overall popularity of minivans has declined with every generation. However in Florida with middle age adults the stigma in minivans isn't as bad. You do get to sit up high I can tell that is the best appeal to them.
There are people all over the State still driving the Town and Country. They had so much depreciation they are affordable on the used car market. On occasion I do see a few Odysseys. The Carnavals aren't as popular and neither are the Pacifica models because they are so high in price and are really passed over on the used car market. SUVs, Pickups & Passenger cars are the majority vehicles on the roads.
1.6 liter is too small. My Sedona transmission and engine were replaced at 91,000 miles. The warranty saved $11,800.😂
I knew we needed a minivan for a while, but my wife wasn’t on board at first. After checking out vans and SUVs side by side she relented and confirmed the lower floor in the back and the sliding doors made the van the smart choice. She wanted the Carnival, but after just missing out on getting the engine in our Soul replaced by the class action lawsuit I was scared to trust Kia again. That and the gas mileage difference made going with the Toyota Sienna an easy choice. We’ve had it a year and love it.
They will be replacing the transmission within a year and for the next 10 years it'll be an engine recall on that vehicle
How do you know that?
Very well peeled fruit 🤣🤣🤣. Roman, you got me with that line. Respect ✊🏾.
The only stigma against vans is how expensive they are now . 😭
Love the new hybrid trim, don’t mind the lack of AWD, hate the dual function climate/volume control. Overall finally a minivan to compete with Toyota Sienna especially the hybrid trim of this Carnival
I drove borrowed ev6 that has the same setup. I actually kinda liked it. AWD is overrated
Your 100 % correct.
How good are they in the snow ??
Perfect for a taxi/Uber/Lyft.
If I had kids I'd buy a Carnival in a heartbeat
Every suburban 30 something BECKY should be driving a used minivan. Humble these harpies.
How often do you adjust the temperature? I don't see any problem with that panel.
Damn I want one
One of the best looking vans imo
You mention plug in hybrid coming to the carnival, did you mean just standard hybrid or is the phev actually coming?
FYI: wrong video description
Kind of odd you didn't mention the optional hybrid powertrain when discussing The disappointing V6 powertrain on the model you're testing. Looks like you don't mention it until the 10-minute mark in the video, incorrectly stating that it's a PHEV when in fact it's a conventional hybrid for the new Carnival (and it is currently available in the US). The Pacifica is still the only one available in a PHEV while the Sienna and the Carnival are offered in conventional hybrids. I don't believe the Odyssey is currently available in a hybrid at all. I wish the carnival was offered in AWD for this model refresh, but I guess you can't have it all. That would have put it in more direct competition with the Sienna. I agree that the multifunction screen is disappointing. I wish they had more buttons for specific features. Also, I wish that they implemented the column shifter that Hyundai and Kia have been adding to new models now which would have allowed them to redesign the center console. I guess it's a plus that they went with a conventional shifter instead of some weird knob. While on paper the the Sienna and the hybrid Carnival are very close in price, it's important to note that Toyotas in general are very hard to come by in specific trims and specific colors due to the way they allocate vehicles dealerships. In addition, about a year back, the wife and I were looking at upgrading her Kia Sedona to a Toyota Sienna and when we stopped at a dealership to ask, they told us that since we were locals the markup for a minivan would only be 7K. We walked out on the spot. I don't know of any Toyota dealership that doesn't mark up their minivans, but we've inquired about the carnival and have found it at several locations that don't have markups. You might get a more durable, high quality vehicle with the Sienna, but you're definitely going to pay for it, so I feel like the Kia Carnival is definitely the best bang for the buck with good quality and a great warranty.
Thanks for the heads-up
Honda only sells three cars with hybrid systems in North America: the Accord, the CR-V and the Civic. I hope that will change soon and they'll have more hybrids in their lineup. For example, they can start by reintroducing the MDX hybrid, and then fit the powertrain from that into the Odyssey, Pilot, Ridgeline and Passport.
Sport mode all day
What is the model.
I drive one. The computer shows 31mpg on mine
The best looking in the segment
The turbo kills it for the hybrid. At the end of the day it's all Glitz and glamor but it wouldn't hold up to the Sienna
For me I like it. And if the wife doesn’t then she can buy her own car or walk. That all 😂😅
I like the way you roll
I love everything about this van except the lack of a hybrid option. When Toyota makes it standard on the Sienna and gets mid-30's this is just embarrassing. -- ETA looks like they just announced it, good for them! Better late than never.
Sliding doors are the sheet.
Minivans are the champions of family hauling duty. Easier ingress/egress for everyone. Lower cargo lift-over. More cargo area. If more parents could get over their egos, they'd realize it's a more logical choice than a comparably priced SUV. Except for the worst of winter conditions, FWD is perfectly sufficient. The overwhelming majority of Americans don't need AWD. A small minority tow to justify an SUV with a higher tow rating.
People fail to understand that AWD in their Pilots, tellurides, traverses etc won’t do shit for them when it comes to staying on the pavement or stopping.
Would be an excellent vehicle and the top of my list if not for the lack of AWD. A huge miss from KIA!
No hate here. It's excellent. Brands should sell some of their smaller city vans in the states. T-class, touran, etc. Such good cars that make sense
I like carnivals but they better have elephant ears and cotton candy
Has the battery drain issue been solved ?
It’s a great minivan on the outside. Once you open the hood you’ll see an engine that will blow up in 5yrs.
I was trying to find some info on this powertrain but there’s not much out there
Same here, but a buddy of mine bought one a few years back and purchased a 10 year 400, 000km /248,000 ish mile warranty. So if it does go at least you'll get another go at it
I wonder with the Chrysler minivan being the last model will they put a new look Dodge front on it rebrand it a Dodge Caravan again Chrysler brand would then be discontinued
The only thing i hate about it is that i couldn't find any used models for a reasonable price when my car got totaled.
I was okay with being "minivan dad" but its hard to be "minivan dad" when you cant afford the minivan. Ended up with a used GMC Acadia, not disappointed
They can keep the moving seat. Drove a Ridgeline with one for 2 weeks. I still hated it by the end of the 2 weeks.
TFL bills getting paid 😅😅. A lot of vehicle reviews lately.
Martin Richard Lopez James Thompson Edward
Looks like a car to me isn't that a car?
Its the name, carnival. What is up with the name.
Yeah. Sounds like a cheap redneck cruise. I hate that name
for the price, is it better than an explorer or tacoma or mazda cx-50? base price it doesn't come with the power doors or heated seats, so it's getting up there in price. for a minivan, it's nice and good looking, but price point, theres a lot of competition.
Now hybrid aré better
Moore Kevin Jones Donald Davis Daniel
always fuel economy who cares if you don't like it buy something else take the bike then. All these hybrid talk to save 3 dollars on fuel I don't care. 6 cylinder is 6 cylinder and the horsepower . tow something with hybrid I want to see if you are happy.
Jones Sarah Lewis Nancy Martin David
Smith Jessica Harris Helen Miller Michelle
There is NOTHING good about this junker... at all
Carnival… Caravan, wow that’s imaginative, Asian carmakers true to themselves. Add to this the old version of this van was a knock off of the Windstar, the lack of creativity is obvious.
it used to be called the sedona, my mom has a 2017
Taylor Donald Lee James Anderson Dorothy
unfortunately like other minivans the Kia wont make it pass140,000 miles and in 5 years it will only be worth $5k will never buy a Kia or Hyundai product burned on 4 previous purchases
Anything named with the acronym killed in action is a hard pass for me.
How many clowns do you think you can put in there....
Why the hate? A minivans says “I left my testicles at the dealership”.
Or perhaps the owner values function over image?
"right tool for the job"....is something that I have always heard.
The Carnival has great potential, great they added a Hybrid, it just needs an AWD option and stowable 2nd row seats.
Exactly this
I think just adding AWD and stowable second row seats would really help. Then if you want to go slightly off the beaten path,but not real offroad and camp out of the van you could. And I think AWD might be helpful getting home if you get caught in some unexpected weather while out or at work.
To be stowable seats need to be very thin and thus uncomfortable
They really should do a halo version with AWD that is set up for adventure use. Maybe a camper version or something? Just not the phony off road version that isn’t at all an off road version like Honda has been doing.
No need for stowable second row, but the lack of a hybrid is unacceptable when it's standard for Toyota.
Have to say it looks almost like a suv. And to a point sliding rear doors are good and easier for the kids. 😅
The name doesn't inspire me - in my mind, Carnival = circus...circus = clowns. I'm not driving a clown car...
they changed the name from sedona to carnival… i don’t like it.
It has always been called the Carnival, not just in North America. Kia of North America decided to change the name when they redesigned it in 2021 from Sedona to Carnival. I don't know why they did that, but the rumor that went around was that the Sedona name already had a bad reputation in North America, so Kia changed the name so that consumers would give their minivan another chance.😊
@@damilolaakanni oh? i liked the sedona naming more. the new design looks cool though.
Totally agree!
debadge it and move on
I've been eye balling these. One big issue is resale vs Sienna. It's cheaper new but the resale is not very good. But it seems cheap enough to still be a better deal.
Just call it an suv with sliding doors.
What do people hate about buying a new minivan? The epic depreciation!
And the gutless engines in them. Good luck trying to pass with 4-5 adults and all their stuff.
@@jaysson1151 Ummm...no. Most of them have the same engine as their SUV counterparts. Both 3.5 Honda vans I owned were not short of power. I drove them like I stole them all the time. You must be thinking of the old Chryslers or maybe an underpowered 2.7 Toyota.
@@jghall00 my experience is with the Chrysler 3.6’s with the 6 speed and 8 speed. I’ve driven a late model Odyssey which is fun to drive but I’ve yet to test one fully loaded down in the hills and mountains.
@@jaysson1151 Mountains are going to be tough for any naturally aspirated engine, especially with heavy loads. Atmospheric density decreases at high altitude, so the engine just can't breath as well. That's not something specific to minivans. At high altitudes, you're going to want a turbo or electrification.
It seems to me most van owners tend to keep them until they’ve drove the wheels off, which kind of makes depreciation a moot point.
I'd definitely recommend this over something like the Pacifica. There is a big issue with the 3.6L Pentastar engines and their head gaskets. My head gasket just went on mine and 2 people at my work both with Grand Cherokee's with the 3.6L both had a blown head gasket a couple months ago. All of our vehicles had between 100,000 - 140,000 miles on them. Guy at the shop said he has just recently started seeing more and more of these with north of 100k popping up. All of our cars started with a Cylinder 5 Misfire, if you get this code pop up you'd better tell them to check the head gasket.