2025 Kia Carnival Consumer Reviews
Pricing
LX - $38,235 MSRP
Edmunds suggests you pay
$36,747We have a limited number of reviews for the 2025 Carnival, so we've included reviews for other years of the Carnival since its last redesign.
Quietest and most comfortable vehicle ever owned!
Joe C, 01/30/2023
2023 Kia Carnival SX Prestige 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 8A)
99 of 101 people found this review helpful
I am 78 and have owned everything from a Chevy vega to a BMW M3 convertible. At last count, I believe we have owned 43 or 44 new vehicles over the years, Lexus, BMW, Infiniti, Honda, Toyota, etc. This time we wanted a minivan as they are the most practical when you get older. the seats are slightly higher, but the ground clearance is lower. We wanted the 2023 Toyota Sienna Hybrid Platinum addition. But once we got to see one, and test drive it, the noise of the engine, the comfort, and the price at 54,110, it made sense to buy the KIA. Especially with an additional 6K upcharge and a 14-month wait!! We purchased a 2023 KIA Carnival SX Prestige in October at an MSRP of 48,612. We live in a retirement community where we take folks with wheelchairs and walkers. It is very roomy for these extra items and easy to get in and out of. The 3rd row comes in handy when our grandchildren visit. We drove to Florida and back in October and December. We average 27.6 MPG. The front seats are very comfortable with good electric adjustments. The adaptive cruise control works extremely well, and I can drive for 4 to 6 hours without stopping and have no pain, stiffness, or leg cramps! The middle row is comfortable, but it should have electric adjustments for moving forward, backward, and side to side. The prestige seats require you to slide in for you fully recline. We found the OEM tires on the Carnival were noisy, so I put Michelina snow tires on for the winter. The car is amazingly quiet, even at a cruising speed of 70 to 80 MPH. We have owned several SUVs We now realize they are impractical and overrated. I do wish Carnival was an all-wheel drive. Folks should get over the stigma of a minivan and be comfortable and safe. this is a great car. Give it a chance, neigh sayers?
Never saw me in a mini van
Bob never me in a mini van , 12/27/2022
2023 Kia Carnival LX 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 8A)
23 of 24 people found this review helpful
After looking at the carnival and taking a ride we purchased a 2023 model. It is a base model and we are very happy with it so far have 7,000 miles on it already. Very comfortable very sporty and handles like a dream. Gas mileage is not bad for the size it is very roomy inside. So far nothing I don't like about it I would recommend it to friends and family
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2025 Kia Carnival for sale near you
3 of 27 listings
- LXS Passenger MinivanMSRP: $40,99592 mi away
- EX Passenger MinivanMSRP: $43,08092 mi away
- SX Prestige Passenger MinivanMSRP: $52,26092 mi away
See all 27 listings
Upgraded from Soul EX
Kathryn M, 09/08/2023
updated 03/11/2025
2023 Kia Carnival LX Seat Package 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 8A)
20 of 21 people found this review helpful
I had owned 3 Souls since 2012 and since moving to Florida i needed more space for camping, fishing and kayak/paddleboard gear. I was looking at Bigger SUV's or even a Toyota Pickup but in the rain, nothing would be protected so I saw the Carnival in the dealer showroom and after looking at all the features and how much room it had i kinda fell for it! Everyone that see's it in my community loves it. It doesn't "look" like a minivan, but it looks real nice. I have camped inside with 2nd row seats forward with an air mattress in the rain and had plenty of room to stand up and move around. I had a hitch installed as well for a bike rack. I recently took a trip to Key Largo, about 700 miles total, i shockingly got 30 mpg both ways. I LOVE the added horsepower as well. The turning radius is awesome as well! I also had 5 adults going to the beach w/all our gear and coolers - plenty of room. Overall, no real issues except once the dash display lights would not go brighter ( fuses were ok but found a solution online ) I disconnected the battery and reconnected it then heard all the modules resetting... Voila! it worked! Eventually i'd like to tow a small teardrop trailer but for now tents and the SUV Tent work great with all the interior room i have. Update: i bought a Mini Max Trailer and it tows pretty well. Mpg towing 2000-2500 lbs is avg 13 depending on the drive. I have 26K miles now after 1.5 years and no issues. Update: 3/2025, 34K miles, brakes and tires are still good and original. No issues with the car with regular maintenance.
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5 months ownership
B. Kieffer, 08/30/2024
2024 Kia Carnival LX 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 8A)
7 of 7 people found this review helpful
Pros: Excellent ride quality, adequate acceleration, comfortable seating, roomy interior, great tech and infotainment. Cons: Loose steering except in sport drive mode, long break travel, cruise control is slow to react to changes in elevation. Having owned my Kia Carnival for the past 5 months, I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a minivan.
Huge Upgrade Coming From A Chrysler Pacifica
Carnival Owner, 10/26/2023
2024 Kia Carnival SX 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 8A)
13 of 15 people found this review helpful
Just picked up a 2024 Carnival SX and it is very nice upgrade from our Pacifica. It seats 8 much more comfortably and has all the features you could ask for from wireless charging to Highway Assisted Driving that helps steer the vehicle and not just brake or accelerate like every other minivan. The biggest thing is peace of mind knowing that the Carnival won't blow a head gasket like the Chrysler Pacifica. Overall it's a great vehicle, driving is refined and MPG gets better than advertised when using ECO mode.
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