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2025 Kia Carnival Minivan Trims Comparison

Trim level differences

The 2025 Kia Carnival is a three-row minivan available in four trim levels: LX, EX, SX and SX Prestige. Each comes with a 3.5-liter V6 engine (290 horsepower, 262 lb-ft of torque), an eight-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. The Carnival seats seven or eight passengers depending on configuration. Feature highlights include:

LXS

  • 17-inch alloy wheels
  • LED headlights
  • Power-sliding rear side doors
  • Keyless entry and start
  • Sliding and removable second-row captain's chairs (seven-passenger seating)
  • Power-adjustable driver's seat
  • Heated front seats
  • Tri-zone automatic climate control
  • 12.3-inch touchscreen
  • Wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
  • USB ports in all three rows of seats
  • Six-speaker audio system

The Carnival LXS also includes several driver assist and collision avoidance systems:

  • Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
  • Blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic warning (alerts you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while in reverse)
  • Lane departure mitigation (warns you of a lane departure when a turn signal isn't used and can automatically steer to maintain lane position)
  • Rear parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible behind the vehicle when parking)
  • Safe exit assist (can prevent a rear passenger from opening a door into traffic approaching from behind)
  • Rear seat reminder (alerts you to check the rear seat before exiting the vehicle)

EX
Our recommended EX trim level adds the contents of the LX Seat package plus:

  • 19-inch alloy wheels
  • Hands-free liftgate
  • Upgraded interior trim
  • Power-adjustable front passenger seat
  • Navigation system
  • Eight-speaker audio system
  • Wireless smartphone charging
  • Rear side window shades
  • Quiet mode (turns off rear stereo speakers when passengers are sleeping)
  • Interior camera (shows second- and third-row seats)
  • Interior intercom system (allows the driver to communicate to rear passengers through stereo speakers)

The Carnival EX also has more driver assist systems as standard equipment:

  • Pedestrian and cyclist detection
  • Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Kia and the car in front and adjusts speed based on navigation system data)
  • Lane keeping system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane)
  • Front parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible in front of the vehicle when parking)

SX
The SX trim goes sporty and upscale with:

  • 19-inch black alloy wheels
  • Full digital instrument panel
  • Ventilated front seats
  • Household-style power outlet
  • Rear automatic braking (brakes if sensors detect an imminent collision with an object behind the vehicle)
  • Surround-view camera system (gives you a top-down view of the Carnival and its surroundings for tight parking situations)
  • Blind-spot camera (displays an image of the vehicle's blind spot in the instrument panel when you activate a turn signal)

SX Prestige
For a dose of luxury, choose the SX Prestige for:

  • Dual power sunroofs
  • Heated steering wheel
  • Head-up display
  • Leather upholstery
  • 12-speaker Bose premium sound system

An SX Prestige Seat package reconfigures the second row for two-passenger seating with:

  • Power-adjustable and reclining lounge seats
  • Heated and ventilated second-row seats

A dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system is also optional for the SX Prestige trim.

Which Carnival trim does Edmunds recommend?

We like the EX best because it combines plenty of useful features — heated seats, larger touchscreen, wireless phone charger, additional safety systems — while sparing the expense of the SX trims and their extra luxuries.

Compare trims side-by-side

Comparing average pricing near
Cleveland, OH
Vehicle
Carnival LX
Carnival LXS
Carnival EX
Carnival SX
Carnival SX Prestige
Vehicle
LX
3.5L 6cyl 8A
Starting MSRP
$36,800
Avg Price Paid
$36,057
See all Carnival LX for sale
2 for sale near you
LXS
3.5L 6cyl 8A
Starting MSRP
$38,800
Avg Price Paid
$38,016
See all Carnival LXS for sale
15 for sale near you
SX
3.5L 6cyl 8A
Starting MSRP
$45,900
Avg Price Paid
$44,973
See all Carnival SX for sale
8 for sale near you
SX Prestige
3.5L 6cyl 8A
Starting MSRP
$50,900
Avg Price Paid
$49,872
See all Carnival SX Prestige for sale
14 for sale near you
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Section Title

Features

Features

Features

Features

Features

Bluetooth
standard
standard
standard
standard
standard
Navigation
standard
standard
standard
standard
standard
Satellite radio
standard
standard
standard
standard
standard
Keyless Ignition
standard
standard
standard
standard
standard
Cruise control
standard
standard
standard
standard
standard
Adaptive cruise control
standard
standard
standard
standard
standard
Parking assistance
standard
standard
standard
standard
standard
Upholstery
cloth
leatherette
leatherette
leatherette
leather
Heated seats
Not Available
standard
standard
standard
standard
Cooled/Ventilated seats
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
standard
standard
Folding rear seats
standard
standard
standard
standard
standard
Sunroof
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
standard
standard
Section Title

Specifications

Specifications

Specifications

Specifications

Specifications

Drivetrain
front wheel drive
front wheel drive
front wheel drive
front wheel drive
front wheel drive
Engine power
287 hp @ 6,400 rpm
287 hp @ 6,400 rpm
287 hp @ 6,400 rpm
287 hp @ 6,400 rpm
287 hp @ 6,400 rpm
Engine torque
260 lb-ft @ 5,000 rpm
260 lb-ft @ 5,000 rpm
260 lb-ft @ 5,000 rpm
260 lb-ft @ 5,000 rpm
260 lb-ft @ 5,000 rpm
Engine displacement
3.5 l
3.5 l
3.5 l
3.5 l
3.5 l
Engine configuration
v6
v6
v6
v6
v6
Transmission
8-speed shiftable automatic
8-speed shiftable automatic
8-speed shiftable automatic
8-speed shiftable automatic
8-speed shiftable automatic
Tire size
235/65R17
235/65R17
235/55R19
235/55R19
235/55R19
Wheel size
17 X 6.5-in
17 X 6.5-in
19 X 7.5-in
19 X 7.5-in
19 X 7.5-in
Wheel type
painted alloy wheels
painted alloy wheels
painted alloy wheels
painted alloy wheels
painted alloy wheels
Run flat tires
Not available
Not available
Not available
Not available
Not available
Section Title

Fuel economy

Fuel economy

Fuel economy

Fuel economy

Fuel economy

City/Hwy/Combined MPG
18 / 26 / 21 MPG
18 / 26 / 21 MPG
18 / 26 / 21 MPG
18 / 26 / 21 MPG
18 / 26 / 21 MPG
City/Hwy/Combined MPGe
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Fuel Capacity
19.0 gal.
19.0 gal.
19.0 gal.
19.0 gal.
19.0 gal.
Driving Range (city/hwy)
342 / 494 miles
342 / 494 miles
342 / 494 miles
342 / 494 miles
342 / 494 miles
Fuel Type
regular unleaded
regular unleaded
regular unleaded
regular unleaded
regular unleaded
Section Title

Dimensions

Dimensions

Dimensions

Dimensions

Dimensions

Turning circle
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Curb weight
4,555 lb.
4,630 lb.
4,725 lb.
4,810 lb.
4,720 lb.
Ground Clearance
6.8 in.
6.8 in.
6.8 in.
6.8 in.
6.8 in.
Overall Width with Mirrors
89.2 in.
89.2 in.
89.2 in.
89.2 in.
89.2 in.
Overall Width without Mirrors
78.5 in.
78.5 in.
78.5 in.
78.5 in.
78.5 in.
Height
68.5 in.
68.5 in.
69.9 in.
69.9 in.
69.9 in.
Length
203.0 in.
203.0 in.
203.0 in.
203.0 in.
203.0 in.
Wheelbase
121.7 in.
121.7 in.
121.7 in.
121.7 in.
121.7 in.
Seating Capacity
Cargo Space
40.2 cu. ft.
40.2 cu. ft.
40.2 cu. ft.
40.2 cu. ft.
40.2 cu. ft.
Front Head Room
40.9 in.
40.9 in.
40.9 in.
39.7 in.
39.7 in.
Front Leg Room
41.1 in.
41.1 in.
41.1 in.
41.1 in.
41.1 in.
Front Shoulder Room
64.2 in.
64.2 in.
64.2 in.
64.2 in.
64.2 in.
Rear Head Room
39.5 in.
39.5 in.
39.5 in.
37.6 in.
37.6 in.
Rear Leg Room
40.5 in.
40.5 in.
40.5 in.
40.5 in.
40.5 in.
Rear Shoulder Room
63.2 in.
63.2 in.
63.2 in.
63.2 in.
63.2 in.
Section Title

5-Year Ownership Costs

5-Year Ownership Costs

5-Year Ownership Costs

5-Year Ownership Costs

5-Year Ownership Costs

True Cost to Own®
$53,115
$53,647
$56,553
$57,997
$62,432
Average Cost Per Mile
$0.71
$0.72
$0.75
$0.77
$0.83
Depreciation
$20,911
$21,219
$23,075
$22,818
$26,034
Financing
$8,129
$8,297
$8,788
$10,060
$10,977
Taxes & Fees
$2,857
$2,913
$3,075
$3,494
$3,796
Fuel
$11,941
$11,941
$11,941
$11,941
$11,941
Insurance
$3,454
$3,454
$3,560
$3,570
$3,570
Maintenance
$5,274
$5,274
$5,565
$5,565
$5,565
Repairs
$549
$549
$549
$549
$549
Section Title

Colors

Colors

Colors

Colors

Colors

Interior
Off-Black/Taupe, cloth
Off-Black/Taupe, leatherette
Deep Navy/Misty Gray, leatherette
Tuscan Umber/Off-Black, leatherette
Off-Black/Taupe, leatherette
Deep Navy/Misty Gray, leatherette
Tuscan Umber/Off-Black, leatherette
Off-Black/Taupe, leatherette
Off-Black, leatherette
Tuscan Umber/Off-Black, leather
Off-Black, leather
Deep Navy/Misty Gray, leather
Exterior
Panthera Metal
Deep Chroma Blue
Snow White Pearl
Flare Red
Panthera Metal
Aurora Black Pearl
Deep Chroma Blue
Snow White Pearl
Flare Red
Panthera Metal
Aurora Black Pearl
Ivory Silver
Ceramic Silver
Deep Chroma Blue
Snow White Pearl
Flare Red
Panthera Metal
Aurora Black Pearl
Ivory Silver
Astra Blue
Ceramic Silver
Snow White Pearl
Panthera Metal
Aurora Black Pearl
Ivory Silver
Astra Blue
Ceramic Silver
Snow White Pearl