Kia on Thursday added a hybrid model of its Carnival minivan, as a part of a mid-cycle revamp that brings expertise upgrades and considerably extra SUV-inspired styling. 

The 2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid will likely be powered by a 1.6-liter turbo-Four gasoline engine, with a 54-kw (72-hp) electrical motor on the enter shaft of a 6-speed computerized transmission, sending energy to the entrance wheels and making a mixed 242 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque. Non-hybrid fashions will even be provided with a 3.5-liter V-6 making 287 hp and 260 lb-ft, with an 8-speed computerized. 

Kia notes that the Carnival Hybrid affords three ranges of regenerative braking. Further options that look like hybrid-related embody a function aiding energy supply out of corners and one aiding evasive dealing with.  

2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid

2025 Kia Carnival steps up the screens and tech

Kia provides the Carnival its most important overhaul on the within, up entrance, with an obtainable 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen built-in right into a single panel, offering connected-car navigation, over-the-air updates. That’s the improve versus an ordinary 4.2-inch TFT gauge cluster with a 12.0-inch display. A full-color head-up show is elective, as is a digital rearview mirror system, and in again Kia’s personal related rear leisure system supplies leisure with twin 14.6-inch HD screens and Bluetooth.

Moreover, the “Hey Kia!” voice performance distinguishes between occupants within the first and second rows, with an obtainable VIP Lounge Seat configuration able to deploying through voice command. 

Kia additionally says there’s a complete of seven USB-C ports all through the Carnival, together with two energy retailers and two 115-volt inverters to maintain all of the household’s gadgets powered up throughout journey and at cabins or campsites. 

2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid

Carnival Hybrid three-row seating

Whereas the non-hybrid Carnival will be outfitted in 7- or 8-seat layouts, the Carnival Hybrid is just provided within the 8-passenger structure, with a second-row seat in three totally different segments together with a center part that may slide ahead or again for entry to the third row. 

On the skin, the modifications are extra refined, however the Carnival clearly channels the look of the extremely profitable Telluride SUV. It will get a extra upright, squared-off grille and a extra chiseled look to the entrance fascia—in addition to the Telluride’s amber operating lights. 

You continue to received’t discover all-wheel drive within the Carnival lineup. That doesn’t cease Kia from loading on the journey cues, with a roof rack obtainable on the Carnival, as is a “huge and contoured skid plate.”

2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid

2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid alternate options

The Carnival Hybrid joins the opposite two hybrid minivan entries within the U.S., the Toyota Sienna and the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid.

Each of these rivals have a particular hook, and maintain their high-mpg hybrid prowess understated. The Sienna is just provided as a hybrid, with out costing a lot if any greater than non-hybrids. And the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid does greater than its badging implies; it’s really a plug-in hybrid with a 32-mile electrical vary and qualifies for a $7,500 EV tax credit score—as a direct rebate at collaborating dealerships. 

That leaves one mannequin, the Honda Odyssey, that doesn’t but supply a hybrid model. With Honda’s goals so as to add extra hybrid tech to its established fashions, that is perhaps within the product pipeline, too.

2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid

The Carnival Hybrid might present an enormous increase in gasoline economic system and supply substantial gasoline financial savings and decrease possession prices. Within the Kia Sorento Hybrid, a system with related specs boosts mileage to 37 mpg mixed. The 2024 Kia Carnival earns simply 22 mpg mixed. 

As of but, Kia hasn’t mentioned whether or not the Carnival Hybrid is perhaps provided as a plug-in hybrid—however there’s a Sorento Plug-In Hybrid providing 32 electrical miles of vary.

Kia hasn’t but disclosed pricing or run by way of all of the trim-level variations within the 2025 Carnival Hybrid lineup, however it says the Hybrid will likely be provided in all however the base LX—leaving LXS, EX, SX, and SX Status variations. The hybrid-enriched Carnival lineup is about to go on sale in summer season 2024.