When Kia first brought the Kia Carnival to our shores, the Korean car giant promised that the Carnival was going to introduce more SUV DNA into the venerable minivan mix. For any doubters remaining in the room, Kia has chosen the 2025 model year to give the 2025 Carnival an extensive facelift that further hones in the SUV undertones while also adding new tech to the van as well. As a bonus, it also decided to extend the updates to the 2025 Kia K5 sedan.
Angrier Face Draws In More Carnival Buyers, Hybrid Model Debuts
The updates to the 2025 Carnival are extensive, but the one that buyers will immediately notice is the new squared-off face which gets a larger rectangular front grille and cube-shaped headlights with the brand’s “star map” LED running lights also being included as well. The rear taillights are also brand new and buyers can equip the van with an optional rear skid plate to help enhance its SUV-inspired suit of clothes.
Kia’s moves here will help the Carnival fall in line with other models like the Sportage while also allowing the Carnival to stand out against a proverbial sea of rivals including the Chrysler Pacifica and the Honda Odyssey with both of those models not being significantly refreshed or updated in the past few years. The interior has also been updated too with the dashboard getting more technology and a slightly updated look to make it more modern looking than before. Kia designers also added a new rotary shifter for the transmission, and Kia’s Connected Car Navigation Network benefits from faster software and it also comes with more features to help enhance usability. Over The Air (OTA) updates also make their way to the Carnival for the first time and promise to help make the ownership experience easier.
Performance for the 2025 Kia Carnival will come from two engines with the carryover 3.5-liter V6 now serving as the base engine (albeit with a slight dip in power to 287-hp.) Joining it for the new model year is a hybrid-equipped 242-hp 1.6-liter, turbocharged, four-cylinder that’s paired with a 56 kW electric motor. A six-speed automatic is the lone transmission on that model and while the hybrid engine allows the Carnival to enter a sub-segment with surging demand, the Pacifica will continue to be the only van in the segment to offer a PHEV model.
2025 Kia K5 Gets Sharper, Also Gets New Tech Too
Joining the 2025 Kia Carnival is the newly updated 2025 Kia K5 sedan. While the four-door’s updates are not as extensive as those seen in its bigger corporate teammate, the K5 does get some of the core formula. They included updated lighting elements as well as a slightly tweaked front grille that grows bigger but without infringing on the core design of the K5.
Slip inside the interior and occupants will notice a brand-new set of controls below the climate vents as well as higher amounts of standard equipment for certain trim levels. the base EX for example now gets a standard upgraded Bose audio system, Digital Key system, and 10-way power front seats. Other trim levels also get more standard equipment too, and it seems that Kia is trying to enhance the K5’s long-term value with some of these additions.
Kia engineers also made some revisions under the hood with the 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder in lower trims being replaced by a bigger but naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder. While the absence of the turbocharger will be noticed in the reduced amounts of low-end punch, the company says the bigger engine makes up for it by delivering more power with the mill producing 191-hp. Buyers looking for more performance can go for the GT which gets a turbocharged version of the 2.5-liter that makes 295-hp.
When Can I Buy One?
Kia didn’t release final pricing for the duo when they made their debuts at the 2024 Chicago Auto Show. However, look for those details (as well as final fuel economy numbers) to make their appearance closer to the on-sale date for both vehicles which is slated to take place later this year. The Carnival will arguably be the most important one to watch since Kia is hoping to get more family buyers to get behind the wheel of one.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.