2025 Kia Carnival HEV is a Turbocharged Hybrid Hauler

[@Jgjginkg244]

Thank you for the review! This is so so so much better than wee~wee Toyota Sienna hybrid. And the best looking Minivan!

[@tonyw2167]

Loving your KISS (Keep it short and straightforward) video, Tom, keep up the good work!

[@DrivenCarReviews]

I see Alex's video is over 37 minutes long. Even my wife doesn't want to see me for that amount of time.

[@johnnyk6906]

best looking minivan for sure. love the color and interior layout.

[@tedunguent156]

Minivans have ALWAYS been the best family haulers since the station wagon. Car like ride and handling with TONS of space for cargo. Far better fuel mileage than a full size SUV and most smaller SUVs as well. Yes, no AWD/4WD (usually) and only 3500 lbs. towing, or less. My buddy towed his bass boat for YEARS with a 2nd gen Pontiac Montana. Never failed to climb the ramp. I had a Dodge Grand Caravan and it was GREAT (194K miles with very few problems).

[@funnybeingme]

Great that a company actually put a sliding door on a CUV. Now it just needs AWD for those living up north.

[@pharag4886]

This is the only reason i dont already own one.

[@macbrun7]

Awesome, thanks Tom! I'm a retiree and considering one of these as well. Big dogs and road trips, like your dad.

[@TBarsss]

If they had an AWD I would buy my first mini-van

[@Jaguar7444]

Does have good SUV vibes. Not bad.

[@eganfo]

This looks great. I loved my hybrid Sportage and this looks similar inside. It did a great job during winter weather too.

[@Mojo522]

Good morning, Tom. Thanks

[@yankeesusa1]

The best rental you can get. Great as a lease as well. Reliability is up in the air. It’s going to be interesting. So far as long as transmission and engine show reliability then they have a game changer.

[@krzysztofcwik5347]

If I could buy it in Poland like Staria from Hyundai - Please Kia, make it work !!

[@Jallelab99141]

Should have shown how the self drive feature works, it really is a great feature.

[@tommihelich2613]

Looks like a nice rig. At 203” long it matches the length of a Lexus TX and is 2” more than a Grand Highlander, two SUV’s. I only know this as I’m trying to sort out what BEV Toyota is going to introduce for 2026 and the Kentucky and Indiana plants are where those two are produced. Toyota has stated batteries from their plant in NC and LG’s plant in Michigan are going to Kentucky and Indiana. So Tom, have you ever investigated Group 14 in Woodinville and Moses Lake? They’re right up your alley for cutting edge EV battery technology.

[@DrivenCarReviews]

Carnival's even more space efficient than the Lexus and Toyota (and those aren't half bad). I'll believe Toyota's BEVs when I see them. I'm aware of G14, wishing the best for them. I deal in technology that's available and proven though.

[@rightlanehog3151]

Tom, If I watch your videos on my TV, I miss out on the Comments section. 😉

[@hynsum]

What? 😅 You can still read comments while watching the video on TV.

[@batgele2796]

i read the comments on my tv too, youtube app allows for that

[@DJMYC88]

Hi Tom From Minnesota. Hope everything's okay in Seattle

[@DrivenCarReviews]

Everything's great in Seatown. Things must be looking good up in the north country. I miss the autumns there.

[@bzdtemp]

Looks like the smart choice if you need the space, much better than buying something off road SUV thing where you pay for it tough style with both $$$ and less practicality than you could have had. Buying the car you need 99% of the time is the smart choice, it is much better than driving something that is compromised or plain wrong much of the time. And for that lat 1% you can always rent, borrow or even swap with a friend for the day.

[@LoveStallion]

I've said this before to the point I'm probably being annoying, but Kia whiffed by not making the Carnival more practical. The lack of center console space, sunglass holder, or even door pockets that can fit a water bottle-all in the name of being SUV-like-make it less practical. It's a beautiful car, but why would I want it when I don't have anywhere to dump stuff in the center console on the floor? It's just wasted space.

[@TizzleT]

Mercedes needs to bring back the R-class. That's a real van.

[@jeffer1101]

It looks like a solid offering, but I still don't know why they use the 1.6T engine in their hybrids. Hyundai/Kia have the newer SmartStream engines which feature dual injection (port and direct injection) and I'm sure the 2.5L model would still fit in here with ease. This is a very large vehicle for such a tiny engine, so that engine is going to be working hard all the time which doesn't bode well for fuel economy and/or life expectancy.

[@JimSpence]

Nothing like spending $50K++ (especially with financing) to save a few grand in fuel over the life of the car that 90% of people won’t keep over 4-5 years.

[@gmpman1]

Exactly! All vehicles are way overpriced and unreliable.

[@shipesmash]

Hoping you've got a 2025 Sienna video coming soon!

[@DrivenCarReviews]

Nope. Too many other all-new vehicles to get to. Pretty sure Sienna hasn't changed significantly since I did it. Also, I can't top the bunny slippers.

[@shipesmash]

@@DrivenCarReviews Appreciate the update! Loved the slippers 😂 Was curious to see your thoughts on the fridge + vac + infotainment but yeah, not a huge update. Thanks for making such fun, interesting, and informative videos!

[@DrivenCarReviews]

@@shipesmash TBH, those extras like a fridge and vac are almost more marketing than useful tools. A small cooler, a good Dyson and iPads are more useful and transfer to other vehicles.

[@edgarzurita272]

Im surprised to see that no Car-review channel is showing one of the Carnival's most appealing feature: "back facing second row" I guess no-one wants to go thru the trouble of rotating the seats during this events. Maybe when you get one in Seattle. 😊

[@DrivenCarReviews]

TBH, didn't know that was a thing. The Kia staff has never pointed that out. But yeah, very little time to do stuff like that at an event. As it stands I impinge on my drive partner's time.

[@mulleygraves]

we don't get that in the US

[@edgarzurita272]

According to Kia, it's only available on the 8 seater.

[@DrivenCarReviews]

@@edgarzurita272 Are you in the US? The Kia team didn't mention this feature and I have to believe they would be all over it. While the seatbelt configuration would work, it doesn't seem like NHTSA would be happy with that kind of configuration.

[@yankeesusa1]

That’s not available in the usa.

[@coldsun2939]

I'm glad you mentioned passing power. Now imagine it loaded with people and luggage. And that's why i don't get using these tiny, underpowered motors? Minimum 2.0 should have been used and if done right it would have been their 2.5 turbo with added hybrid.

[@JarmelSingsKaraoke]

On a Monday 😊

[@manuelmacalinao500]

Why does everyone in the comment section expect a minivan to be sports car😅

[@nelsonmei9527]

Adding AWD would kill the Sienna and Odyssey!

[@jonathonhibbard]

Would you get this over a Sienna?

[@baddriversofcolga]

I get why they did it, but I think it looks worse because of how they tried to make it look more SUV-like. And the touch buttons are stupid, but otherwise it looks pretty good.

[@DrivenCarReviews]

You might be the only person that doesn't like the more truck-like design approach.

[@baddriversofcolga]

@@DrivenCarReviews Haha maybe. I just don't care for something trying to masquerade as something it's not.

[@user-xf5dj1up8g]

I’m with you on this, trust in that you are not alone!! I can’t stand that everything is trying to hide behind a suv fascia. It’s the “safe” thing to do for these companies and there’s no creativity anymore. I’m buying a van because I want a VAN. Im buying an suv because I want a SUV. I’m buying a truck because I want a TRUCK. I’m buying a car because I want a CAR. To me, the companies doing this are just making it worse for themselves in the sense that now, I don’t want to purchase another vehicle in their lineup because I don’t want my suv or my car or my truck to be mistaken for a minivan and vice versa! So awful.

[@TinLeadHammer]

@@DrivenCarReviews Not the only one. I like the looks of the third gen (YP) Sedona and absolutely hate the current (KA4) Carnival.

[@justinmatthews7789]

I wish Kia made the Carnival in AWD :(

[@jonshelness2807]

Is this more or less the same thing as the Hyundai Santa Fe?

[@stevennevins6643]

Tom, will you be doing a complete review of the Crown Signia?

[@DrivenCarReviews]

If I can get one, yes.

[@lancekoz]

So manufacturers are resistant to use minivan styling because of some weird(macho) prejudice, so we get a minivan shaped like this ugly box of tissues? Which is probably less aerodynamic besides.

[@DrivenCarReviews]

If you mean that men won't buy van because of the styling, here's a fun fact for you- Toyota, Honda and Stelantis have told that it's not men that resist minivans, it's almost always women. Men actually like them because they're sort of like enclosed pick up trucks. But generally, it's the women who shun them. And women influence some 60% of all purchases so...

[@viljosavolainen2286]

Interesting. I need to upgrade to 7 seater and most manufacturers offer it only in suv. But the trunk is abysmally small in them. This car seems to be the exception. Grand carnival didint come to european markets, so will this come? It looked like it had atleast decent good trunk so i could live with it. Sadly no phev option. There are always the vw multivan and toyotas equivalent... multivan has even smaller engine than this one.

[@TizzleT]

Yup. My wife is shunning it because of the typical soccer mom car. I am shunning it because why can't we have a high horsepower van. I want the R63 AMG back.

[@moehio]

Why do they still call them "mini"? They're anything but.

[@theglowcloud2215]

Can't ever recommend another Kia after their total non-response to the interlock/rampant theft issue.

[@DrivenCarReviews]

As an observer, Kia/Hyundai has done a lot more than Honda ever did. Civic and Accords were being stolen in my neighborhood on a weekly basis back in the day.

[@theglowcloud2215]

@@DrivenCarReviews correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems like the majority of Kia's response to theft was a software update. Maybe I'm missing something obvious here, but how will a software update deter thieves? My wife's Kia got the update and her car *still* wound up totaled after some idiot kids smashed two windows out and destroyed the ignition.

[@hieuluu2]

With the Carnival, you paying more for less with the 1.6L hybrid. No doubt the top trim have all the bells and whistles, and above average driving and handling dynamics in it's class, but having read MotorTrend and the likes on the Carnival 1.6L hybrid, they all agreed the 2.5 ton van is simply too heavy for the "lackluster" and "underpowered" hybrid setup. Keep in mind, that's 2.5 ton curb weight, add a family and all their gears and it get even heavier. I drive a v6 Odyssey with my kids, and often merging onto I-5 in Norcal, it's a truckers corridor, I feel myself sweating a few times stomping on the gas onto the on ramp with a few semi trucks barreling down behind me, imagined doing this in a Carnival hybrid with 100hp less and a heavier body, no thanks.

[@rickywhisenhunt4582]

Mine drives just fine and the power is no problem, and I had 8 adults in the van. I traded in my 2022 that had a gas V-6. This is a great vehicle with the best warranty in the industry.

[@Jallelab99141]

drove hybrid sxp model with 2 adults, 2 kids, and bags and gear and had no issue with power. I put it in sport mode and was even able to use the paddle shifters to control gears. pick up and merging were fine.

[@nathanwright8616]

i want to hear what scotty kilmer thinks about the powertrain lmao

[@allanedwards2347]

One of the worst hybrid architectures. Too small (1.6L) turbo-charged engine. Dual-clutch transmission. Belt-driven starter, alternator and a/c compressors. Worst ICE failure points all in one drivetrain. Toyota, Ford and Honda hybrid drivetrains have none of these characteristics. Sure its cheaper but do not buy this thing. Lease only and give back at end of lease. V6 is the way on the Carnival. Naturally aspirated proven engine with traditional 8 speed stepped transmission. IMHO.

[@hynsum]

Couldn't agree more. After some 30 years inventing hybrid as simplified as Toyota and Ford......Hyundai/Kia making hybrid with turbo and 6-AT....🤔🤷 Is their reliable that good? 😎

[@CrazyWeeMonkey]

This uses a torque converter automatic.

[@DrivenCarReviews]

Are you thinking of the 8-speed dual clutch?

[@jeju_trophycollector]

It's not a dual clutch transmission... you're thinking of the 6 speed DCT in Hyundai Ioniq/Kia Niro, which is mated to a non-turbo 1.6liter engine. (this engine is not the same engine minus the turbo on Carnival by the way)..Carnival's transmission is a traditional 6 speed automatic without the torque converter, and there's a clutch between the motor and the transmission.

[@JamesCovalentBond]

First of all, it's not a dual clutch. It's a regular torque converter 6spd. Also, Sienna Hybrid has 2.5 na engine, which makes the same power as that 1.6 turbo

[@newandroidfan]

1.6L on a minivan? Yeessh

[@Jallelab99141]

hybrid model has decent pickup, test it out for yourself

[@Moshe_Dayan44]

I can't really understand why anybody would think that this tissue box with wheels looks better than a Sienna or Odyssey. I for one don't like the way SUVs look. I prefer a sleeker, wedge shape over a flat, in-aerodynamic front end. The huge plastic grills look incredibly cheap. To top it all off, Kia's terrible reputation for reliability scares me away long before I even hear they've equipped this vehicle with a turbo-charger.

[@ItsAlive111]

1:25 Kia highlights how much more expensive other minivans are at sixty grand for the top of the line while theirs is only $57k 😂 Meanwhile the slide shows their top of the line KIA HEV is only $52k at 1:31 As if at $57k three grand make a difference for that buyer

[@DrivenCarReviews]

I didn't dive into the details but the Kia offers features that the others don't so even at the top trim, the value is there if you want all the options. Anecdotally, the Toyota van (which is the $60K model) is extremely hard to get nationwide and dealers often charge ADM. My dad ended up with the Carnival because the Toyota dealer was firm at $5K over MSRP. He got more features for $11K less. That buys a lot of gas.

[@ItsAlive111]

@@DrivenCarReviews well their engines have a valve train ticking sound from the factory, see car care nut’s video, their transmissions fail far too often, and apparently you call steal a Kia with a usb drive so they better be cheap. Not cheap enough though

[@yankeesusa1]

That’s a 5,000 difference. Hmmm. What math are you referring to?

[@seattleinternationalautosh4284]

@@yankeesusa1 Every transaction is going to be different. The only Toyota dealer in his area was marking up the Sienna significantly, the Kia dealer offered the already lower priced Carnival at invoice. He wanted the Toyota and waited for a few months to see if availability and pricing would get better. It didn't and he bought the Carnival. FWIW he traded out of a Pacifica Hybrid and got top dollar for it (and more from the Kia dealer than the Toyota was offering). Eugene is a very shrewd negotiator.

[@TinLeadHammer]

Enormous and ugly. Compare to a 40-year old Dodge Caravan and weep.

[@romeotee]

You should stop doing Hyandai/Kia videos these cars are trash Absolute garbage