If you ask us what we love about the Kia Carnival, we'll tell you that it's attractive, roomy, opulent, and great to drive (for a minivan, that is). The current generation has been around since 2022, and its looks have held up very well. The brand decided it looked a little too much like a minivan and went the SUV route, which paid off in spades. For 2025, it gets a mid-cycle refresh that's even better and even more SUV-like.
2025
2024
Although the profile is largely unchanged, the front and rear fascias are completely redesigned for a more rugged look. As much as we liked the current model's grille and lights, the new design is more vertical and looks tougher than before. We thought it actually inspired the current Hyundai Palisade's new grille, and the way the headlights were framed by the daytime running lights (DRLs) below it was particularly unique. The new one is a bit more conventional and separates the lights and grille. The 2025 Carvinal's headlights are now vertically oriented rather than horizontally laid-out like the current model's. The DRLs on the new one are L-shaped with a pointy trailing end, which looks pretty cool.
2025
2024
That same pattern carries over to the new taillights, as well, and they look pretty good. They span nearly the full width of the liftgate with an open space in the middle. The license plate cutout moves lower, and the Kia logo is no longer on the taillight housing. Backup lights are now on the very outboard positions, and the silver trim has been reshaped on the lower fascia. The Kia Carnival also gets new wheel styles to change up the profile view. Overall, the refresh is significant enough to make the new Carnival look quite different from the current model, and that should keep it going for a couple more years. There are no photos of the interior, so we're not sure if anything has changed.
We expect the powertrain to remain the same: a 3.5-liter V-6 engine driving the front wheels via an 8-speed automatic transmission. The refreshed Carnival should go on sale sometime later this year or early in 2024.
Get a Good Deal on the Kia Carnival
The Kia Carnival is our favorite minivan, and you can read our review below.
2022 Kia Carnival SX Review
