After receiving a styling refresh and additional standard features for 2025, the Kia Carnival is a carryover for 2026.
Carnival is a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) with the practicality of a minivan, including automatic sliding side doors. Exterior design looks similar to an SUV. It has seating for up to eight passengers and a class-leading cargo capacity.
Standard features are abundant and technology takes a front-row seat.
A 3.5-liter V6 supplies 287 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, enabling lively acceleration and consuming fuel at an EPA-estimated rate of 18 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined. If the Carnival appeals to you but you’re on the lookout for better fuel economy, there’s a Carnival Hybrid model rated at 32 mpg combined.
2026 Carnival pricing starts at $36,990 for the LX model and builds up from there through three other trims to top out at $51,090 for the Carnival SX Prestige.
Carnival’s ride is quiet and comfortable. Handling is steady and responsive, with the understanding that this is a people hauler with a lot of cargo space, not a roadster for driving the racing line. Carnival’s performance on Snohomish County twisty backroads warrants no shame, although there might be a tiny bit of embarrassment for not having all-wheel drive available.
Inside the Carnival, panoramic dual 12.3-inch displays on a curved screen running horizontally along most of the dash provide a big dose of visual appeal as well as driver convenience.
My full-boat SX Prestige tester carried all the comfort and convenience features you’d expect to see on an upscale vehicle of this type, and Carnival’s pricing is closer to a bargain than most of its competitors.
Some other notable items offered on the Carnival include a Passenger View camera and Passenger Talk intercom system enabling communication between the driver and passengers in the back rows; VIP Lounge Seats that pamper second-row passengers with a one-touch relaxation mode and leg extensions; and a dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system with streaming and OTA (Over-the-Air) update capability.
Carnival also has an impressive amount of advanced safety and driver-assistance features included as standard equipment.
2026 Kia Carnival SX
Base Price: $51,090
Price as Driven: $53,485
