Three-row SUVs dominate the family vehicle market, but one modern minivan challenges the trend by offering more space, better comfort, and greater value. If you’re comparing options for hauling people and cargo, this minivan makes a strong case for skipping the SUV altogether.
It features a flexible interior with adult-friendly third-row seating, massive cargo capacity, and rear-seat amenities that rival luxury vehicles. On top of that, it often comes better equipped for the price, with more standard features and advanced tech than similarly priced SUVs. Add to that a smooth ride and great fuel economy, and it becomes an even smarter family choice.
For growing families, road-trippers, or anyone needing maximum practicality, this minivan delivers what many three-row SUVs promise, but does it better. It’s proof that you don’t need to follow the crowd to get the best tool for the job. Here’s why it deserves a closer look.
In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources, including TopSpeed and the EPA.
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The Kia Carnival Is The Affordable Choice For Families
SUVs may have taken center stage in recent times, but there was an age where minivans were the go-to vehicles for large families. While not nearly as popular as they were before, there are still a handful of minivans keeping the segment alive. One of the best options in this segment is the Kia Carnival.
2026 Trims and Pricing
Models | Starting MSRP |
|---|---|
LX | $36,990 |
LXS | $38,990 |
LXS Hybrid | $40,990 |
EX | $41,190 |
EX Hybrid | $43,190 |
SX | $46,090 |
SX Hybrid | $48,090 |
SX Prestige | $51,090 |
SX Prestige Hybrid | $53,090 |
There are a number of different trims to choose from when selecting your 2026 Carnival. Considering how many trims there are, the price jump from the most affordable model to the most expensive model isn’t insane either. This is why we’d suggest climbing the ladder a bit and going for the mid-range EX model.
With a starting price of just over $35,000, the Carnival is more affordable than most mid-size three-row SUVs. While there are some cheaper compact SUVs that come with a third-row, the seats in the way-back are pretty cramped. Even the most spacious mid-size SUVs will also struggle to compete with the interior space and day-to-day practicality offered in the Carnival minivan.
The Carnival is Straight Off a Refresh
For the 2026 model, there have been no changes to Kia’s minivan. This is, however, due to the fact that the Korean brand gave their minivan a pretty decent refresh last year. This included updating its exterior styling to better align with the design ideology expressed in the rest of their lineup.
On the inside, things were also shaken up a bit. Climate controls were moved from the center console up on to the dashboard. The infotainment system was also updated, now running Kia’s most recent software. A couple driver assist features were also made available, including lane-centering.
Warranties and Maintenance
- Limited Warranty – Five Years or 60,000 Miles
- Powertrain Warranty – 10 Years or 100,000 Miles
- Hybrid Component Warranty – 10 Years or 100,000 Miles
- Complimentary Maintenance – N/A
Kia offers one of the best warranty packages available on the market. Their bumper-to-bumper coverage is better than most of its rivals. The star of the show, though, is obviously the brand’s powertrain warranty, which is industry-leading. If you get the hybrid model, electric components are covered for the same period of time. The only thing they could do to improve here is add complimentary scheduled maintenance.
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A Practical, Comfortable, and Spacious Interior Awaits You in The Kia Carnival
Easily the biggest benefit of opting for a minivan over a three-row SUV is that they are simply more spacious in all three rows for the same amount of money, or less. The Kia Carnival proves this, with a cabin that is clearly designed to accommodate families, and coming stacked with features from the word go.
Interior Dimensions and Comfort
Front Row Headroom | 40.9 Inches |
|---|---|
Front Row Legroom | 41.1 Inches |
Second Row Headroom | 39.5 Inches |
Second Row Legroom | 40.5 Inches |
Third Row Headroom | 38.6 Inches |
Third Row Legroom | 35.6 Inches |
Cargo Capacity (Behind Third Row) | 40.2 Cubic Feet |
The Kia Carnival is designed to have all three rows of seats in use all of the time. This means that there is plenty of room, even in the seats right at the back. It also means that using all three rows does not compromise cargo capacity, with a massive trunk area accommodating plenty of groceries or bags. If you ever need to haul anything particularly big, you can get up to 86.9 cubic feet of space with the third row stowed and 145.1 cubic feet with the second row put away as well.
The ceiling for comfort is high in the Carnival, with the SX prestige even being available with reclining second-row captain’s chairs that have a pop-out footrest. The only downside to these seats being that they can’t be stowed or removed. Heated and ventilated seats are available for both front and second row passengers and leather upholstery is also optional. You can even get acoustic glass which helps the cabin stay quiet.
Infotainment and Technology
Standard in the Carnival is a 12-inch infotainment screen which sits on the center of the dashboard. However, you can upgrade to a dual set of 12.3-inch screens which share a single bezel, with one screen acting as the digital gauge display while the other is for the infotainment system. A voice assistant is built into the system, allowing you to open windows or control the HVAC system verbally.
A rear-entertainment package can be added, which mounts two 14.6-inch monitors in the rear. There are also plenty of USB ports throughout the cabin, with two regular power ports as well. A wireless smartphone charging pad is optional, as is a 12-speaker Bose sound system.
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Minivans Drive Like Cars Whereas Crossovers Compromise
One of the biggest benefits of going for a minivan over a three-row crossover is driving dynamics. While crossovers find a nice middle ground between practicality and ride, they still have to make some compromises. While there isn’t as big of a difference as there might have been before, minivans are still the smoother vehicles to drive.
Performance Specifications
Engine | 3.5-Liter Naturally Aspirated V-6 | 1.6-Liter Turbocharged Hybrid Inline-Four |
|---|---|---|
Transmission | 8-Speed Automatic | 6-Speed Automatic |
Horsepower | 287 HP | 242 HP |
Torque | 260 LB-FT | 270 LB-FT |
Driveline | FWD | FWD |
0-60 MPH | 7 Seconds | 7.8 Seconds |
Top Speed | 118 MPH | 115 MPH |
Towing Capacity | 3,500 LBS | 2,500 LBS |
There are two pretty distinct powertrain options for the 2026 Carnival. You can either opt for the gas-only model with a V-6 under the hood or a hybrid inline-four. The former works well for those who want simple and robust power, accelerating quickly and laying down power smoothly. If efficiency is your goal, the hybrid obviously has you covered, but you make some sacrifices in the realms of performance.
Regardless of which model you go with, you’ll likely be impressed with how well it balances ride quality and handling prowess. A minivan isn’t ever going to feel sporty, but it handles turns with a good level of confidence. The cabin is also nice and quiet while cruising and the suspension eats up most bumps in the road without you ever noticing.
The biggest criticism we have to lay is that there is no all-wheel drive on offer. For those who want power sent to all four wheels due to the weather or any other reason, we wouldn’t blame you for looking at another option.
Fuel Economy
Model | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
Carnival V-6 | 18 MPG | 26 MPG | 21 MPG |
Carnival Hybrid | 34 MPG | 31 MPG | 33 MPG |
The Carnival’s efficiency neither works with it nor against it when comparing it to midsize three-row SUVs. It isn’t the most efficient vehicle on the road, but it doesn’t stray too far from the standard set by its rivals. While the V-6 delivers better grunt, those wanting to save money on gas will be much better served going for the hybrid instead.
