Autoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.MSRP: From ~$38,500Use the table of contents to jump to a sectionOverviewThe 2027 Kia Carnival minivan is different from rivals such as the Honda Odyssey, Chrysler Pacifica, and Toyota Sienna in that it has attractive SUV-inspired styling. Yet, it still seats up to eight people and has a truly cavernous cargo hold, with more than 40 cu-ft behind the third row. The modern cabin boasts dual 12.3-inch displays on top trims and is made from upscale materials, with innovative Side-Flex seating improving practicality. A 287-horsepower 3.5L V6 and 242-hp 1.6L turbo-four are offered, but no AWD is on the menu, which remains a weakness compared to most rivals.2025-2026 Kia Carnival in Astra BlueKiaWhat's New for 2027The 2027 Carnival carries over from last year unchanged, though prices may creep up a little.2025-2026 Kia Carnival in Astra BlueKiaView the 2 images of this gallery on the original articleExteriorA lot has been said about the Carnival's butch SUV styling, and it's strikingly attractive for a mere van, with an SUV-like nose hosting a big grille and vertically stacked LED headlights. Subtly swelling wheel arches and a contrasting C-pillar make it stand out from the herd, but it looks a little under-wheeled on the base 17s; the 18s and 19s of the top trims fill out the arches better, but do add a firmer edge to the ride. Dual power sliding doors are standard, and top trims get a proximity-opening power liftgate, LED fog lights, and dual sunroofs.2026 Kia Carnival in Astra BlueKiaView the 2 images of this gallery on the original articleInteriorMaterials are near-premium, and base trims get cloth or leatherette upholstery, a 12.3-inch touchscreen with navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and 6- or 8-speaker audio. Top trims gain features such as a head-up display, a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, 12-speaker Bose audio, leather upholstery, driver memory, wireless charging, and ventilated front seats.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe innovative Slide-Flex 2nd-row bench lets the center portion slide to grant access to the 3rd row. The SX Prestige can be ordered with a VIP Lounge 2nd row comprising power-adjustable airplane-style captain's chairs with winged headrests and extendable legrests.2026 Kia Carnival Hybrid white interiorKiaView the 3 images of this gallery on the original articlePrice Range and Best Value TrimThe 2027 Kia Carnival's price list was not available at the time of writing, so the prices below are estimates:Trim CategoryModelPrice (excluding destination)Base trimLX~$38,500Top trimSX Prestige~$53,000~$55,000 (Hybrid)Best value trimEX~$43,000The EX is the best value at around $43K, gaining features such as bigger wheels, an intercom system and cabin camera, the big displays, and a passenger voice assistant over the LX.2027 Kia Carnival Specs OverviewPowertrain OptionsEngineHorsepowerTorqueTransmissionDrivetrain3.5L NA V6287 hp260 lb-ft8-speed automaticFWD1.6L turbo hybrid I4 242 hp combined271 lb-ft combined6-speed automaticFWDPerformance and 0-60 MPHThe gas V6 isn't quick by modern standards, taking 7.0 to 8.5 seconds to reach 60 MPH, depending on the trim, extras fitted, and weight. Despite having 45 hp less, the hybrid's electrical assistance keeps it in the running at about 7.8 seconds, with far better economy.2025-2026 Kia Carnival in Astra BlueKiaFuel Economy (MPG)The V6 isn't terrible at 18/25/21 MPG city/highway/combined, but the hybrid is far better at 34/31/33 MPG, even if it still just falls short of the Sienna, which manages 36 MPG combined.DimensionsDimensionMeasurementLength203.0 inchesWidth78.5 inchesHeight68.5 inchesWheelbase121.7 inchesThe Carnival's 6.8 inches of ground clearance is very good for a minivan - far better than the Odyssey and on par with even the adventure-focused Sienna Woodland.Interior Space (Front and Rear)RowHeadroomLegroomFirst Row39.7-40.9 inches41.1 inchesSecond Row37.6-39.5 inches40.5 inchesThird Row36.5-38.6 inches35.6 inchesEven adults can be accommodated in the third row, though it's smaller back there than in a SiennaCargo SpaceWith an excellent 40.2 cu-ft of cargo space behind the third row, the Carnival even beats the Sienna. Behind row two, a full 86.9 cu-ft is on offer, and with both rear rows folded, the resultant 145.1 cu-ft beats even the cavernous Pacifica. The SX Prestige's optional VIP lounge second-row seats cannot be removed.2026 Kia Carnival trunk 3rd row foldedKia USA configuratorView the 2 images of this gallery on the original articleWarrantyCoverage TypeDurationBasic (Bumper-to-Bumper)5 years / 60,000 milesPowertrain10 years / 100,000 milesComplimentary MaintenanceNot includedPros and ConsPros:AdvertisementAdvertisementBest-in-class cargo space10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warrantySUV-inspired stylingAvailable VIP Lounge SeatsMany standard driver assistsCons:FWD only3rd-row legroom lags some rivalsRide can be firmVIP Lounge Seats not removableNo complimentary maintenanceVerdictThe Carnival holds unique appeal in its market segment with its SUV-like styling and cavernous, high-quality interior full of clever features. The LX is a bit bare, so we'd go for the EX to get the best blend of features. The hybrid is only $2K more and adds excellent gas mileage with similar performance. The only real negatives are the somewhat firm ride on some surfaces, the less-than-spacious third row, and the lack of AWD.2026 Kia Carnival in Astra BlueKiaCompetitorsChrysler PacificaToyota SiennaHonda OdysseyVolkswagen ID.BuzzShop the Car MarketplaceThis story was originally published by Autoblog on Jun 30, 2026, where it first appeared in the Cars section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.