Autoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.Kia Isn't Fixing What Isn't BrokenThe Kia Carnival has quietly turned into one of the automaker's biggest North American hits, so it's no wonder the brand isn't about to mess with a winning formula for 2027.Kia just recorded its best June ever, with the Carnival Hybrid jumping a wild 54% and the whole Carnival family up 34% year-over-year. With buyers still lining up, Kia's playing it safe for 2027. No wild redesigns or sticker shock here – just a handful of tweaks to keep the Carnival in the game and toss in a few extra creature comforts.2025-2026 Kia Carnival in Astra BlueKiaA Modest Price HikeMost trims only see a $100 uptick – barely enough to notice. The SX trim gets a tiny bump too, but at least it throws in a bit more flexibility for your trouble. Even better, Kia left the destination charge untouched at $1,545, while other automakers quietly hiked theirs to sneak in extra costs.Trim2026 MSRP2027 MSRPDifferenceCarnival LX$37,390$37,490+$100Carnival LXS$39,390$39,490+$100Carnival EX$41,590$41,690+$100Carnival SX$46,490$46,590+$100Carnival SX Prestige$51,490$51,590+$100Carnival HEV LXS$41,390$41,490+$100Carnival HEV EX$43,590$43,690+$100Carnival HEV SX$48,490$48,590+$100Carnival HEV SX Prestige$53,490$53,590+$100If you're cross-shopping model years, these tiny price hikes won't scare you off. We're talking less than 1% in most cases, so Kia stays right in the mix with Toyota, Honda, and Chrysler, even as costs creep up.KiaA Few Meaningful Updates for 2027The real changes are in the features, not the price tag. For 2027, you can now spec second-row Captain's Chairs on both EX and SX trims, so there's more room to play with the cabin layout. Kia's also rolled out a fresh Iceberg Green paint for EX, SX, and SX Prestige, but waved goodbye to Flare Red. Rear Seat Entertainment is now only for Hybrid SX Prestige models with VIP Lounge Seats, and if you want a sportier vibe, the Dark Edition Package now shows up on the EX trim too.AdvertisementAdvertisementTweaking the Carnival lineup rather than overhauling it is definitely the smart play here, especially given today's market. Three-row SUVs might rule the sales charts, but families who favor comfort and daily practicality still have solid options. The Carnival stays right up there with the Toyota Sienna, Honda Odyssey, and Chrysler Pacifica, and these small updates should keep it quite competitive – without making buyers swallow a big price hike.KiaView the 5 images of this gallery on the original articleThis story was originally published by Autoblog on Jul 7, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
+11 others
