2026 Kia Carnival

The 2026 Kia Carnival is a good minivan choice for those who are being dragged kicking and screaming into #minivanlife. In terms of appearance at least, it doesn't scream "minivan!" as loudly as its rivals do, while its front interior design is more reminiscent of a crossover SUV. Rest assured, though, the Carnival is still very much a minivan and a very good one at that. While in our overall rankings it falls a bit short of the Toyota Sienna and Honda Odyssey, it's not far behind, and we could easily see shoppers valuing this big Kia's distinctive attributes. Also, note that there is a Carnival Hybrid that we review separately and rate slightly higher.

It's easy to go "wow!" when looking at the Kia Carnival's available second-row VIP Lounge seats, which feature pop-up footrests and a deep recline. Don't be fooled, though — we discovered that those footrests are of little use to anyone other than the shortest teens or adults. Really, the Carnival's second-row bench seat is the better way to go. Its middle seat can independently slide fore-aft to free up shoulder room when all seats are occupied. Alternatively, you can remove it entirely to create non-VIP captain's chairs that slide far more than those in the Odyssey and Pacifica.

There are only four minivans for sale, so why not consider them all? The Chrysler Pacifica has a dated design, but its available plug-in hybrid powertrain and available fold-into-the-floor second-row seats remain unique selling points. The Honda Odyssey is arguably the best suited to small children thanks to clever storage details and its unique second-row seat design that more easily accommodates three car seats. It's not available as a hybrid, though. The Toyota Sienna is notable because it comes standard with a hybrid powertrain and offers available all-wheel drive.