2027 Kia Carnival

The newest name in minivans, the Kia Carnival was launched in 2022. With bold, chunky styling and a distinct cabin design, the 2027 Carnival successfully blurs the line between minivan and SUV from an appearance standpoint. This is the minivan to get if you don't want to be seen driving a minivan. But the spacious interior is typical of a van, and Kia combines it here with a generous list of standard features and the most cargo volume in the class. There's also a hybrid version of the Carnival, which we review separately.

Edmunds spotlight: Second-row decisions

Buyers of the range-topping Carnival SX Prestige have a no-cost choice between a three-across bench seat in the second row and what Kia calls "VIP Lounge Seats." Heated and ventilated, the VIP Lounge Seats also recline and feature deployable footrests. These special seats might sound appealing, but they come with drawbacks. They reduce the Carnival's available third-row legroom, and the footrests are too short to be of use to most passengers. The seats can’t be removed either. Our advice: Stick with the bench — the middle seat can be removed and the outboard seats still adjust fore and aft.

Competitors to consider

The 2027 Kia Carnival is one of only four choices for minivan shoppers, who can almost make their decision based on powertrain preference alone. The Chrysler Pacifica has the most diverse lineup: a gas engine with front- or all-wheel drive or a plug-in hybrid version. (We're not counting the Chrysler Voyager as a separate van, as it's basically a Pacifica with fewer features and a lower price tag.) Honda builds the Odyssey only with a gas engine, and all-wheel drive isn't available. The Toyota Sienna is exclusively hybrid, and it has either front- or all-wheel drive.

From the Carnival's unique truckish looks and cavernous cargo hold to its upscale interior and cutting-edge cabin tech, there's a lot to like about Kia's minivan.