Trims, Mechanicals, and Performance
The 2025 Carnival MPV lineup is made up of a quintet of trim levels: LX, LXS, EX, SX, and SX Prestige. The standard powertrain is a 287-horsepower (260 lb.-ft. of torque) 3.5-liter V6 engine paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission and a front-wheel drivetrain, with additional assistance from drive mode select. According to the EPA’s official fuel-economy estimates, the 2025 Carnival MPV’s fuel economy is 18 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway regardless of the trim level.
Standard and Available Features
The seven-passenger LX features remote start, woven cloth upholstery, tri-zone automatic climate control, proximity keyless entry, push-button ignition, removable sliding second-row seats, a 60/40-split folding third-row seatback, seven USB ports (a mix of data and Type-C charging), a 4.2-inch instrument display, heated side mirrors with turn-signal indicators, rear privacy glass, power-sliding rear doors, and automatic LED headlights.
The LXS can seat eight passengers and is upgraded with synthetic-leather upholstery, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, heated front seats, a power driver’s seat, and second-row Slide-Flex seating (allows middle seat to slide forward or fold into a table). In the EX, you’ll find position memory for the driver’s seat, a power front passenger’s seat, wireless phone charging, a passenger-view in-cabin camera, Passenger Talk (Kia’s in-car intercom system), a power liftgate, roof rails, rear window sunshades, power-folding side mirrors, and sound-absorbing front glass.
The SX receives a 12.3-inch curved instrument display, Digital Key 2.0, ventilated front seats, rain-sensing windshield wipers, dual sunroofs, two 115-volt power outlets, LED interior lighting, LED fog lights, matte chrome exterior accents, and front and rear skid plates. This trim’s options include additional USB-C charge ports and dark chrome exterior trim. The SX Prestige gets those dark chrome accents plus leather upholstery, a heated steering wheel, a full-display rearview mirror with HomeLink, an 11-inch head-up display, LED projector headlights, and LED taillights. Upgrades for this trim consist of the extra USB-C ports, heated and ventilated second-row lounge seats with cushy headrests and leg extension (this configuration reduces seating to seven), sound-absorbing second-row glass, and ambient interior lighting.
Safety and Driver-Assistance
The ‘25 Carnival MPV comes with a wealth of safety and driver-assistive features. All trims get forward collision-avoidance assist (pedestrian/cyclist/junction turning), Highway Driving Assist 1, blind-spot collision avoidance, rear cross-traffic collision avoidance, navigation-based smart cruise control, driver attention warning, lane departure warning, lane following assist, lane keeping assist, intelligent speed limit assist, parking distance warning (forward/reverse), rear occupant alert, safe exit assist, high beam assist, and an electronic parking brake with auto hold.
The SX and SX Prestige provide the most comprehensive protection with a surround-view monitor, a blind-spot view monitor, parking distance warning (side), parking collision avoidance, and Highway Driving Assist 2. Also at this level, the forward collision avoidance technology is enhanced with junction crossing, lane-change oncoming, and lane-change side alert, plus evasive steering assist.
Entertainment and Connectivity
The base LX will has a six-speaker audio system paired with a 12.3-inch touchscreen display, navigation, voice recognition, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM satellite radio, Bluetooth hands-free with voice recognition, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The EX is amplified with a total of eight speakers and rear-seat voice recognition. For peak auditory excellence, the SX Prestige includes a premium 12-speaker Bose sound system. The aforementioned dual-screen rear entertainment system is available for both the SX and SX Prestige.
