2027 Kia Carnival Expert Review
Reviewed by Bob Hernandez
The 2027 Kia Carnival is the minivan for shoppers who need family-hauler space but don’t want something that looks or feels like the vans they grew up with.
Now several years into its current generation, the Carnival continues to blur the line between minivan and three-row SUV while competing directly with the Honda Odyssey, Toyota Sienna, and Chrysler Pacifica.
For 2027, small lineup updates give Kia’s stylish people mover a bit more flexibility and attitude.
The Dark Edition package—newly available with the EX trim level in addition to the higher SX—gives the Carnival a blacked-out exterior appearance treatment and bundles select premium comfort and tech features
Iceberg Green is introduced on EX, SX, and SX Prestige models
Flare Red is discontinued
Available second-row captain’s chairs expand to EX and SX trims
Dual-screen Rear Seat Entertainment system is now offered only on Hybrid SX Prestige with VIP lounge seats
The stylish 2027 Kia Carnival is well equipped and a strong value, but it’s not quite the effortless family hauler its minivan form factor promises. We like its SUV-inspired design, upscale cabin, useful tech, and smooth V-6, but its firmer ride and less flexible seating keep it from feeling as polished as the best vans.
The V-6 is the better pick for most shoppers. It feels more relaxed and capable than the hybrid, which improves efficiency on paper but can feel slower, strained, and less refined in real-world driving.
Inside, the Carnival impresses with its design and features, but some minivan basics are imperfect. The second-row seats can be cumbersome, and passenger/cargo flexibility trails the class leaders, even as space is relatively generous.
Still, the 2027 Carnival’s mix of style, content, and price makes it easy to recommend—especially for shoppers who want minivan practicality without fully embracing the minivan vibe.
Top-Ranked Competitors:
Honda Odyssey
Chrysler Pacifica
Toyota Sienna
Kia Telluride
The Carnival comes standard with a 3.5-liter V-6 that produces 287 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. An available hybrid powertrain pairs a 1.6-liter turbocharged inline-four with an electric motor for a combined 242 hp and 271 lb-ft.
In MotorTrend testing, the gas Carnival accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 7.5 seconds. When we tested a prototype of the hybrid, the minivan reached 60 mph in 7.9 seconds.
For comparison, the current-generation Honda Odyssey also uses a 3.5-liter V-6, rated at 280 hp and 262 lb-ft. Like the Carnival, it is front-wheel drive only. In our testing, the Odyssey reached 60 mph in only 6.8 seconds.
MPGs and Range
The EPA rates the gas Carnival at 18/26 mpg city/highway, with up to 399 miles of driving range. The Carnival Hybrid is significantly more efficient, returning 34/32 mpg and offering up to 608 miles of range.
For comparison, the Honda Odyssey is available only with a gas powertrain. It is EPA-rated at 19/28 mpg and offers up to 429 miles of range, making it slightly more efficient than the gas Carnival but well short of the Carnival Hybrid.
Keep in mind that although the 2027 Carnival Hybrid is the more efficient choice, in our experience we found it tough to achieve those EPA numbers in the real world.
Safety Ratings and Features
In IIHS safety testing, the Carnival earned mostly Acceptable ratings in its most recent evaluation for the 2026 model year. No minivan currently earns a safety award from IIHS.
Every 2027 Carnival comes standard with a robust suite of active safety features, including:
Front automatic emergency braking with cyclist detection and collision intersection avoidance
Lane keep assist
Blind-spot monitoring
Rear cross-traffic alert
Automatic high-beams
Higher trims add more advanced driver assistance features like adaptive cruise control, lane centering, and rear automatic braking. Kia also offers a blind-spot view monitor, which displays a live video feed of the Carnival’s blind spots when the turn signal is used.
Cargo Space and Interior Room
Passenger and cargo space are the same whether you choose the gas Carnival or the Carnival Hybrid. The Carnival offers generous first- and second-row legroom, though the Odyssey and Pacifica have a bit more third-row space.
Cargo capacity is a major Carnival strength.
Every Carnival comes with a 12.3-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. Lower trims use a 4.2-inch driver information screen within the gauge cluster, while higher trims offer a 12.3-inch meter display that fully replaces the analog gauges.
At least six USB ports are included (depending on trim), and the pair for the second-row passengers are conveniently located on the sides of the front seats, instead of just above the floor on many other three-row vehicles.
Kia offers three audio setups in the Carnival. Lower trims come with a six-speaker system, midlevel models upgrade to an eight-speaker setup, and the range-topping trim gets a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system.
Carnival shoppers can add several convenience and comfort features through options packages or by moving up to a higher trim. Available upgrades include rain-sensing wipers, power-folding side mirrors, a wireless phone charger, a head-up display, power-adjustable front seats, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel.
For second-row passengers, Kia also offers available ottoman-style seating for a more loungelike experience.
Every 2027 Carnival comes with large screens and a spacious cargo area. Standard features also include three-zone automatic climate control, automatic headlights, tinted glass, and an acoustic windshield. With prices rising by just $100 compared to last year, the Carnival continues to offer strong value.
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We think the EX trim hits the 2027 Carnival lineup’s sweet spot. Starting at just under $43,500, it adds the features most families will want without pushing too far into luxury territory, including 19-inch wheels, roof rails, a power liftgate, LED headlights, power-sliding rear doors, three-zone climate control, rear-seat sunshades, an eight-speaker audio system, and wireless device charging.
For 2027, the EX gets even more appealing with newly available second-row captain’s chairs and the optional Dark Edition package.
What Is the Carnival Dark Edition?
For 2027, the Carnival’s Dark Edition package is newly available on EX in addition to the higher-trim SX. The package gives the minivan a blacked-out look with dark-finish exterior details, including dark 19-inch wheels, mirror caps, grille trim, roof rails, side sill garnish, C-pillar garnish, tailgate garnish, and skidplate trim.
It’s not strictly an appearance package, though. Depending on trim, it also bundles premium features such as leather upholstery, a head-up display, Bose audio, a heated steering wheel, a digital rearview mirror, and upgraded LED lighting.