The 2025 Kia Carnival Makes a Strong Case for Being the Best Family Vehicle
Kia introduced the latest generation of its Carnival MPV in the Philippines in September 2024. It wasn’t that long ago when the Korean carmaker came out with the previous iteration, but the popular nameplate clearly has fans in the country that it didn’t take long for a refreshed, facelifted version to make its way over here.
As a single guy living in the big city, I have my own ideas about which cars would look great in my garage and those that suit my lifestyle. It varies from season to season—sometimes I imagine getting a porma two-door sports car; other times, I gravitate toward spacious and functional midsized SUVs, and other times I think about just getting a no-nonsense hybrid sedan.
While I never quite imagined getting an MPV or SUV with more than five seats, like the Carnival, it does seem like a practical option for those who need a bigger space that can accommodate more people. I already realized this the last time I drove Kia’s so-called GUV (Grand Utility Vehicle) back in 2023, but the new version has some pretty solid updates that would interest those in need of a reliable people-carrier.
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The redesigned exterior is perhaps the most obvious improvement. The front still has Kia’s trademark Tiger Nose grille, but it looks to have grown longer, which adds to the more dynamic stance. The SX unit I had for the weekend was in ceramic silver and also had redesigned headlights (more vertically oriented) and taillights. While the previous version looked fine, the reconfigurations in the exterior make the newer one look slightly more aggressive and modern.
Kia Carnival second-row Captain's seats
The best thing about the Carnival is its promise of space for its occupants, and that’s still true for this version. Second-row passengers will no doubt love the Captain’s Seats. I’d sink into those chairs and enjoy the ride myself if I didn’t love driving so much. There’s even a button that you can press to engage the Relaxation mode. If you’re not completely relaxed, the seats can be adjusted every which way—forward and backward, recline, side to side—for the passenger’s ultimate comfort.
Panoramic windows with screen guard
The third row is a standard three-seater, but the buttery-soft leather upholstery adds to the occupants’ own level of well-being. I didn’t quite make it to the third row this time around, but I imagine anyone who ends up sitting there would have little to complain about. There’s also a sunroof that adds even more to the sensation of space.
The Carnival might be viewed as a car intended for passengers, but piloting the Carnival is a pleasure in itself. The driver and front passenger seats are equipped with heating and cooling, and the rearview mirror converts to a camera whose POV can be adjusted to show vehicles and other objects in the rear closer or farther away. When making a turn, engaging the signal lights triggers the left and right side cameras, adding an extra layer of safety before you move over to the next lane. There’s also a 360-degree camera that helps with parking.
Rearview mirror that turns into a camera
Gear selector dial
Other features that I found extremely useful while driving: lane assist that keeps the vehicle within the lines on the road, unless you turn the signal light left or right; a warning message that pops up when it senses your hands away from the steering wheel; and an intuitive 12.3-inch LCD instrument panel and infotainment system equipped with wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto.
One final thing we should note about the new Kia Carnival is that it is a hybrid, which means it has a gasoline engine and electric motor. The official specs say it can churn out up to 242 horsepower and 271 lb-ft of torque through a six-speed automatic transition. It’s extremely fuel-efficient—I took the Carnival out for a quick weekend spin to Tagaytay and back to Manila and did not need to refuel and even had plenty of gas left over. While there were times I felt like I would have loved to sit in the second row and just watch the world go by through the expansive glass windows, operating the Carnival as a driver is its own special kind of thrill. Despite the heft, it drove cleanly and smoothly, on highways and expressways and on smaller back and country roads.
The spacious and high-tech dashboard
Redesigned headlight
I might still be looking at other types of vehicles to fill my dream garage, but who knows, if I ever end up with a partner and kids, the Kia Carnival is definitely tops on my list for an overall family vehicle.
The 2025 Kia Carnival is priced at P2.888 million for the EX 7-seater, P3.368 million for the SX 7-seater, and P3.488 million for the SX+ Turbo Hybrid 7-seater.
