2025 Kia Carnival — Full Specifications
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Running gear matters most — before anything else, UK: check tyre prices at TirendoUS: check wheel & tyre prices at WheelHero for this car's fitment.
The 2025 Kia Carnival is a van/minivan offered with 2 engines (1.6L 4-cyl turbo, 3.5L 6-cyl). Its most fuel-efficient configuration returns around 25 mpg (UK) / 21 mpg (US EPA) combined, with 25–40 mpg (UK) across all configurations. A hybrid version is also listed by EPA (1.6L 4-cyl turbo), returning around 40 mpg (UK) combined. Owners often keep a Kia Carnival workshop manual to hand for servicing and repairs.
Compared with the 2024 Kia Carnival: Fuel economy is essentially unchanged at around 25 mpg (UK) combined. EPA lists new engine options for 2025: 1.6L 4-cyl turbo.
Full Specifications
| Engine (most efficient) | 3.5L 6-cyl |
|---|---|
| Engine options | 1.6L 4-cyl turbo · 3.5L 6-cyl |
| Transmission (most efficient) | Automatic (S8) |
| Fuel Type | Regular Gasoline |
| Powertrain | Conventional |
| Drive | Front-Wheel Drive |
| Body Style | Van/Minivan |
| Fuel Economy (UK) | 25 combined / 22 urban / 31 extra-urban mpg |
| Fuel Economy (US EPA) | 21 combined / 18 city / 26 highway mpg |
| CO₂ Emissions | 265 g/km |
| EPA Greenhouse Gas Score | 4 / 10 (10 = lowest emissions) |
| EPA Est. Annual Fuel Cost | $3,200 (15,000 mi/yr, US prices) |
Engine & Transmission Options
EPA lists 2 configurations for the 2025 Kia Carnival across 2 engines (1.6L 4-cyl turbo, 3.5L 6-cyl). Combined fuel economy ranges from 21 to 33 mpg (US), or 25 to 40 mpg (UK), depending on engine, transmission and drive. The headline figures at the top of this page describe the most fuel-efficient configuration.
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG (UK) | MPG (US) | CO₂ g/km | Fuel cost / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6L 4-cyl turbo (Hybrid) | Automatic (AM-S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 40 | 33 (34/31) | 170 | $2,050 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | Automatic (S8) | Front-Wheel Drive | 25 | 21 (18/26) | 265 | $3,200 |
MPG (US) shows combined, with city/highway in brackets. Highlighted row = the configuration used for the headline figures. Source: US EPA fueleconomy.gov.
Owner Essentials for the 2025 Kia Carnival
Running Costs: 2025 Kia Carnival
Covering around 8,000 miles a year in a 2025 Kia Carnival at 25 mpg combined, expect roughly 1,455 litres of fuel annually — multiply by your local price per litre for a cost estimate. For US owners, the EPA estimates about $3,200 a year in fuel for the most efficient configuration (15,000 miles, national average prices). Work out exact fuel costs with the fuel cost calculator on 247Calculators.
Convert between MPG and L/100km with the unit converters on 247QuickTools. Not sure what tyre size fits? 247TyreCheck explains tyre sizing.
Planning a road trip? Grab a road trip packing list. Only need this car occasionally? See our buy vs rent comparison.
2025 Kia Carnival Safety Ratings (NHTSA)
No NHTSA crash-test rating is on record for this model year. The NHTSA rates only a subset of vehicles each year; you can browse every rated vehicle on our NHTSA Safety Ratings hub.
Recalls & Owner Complaints (NHTSA)
NHTSA lists 1 safety recall campaign that include the 2025 Kia Carnival (as of 6 October 2026). Most affected areas: Fuel system (1). A campaign often covers several model years or models, so check your own VIN to see whether your car is affected.
- Fuel system — campaign 26V232000, reported 10 April 2026. Risk: A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.
Owners have filed 191 complaints with NHTSA about the 2025 Kia Carnival. The most-reported areas are Electrical system (106), Engine (36), Vehicle speed control (29). Complaints include 3 reported crashes, 1 reported fire, 13 reported injuries. That is well above the median of 75 complaints across the 5 Kia Carnival model years in our data.
Used-buyer checklist for the 2025 Kia Carnival
Based on where NHTSA recalls and owner complaints cluster for this model year, these are the areas worth checking before you buy:
- Electrical system (106 owner complaints) — Test every switch, window, light and warning lamp on a test drive, and ask about battery or alternator replacements.
- Engine (36 owner complaints) — Listen for unusual noise on a cold start, check for warning lights and ask for the service records.
- Throttle & cruise control (29 owner complaints) — Check throttle response and cruise control are smooth, and ask about any software or throttle recalls.
- Fuel system (1 recall campaign) — Ask whether any fuel-pump or fuel-system recalls were completed, and watch for hard starting or stalling.
Source: US NHTSA recall and consumer-complaint databases, retrieved 6 October 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects. Check any vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls, and see our guide to checking a used car for recalls.
How It Compares
How does the Kia Carnival compare to similar van/minivans? Van/Minivans in our database average around 24 mpg (UK) combined — this model sits close to that average, within 1 mpg. Its 265 g/km CO₂ figure is 27 g/km lower than the 292 g/km average for van/minivans on this site. This comparison is based on 157 van/minivans in our dataset.
Kia models in our database average about 34 mpg (UK) combined on their most efficient configuration; the 2025 Kia Carnival's 25 mpg is 9 mpg below that make average. Its 265 g/km CO₂ figure is 58 g/km higher than the 207 g/km Kia average.
Of the 5 Kia Carnival model years we cover, the 2025 ranks 4th for combined fuel economy on its best configuration (25 mpg UK combined, against a high of 26 mpg). See every Kia Carnival year side by side.
Last updated: · Data: US EPA (fueleconomy.gov) and NHTSA safety ratings 18 July 2026; NHTSA recalls and complaints 6 October 2026; Wikidata & curated EU catalogue 18 July 2026; European generation and engine data from Wikipedia 7 October 2026
Vehicle data sourced from manufacturer specifications. Always verify with your vehicle handbook or a qualified mechanic. This is a reference tool, not professional advice.
Recommended Accessories for the 2025 Kia Carnival
Frequently Asked Questions
What engine does the 2025 Kia Carnival have?
EPA lists 2 engines for the 2025 Kia Carnival: 1.6L 4-cyl turbo, 3.5L 6-cyl. The most fuel-efficient configuration pairs the 3.5L 6-cyl with a automatic (s8).
What is the fuel economy of the 2025 Kia Carnival?
The most efficient configuration returns around 25 mpg (UK) combined, or 21 mpg on the US EPA cycle. Across all configurations the UK combined figure runs from 25 to 40 mpg. The hybrid version returns around 40 mpg (UK) combined.
How much does the 2025 Kia Carnival cost to fuel per year?
The US EPA estimates about $3,200 a year in fuel for the most efficient configuration, based on 15,000 miles of mixed driving and national average fuel prices. Your own cost will depend on mileage and local prices.
Does the 2025 Kia Carnival have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 1 safety recall campaign that include the 2025 Kia Carnival (as of 6 October 2026). Most affected areas: Fuel system (1). A campaign often covers several model years or models, so check your own VIN to see whether your car is affected.
What are the most common problems reported for the 2025 Kia Carnival?
Among the 191 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported areas are Electrical system (106 complaints), Engine (36 complaints), Vehicle speed control (29 complaints). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects, and raw counts rise with how many cars were sold.
Is the Kia Carnival's fuel economy good for a van/minivan?
Yes — it returns around 25 mpg (UK) combined, against a same-body-style average of roughly 24 mpg among the van/minivans we track.