For families looking for maximum space without a maximum price, the 2026 Kia Carnival is the answer. With a slew of smart safety features, state-of-the-art technology, and sophisticated flourishes, the Kia Carnival isn’t your father’s minivan; in fact, by exterior looks alone, it could easily pass for a full-size SUV.
The 2026 Carnival easily and comfortably seats up to eight people, so it’s great for driving a half-dozen kids to and from school, sports practice, or grandma’s house. Alternatively, much of this space can be converted into cargo room, or you can split the cabin, folding as many of the rear seats as you need for everything accompanying you on vacation. The latest Carnival is available with either a traditional gas engine or a hybrid powertrain, and we are a Kia dealer near St. Cloud that stocks both. If you’re intrigued, come take a test drive! If you’d like a little more information first, then read on…
Powertrains and Trim Levels
Kia launched its iconic minivan (or MPV, “Multi-Purpose Vehicle”) in 1998, and it’s gone through four generations since then. The 2026 Carnival’s trim lineup spans five well-appointed outfits, all with front-wheel drive; if you want the standard 3.5L V6 engine, you get access to all five of these trims; if you want the hybrid powertrain, you won’t be able to choose the base LX trim, but each of the other four trims will have considerable upgrades.
With the gas-powered model, the base LX starts at $36,990, followed by the LXS at $38,990, the EX at $41,190, the SX at $46,090, and finally the SX Prestige at $51,090.[a] Due to the hybrid model’s refined powertrain and extra features, its LXS starts at $40,990, followed by the EX at $43,190, the SX at $48,090, and finally the SX Prestige at $53,090.[a]
The 3.5L V6 produces 287 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque, and it’s paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It makes an EPA-estimated 18 MPG in the city and 26 MPG on the highway, for 21 MPG combined. The hybrid powertrain syncs a turbocharged 1.6L I-4 with a six-speed automatic transmission, producing 242 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque. It makes an improved 34 MPG in the city and 31 MPG on the highway, for 33 MPG combined.
Spaciousness and Versatility
What buyers mostly look for in a minivan is space and comfort, and the 2026 Carnival delivers with seating for between seven and eight people. The base LX trim comes standard with second-row captain’s chairs, while every other trim has the Slide-Flex Seating system in the second row. (The top-tier SX Prestige does allow, though, for replacing the Slide-Flex with second-row captain’s chairs, via the VIP Lounge Seat Package.)
Slide-Flex enables the second row’s middle seat to slide forward or backward, presenting an alternative access route for third-row passengers. But that’s not all, as this middle seat can also be folded over, exposing a tabletop on its back, which comes with cup holders and can be used as an armrest.
This seat can also be moved forward to better accommodate a child’s car seat, for easier reach to the front-seat passenger. If that car seat needs to be rear-facing, having the second row’s middle seat slid forward makes the child more accessible to an adult seated alongside them. The best part is that the entire middle seat can be detached from the floor, rotated 180 degrees, and reinserted into its footing tracks, now making it a rear-facing seat, which makes it much easier to attach a rear-facing car seat.
It gets even better, because both of the second row’s outboard seats can do the exact same thing: be removed, rotated, and reattached to the floor. They would have to be swapped to the opposite sides of the vehicle, of course, but you could ultimately make the entire second row rear-facing, which enables better interaction with third-row passengers, supposing you have a particularly jovial group of kids.
If you opt for second-row captain’s chairs, these seats can also glide or be removed. On the top-tier SX Prestige trim, if you get the VIP Lounge Seat Package, the captain’s chairs are both heated and ventilated, with a larger headrest, power reclining, and an extending legrest, turning the second row into a veritable lounge that even the driver will be envious of.
Maybe not entirely, though, given that, on all but the base LX trim, the driver’s seat is heated and has eight-way power adjustability with four-way power lumbar adjustment. All trims but the lowest two have memory settings for the driver’s seat, steering column, and side mirrors. On the two top trims, the driver’s seat is also ventilated, and on the SX Prestige, you get a heated steering wheel.
Since the hybrid model doesn’t have the LX trim, every trim has standard bench seating in the second row, with the Slide-Flex Seating system, though the VIP Lounge Seat Package is still available if you want the extravagant captain’s chairs instead.
The 2026 Carnival has the largest cabin in its class, and consequently it also has the largest amount of cargo space in its class, at 145.1 cu.ft. when both rear rows are stowed. If you need all rows of seating to be upright, you’ll still have a generous 40.2 cu.ft. of cargo space in the rear. That’s more than enough room for shopping trips, sporting gear, and luggage for vacation.
If you need to tow a trailer, camper, or small boat, a 2026 Carnival with the V6 under the hood can tow up to 3,500 lbs. The hybrid powertrain only accommodates up to 2,500 lbs for towing and trailering, but that is generally enough for smaller campers, boats, and trailers.
Convenience and Technology
The 2026 Carnival is also packed with tech features, starting with a 12.3-inch touchscreen that wirelessly supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity on all trims. You have two USB-C charging ports in every row, as well as a remote starter. On the top two trims, you can get two tilting and sliding sunroofs—one in the front, and one toward the back.
If you opt for the VIP Lounge Seat Package on the SX Prestige, you can get the Rear Seat Entertainment Package, which installs two 14.6-inch touchscreens in the second row. All windows have tinted privacy glass, and the windshield has acoustic film to absorb road noise; the same sound-absorbing glass treatment comes standard on the top three trims for the front row’s doors, and it’s an option for the second row’s doors on the SX Prestige trim.
Every trim level has eighteen advanced safety features, such as a blind spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, and driver attention monitor. Rear and front parking sensors come standard, and the vehicle will automatically brake if a hazard is detected. Additionally, you can easily monitor what’s behind you via the digital rearview mirror.
Take a Ride in a 2026 Carnival
At Lupient Kia in Brooklyn Park, we offer a wide range of options for your next Kia Carnival. You can choose between gas-powered and hybrid models across five different trim levels. No matter what you pick, you’ll get a stylish minivan with ample interior space and generous amenities that will make every journey comfortable for you and your family.
The Carnival’s smart design draws envious looks in suburbia, while its versatile second-row seating, immense cargo space, and practical towing capacity make it ideal for interstate road trips. If you are looking for a minivan for your family, you can’t do better than the 2026 Kia Carnival.
[a]MSRP excluding tax, license, registration, destination charge, and accessories. MSRP may change without notice. See dealer for complete details.
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Warranties include 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain and 5-year/60,000-mile basic. All warranties and roadside assistance are limited. See retailer for warranty details.