The minivan landscape is evolving. Gone are the days of solely practical, boxy designs. The 2025 Kia Carnival aims to blend style and substance, adding a hybrid option to directly compete with the established 2024 Toyota Sienna, which comes standard with a hybrid powertrain.
The Carnival has embraced the SUV aesthetic, offering generous space and value, but with a price increase for the new model year. The Sienna remains a top choice for families, with a price point that closely mirrors the new Carnival. Let’s break down these two popular minivans.
Prices, Features, and Trims: Toyota Sienna vs. Kia Carnival
The base Carnival LX starts at $37,895 and can reach $53,995 for the Hybrid SX Prestige trim. The Toyota Sienna hybrid ranges from $40,635 to $58,355.
Our recommendation: The Kia Carnival EX offers a sweet spot in the lineup, but to match the Sienna’s hybrid efficiency, it’s best to consider the LXS trim. The 2025 Carnival LXS Hybrid comes in at $41,895. It offers a 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, six USB ports, heated front seats with synthetic leather upholstery, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, seating for eight, and a suite of driver-assistance technology. For those seeking ultimate luxury, the Carnival SX Prestige Hybrid has leather upholstery, a 12-speaker Bose sound system, and a surround-view camera system; it’s priced at $53,995.
Another advantage for the Kia is its warranty. Every Carnival comes with a generous 5-year/60,000-mile warranty.
The 2024 Toyota Sienna offers a 3-year/36,000-mile warranty, but also provides two years or 25,000 miles of scheduled maintenance. The Sienna is available in LE, XLE, XLE Woodland, XSE, Limited, and Platinum trims. The base LE costs $40,635, including the destination fee. It comes with the standard modern minivan features: power sliding doors, a suite of safety technology, and a 9.0-inch touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The XLE adds a sunroof and synthetic leather. The Sienna Limited gets leather upholstery, JBL audio, and navigation. The Platinum model with all-wheel drive approaches $60,000. The Sienna offers better overall value, especially when you consider that all-wheel drive is available for $2,000 extra, except on the XLE Woodland model, where it is standard.
Size, Comfort, and Cargo Space: Kia Carnival vs. Toyota Sienna
Cargo space is a key consideration for families. The Sienna offers 33.5 cubic feet behind the third row, 75.2 cubic feet behind the second row, and 101 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded. The Carnival takes the lead with 40.2 cubic feet behind the third row, 86.9 cubic feet behind the second row, and a massive 145.1 cubic feet with both rows folded.
Both minivans comfortably seat up to eight passengers, with an available bench or captain’s chairs configuration. The recessed tub in the Sienna and Carnival can store the folded third row, which significantly increases cargo space compared to SUVs. Power sliding doors are standard in both, making it easier to get children in and out of car seats. Neither model features the Chrysler Pacifica’s Stow ‘n Go second-row seats that fold into the floor.
Kia Carnival
The Carnival offers seating for seven or eight passengers. Most models have a second-row bench seat with a sliding middle seat that folds down to serve as a console, or an eight-passenger configuration. These seats are removable. The second-row seats slide on a track which allows for adjusting leg room and creating easy access to the back. The top-tier SX Prestige offers second-row captain’s chairs with optional leg rests. These are more useful than a third row, which older teens or adults may find cramped.
Toyota Sienna
While the Sienna offers less room overall, it presents several practical storage spaces, including a storage shelf across the front passenger side. It also incorporates a two-tiered center console. Sienna’s second-row seats have over 25 inches of travel for greater adjustability, including captain’s chairs with optional footrests. The seats can also be folded, and slid forward for easy access. The Sienna’s middle seats can’t be removed.
Safety Features: Kia Carnival vs. Toyota Sienna
Both minivans prioritize safety, each including standard automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection. The Sienna earned a coveted Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS. Surround-view camera systems can be equipped on either model. The Sienna and Carnival are both equipped with technology to prevent accidents. They include standard automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitors, and active lane control. The Toyota adds adaptive cruise control as a standard feature.
Kia Carnival Safety
The NHTSA has not yet tested the Carnival. The IIHS gave the 2024 model a Top Safety Pick, provided it was equipped with the SX Prestige’s LED projector headlights. Other versions got “Poor” headlight ratings but maintained excellent crash-test scores. Driver-assist options include blind-spot cameras, adaptive cruise control, high-speed automatic emergency braking, and a surround-view camera system.
Toyota Sienna Safety
The Sienna achieves a Top Safety Pick+ designation and received excellent crash-test ratings from the NHTSA. Toyota equips the Sienna with adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitors, rear cross-traffic alerts, active lane control, and automatic high beams. Available options include a surround-view camera system, head-up display, front and rear parking sensors, and a digital rearview mirror.
Powertrains, Hybrids, and Performance: Kia Carnival vs. Toyota Sienna
The Sienna has more initial acceleration, but both vehicles offer good performance. The Carnival rides softer and quieter. The Sienna can be equipped with all-wheel drive for $2,000 more, while the Carnival is still only available in front-wheel drive.
Kia Carnival Powertrain
The Carnival runs on a 287-hp V-6 engine paired with a smooth 8-speed automatic transmission. Passing on the highway is easy, and performance is generally stress-free. The drive modes alter the throttle response, for a bit more responsiveness in Sport mode. The Carnival prioritizes a comfortable ride with a front strut and multi-link rear suspension setup. The higher trims are exceptionally quiet. While the steering is light, the Carnival feels planted on the road and tows 3,500 pounds.
The Carnival Hybrid uses a 1.6-liter turbo-4 with a 54-kw electric motor. Overall, the powertrain creates 242 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque. Similar to the Kia Sorento and Sportage hybrids, this model uses a 6-speed automatic transmission with front-wheel drive. It is more responsive than the gas-powered model. It has a smooth ride and is considerably quieter than the Sienna. The hybrid offers regenerative braking via paddle shifters. It can tow up to 2,500 pounds.
Toyota Sienna Powertrain
The Sienna has two major powertrain advantages: standard hybrid technology and available all-wheel drive. Toyota’s hybrid setup combines a 4-cylinder engine with two electric motors and a battery pack, generating 245 hp. With all-wheel drive, an additional electric motor independently powers the rear wheels. The hybrid system is effective at low speeds, providing strong torque, but the power tapers off at higher speeds. The Toyota’s suspension offers good handling; however, the Sienna is undeniably more fuel-efficient. The Sienna can tow 3,500 pounds.
Fuel Economy: Sienna Reigns Supreme
The Sienna gets an impressive 36 mpg combined with front-wheel drive or 35 mpg with all-wheel drive. The Carnival achieves 21 mpg combined for the standard gasoline engine and 33 mpg for the hybrid.
Kia Carnival Fuel Efficiency
The EPA rates the V-6 at 18 mpg city, 26 highway, and 21 combined. The hybrid earns 34 mpg city, 31 highway, and 33 combined.
Toyota Sienna Fuel Efficiency
It is the most fuel-efficient three-row vehicle without a plug. It achieves 36 mpg across the board with front-wheel drive, or 35 mpg with all-wheel drive.
The Verdict: Which Minivan is Better?
For overall cost of ownership and maximum value, it’s tough to beat the 2024 Toyota Sienna, though the Kia Carnival has nicer high-end features. Pending a safety score that will boost its average, the 2025 Carnival has an overall quieter ride that helps the model earn a high TCC rating of 6.8 out of 10. (Read more about how we rate cars.)
