Pricing for the 2026 Kia Carnival has officially arrived. Starting at $38,485 for the base LX trim, this minivan brings good value. That’s because it comes with so many standard features, including a full suite of driver assistance features. It even comes standard with Highway Driving Assist, which is essentially an enhanced adaptive cruise control with steering and lane centering assistance. All Carnivals also come standard with three-zone climate control, a 12.3-inch touchscreen, as well as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Stepping up the trim ladder gets you more luxury goodies. On the SX Prestige trim, the 2026 Kia Carnival includes dual sunroofs, a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. It even has optional heated and ventilated second-row VIP lounge seats with relaxation mode! Best of all, it’s a no-cost option to add those to your Carnival instead of the standard bench setup.
On the convenience front, higher trims gain Highway Driving Assist 2, a surround-view camera, and a hands-free power liftgate. Top-of-the-line models also include a head-up display and a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system. There’s also a Dark Edition package on the SX and SX Prestige trims that adds blackout exterior details.
2026 Kia Carnival: Punchy Powertrains
Two powertrains remain available on the 2026 Carnival. The gas models have a 3.5-liter V6 with 287 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. It comes paired exclusively to an eight-speed automatic transmission. A hybrid powertrain is available on all but the base LX trim. This couples a 1.6-liter turbo-four with a six-speed automatic, an electric motor, and a 1.49-kWh lithium battery. The hybrid variant has a total system output of 242 hp and 271 lb-ft. In terms of efficiency, the gas model is EPA-rated at 18/25/21 mpg city/highway/combined, while the hybrid checks in at 34/32/31 mpg.
Fully loaded, the 2026 Carnival checks in at just over $55,000 for the gas model. That includes an extra-cost color and the Rear Seat Entertainment package. Similarly equipped, the Carnival Hybrid adds around $2,000 extra. That puts the Carnival in the middle of the price range in its class, making it pricier than the Honda Odyssey, but cheaper than a similarly equipped Chrysler Pacifica and Toyota Sienna models. Although the Kia doesn’t have an AWD option, it does come with features that none of its competitors have, including the VIP second row.
Source: Kia
