2026 Kia Carnival
Starting MSRP
$36,990
to $51,090
About the 2026 Kia Carnival
The 2026 Kia Carnival isn't just a minivan; it's designed for the reality of busy family life. With a solid 287 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque from its 3.5L V6 engine, the Carnival has the muscle needed for merging onto the freeway even when fully loaded. You're looking at a capable people-mover that offers practical dimensions—it stretches 203.0 inches long, which translates into real interior space. The standard 8-speed automatic transmission handles shifts smoothly, and the 21 combined MPG means you aren't completely ignoring the gas pump during those weekly runs to the grocery store. It focuses squarely on hauling people and gear comfortably, making those long weekend trips manageable.
Key Highlights
Ample Passenger Space
Front legroom hits an impressive 41.1 inches, ensuring the driver and front passenger stay comfortable on longer drives, while the rear legroom is also generous at 40.5 inches.
Solid Towing Power
The 287 hp engine provides reliable performance for daily driving and hauling the small trailer or recreational gear you need for weekend activities.
Good Cargo Haul
Even with three rows in use, the 2026 Kia Carnival offers 40.2 cubic feet of cargo space, perfect for strollers, sports equipment, or significant grocery hauls.
Budget-Conscious Fueling
It runs happily on regular unleaded fuel, saving you a few extra dollars at the pump compared to premium-required vehicles.
Best For
Seven-Passenger Families
- The 2026 Kia Carnival easily accommodates seven people and their associated gear, balancing comfort with substantial interior measurements.
Value Seekers
- With a competitive starting price near $36,990 and good standard horsepower, it delivers plenty of capability without needing the top trim.
Highway Commuters
- The front-wheel-drive configuration, paired with 25 highway MPG, offers a predictable and efficient experience when covering long distances.
Available Trims
| Trim | MSRP | Drivetrain | Horsepower | MPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EX 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 8A) | $41,190 | front wheel drive | 287 hp | 21 mpg |
| LX 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 8A) | $36,990 | front wheel drive | 287 hp | 21 mpg |
| LXS 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 8A) | $38,990 | front wheel drive | 287 hp | 21 mpg |
| SX 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 8A) | $46,090 | front wheel drive | 287 hp | 21 mpg |
| SX Prestige 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 8A) | $51,090 | front wheel drive | 287 hp | 21 mpg |
Specifications comparison table for 2026 Kia Carnival, 2026 Kia Carnival, 2026 Kia Carnival, 2026 Kia Carnival, 2026 Kia Carnival. Data includes dimensions, performance, fuel economy, and interior specifications. Green highlighting indicates best values, red indicates worst values.
Specifications Comparison
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Features Comparison
Feature
EX 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 8A)
LX 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 8A)
LXS 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 8A)
SX 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 8A)
SX Prestige 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 8A)
| Feature | EX 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 8A) | LX 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 8A) | LXS 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 8A) | SX 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 8A) | SX Prestige 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 8A) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Safety (35 features) | |||||
| Anti-Theft Alarm System (Remote) | |||||
| Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) | 4-Wheel | 4-Wheel | 4-Wheel | 4-Wheel | 4-Wheel |
| Automatic Headlights | |||||
| Blind Spot Monitor | |||||
| Brake Assist | |||||
| Daytime Running Lights | |||||
| Driver Attention Alert | |||||
| Dual Front Side-Mounted Airbags | |||||
| Electronic Stability Control | |||||
| Engine Immobilizer | |||||
| Front Cross Traffic Alert | — | — | — | ||
| Front Fog Lights | — | — | — | ||
| Front Head Airbags | |||||
| Front Headrests | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Front Height Adjustable Headrests | |||||
| Front Ventilated Disc Brakes | |||||
| Headlight Delay-Off | |||||
| Integrated Turn Signal Mirrors | |||||
| LATCH System | |||||
| LED Headlights | |||||
| Lane Departure Warning | |||||
| Lane Keeping Assist System | |||||
| Passenger Airbag Occupant Sensing Deactivation | |||||
| Post-Collision Safety System | |||||
| Pre-Collision Safety System | |||||
| Rear Center 3-Point Seatbelt | — | ||||
| Rear Cross Traffic Alert | |||||
| Rear Door Child Safety Locks | |||||
| Rear Head Airbags | |||||
| Rear Headrests | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Rear Height Adjustable Headrests | |||||
| Rear Solid Disc Brakes | |||||
| Third Row Head Airbags | |||||
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System | |||||
| Traction Control System | |||||
| Engine (9 features) | |||||
| Base Engine Displacement | 3.5 L | 3.5 L | 3.5 L | 3.5 L | 3.5 L |
| Base Engine Type | gas | gas | gas | gas | gas |
| Camshaft Type | Double overhead cam (DOHC) | Double overhead cam (DOHC) | Double overhead cam (DOHC) | Double overhead cam (DOHC) | Double overhead cam (DOHC) |
| Fuel Injection Type | |||||
| Horsepower | 287 hp @ 6400 rpm | 287 hp @ 6400 rpm | 287 hp @ 6400 rpm | 287 hp @ 6400 rpm | 287 hp @ 6400 rpm |
| Number of Cylinders | V6 | V6 | V6 | V6 | V6 |
| Number of Valves | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 |
| Torque | 260 lb-ft @ 5000 rpm | 260 lb-ft @ 5000 rpm | 260 lb-ft @ 5000 rpm | 260 lb-ft @ 5000 rpm | 260 lb-ft @ 5000 rpm |
| Variable Valve Timing | Variable | Variable | Variable | Variable | Variable |
| Drive Train (3 features) | |||||
| Drivetrain Type | front wheel drive | front wheel drive | front wheel drive | front wheel drive | front wheel drive |
| Hill Descent Control | |||||
| Transmission Type | 8-speed shiftable automatic | 8-speed shiftable automatic | 8-speed shiftable automatic | 8-speed shiftable automatic | 8-speed shiftable automatic |
| Fuel (5 features) | |||||
| EPA Driving Range (City/Highway) | 342.0/475.0 mi. | 342.0/475.0 mi. | 342.0/475.0 mi. | 342.0/475.0 mi. | 342.0/475.0 mi. |
| EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway) | 18/25 MPG | 18/25 MPG | 18/25 MPG | 18/25 MPG | 18/25 MPG |
| EPA Fuel Economy (Combined) | 21 MPG | 21 MPG | 21 MPG | 21 MPG | 21 MPG |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 19.0 gal. | 19.0 gal. | 19.0 gal. | 19.0 gal. | 19.0 gal. |
| Fuel Type | regular unleaded | regular unleaded | regular unleaded | regular unleaded | regular unleaded |
| Warranty (4 features) | |||||
| Basic Warranty | 5 yr./ 60000 mi. | 5 yr./ 60000 mi. | 5 yr./ 60000 mi. | 5 yr./ 60000 mi. | 5 yr./ 60000 mi. |
| Corrosion/Rust Warranty | 5 yr./ 100000 mi. | 5 yr./ 100000 mi. | 5 yr./ 100000 mi. | 5 yr./ 100000 mi. | 5 yr./ 100000 mi. |
| Drivetrain Warranty | 10 yr./ 100000 mi. | 10 yr./ 100000 mi. | 10 yr./ 100000 mi. | 10 yr./ 100000 mi. | 10 yr./ 100000 mi. |
| Roadside Assistance | 5 yr./ 60000 mi. | 5 yr./ 60000 mi. | 5 yr./ 60000 mi. | 5 yr./ 60000 mi. | 5 yr./ 60000 mi. |
| Comfort & Convenience (31 features) | |||||
| 3rd Row Cupholders | |||||
| Adaptive Cruise Control | |||||
| Audio Controls on Steering Wheel | |||||
| Cruise Control on Steering Wheel | |||||
| Digital Rearview Mirror | — | — | — | — | |
| Dual Vanity Mirrors | |||||
| Electric Power Steering | |||||
| Extended Cabin Heating/Cooling | |||||
| Front Cupholders | |||||
| Front Door Pockets | |||||
| Front Parking Sensors | |||||
| Front Seatback Storage | |||||
| Front View Camera | — | — | — | ||
| Heated Steering Wheel | — | — | — | — | |
| Interior Air Filtration | |||||
| Leather Steering Wheel | — | ||||
| Manual Rear Seat Easy Entry | — | — | — | — | |
| Power Rear Seat Easy Entry | — | ||||
| Push Button Start | |||||
| Rear Cupholders | |||||
| Rear Door Pockets | |||||
| Rear Parking Sensors | — | — | |||
| Rear Parking Sensors with Side Sensing | — | — | — | ||
| Rear Ventilation Ducts with Fan Control | |||||
| Rear View Camera | |||||
| Side View Camera | — | — | — | ||
| Three Zone Climate Control | |||||
| Tilt and Telescopic Steering Wheel | |||||
| Turn Signal Indicators in Mirrors | |||||
| Universal Remote Transmitter | — | — | — | — | |
| Wireless Charging Pad | — | — | |||
| In Car Entertainment (12 features) | |||||
| AM/FM Stereo | |||||
| Android Auto (Wireless) | |||||
| Apple CarPlay (Wireless) | |||||
| Infotainment Display | 12.3 in | 12.3 in | 12.3 in | 12.3 in | 12.3 in |
| Premium Speaker Brand | — | — | — | — | Bose |
| Premium Stereo System | — | — | — | — | Bose |
| Satellite Radio | |||||
| Satellite Radio Trial Period | 3 months | 3 months | 3 months | 3 months | 3 months |
| Speaker System | 8 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 12 |
| Subwoofer Count | — | — | — | — | 1 |
| USB Port | |||||
| USB Port with External Media Control | |||||
| Power Feature (4 features) | |||||
| Heated Mirrors | |||||
| Keyless Entry | |||||
| Moonroof Type | — | — | — | 1st Row Power Glass | 1st Row Power Glass |
| One-Touch Power Windows | 4 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 |
| Frontseats (20 features) | |||||
| Driver Seat Heating | Multi-level | — | Multi-level | Multi-level | Multi-level |
| Driver Seat Height Adjustment | |||||
| Driver Seat Lumbar Support | Power | — | Power | Power | Power |
| Driver Seat Manual Adjustments | — | 6-way | — | — | — |
| Driver Seat Memory Settings | 2 | — | — | 2 | 2 |
| Driver Seat Power Adjustments | 8-way | — | 8-way | 8-way | 8-way |
| Driver Seat Ventilation | — | — | — | ||
| Front Head Room | 40.9 in. | 40.9 in. | 40.9 in. | 39.7 in. | 39.7 in. |
| Front Hip Room | 59.8 in. | 59.8 in. | 59.8 in. | 59.8 in. | 59.8 in. |
| Front Leg Room | 41.1 in. | 41.1 in. | 41.1 in. | 41.1 in. | 41.1 in. |
| Front Seat Type: Bucket | |||||
| Front Shoulder Room | 64.2 in. | 64.2 in. | 64.2 in. | 64.2 in. | 64.2 in. |
| Passenger Seat Heating | Multi-level | — | Multi-level | Multi-level | Multi-level |
| Passenger Seat Height Adjustment | — | — | |||
| Passenger Seat Manual Adjustments | — | 4-way | 4-way | — | — |
| Passenger Seat Power Adjustments | 8-way | — | — | 8-way | 8-way |
| Passenger Seat Ventilation | — | — | — | ||
| Seat Material: Cloth | — | — | — | — | |
| Seat Material: Leather | — | — | — | — | |
| Seat Material: Leatherette | — | — | |||
| Rearseats (8 features) | |||||
| Folding Rear Seatback | — | — | — | — | |
| Manual Folding Third Row Seat | |||||
| Rear Head Room | 39.5 in. | 39.5 in. | 39.5 in. | 37.6 in. | 37.6 in. |
| Rear Hip Room | 66.4 in. | 66.4 in. | 66.4 in. | 66.4 in. | 66.4 in. |
| Rear Leg Room | 40.5 in. | 40.5 in. | 40.5 in. | 40.5 in. | 40.5 in. |
| Rear Shoulder Room | 63.2 in. | 63.2 in. | 63.2 in. | 63.2 in. | 63.2 in. |
| Reclining Rear Seats | |||||
| Split-Folding Rear Seatback | — | ||||
| Tires and Wheels (6 features) | |||||
| Spare Tire Location | Underbody Mounted | Underbody Mounted | Underbody Mounted | Underbody Mounted | Underbody Mounted |
| Spare Tire Type | Temporary | Temporary | Temporary | Temporary | Temporary |
| Tire Size | P235/55R | P235/65R | P235/65R | P235/55R | P235/55R |
| Tire Type | All Season | All Season | All Season | All Season | All Season |
| Wheel Finish | Painted Alloy | Painted Alloy | Painted Alloy | Painted Alloy | Painted Alloy |
| Wheel Size | 19 x 7.5 in | 17 x 6.5 in | 17 x 6.5 in | 19 x 7.5 in | 19 x 7.5 in |
| Suspension (3 features) | |||||
| Four-Wheel Independent Suspension | |||||
| Front Stabilizer Bar | |||||
| Rear Stabilizer Bar | |||||
| Instrumentation (5 features) | |||||
| Clock | |||||
| Compass | |||||
| External Temperature Display | |||||
| Tachometer | |||||
| Trip Computer | |||||
| Measurements (14 features) | |||||
| Angle of Approach | 15.4 degrees | 15.4 degrees | 15.4 degrees | 15.4 degrees | 15.4 degrees |
| Angle of Departure | 20.0 degrees | 20.0 degrees | 20.0 degrees | 20.0 degrees | 20.0 degrees |
| Cargo Capacity (Seats Up) | 40.2 cu.ft. | 40.2 cu.ft. | 40.2 cu.ft. | 40.2 cu.ft. | 40.2 cu.ft. |
| Country of Final Assembly | South Korea | South Korea | South Korea | South Korea | South Korea |
| Curb Weight | 4725 lbs. | 4555 lbs. | 4630 lbs. | 4810 lbs. | 4720 lbs. |
| Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) | 6283 lbs. | 6283 lbs. | 6283 lbs. | 6283 lbs. | 6283 lbs. |
| Ground Clearance | 6.8 in. | 6.8 in. | 6.8 in. | 6.8 in. | 6.8 in. |
| Height | 69.9 in. | 68.5 in. | 68.5 in. | 69.9 in. | 69.9 in. |
| Length | 203.0 in. | 203.0 in. | 203.0 in. | 203.0 in. | 203.0 in. |
| Maximum Cargo Capacity | 145.1 cu.ft. | 145.1 cu.ft. | 145.1 cu.ft. | 145.1 cu.ft. | 145.1 cu.ft. |
| Maximum Towing Capacity | 3500 lbs. | 3500 lbs. | 3500 lbs. | 3500 lbs. | 3500 lbs. |
| Wheelbase | 121.7 in. | 121.7 in. | 121.7 in. | 121.7 in. | 121.7 in. |
| Width (With Mirrors) | 89.2 in. | 89.2 in. | 89.2 in. | 89.2 in. | 89.2 in. |
| Width (Without Mirrors) | 78.5 in. | 78.5 in. | 78.5 in. | 78.5 in. | 78.5 in. |
| Telematics (8 features) | |||||
| Airbag Deployment Notification | |||||
| Destination Download | |||||
| Emergency Service | |||||
| Hands-Free Calling | |||||
| Roadside Assistance | |||||
| Stolen Vehicle Tracking | |||||
| Turn-by-Turn Navigation | |||||
| Vehicle Alarm Notification | |||||
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of fuel does the 2026 Kia Carnival require?
Good news for your wallet: the 2026 Kia Carnival runs exclusively on regular unleaded fuel. This keeps fueling costs predictable across its five available trims.
How much space is there for cargo when the third row is up?
The 2026 Kia Carnival provides a useful 40.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row. That’s plenty of room for family luggage or weekly supplies.
Is the engine powerful enough for highway merging in the 2026 Carnival?
Yes, the standard 3.5L V6 engine delivers 287 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque, which is more than sufficient for safely entering high-speed traffic.
What is the approximate fuel economy for the standard FWD configuration?
The 2026 Kia Carnival achieves a combined EPA rating of 21 MPG, split between 18 MPG city and 25 MPG on the highway.
How does the powertrain operate in the standard Carnival model?
All trims of the 2026 Kia Carnival come standard with an 8-speed shiftable automatic transmission coupled to the V6 engine for power delivery to the front wheels.
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