This is one of the better reviews I've seen on the hybrid Carnival EX. We're looking at cars with a 3rd row due to 2 grandkids in car seats and the Carnival is one we're probably going to test drive soon. My wife finally saw a Carnival on the road and she said is really doesn't look like a minivan, so that's a huge plus. I'm hoping the 1.6L turbo engine is reliable since we generally keep our cars past 125,000 miles.
Hard to get enough storage while actually using the 3rd row in regular suvs. That was a big plus for us. It’s also a little easier to get into the 3rd row since some of the suvs sit higher so there is less head room as you climb back there. We’ve loved it so far; but most minivans have similar features. The styling and look of this one, like your wife said, was what got us to buy Kia over other brands.
I was waiting for the “deal breaker” annoyance. If the loud reverse sound is the worst attribute of this vehicle, I say this van/suv is worth the look. Very nice review
For us there aren’t any dealbreakers. Obviously a few weird quirks. Like I wish the button to open sliding doors (from the drivers seat) was only a push and not one you have to hold for 3 seconds. But overall it’s been a really good upgrade for us!
Got the same model back in October , I selected this one only coz it has good looks and features then others in competition , by so far its looks worthy spending
I traded in my 2013 Honda Odyssey that I owned for 10 years for a gas 2025 Kia SX Prestige. Nothing wrong with the hybrid, but I feel long term there are more points of failure than the v6 version. The Hybrid has a Turbo and it's GDI only (vs the V6 being GDI and Multi port). This means the hybrid engine has more wear/failure points and a battery pack that may also need future replacing. If you have a hybrid, please remember to check your oil frequently and do a frequent valve spray cleaning.
Definitely more points of failure. We opted for the extended warranty which brings all the components up to the 10yr / 100k mile warranty. Hopefully we won’t have any major issues though!
I went in to the dealer to make sure which trim level and color combo I wanted. Then I called a few dealers that had that combination on their website. I went in to one and negotiated a little in person to get a sense of what the out the door price could be. Then called a few dealers to see which one would get me the best out the door price with the extended warranty added. Ended up getting the tint and paint protection added for free too. Going to be different depending on what state you live in.
Hi, thanks for the review. If you don't mind sharing, how much did you pay for yours? Not including taxes and fees. Anyone who bought one, can you share how much you guys are paying for one.
That’s hard to say. We ‘negotiated’ the out the door price including tax and registration. I called around to a handful of dealers looking to see which had the best price. We also had a trade in. It seemed a little over $2k off msrp and it also had tint and paint protection film. They also added $1k or so to our trade in value. Roughly $3-$4k off in total.
I've seen car camping videos with the Toyota Sienna where you can run the air conditioning off the battery while parked and the engine kicks on every 10 to 15 minutes automatically for a few minutes to keep the battery charged. Does that work the same way in this Kia. Thanks!
Interesting! Not to say it doesn’t have that feature, but in my reading of the manual and playing with the settings I haven’t seen any mode or option for that.
Might not have that feature as a button, but if you leave it started and turn the a/c on and disable the automatic shut down... it'll do just that. The engine will turn on and off as needed to charge the battery.
The look of the carnival was the driving factor. The sienna is without a doubt a minivan. 😂 where the carnival kind of looks like an suv. We didn’t go look at a sienna. But shopping in the past, we’ve found Kia/hyundai to have better value as far as feature set and for sure a better warranty.
We did! The Sienna was immediately not a contender for me after our test drive. We have three young kids, and you can't take out any of the second row seats in the Sienna. The captain seats slide, but it takes more force than a child could muster to slide them back without your help. The sliding door also doesn't open very far. Altogether, it makes it really hard for a kid to get in the back seat, and for a parent to help them get buckled in if needed.
Hi I have purchased a carnival EX Hybrid as well last month. I have a question if you are experiencing a minute jerks when you drive/ when gear changes? and is your van staying at 1400 RPM sometimes when it is idle or at Traffic Light?
Thanks for sharing. That's what I want to get , but I been reading about the issues with KIA like the batteries being drained causing the vechle not to start.. Does anyone have any major issues? I never owned a KIA before. I only bought Honda. Thank you for your help
Interesting. We haven’t had any transmission or idle issues. Have you checked back with your dealer? That’s definitely something that should get fixed.
When I test drove it initially jerked as well, and I was wondering what's wrong with this jerking, I was about to X it out of my list... (dealers know less about the cars they sell than the customer... couldnt answer me) It was because regenerative breaking was turned on, at least for my scenario. In Smart & Eco mode you can use the paddle shifter to toggle off, and 1, 2, 3 intensity for the regenerative braking. Eco mode is automatically on, i believe Smart mode it is not, drives more like a normal car.
The first time we test drove it was similar. I asked if we could change the regen, but the dealer said no. Test drove again at a different dealership and it was a very different driving experience 😂 we have it set to drive like a normal car. Probably get better gas mileage if we turned the regen braking on but we like it as is.
@@RyansReviewHowTo Dealer are just sales folks... Once you are in Eco or Smart mode, use the paddle shifter. You will see at bottom right corner there is 1, 2, 3, off it will show no numbers. *** I believe to trigger the option on/off, first use left paddle shifter Yes I like it off! The regen feels kinda of unrefined...
how is the power and passing ability on highways with a full load/passengers/cargo? the 1.6L combustion engine seems a bit small for such a large vehicle, even if it is paired with the hybrid engine...
question: can you leave the car idle (like off) and does it complaints or auto shutoff? we have dog in the car usually and would like to keep the car off using hybrid tech so they stay cool while we are at costo let say....
You'd have to just leave it running, but it'll probably turn off automatically in either 30 or 60 minutes. You should be able to turn this setting off so it'll just keep running though. You'll most likely have to start it (or leave it started) and then put down the window and close the door, reach through the window and lock it and hit the window up button. Unless you want to leave it unlocked the whole time. Definitely test it first though without putting the window up, your key probably won't work to lock/unlock (neither will sensor on handles) with it running. I had a 2023 santa fe and now have a 2024 ioniq 5- obviously both hyundai, but I'm sure kia is the same. If you do this and lock it, there will only be two ways to unlock it - either using the actual physical metal key in the door which isn't very convenient but as an 'emergency' will work, or, use the app to unlock. Unless kia is different and lets you use the door handle buttons/key buttons with it running but I doubt it.
It has remote start. What’s the parking assist? Where it pulls out of the spot for you? The ex doesn’t have that. Not sure if the prestige line does or not.
I want to get one however i been reading issue with the Batteries cause the vehicle ro be dead and not starting. We never owned a KIA so just a bit worried
This has been (supposedly, I do not have first hand experience) resolved via a software update. (You can either get it through the dealer or it should be free OTA (over the air) update. There is actually a fb group solely about this issue. People had posted where to find if you have the latest software and what version it is, etc. You can also read from those who had first hand experience.
@@RyansReviewHowTo yes most likely for that issue I forgot the version number/code (it's somewhere in that FB group) I read it was more impacted on vehicles built around or before August, it should be a no issue now. 🤞 (I've been doing a lot of research, my top of list choice 😂 your review is awesome - Thank you!)
Nice car nice review so I subscribed
I appreciate you!!
This is one of the better reviews I've seen on the hybrid Carnival EX. We're looking at cars with a 3rd row due to 2 grandkids in car seats and the Carnival is one we're probably going to test drive soon. My wife finally saw a Carnival on the road and she said is really doesn't look like a minivan, so that's a huge plus. I'm hoping the 1.6L turbo engine is reliable since we generally keep our cars past 125,000 miles.
Hard to get enough storage while actually using the 3rd row in regular suvs. That was a big plus for us. It’s also a little easier to get into the 3rd row since some of the suvs sit higher so there is less head room as you climb back there. We’ve loved it so far; but most minivans have similar features. The styling and look of this one, like your wife said, was what got us to buy Kia over other brands.
Thanks for the down to earth parent/owner view, appreciate it.
Wow great video please give a long term review too, I love the car very nice color and look
Thanks for the comment! I’ll keep you updated.
I was waiting for the “deal breaker” annoyance. If the loud reverse sound is the worst attribute of this vehicle, I say this van/suv is worth the look. Very nice review
For us there aren’t any dealbreakers. Obviously a few weird quirks. Like I wish the button to open sliding doors (from the drivers seat) was only a push and not one you have to hold for 3 seconds. But overall it’s been a really good upgrade for us!
Got the same model back in October , I selected this one only coz it has good looks and features then others in competition , by so far its looks worthy spending
great review and love seeing your replies in the comments!
Thanks! Hoping it’s valuable 😁
7:01 New reverse sound! Now with no beep but louder front speakers than forward sound!
7:03 Same sound as other Kia hybrid/EV vehicles!
I traded in my 2013 Honda Odyssey that I owned for 10 years for a gas 2025 Kia SX Prestige. Nothing wrong with the hybrid, but I feel long term there are more points of failure than the v6 version. The Hybrid has a Turbo and it's GDI only (vs the V6 being GDI and Multi port). This means the hybrid engine has more wear/failure points and a battery pack that may also need future replacing. If you have a hybrid, please remember to check your oil frequently and do a frequent valve spray cleaning.
Definitely more points of failure. We opted for the extended warranty which brings all the components up to the 10yr / 100k mile warranty. Hopefully we won’t have any major issues though!
@@RyansReviewHowTo Can you please share how much you paid for the extended warranty?
$2k. I think the msrp is like $3,500 or something. Just need to negotiate a little.
@@RyansReviewHowTo Can you pls share which dealer you got that deal from? I am trying to find a dealer that will negotiate on that price.
I went in to the dealer to make sure which trim level and color combo I wanted. Then I called a few dealers that had that combination on their website. I went in to one and negotiated a little in person to get a sense of what the out the door price could be. Then called a few dealers to see which one would get me the best out the door price with the extended warranty added. Ended up getting the tint and paint protection added for free too. Going to be different depending on what state you live in.
Very nice video. Thanks
In South Korea, the Carnival is a vehicle that is often used by entertainment agencies to transport their entertainers.
Interesting. The higher end models are definitely luxurious!
보도방 아가씨들 실어나르는데는 카니발이 짱이란말이쥬?
Hi, thanks for the review. If you don't mind sharing, how much did you pay for yours? Not including taxes and fees.
Anyone who bought one, can you share how much you guys are paying for one.
That’s hard to say. We ‘negotiated’ the out the door price including tax and registration. I called around to a handful of dealers looking to see which had the best price. We also had a trade in. It seemed a little over $2k off msrp and it also had tint and paint protection film. They also added $1k or so to our trade in value. Roughly $3-$4k off in total.
@@RyansReviewHowTo thanks for replying.
About 2.9k off
But existing in the lot vehicle, better chance to bargain. Ours had nearly 2k off already by luck, we somehow managed around 2.9k off 😂
@@xdigitalhigix Did they charge you extra for dealer installed accessories?
No. They threw that in for free. They ended up removing the all weather mats, but I’ll take the tint and paint protection!
Great video. Can the middle seats be reversed (rear facing) like previous years?
Not in US. HOWEVER, there is cheat code on UA-cam that shows you how to bypass and do it for all 3 2nd row seats 🙂
I've seen car camping videos with the Toyota Sienna where you can run the air conditioning off the battery while parked and the engine kicks on every 10 to 15 minutes automatically for a few minutes to keep the battery charged. Does that work the same way in this Kia. Thanks!
Interesting! Not to say it doesn’t have that feature, but in my reading of the manual and playing with the settings I haven’t seen any mode or option for that.
no it doesn't have this feature unfortunately
Might not have that feature as a button, but if you leave it started and turn the a/c on and disable the automatic shut down... it'll do just that. The engine will turn on and off as needed to charge the battery.
Did you cross shop with Sienna? And why did you go with Carnival? I love both vehicles
The look of the carnival was the driving factor. The sienna is without a doubt a minivan. 😂 where the carnival kind of looks like an suv.
We didn’t go look at a sienna. But shopping in the past, we’ve found Kia/hyundai to have better value as far as feature set and for sure a better warranty.
@ long term reliability and resale is what puts Sienna higher for me. Of course looks, features and value for money the carnival wins I agree.
We did! The Sienna was immediately not a contender for me after our test drive. We have three young kids, and you can't take out any of the second row seats in the Sienna. The captain seats slide, but it takes more force than a child could muster to slide them back without your help. The sliding door also doesn't open very far. Altogether, it makes it really hard for a kid to get in the back seat, and for a parent to help them get buckled in if needed.
Hi I have purchased a carnival EX Hybrid as well last month. I have a question if you are experiencing a minute jerks when you drive/ when gear changes? and is your van staying at 1400 RPM sometimes when it is idle or at Traffic Light?
Thanks for sharing. That's what I want to get , but I been reading about the issues with KIA like the batteries being drained causing the vechle not to start.. Does anyone have any major issues? I never owned a KIA before. I only bought Honda. Thank you for your help
Interesting. We haven’t had any transmission or idle issues. Have you checked back with your dealer? That’s definitely something that should get fixed.
When I test drove it initially jerked as well, and I was wondering what's wrong with this jerking, I was about to X it out of my list... (dealers know less about the cars they sell than the customer... couldnt answer me)
It was because regenerative breaking was turned on, at least for my scenario.
In Smart & Eco mode you can use the paddle shifter to toggle off, and 1, 2, 3 intensity for the regenerative braking. Eco mode is automatically on, i believe Smart mode it is not, drives more like a normal car.
The first time we test drove it was similar. I asked if we could change the regen, but the dealer said no. Test drove again at a different dealership and it was a very different driving experience 😂
we have it set to drive like a normal car. Probably get better gas mileage if we turned the regen braking on but we like it as is.
@@RyansReviewHowTo Dealer are just sales folks...
Once you are in Eco or Smart mode, use the paddle shifter. You will see at bottom right corner there is 1, 2, 3, off it will show no numbers.
*** I believe to trigger the option on/off, first use left paddle shifter
Yes I like it off! The regen feels kinda of unrefined...
how is the power and passing ability on highways with a full load/passengers/cargo? the 1.6L combustion engine seems a bit small for such a large vehicle, even if it is paired with the hybrid engine...
Fair question! We won’t have it loaded up like that for a few months, but I can try and answer that in the next video.
Pretty rad , dad
question: can you leave the car idle (like off) and does it complaints or auto shutoff? we have dog in the car usually and would like to keep the car off using hybrid tech so they stay cool while we are at costo let say....
I don’t think there is any option like that. At least I haven’t seen any buttons or settings for that.
You'd have to just leave it running, but it'll probably turn off automatically in either 30 or 60 minutes. You should be able to turn this setting off so it'll just keep running though. You'll most likely have to start it (or leave it started) and then put down the window and close the door, reach through the window and lock it and hit the window up button. Unless you want to leave it unlocked the whole time. Definitely test it first though without putting the window up, your key probably won't work to lock/unlock (neither will sensor on handles) with it running. I had a 2023 santa fe and now have a 2024 ioniq 5- obviously both hyundai, but I'm sure kia is the same. If you do this and lock it, there will only be two ways to unlock it - either using the actual physical metal key in the door which isn't very convenient but as an 'emergency' will work, or, use the app to unlock. Unless kia is different and lets you use the door handle buttons/key buttons with it running but I doubt it.
Please do you know if the hybrid (EX or higher trims) has Remote Smart Parking Assist (RSPA)? Thanks.
It has remote start. What’s the parking assist? Where it pulls out of the spot for you? The ex doesn’t have that. Not sure if the prestige line does or not.
@RyansReviewHowTo yes, that's when it backs out of a tight spot and/or parks for you. Thanks for answering though.
I want to get one however i been reading issue with the Batteries cause the vehicle ro be dead and not starting. We never owned a KIA so just a bit worried
I had heard similar things. We haven’t had any issues yet and that will all be covered under warranty if it does happen!
This has been (supposedly, I do not have first hand experience) resolved via a software update. (You can either get it through the dealer or it should be free OTA (over the air) update.
There is actually a fb group solely about this issue. People had posted where to find if you have the latest software and what version it is, etc. You can also read from those who had first hand experience.
Oh that’s good to know! We did get a software update a few days after the purchase. But it may have been resolved before that 🤷🏼
@@RyansReviewHowTo yes most likely for that issue I forgot the version number/code (it's somewhere in that FB group)
I read it was more impacted on vehicles built around or before August, it should be a no issue now. 🤞
(I've been doing a lot of research, my top of list choice 😂 your review is awesome - Thank you!)
@@RyansReviewHowTo yes dog prints on the white seats, THAT is my biggest concern now 😂😂
Is it easy to clean?