Minivans are quite simply the best way to transport a family on four wheels. Midsize SUVs are improving all the time, and full-size SUVs are better for towing. But when it comes to hauling around a family of five to eight people on a daily basis, the practicality of sliding doors, more cargo space than you need, and 3-row seating you can actually use are what make minivans unbeatable.
There are only four players left in the minivan segment, so let’s compare two of them: the 2025 Kia Carnival and the 2025 Chrysler Pacifica.
2025 Kia Carnival
The 2025 Kia Carnival gets a midcycle refresh, giving it updated SUV-like styling, some interior enhancements, and, most importantly, an efficient new hybrid option. The Carnival excels at providing practical family transportation without breaking the bank. Pricing starts at $37,895.
Kia Carnival Highlights
Hybrid option: The biggest news of the 2025 update to the Kia Carnival is the new hybrid option. This is a conventional hybrid with no plugging-in required, and its starting price is about $10,000 lower than the plug-in hybrid version of the Pacifica. The Carnival Hybrid returns 33 combined mpg, making it 57% more efficient than the non-hybrid Carnival.
Affordable pricing: The Kia Carnival has the lowest starting price in its class. With best-in-class cargo and passenger space and a generous list of standard features, the Carnival is an outstanding value, no matter which trim you choose.
Class-leading warranty: The 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty and 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty give the Kia Carnival the best warranty coverage in its class, bar none.
Read our Kia Carnival Expert Review or see 2025 Kia Carnival models for sale near you.
2025 Chrysler Pacifica
Chrysler invented the minivan back in the 1980s, and it’s still one of the top players in the segment it created. The Chrysler Pacifica is full of family-friendly features and has some interesting powertrain options, like all-wheel drive (AWD) and a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) powertrain. Pricing starts at $44,145.
Chrysler Pacifica Highlights
Stow ’n Go seating: With Stow ’n Go seating, the Chrysler Pacifica is the only minivan with second- and third-row seats that all fold flat into the floor. That makes it almost effortless to turn this minivan into a cargo van, with no tools or lifting heavy seats required.
PHEV option: The Chrysler Pacifica isn’t the only hybrid minivan, but it’s still the only plug-in hybrid in its class. The Pacifica Hybrid can travel up to 32 miles on electricity alone and returns 30 combined mpg with a depleted battery.
Available AWD: The Chrysler Pacifica is available with all-wheel drive, while the Kia Carnival only comes with front-wheel drive (FWD). This makes the Pacifica worth serious consideration for families in snowy climates who can benefit from the extra traction.
Read our Chrysler Pacifica Expert Review or see 2025 Chrysler Pacifica models for sale near you.
Similarities
The Kia Carnival and Chrysler Pacifica come with all of the minivan stuff parents love, like sliding doors, roomy 3-row seating, family-friendly features, and pleasant driving dynamics. Both pack standard V6 engines with almost identical power, torque, and fuel economy ratings.
Conclusion
For most families, the Kia Carnival is a better option. It excels at just about everything that’s important to families, like tons of interior space, convenient tech features, and class-leading warranty coverage, all at a considerably lower starting price than the Pacifica. We also love the efficient yet affordable hybrid option. Unless the Pacifica’s Stow ’n Go seats or all-wheel drive are must-have features, the Carnival takes the win.
New 2025 Kia Carnival Prices
New 2025 Chrysler Pacifica Prices
The Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price for any individual used vehicle can vary greatly according to mileage, condition, location, and other factors.
The prices here reflect what buyers are currently paying for vehicles and vehicles in typical condition when purchasing from a dealership.
These prices are updated weekly. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) quoted includes the destination fee, but does not include tax, license, document fees, and options.
| 2025 Kia Carnival | 2025 Chrysler Pacifica | |
| Popular Powertrains | ||
| Engine | 3.5-liter V6 | 3.6-liter V6 |
| Horsepower | 287 hp @ 6,400 rpm | 287 hp @ 6,400 rpm |
| Torque | 260 lb-ft @ 5,000 rpm | 262 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm |
| Transmission | 8-speed automatic/FWD | 9-speed automatic/FWD |
| Fuel Economy | 18 city/26 highway/21 combined mpg | 19 city/28 highway/22 combined mpg |
| Also Available | Hybrid | AWD, PHEV |
| Specs | ||
| Basic Warranty | 5 Years/60,000 Miles | 3 Years/36,000 Miles |
| Powertrain Warranty | 10 Years/100,000 Miles | 5 Years/60,000 Miles |
| NHTSA Overall Safety Rating | 5 stars | 5 stars |
| Max Seating Capacity | 8 | 8 |
| Wheelbase | 121.7 inches | 121.6 inches |
| Overall Length | 203.0 inches | 204.3 inches |
| Width | 89.2 inches | 79.6 inches |
| Height | 68.5 inches | 69.9 inches |
| Turning Diameter | 37.7 feet | 39.7 feet |
| Headroom, Front | 40.9 inches | 40.1 inches |
| Headroom, 2nd Row | 39.5 inches | 39.6 inches |
| Headroom, 3rd Row | 38.6 inches | 38.7 inches |
| Legroom, Front | 41.1 inches | 41.1 inches |
| Legroom, 2nd Row | 40.5 inches | 39.0 inches |
| Legroom, 3rd Row | 35.6 inches | 36.5 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Front | 64.2 inches | 63.8 inches |
| Shoulder Room, 2nd Row | 63.2 inches | 63.0 inches |
| Shoulder Room, 3rd Row | 59.5 inches | 61.2 inches |
| Cargo Volume | 40.2/86.9/145.1 cubic feet | 32.3/87.5/140.5 cubic feet |