If you’re in the market for a minivan, congratulations. You’ve chosen the most sensible and practical way to transport a family. Sliding doors, tons of cargo room, and 3-row seating that’s actually comfortable in the third row are only a few reasons minivans are just plain better at family transportation than SUVs.
Let’s compare two of our favorites — the Kia Carnival and Toyota Sienna — and see which minivan is right for your family.
2025 Kia Carnival
The Kia Carnival got a nice update for 2025 with refreshed styling, a new hybrid option, and updated technology. It has everything we love about the Kia brand, like a class-leading warranty and a high-tech infotainment system, plus all the convenience of a minivan. Pricing starts at $38,235.
Kia Carnival Highlights
Class-leading warranty: One of the biggest highlights of any Kia model is the best-in-class warranty coverage. The Carnival is backed by a 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, giving the driver a little extra peace of mind.
More cargo space: Although these minivans are almost exactly the same size, the Kia Carnival has quite a bit more cargo space than the Toyota Sienna. Specifically, 20% more room behind the third row and 43% more room behind the first row. If you need a minivan to haul bulky cargo, the Carnival is the one to get.
Stronger engine: The Carnival’s standard V6 and available turbo hybrid powertrain both deliver more power and torque than the Sienna. The extra juice is nice to have when the van is full of passengers and cargo.
Read our Kia Carnival Expert Review or see 2025 Kia Carnival models for sale near you.
2025 Toyota Sienna
The Toyota Sienna has long served as one of America’s most trusted minivans. Its blend of practicality, safety, and reliability is part of what makes it a repeat winner of our Best Buy Award in its class. In addition to getting the basics right, the Sienna boasts excellent fuel economy from the standard hybrid powertrain and class-leading resale value. Pricing starts at $40,635.
Toyota Sienna Highlights
Better fuel economy: The standard hybrid powertrain in the Toyota Sienna returns an outstanding fuel economy rating of 36 mpg combined with a slight drop to 35 with all-wheel drive (AWD). The Kia Carnival has a new hybrid option for 2025, but it’s less efficient, returning 33 mpg.
Available AWD: All-wheel drive is standard in the Toyota Sienna Woodland Edition and optional in every other trim. This makes the Sienna a great vehicle for families who live in snowy climates or occasionally do some mild off-roading.
Bigger third row: While the Carnival boasts more cargo space, the Sienna has more room in the third row — 3.1 more inches of legroom, to be precise. If you regularly have taller passengers in the way-back seats, they’ll appreciate the extra room in the Toyota.
Read our Toyota Sienna Expert Review or see 2025 Toyota Sienna models for sale near you.
Similarities
Both of these minivans have the minivan basics like sliding doors and 3-row seating, plus similar safety and infotainment tech features. However, only the Sienna gets the top 5-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The Carnival hasn’t been rated yet.
Pricing
New 2025 Kia Carnival Prices
|
$38,235 |
$36,682 |
|||
|
$40,235 |
$38,408 |
|||
|
$42,435 |
$40,601 |
|||
|
$47,335 |
$45,067 |
|||
|
$52,335 |
$49,833 |
New 2025 Toyota Sienna Prices
|
$40,635 |
$39,277 |
|||
|
$45,445 |
$44,313 |
|||
|
$48,090 |
$46,844 |
|||
|
$51,650 |
$50,291 |
|||
|
$51,875 |
$50,178 |
|||
|
$57,595 |
$55,988 |
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 New 2025 Kia Carnival vehicles and New 2025 Toyota Sienna 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.
Specifications
| 2025 Kia Carnival | 2025 Toyota Sienna | |
| Popular Powertrains | ||
| Engine | 3.5-liter 6-cylinder | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder hybrid |
| Horsepower | 287 hp @ 6,400 rpm | 245 hp @ 6,000 rpm |
| Torque | 260 lb-ft @ 5,000 rpm | 176 lb-ft @ 4,400 rpm |
| Transmission | 8-speed automatic | CVT |
| Fuel Economy | 18 city/26 highway/21 combined mpg | 36 city/36 highway/36 combined mpg |
| Also Available | Turbo 4-cylinder hybrid | AWD |
| 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 | Not rated | 5 stars |
| Max Seating Capacity | 8 | 8 |
| Wheelbase | 121.7 inches | 120.5 inches |
| Overall Length | 203.0 inches | 203.7 inches |
| Width | 78.5 inches | 78.5 inches |
| Height | 68.5 inches | 68.5 inches |
| Turning Diameter | 37.7 feet | 38.3 feet |
| Headroom, Front | 40.9 inches | 40.1 inches |
| Headroom, 2nd Row | 39.5 inches | 39.3 inches |
| Headroom, 3rd Row | 38.6 inches | 37.4 inches |
| Legroom, Front | 41.1 inches | 40.3 inches |
| Legroom, 2nd Row | 40.5 inches | 39.9 inches |
| Legroom, 3rd Row | 35.6 inches | 38.7 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Front | 64.2 inches | 62.4 inches |
| Shoulder Room, 2nd Row | 63.2 inches | 62.7 inches |
| Shoulder Room, 3rd Row | 59.5 inches | 58.5 inches |
| Cargo Volume | 40.2/86.9/145.1 cubic feet | 33.5/75.2/101 cubic feet |
Conclusion
The Kia Carnival has some notable advantages over the Toyota Sienna, such as better warranty coverage and a lower starting price. However, we don’t think you’ll regret shelling out a little extra money for the Toyota Sienna. We love the roomier third row, terrific fuel economy, and optional built-in goodies like a vacuum cleaner and a fridge. Despite its higher price tag, the Sienna has lower fuel costs and better resale value than the Carnival, so it’s still an outstanding value.