6 Things Shoppers Should Know About the 2027 Kia Carnival Before They Buy

Choosing between the 2027 Kia Carnival’s two powertrains and its seating layouts can feel like a lot to sort through before a trip to a Toronto showroom. Ontario families cross-shop this minivan for cottage weekends, school runs, and daily commuting, so the powertrain and seating decisions matter more than the trim badge on the tailgate. Here are six grounded facts to narrow the list before you sit in one.

1. Two Powertrains With Different Driving Character

The 2027 Carnival offers a 3.5-litre V6 (ICE) or a 1.6-litre turbo four-cylinder hybrid (HEV), and both send power through the front wheels only; no all-wheel-drive option is offered on either powertrain.

The V6 makes 288 hp and 260 lb-ft, paired with an eight-speed automatic, and reaches 100 km/h in 8.4 seconds. The HEV’s 177-hp gas engine adds a 72-hp electric motor (224 lb-ft) for a combined 242 hp and 270 lb-ft through a six-speed automatic, reaching 100 km/h in 9.3 seconds.

The extra gears in the V6’s transmission suit steady highway cruising, while the HEV’s electric motor fills in torque instantly at a stoplight, a trait suited to stop-and-go city streets. The HEV also adds paddle-adjustable regenerative braking and E-Ride, a system that uses motor braking to smooth out bumps.

2. Seating Layouts: Bench Seating Or VIP Lounge

Removable second-row seating comes standard from LX through SX, keeping eight-passenger capacity across most of the lineup.

Moving up to the SX+, on either the V6 or the hybrid, swaps in seven-passenger seating with a second-row VIP lounge: captain’s chairs with power recline, a leg rest, and a relaxation mode, plus heated and ventilated second-row seats.

For a family that regularly carries eight, the lower trims keep that extra seat. For long drives with two second-row passengers who want more room, the SX+ lounge chairs change the math.

3. Fuel Economy: City Errands Vs Highway Trips

The V6 is rated at 12.9 L/100 km city, 9.3 highway, and 11.3 combined. The hybrid comes in at 6.9 city, 7.5 highway, and 7.2 combined, a hybrid trait since city driving actually beats highway consumption in the HEV’s case.

That combined gap, about 4.1 L/100 km, adds up. On the same 72-litre tank, the V6’s combined rating works out to roughly 637 km of range, while the hybrid stretches to about 1,000 km.

For drivers doing mostly city errands and school runs, the hybrid’s numbers mean fewer fill-ups. For long highway hauls, the V6 still holds up reasonably well.

4. Towing Limits: 3,500 Lbs Vs 3,000 Lbs

The V6 Carnival tows up to 3,500 lbs (1,588 kg) with trailer brakes attached. The hybrid’s rating sits at 3,000 lbs (1,361 kg), a modest step down that comes with the added weight of the battery and electric motor.

Both powertrains include trailer pre-wiring and Trailer Stability Assist as standard equipment. That extra 500 lbs on the V6 matters most for a mid-size boat or a loaded utility trailer heading north for the weekend.

5. Ground Clearance And Approach Angles

The hybrid’s battery packaging lifts it slightly, giving it 172 mm of ground clearance against 162 mm on the V6. Approach and departure angles follow the same pattern: 16 degrees and 20.6 degrees on the hybrid, versus 15.4 degrees and 20 degrees on the V6.

The difference is small, but it adds a bit of breathing room on a rutted cottage driveway, a steep parking ramp, or an unpaved rural laneway.

6. What’s New For 2027

The 2027 lineup adds a new LX HEV trim, giving buyers an entry point into the hybrid powertrain without stepping up to a higher grade.

Lane Following Assist 2 with Hands-On Detection is now standard, and a new steering wheel design and Size L cupholders arrive across the lineup. Shift-by-wire comes standard on every hybrid model, and Highway Driving Assist 2 becomes available starting at the SX trim.

Carnival ICE Vs. HEV At A Glance

The two powertrains split cleanly across a handful of numbers that matter most for a Toronto driveway or a highway commute.

Matching A Trim To How You’ll Use The Carnival

The 2027 Carnival lineup runs LX, LX+, EX, and EX+ on the V6, then SX and SX+ at the top. The hybrid mirrors that with LX HEV, LX+ HEV, EX HEV, SX HEV, and SX+ HEV.

Every 2027 Carnival starts with a 4-inch driver cluster paired with a 12-inch AVNT touchscreen on a flat bending-type display. Stepping up to EX and above swaps in a curved layout with a 12.3-inch cluster and a 12.3-inch AVNT screen, plus an 11-inch head-up display.

A few connected features run across or land partway up the lineup:

• Kia Connect remote services, including remote start with climate control and vehicle health alerts
• Multi-zone voice recognition that can tell a second-row window request from a driver’s command
• Digital Key 2 on select trims, letting a phone unlock and start the van
• Remote Smart Parking Assist on SX HEV and SX+ HEV

An upgraded LED liftgate is also available as an alternative to the standard bulb-type unit.

Test-Driving The 2027 Carnival At Trento Kia

The 2027 Carnival splits cleanly into two lanes: a V6 built for open highway comfort and towing, and a turbo hybrid tuned for city efficiency and a smoother stop-and-go ride. Seating, ground clearance, and driver-assist tech shift with the trim and powertrain you pick.

Visit Trento Kia in Toronto to sit in both the V6 and hybrid Carnival, compare the bench and VIP lounge seating in person, and find the trim that fits your driveway and your drive.

To learn more about the 2027 Kia Carnival HEV, visit Kia.ca