Kia's 2025 Carnival Wins Best Hybrid Minivan At Parents Best Family Cars Awards

Published: Wednesday, February 12, 2025, 4:49 [IST]

The 2025 Kia Carnival has been recognised for its family-friendly features, earning two awards from PARENTS magazine. The Carnival was named "Best Hybrid Minivan," while Kia's Connected Car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC) received the "Best In-Car Multimedia/Entertainment System" accolade. These awards were part of a selection process that evaluated over 180 vehicles across various categories to find the best options for families.

"With the addition of the hybrid variant, the Carnival now meets the needs of even more families, offering the space, comfort and efficiency that modern parents are looking for," said Steven Center, COO & EVP, Kia America. "Kia’s next-generation infotainment system was designed to enhance the driver experience and we’re proud it’s resonating so well as we expand its availability across more Kia models."

The expert panel at PARENTS magazine included top auto industry professionals who are also parents. They assessed vehicles based on family-oriented factors such as third-row seating availability, LATCH systems for car seats, ease of installation, and powertrain options. The 2025 Carnival stood out with its spacious cabin accommodating up to eight passengers and offering 145.1 cubic feet of cargo space behind the first row.

Among its notable features is Slide-Flex seating in 8-passenger versions (excluding those with optional VIP Lounge Seats). This includes a sliding second-row center seat for easy child access. Additionally, standard Rear Occupant Alert[1] reminds drivers to check rear seats before exiting, while Safe Exit Assist[2] keeps rear doors locked if traffic is detected approaching from behind.

Beyond practicality, the 2025 Carnival showcases Kia's next-generation ccNC operating system. This advanced infotainment system offers Quick Controls for easy access to frequently used features through simple swipes. It also supports over-the-air updates[3], enhancing the ownership experience. The ccNC system is available in other 2025 Kia models like K4, K5, EV6, Sorento, and EV9, with plans for further expansion.

Kia America is headquartered in Irvine, California. The company consistently ranks high in automotive quality surveys and was named one of TIME World's Most Sustainable Companies in 2024. As the "Official Automotive Partner" of the NBA and WNBA, Kia offers a range of gasoline, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electric vehicles through over 775 U.S. dealers.

Select trims of the all-electric EV9 three-row SUV and models like Sportage (excluding HEV/PHEV), Sorento (excluding HEV/PHEV), and Telluride are assembled in the United States using both domestic and global parts.

[1] Rear Occupant Alert is not a substitute for attention and may not detect all movement within the vehicle. Always check inside when exiting.

[2] Safe Exit Assist does not replace attention to surroundings; always be aware of traffic when exiting.

[3] Over-the-Air updates may incur additional costs depending on model year or trim level; a Kia Connect subscription is required.