Kia Carnival Hybrid vs Subaru Forester Hybrid

The 2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid underwent a significant redesign, adopting a more rugged appearance reminiscent of the refreshed 2025 Kia Sorento. The front fascia featured a larger grille, giving it an SUV-like presence, while the headlights were repositioned to accommodate this change. Daytime running lights extended from the corners of the front end onto the hood, adding a unique touch. Despite these updates, the Carnival Hybrid retained its van-like appearance, which some found less appealing than the previous model. The rear end was tidied up by relocating the license plate housing, and LED taillights became standard on higher trims. In Canada, the Carnival Hybrid offered three trims: LX+, EX, and SX+, with the LX+ featuring 17-inch wheels and higher trims offering 19-inch options.

Inside, the Carnival Hybrid's interior largely carried over from the 2024 model, maintaining a premium feel with high-quality materials and a distinctive cross-hatch pattern on the Bose audio system's speaker grilles. The SX+ hybrid's navy and grey interior exuded a sense of luxury that rival minivans struggled to match. The cabin was thoughtfully designed, minimizing shiny plastic trim that often causes glare and attracts fingerprints. Overall, the Carnival Hybrid's interior provided a pleasing and upscale experience.

The 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid introduced a new design for its sixth-generation model, featuring a more cohesive but less distinctive look. Its blockier shape and reduced body sculpting gave it a visual heft, resembling a compact Ford Explorer. The Forester Hybrid shared its rugged appearance with its non-hybrid counterpart, incorporating black plastic elements that hinted at its off-road capabilities. Subtle hybrid badges on the front doors and liftgate distinguished it from the standard model.

Inside, the Forester Hybrid retained some of its previous charm with a beveled dashboard centre section, now dominated by a large vertical infotainment touchscreen. The flatter dashboard and embossed hexagonal pattern added modernity, complemented by a digital instrument panel exclusive to the Hybrid model. While the cabin featured hard plastics, areas frequently touched were covered with soft-touch materials. The rear seats prioritized durability, while the front seats offered ample cushioning and support for long journeys. Heated outboard rear seats and effective ventilation enhanced comfort, making the Forester Hybrid a practical choice for various driving conditions.

The 2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid featured a powertrain similar to the Kia Sorento Hybrid, combining a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a single electric motor attached to a six-speed automatic transmission. This setup delivered a total system output of 242 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque. In comparison, the non-hybrid Carnival's V6 engine produced 287 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. Both hybrid and non-hybrid models were front-wheel drive, with the Carnival Hybrid offering a competitive alternative to other hybrid minivans like the Toyota Sienna and Chrysler Pacifica.

During test drives, the Carnival Hybrid exhibited similar thrust to the V6 model, with noticeable electric motor torque off the line. However, acceleration dipped slightly before the turbocharger boost kicked in. The turbo-four engine worked hard on steeper inclines, raising concerns about its 1,360-kilogram towing capacity. The Carnival Hybrid featured three levels of regenerative braking, allowing drivers to recharge the battery on long descents. The vehicle's steering and suspension provided a comfortable and controlled ride, even with larger 20-inch wheels. The Carnival Hybrid was impressively quiet, though the four-cylinder engine's exhaust note lacked the V6's pleasant tone.

The 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid was powered by a 2.5-litre horizontally opposed flat four-cylinder "boxer" engine, adapted for hybrid start/stop cycles. The parallel hybrid system employed two motor/generators, producing a combined 194 horsepower, surpassing the standard Forester's 180 hp. The Forester Hybrid's all-wheel drive system, using a traditional driveshaft, offered better traction and consistent off-road performance compared to Toyota's separate electric motor setup.

While acceleration was adequate, the hybrid transmission made the Forester feel slower than it was, with the engine emitting a monotone groan at higher speeds. The hybrid system operated smoothly, with seamless transitions between electric and engine power. The brakes maintained consistency, whether using regenerative braking or physical pads. On twisty roads, the Forester Hybrid tracked predictably, though body roll discouraged sporty driving. The ride quality was firmer than expected, but small bumps were well absorbed. Off-road, the Forester Hybrid excelled with its X-Mode drive programming and hill descent control, offering a balanced performance for both urban and adventurous drivers.

The 2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid retained the non-hybrid model's eight-passenger seating, with sliding and removable second-row seats and fold-flat third-row seats. VIP Lounge Seats, available in higher trims, offered reclining captain's chairs with leg rests, heating, and ventilation. However, these seats were not removable, limiting access to the third row. Interior dimensions remained consistent with the non-hybrid model, providing ample headroom and legroom across all three rows. The Carnival Hybrid boasted 1,138 litres of cargo space behind the third row and 4,108 litres with both the second and third rows folded, leading the segment in cargo capacity.

Inside, the Carnival Hybrid featured a rotary shifter and retained a functional centre console and dashboard layout. Drive mode and front-seat heating and ventilation controls were easily accessible, and the console and touchscreen were within reach from the driver's seat. The dashboard design allowed for comfortable wrist support while using the touchscreen, enhancing the overall user experience.

The 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid offered an unobstructed forward view from the driver's seat, thanks to thinner front roof pillars. The cockpit felt open and airy, with ample space for various body types. Rear seats provided generous legroom and headroom, complemented by a standard panoramic sunroof that enhanced the sense of openness. A wireless charging pad was standard, though its hard plastic surface allowed phones to slide during turns. Storage options included moderately sized cup holders, a deep centre armrest bin, and medium-sized door pockets. Rear passengers had access to USB-A and USB-C charge ports and air vents, though separate temperature controls were absent.

The Forester Hybrid offered 779 litres of cargo space, comparable to most Forester trims but less than some rivals. The upright tail design allowed for bulkier items, and a hands-free power liftgate and power remote seatback releases facilitated loading. Handy hooks kept groceries secure during transit, enhancing the vehicle's practicality.

The 2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, replacing the previous 8-inch screen. It offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, though the switchgear's changing functions could be confusing. SX+ models included a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Bluetooth connectivity, and over-the-air updates. A voice recognition system was available but required manual activation. The hybrid also included USB ports in all three rows and a power outlet in the cargo area for SX+ models. Notable tech options included an 11-inch head-up display, digital key functionality, a 12-speaker Bose audio system, and an in-cabin camera and intercom.

The 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid came with an 11.6-inch vertical infotainment touchscreen with built-in navigation, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Starlink infotainment system featured large on-screen buttons and intuitive menus, with climate controls anchored at the bottom. Physical buttons flanking the screen allowed for easy temperature adjustments. The X-Mode off-road drive menu was accessible by swiping the top section of the screen, offering simple terrain-related controls. External camera views aided off-roading, with a front camera showing the terrain ahead. The Forester Hybrid also included an 11-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system.

The 2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid's safety ratings were unavailable at the time of publication, but the 2024 model received mixed crash-test ratings from the IIHS and was unrated by the NHTSA. The Carnival Hybrid retained its comprehensive array of driver aids, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, a driver attention monitor, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality. The SX+ trim featured a 360-degree camera system and blind-spot camera system, enhancing safety and visibility.

The 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid earned five stars in NHTSA crash tests, except for rollover protection, where it received four stars. The IIHS awarded the non-hybrid model top scores in most categories, earning it a Top Safety Pick award. All Forester models came standard with Subaru's EyeSight suite of advanced safety features, including frontal collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, and lane-keep assist. The top-trim Forester Hybrid included additional features like rear automatic braking, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a driver attention monitor, and a surround-view monitor. The adaptive cruise control system operated smoothly, and the lane-keep assist's audible alarm could be disabled in favour of visual warnings.