Which hybrid minivan is best? Kia, Toyota tested [Video]

It was a bold move when the current-generation Toyota Sienna debuted five years ago exclusively as a hybrid.

It may have sacrificed acceleration bragging rights to its V6-powered minivan competitors, but its fuel economy smoked them with a 13- to 14-mpg advantage that could translate to nearly US$1,000 in annual fuel savings. Choosing something else could have had big consequences for your budget.

• Top headlines on hybrid vehicles, and all the latest automotive news

The 2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid represents the first time minivan shoppers have had a true “something else” to consider when it comes to a traditional hybrid minivan. (There’s a plug-in-hybrid Chrysler Pacifica, which costs much more.)

The V6-powered Carnival was already a very impressive van, so Edmunds editors decided to compare Kia’s new hybrid minivan to the 2025 Toyota Sienna, which also gets updates, to see which is the best hybrid minivan out there.

Seat versatility and storage

Minivans are …