At first glance, you might wonder how an MPV could have so much tow strength. The answer lies in the well-designed and thoughtfully constructed Carnival engine. Beneath the vehicle’s broad, commanding hood, a powerful 3.5-liter V-6 engine pairs with an eight-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive to generate 287 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. While these specs don’t rival those of an HD truck, they’re strong enough to deliver a Kia Carnival towing capability of 3,500 pounds1 and take your jet skis, kayaks, pop-up campers, and small boats anywhere you want to go.

While your MPV is doing the hard work of towing, its cabin can keep all seven or eight passengers comfortable with 40.9 inches of front headroom, 39.5 inches of second-row headroom, and 38.6 inches of headroom for third-row riders, which is more backseat space than many three-row SUVs can offer. The trunk gives you 40.2 cubic feet of storage for smaller items you don’t want on your trailer, too, so packing up for a family trip can be stress-free and relaxing. If you fold the second and third rows down to maximize cargo, you get a whopping 145.1 cubic feet!

Before putting the towing capacity of Kia Carnival models to work, it’s crucial to ensure your minivan is in top towing shape. A healthy car can reach its full towing potential and lower your risk of any incidents on the road. If you’ve never trailered before or it’s been a while and you could use a refresher, these are our team’s top tips for Kia Carnival towing preparation. You can also apply these tips to any tow-rated vehicle in our new Kia inventory:

• Add Your Tow Hitch: For the best and most secure towing performance, it’s important to fit your new minivan with a genuine Kia tow hitch. You can easily add an OEM tow hitch to your Carnival MPV with the Kia Carnival tow package. Our technicians can even install it for you to make sure it’s snugly connected/
• Check Your Van: Fire up your van’s engine and have another adult walk around the outside as you test the brakes and lights. Ensure all four tires are properly inflated, the brakes are strong and reliable, the brake lights are functioning, the headlights and taillights glow brightly, and the mirrors are clean and properly adjusted.
• Pack Your Trailer: Loading a trailer is more than a game of Tetris (though it never hurts to have some skill in this area!). You’ll want to put at least 60% of your equipment’s weight over the front half of your trailer, make sure all weight is evenly distributed between the left and right sides, and double-check your tongue weight once your trailer is full.