Kia-K5 X

Minivans are without a doubt the most practical family vehicles on the road today, but they don't have the same cool factor that SUVs do, so they often lack the respect they deserve. That's a shame, but Kia has gamed the system with the 2025 Carnival, giving it SUV-inspired styling that serves as suburban camouflage. This clever automotive code-switching helps the Carnival blend in among the hordes of three-row crossovers at the school pickup line—that is until its sliding side doors motor opens to unleash your offspring onto the awaiting faculty. On both long-haul road trips and short errands about town, the 287-hp V-6 engine delivers smooth power and decent fuel economy; all-wheel drive isn't an option here, but we found the Carnival's front-wheel drive layout and a set of snow tires made for excellent winter traction. Interior space is cavernous when compared to three-row SUVs—there's that minivan superiority we were talking about earlier—but the Chrysler Pacifica and the Honda Odyssey are roomier still. The Kia can be had with a set of second-row lounge chairs that make excellent places to park for extended trips, but they can't be removed, which hampers the van's potential as a cargo hauler.