Kia is bringing a Dark Edition package to the two highest Carnival trims for 2027, and the choice between them comes down to what happens in the second row. The SX Dark Edition keeps a bench and seats eight, while the SX+ Dark Edition swaps that bench for VIP lounge captain’s chairs and seats seven. Both ride on 19-inch black alloy wheels with 235/55R19 tires, and both receive gunmetal-finish bumper trim, mouldings, roof rails, door garnish and skid plates. They also share a dual power-opening sunroof, twin 12.3-inch displays, an 11-inch head-up display, Highway Driving Assist 2, Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist 2.0 and Kia Connect with over-the-air updates.
Cargo room is identical at 4,110 L with the rear seats folded, and so are the engine choices. The 3.5L V6 produces 288 hp through an 8-speed automatic and is rated at 11.3 L/100 km combined. The hybrid pairs a turbocharged 1.6L four-cylinder with a 72 hp electric motor for 242 hp combined through a 6-speed automatic, and it brings combined consumption down to 7.2 L/100 km. Both send power to the front wheels and run on regular fuel. Families who fill every seat should look at the SX; families who carry adults in the middle row on longer drives should look at the SX+.
- Count how many trips each month genuinely require an eighth seat before ruling out the seven-passenger SX+.
- Compare the second rows in person: a heated bench in the SX against power-reclining captain’s chairs with a leg rest, relaxation mode and both heating and ventilation in the SX+.
- Check the measurements that matter to your passengers: second-row legroom is 1,029 mm in the SX and 1,045 mm in the SX+, while third-row legroom is 903 mm and 913 mm respectively.
- Decide between the V6 and the hybrid based on where you drive, since the hybrid’s 6.9 L/100 km city rating is far below the V6’s 12.9 L/100 km.
- Ask North York Kia about arrival timing, because the Dark Edition package is an upcoming addition rather than a vehicle already on the lot.
Minivans win on space but rarely on presence. A factory blacked-out package on the top two Carnival trims gives Toronto families the cargo volume and seating they need without an anonymous look in the driveway.
