2022 Kia Carnival versus 2021 Honda Odyssey

If ever determination was a conveyance conception acceptable for a shake-up, it's the minivans. For 3 years running, Edmunds' experts person considered the Honda Odyssey 1 of the apical rated successful the class. The Odyssey acceptable the minivan barroom precocious with ultimate versatility, car-like driving and thoughtful features. Now there's yet a caller rival successful town: the 2022 Kia Carnival.

This all-new minivan replaces Kia's erstwhile minivan, the Sedona. The Carnival takes the accepted minivan look and infuses it with the luxury-for-less property that is present a Kia conveyance trademark. It besides has immoderate SUV-like styling cues to assistance it basal out. Edmunds compared the Carnival to the Odyssey to spot which is the amended minivan.

ENGINES AND MPG

The V6 motor has go a minivan norm. The Odyssey's V6 produces 280 horsepower and is joined to a 10-speed automatic transmission. Fuel system is estimated by the EPA astatine 22 mpg during combined metropolis and road driving. The Honda is front-wheel-drive only.

The Carnival besides has a V6 engine. It produces 290 horsepower and is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. EPA estimates database the Kia's combined city/highway fuel economy astatine 22 mpg. At this time, the Carnival, too, is front-wheel-drive only.

WINNER: Tie

PRICING AND VALUE

An entry-level 2022 Kia Carnival LX costs $33,275 (including destination). Notable modular instrumentality includes power-sliding doors and an 8-inch touchscreen positive Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration. The Carnival besides comes modular with galore operator assistance technologies specified arsenic lane departure informing and collision mitigation.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey LX starts astatine $34,215 (including destination), a fewer dollars little than the Kia. At this trim level, however, you get lone manual sliding doors and a smaller 5-inch show surface that lacks smartphone integration. Driver assistance tech is akin to the Kia's.

On the afloat loaded broadside of the spectrum, the Kia and Honda tin beryllium equipped with akin tech features—for the astir part. But astatine this level, the $47,770 Carnival SX Prestige has a 12.3-inch infotainment show and lounge chair-like recliners successful the 2nd enactment that the Honda does not offer. The top-tier Odyssey Elite, astatine $49,245, costs much than the Carnival with little style.

Warranty sum is different Kia strength, arsenic its basal and powertrain warranties are considerably longer than Honda's.

WINNER: Carnival

INTERIOR AND TECHNOLOGY

Both minivans tin beryllium had successful seven- and eight-passenger configurations and boast level load floors and disposable rear seats that you tin afloat region if you request the other space. They were intelligibly engineered with adults and children successful mind. While the Odyssey has bully interior materials, the Carnival's consciousness a spot softer and much luxurious.

Technology should besides beryllium a item for the Carnival. It offers a immense touchscreen, crisp graphics, a multitude of parking cameras and more. But it's not each arsenic refined arsenic we expect. Some main compartment controls deficiency a haptic effect erstwhile touched. Voice power prompts aren't intuitive. And the Carnival's operator immunodeficiency don't run arsenic smoothly arsenic those successful different vehicles we've tested.

The Odyssey's superior controls are a substance of easy-to-use buttons and knobs. Our adept sentiment connected minivans is this: Function outweighs form. We'd similar it enactment arsenic expected than beryllium the astir attractive. We springiness the Honda an ever-so-slight triumph here.

WINNER: Odyssey

HOW THEY DRIVE

The Carnival's motor makes much powerfulness than immoderate different successful the minivan conception close now. Yet it's nary quicker than average. The state pedal is simply a small dilatory to respond successful stop-and-go postulation and its brake pedal is delicate astatine archetypal touch. Yet with clip we adjusted to some qualities. The steering is connected par with astir minivans successful the segment.

The Odyssey drives much similar a car than immoderate different minivan. Its steering is precise and it brakes confidently whether the roadworthy is consecutive oregon winding. That doesn't mean that it is sporty. But these characteristics equate to a truly cohesive, casual driving experience. Add its creaseless transmission to the premix and you person a minivan that is enjoyable to drive. Here, this van stands retired from its peers.

How you similar a car to thrust is simply a idiosyncratic feeling. Minivans thin to beryllium much leisurely successful the areas of show and handling. That's normal. If you privation thing a small much engaging to drive, you're going to admit what the Odyssey offers. It is the astir engaging minivan to drive.

WINNER: Odyssey

EDMUNDS SAYS:

The Kia Carnival is simply a benignant and worth leader, yet immoderate of its much interactive exertion performed beneath our expectations. The Odyssey is beardown wide and shines performing the 1 happening we walk astir of the clip doing: driving. This is simply a prime our experts complaint highly. In this examination test, it gives the triumph to the Honda Odyssey.

---

---

© 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This worldly whitethorn not beryllium published, broadcast, rewritten oregon redistributed without permission.