2021 Subaru Crosstrek vs 2022 Kia Carnival

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek was a clever adaptation of the Impreza hatchback, designed to appeal to the growing market for crossovers. It featured rugged looks, standard all-wheel drive, and a higher driving position, which gave it an SUV-like character. The Crosstrek stood out visually with black body cladding, model-specific 17-inch wheels, and a taller ride height, offering 8.7 inches of ground clearance. This design allowed it to mimic an SUV's appearance while maintaining the Impreza's core attributes. The interior, though functional, was somewhat plain, with the Sport trim adding some vibrant but clashing accents. Despite its SUV-like stance, the Crosstrek retained the Impreza's platform, ensuring a refined driving experience.

In contrast, the 2022 Kia Carnival embraced a unique design approach, setting itself apart with distinct trim-specific elements. The Carnival's exterior featured SUV styling cues, such as simulated skid plates and a floating roof design. The interior was upscale, with the SX Prestige trim offering luxurious VIP Lounge Seats. The Carnival's design was angular and tastefully conservative, making it a standout in its segment. The dashboard and center console followed an SUV theme, providing a stylish and practical layout. The Carnival's interior configurations were versatile, with options for captain's chairs or an 8-passenger Slide Flex seat configuration, catering to various family needs.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek offered two gasoline powertrain options. The Sport and Limited trims featured a 2.5-liter boxer-four engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque, while the Base and Premium trims retained the 2.0-liter engine with 152 hp and 145 lb-ft of torque. The Crosstrek's boxer engine, a Subaru trademark, provided a lower center of gravity, enhancing handling. A six-speed manual transmission was standard on Base and Premium trims, with a CVT available as an option. All trim levels came with standard AWD, featuring torque vectoring and X-Mode for improved traction on loose surfaces. Despite its SUV-like appearance, the Crosstrek was more suited for on-road driving, offering predictable handling and a comfortable ride.

The 2022 Kia Carnival was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 290 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque to the front wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Carnival lacked all-wheel drive and electrified powertrain options but offered a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds. The V6 engine provided smooth and effortless acceleration, while the automatic transmission operated unobtrusively. The Carnival featured multiple driving modes, with Smart mode being the most commonly used. However, some delayed downshift responses were noted in certain driving conditions. The Carnival's fuel economy was rated at 22 mpg combined, with a tested average of 21.7 mpg. Dynamically, the Carnival felt taut and athletic, with a flat cornering stance, although it could feel stiff over uneven surfaces.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek shared its interior dimensions with the Impreza hatchback, offering the same front and rear legroom. It had slightly more rear headroom and provided 20.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place, expanding to 55.3 cubic feet with the seats folded. While competitive in passenger space, the Crosstrek lagged behind some rivals in cargo capacity. It featured a rear-seat reminder system and a functional front cubby with USB and auxiliary ports. However, storage space was limited, and the driving position, though higher than the Impreza's, didn't offer the commanding view of traditional SUVs.

The 2022 Kia Carnival excelled in practicality, with a versatile interior layout. The LX trim featured captain's chairs with a center pass-through, while the LX Seat Package added a middle second-row seat for increased flexibility. The EX and SX trims offered an 8-passenger Slide Flex seat configuration, and the SX Prestige trim boasted power-adjustable VIP Lounge Seats. The Carnival's third-row seat was comfortable for adults, and the rear cargo area provided ample space, with 40.2 cubic feet behind the third row. Folding the third-row seats expanded cargo capacity to 86.9 cubic feet, and removing the second-row seats created a cavernous 145.1 cubic feet of space. The Carnival's smart hands-free power-sliding doors and liftgate added convenience, although they could be inadvertently activated.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek featured Subaru's Starlink infotainment system, with a standard 6.5-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility, and Bluetooth. Premium and Sport trims added WiFi, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a single-disc CD player. An 8-inch touchscreen with navigation was standard on the Limited trim and optional on lower trims. The Crosstrek's infotainment system was user-friendly, with large analog knobs and buttons for essential functions. EyeSight driver-assistance features were controlled via chunky steering wheel buttons, enhancing safety.

The 2022 Kia Carnival offered a range of technology features. The LX trim included analog gauges, an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and six speakers. Starting with EX trim, the Carnival featured a 12.3-inch widescreen infotainment system with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, HD Radio, SiriusXM satellite radio, and navigation. The Carnival also included Passenger View and Passenger Talk features, enhancing communication within the vehicle. SX trim added a dual-screen rear entertainment system with touchscreen control and device mirroring. The SX Prestige trim featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display and a 12-speaker Bose audio system. Kia provided a comprehensive quick reference guide to help users navigate the Carnival's extensive technology offerings.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with five stars in side crash tests and four stars in frontal and rollover crash tests. The IIHS awarded the 2020 model a "Top Safety Pick" rating, contingent on optional EyeSight driver-assist features and Steering Responsive Headlights. EyeSight included adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and more. However, the system's cameras could be obstructed by windshield wipers or direct sunlight, limiting functionality.

The 2022 Kia Carnival boasted an extensive list of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS). Standard features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic warning. EX trim added front parking sensors, cyclist detection, and navigation-based adaptive cruise control. The Carnival's Highway Driving Assist (HDA) system provided Level 2 driving aid, although it was found to be less effective in this evaluation. The Carnival also featured an ultrasonic rear occupant alert system and Safe Exit Assist. SX trim included a surround-view camera system, while SX Prestige offered a Blind View Monitor. Crash-test results were unavailable at the time of review.