2021 Toyota Sequoia vs 2022 Kia Carnival

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia, despite its attempts to stay modern with a 2018 facelift, still showed its age. The subtle updates to the headlights and grille were overshadowed by its large, imposing silhouette. Inside, the Sequoia's design was reminiscent of the mid-2000s, with a massive, multi-tiered center dash and a standard 7-inch touchscreen that seemed small against the expansive dashboard. The front seats, though bulky and comfortable, left tall drivers feeling cramped, especially with the optional sunroof. However, the second-row seats offered ample headroom and legroom, providing a more spacious experience.

In contrast, the 2022 Kia Carnival presented a fresh and unique design across its trims. The LX trim featured a standard grille and silver-painted 17-inch wheels, while the EX trim offered a more sophisticated look with 19-inch machined-finish wheels and simulated open-pore wood trim. The SX trim introduced a mirrored grid-pattern grille and black wheels, appealing to modern tastes. The SX Prestige trim focused on interior luxury with real leather and VIP Lounge Seats. The Carnival's SUV styling, with its floating roof design and robust roof-rack, gave it a distinctive appearance. Despite the visible sliding door tracks, the Carnival's design was sharp and angular, setting it apart from competitors like the Chrysler Pacifica and Honda Odyssey.

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia was powered by a robust 5.7-liter V8 engine, delivering 381 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, provided strong acceleration, even for an SUV weighing up to 6,000 pounds. The Sequoia's driving dynamics were reminiscent of a truck, with a soft suspension and powerful brakes. However, it did experience some body-roll in corners. The Sequoia's towing capacity was 7,400 pounds, which was less than competitors like the Ford Expedition and Nissan Armada.

The 2022 Kia Carnival featured a new 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 290 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, driving the front wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Carnival offered smooth and steady acceleration, with driving modes including Normal, Eco, Sport, and Smart. The Smart mode occasionally had delayed downshift responses, particularly on hills, but Sport mode helped mitigate this issue. The Carnival's fuel economy was rated at 22 mpg combined, with a tested average of 21.7 mpg. The front-wheel-drive Carnival felt athletic, with a flat cornering stance, though it could feel stiff over uneven surfaces. Its towing capacity was 3,500 pounds.

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia boasted a spacious cabin, with nearly 19 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row and over 66 cubic feet with the third row folded. With all rear seats folded, it offered 120 cubic feet of cargo space. The Sequoia's power-retractable rear window was a unique feature, allowing easy access to the cargo area. Despite its age, the Sequoia provided ample storage with deep in-door pockets and a massive center console.

The 2022 Kia Carnival, designed with practicality in mind, offered various seating configurations. The LX trim featured captain's chairs with a center pass-through, while the LX Seat Package added a middle seat for flexible arrangements. The EX and SX trims shared the 8-passenger Slide Flex seat configuration. The SX Prestige trim included power-adjustable VIP Lounge Seats with an Ottoman-style leg rest. The Carnival's cargo space was impressive, with 40.2 cubic feet behind the third row and 86.9 cubic feet with the third row folded. Removing the second-row seats in certain trims expanded the cargo volume to 145.1 cubic feet.

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia came with a standard 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, featuring Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and a WiFi hotspot. The system was user-friendly, with simple menu navigation and large hard buttons. The digital trip computer was small but functional, offering a straightforward experience.

The 2022 Kia Carnival's technology varied by trim. The LX trim included analog gauges, an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and six speakers. The EX trim upgraded to a 12.3-inch widescreen infotainment system with wired smartphone connectivity, HD Radio, SiriusXM, and more. Features like Passenger View and Passenger Talk enhanced communication within the vehicle. The SX trim added a dual-screen rear entertainment system, while the SX Prestige trim included 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 technology.

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia was equipped with the Toyota Safety Sense-P suite, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and automatic high beams. It also featured blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and parking sensors. However, it lacked more advanced tech like lane-keeping assist. The Sequoia scored four out of five stars in the NHTSA's rollover test.

The 2022 Kia Carnival offered a comprehensive list of advanced driving assistance systems. Standard features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, active blind-spot and rear cross-traffic warning, lane-departure and -keeping assistance, and rear parking sensors. The EX trim added front parking sensors, cyclist detection, and Highway Driving Assist. The Carnival also featured an ultrasonic rear occupant alert system and Safe Exit Assist. The SX trim included a surround-view camera system, while the SX Prestige offered a Blind View Monitor. Crash-test results were unavailable at the time of review.