2023 Kia Carnival vs 2022 Cadillac XT5

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 presented a unique blend of styling that sat between the futuristic angularity of the Lexus NX and the more traditional aesthetics of the Audi Q5, BMW X3, and Mercedes-Benz GLC. It featured Cadillac’s signature design elements, such as a bold grille, distinctive daytime running lights, and vertical taillights reminiscent of classic Cadillacs. However, this combination resulted in an awkward mix with the XT5’s compact size and tall profile, making it unmistakably a Cadillac, albeit an ungainly one. The Premium Luxury and Sport trims offered different exterior styling cues, with the former showcasing bright chrome for a traditional look and the latter featuring darker trim and a mesh grille for a sportier appearance. The interior, while luxurious with the optional Platinum Package, lacked a strong design theme and brand-specific markers, leaving little to remind occupants they were in a Cadillac.

In contrast, the 2023 Kia Carnival stood out with its distinctive style, unique interior fittings, and impressive technology, setting it apart from typical minivans. The Carnival SX trim, with its high-tech lighting, intricate grille, and decorative roof pillar trim, conveyed an upscale image that often left onlookers curious about its identity. The dual instrumentation and infotainment screens added sophistication, while the dual power sunroofs provided ample natural light. The interior materials were of good quality, preventing the minivan from feeling cheap, and the robust transmission shifter added a sense of quality. However, the black alloy wheels were considered boring and unimaginative. Overall, the Carnival managed to look good while maintaining an upscale image, a remarkable feat for a minivan.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 offered two engine options: a standard 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine on the Luxury and Premium Luxury trims, producing 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, and a 3.6-litre V6 engine standard on the Sport trim and optional on the Premium Luxury, delivering 310 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The V6 engine provided a reasonably quick performance, with smooth and quick shifts from the transmission. The optional Platinum Package included a performance suspension with adaptive dampers, offering a comfortable ride with excellent body control. The steering was well-suited for a luxury vehicle, providing nimbleness without being overly sensitive. The cabin was impressively quiet, enhancing the luxury experience.

The 2023 Kia Carnival was equipped with a 3.5-litre V6 engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission, delivering 290 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. It offered a towing capacity of up to 1,587 kilograms and featured Eco, Normal, Smart, and Sport driving modes. Despite lacking AWD and a hybrid powertrain, the V6 engine provided ample power, even with a full load of passengers. The transmission operated flawlessly, and Sport mode was effective on steep inclines. However, the brakes showed signs of fading during a mountain descent, though they performed well in other driving situations. The Carnival offered a firm, sporty ride quality, with a softer ride when fully loaded. While the Honda Odyssey felt more athletic, the Carnival was more enjoyable to drive than the Chrysler Pacifica or Toyota Sienna.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 offered favourable interior space compared to German luxury crossovers, with more front headroom than the Audi Q5 and Mercedes-Benz GLC, though less than the BMW X3. It provided more legroom in both rows but less front legroom than the Lincoln Corsair. The seats were comfortable but not up to luxury standards, with narrow front seat cushions and insufficient rear seat cushioning. The XT5 boasted 850 litres of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 1,784 litres with them folded, surpassing the Q5, X3, and GLC but falling short of the Infiniti QX50. A hands-free power liftgate was available, and a small cubbyhole below the touchscreen offered additional storage.

The 2023 Kia Carnival defied typical minivan expectations, offering an SUV-like driving experience with a visible hood and lower driving position. It featured three types of upholstery, with genuine leather in the SX trim feeling stiff. The test vehicle had a three-zone automatic climate control system, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. However, the controls for these features were distracting to use while driving. The Carnival SX included VIP Lounge Seats in the second row, which were comfortable but limited cargo space to 2,460 litres and made third-row access challenging. The third-row seat offered adequate legroom and USB ports, while the cargo area provided 1,139 litres of space behind the third row. The Carnival’s maximum cargo space was 4,110 litres with the second-row seats removed, surpassing the Chevrolet Suburban.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. An 8-inch digital instrument cluster and a head-up display were available with the optional Technology Package. While usability was improved, the tech was merely adequate compared to other luxury brands. The touchscreen was easy to navigate, but secondary controls were cumbersome, with a rotary controller and poorly placed capacitive touchpads. The optional Bose Performance Series 14-speaker system provided excellent sound quality, enhanced by the XT5’s quiet interior.

The 2023 Kia Carnival SX boasted 12.3-inch digital instrumentation and infotainment touchscreens under a single glass panel, reminiscent of a Mercedes-Benz. The digital instrumentation featured lush graphics and changed appearance based on the time of day, adding a surprise-and-delight element. The infotainment system included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM, and a three-year Kia Connect subscription. However, the 12-speaker Bose audio system was mediocre. The native voice recognition system was only partly successful, and the climate control system was overly aggressive. Additional tech included Quiet Mode, Passenger Talk, and a passenger view camera.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 came with standard safety features such as forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, park assist, automatic high-beam headlamps, lane-keep assist, and lane-departure warning. The Safety Alert Seat vibrated when a warning system was triggered. Optional packages added adaptive cruise control, enhanced automatic emergency braking, rear automatic braking, rear pedestrian alert, surround-vision camera, night vision, and automatic parking assist. The XT5 received top scores in IIHS crash tests and a five-star overall safety rating from NHTSA, though it had a “Marginal” headlight rating and an “Acceptable” LATCH rating.

The 2023 Kia Carnival offered a range of driver assistance and collision avoidance systems, with features added as you moved up the trim levels. Standard features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. The rear-seat reminder system used ultrasonic sensors to detect movement, alerting the owner if a child or pet was left inside. Adaptive cruise control and Safe Exit Assist were standard from the EX trim, with additional features like Junction Turning Detection and Blind-Spot View Monitor available on higher trims. The Carnival was a Top Safety Pick by IIHS, though standard headlights received a Poor rating. NHTSA had not yet tested the Carnival.