2022 Kia Carnival vs 2022 Honda Odyssey

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was a minivan that offered practicality and convenience for families, with its sliding side doors providing easy access in tight parking spaces. Its design, while adhering to the traditional minivan aesthetic, featured kinked sliding doors and dramatic character lines, giving it a touch of style. The Touring trim level, with its dark grey 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels, added a sense of sophistication. Inside, the Odyssey boasted a classic open-concept design with quality leather upholstery and a user-friendly centre stack. The expansive windshield and small front quarter windows enhanced visibility, making it a comfortable and functional choice for family travel.

In contrast, the 2022 Kia Carnival presented a fresh take on the minivan segment with its SUV-inspired design elements. Each trim level had unique features, with the EX trim offering a mirrored grid-pattern grille and simulated open-pore wood trim. The SX trim added black wheels and VIP Lounge Seats, elevating the Carnival's appeal. The Carnival's exterior design was sharp and angular, setting it apart from competitors. Inside, the SUV theme continued with a dashboard and centre console reminiscent of a crossover, creating an upscale atmosphere. The Carnival's design was widely regarded as the best in its segment, combining practicality with a modern aesthetic.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was equipped with a 3.5-litre V6 engine producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. It was a front-wheel-drive vehicle, lacking all-wheel drive or electrified powertrain options. The Odyssey's fuel consumption was estimated at 10.6 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving. While it didn't offer the hybrid options of some competitors, the Odyssey was enjoyable to drive, with responsive handling and quick acceleration. However, its brakes tended to heat up during downhill driving, leading to pedal vibration and audible grumbling.

The 2022 Kia Carnival featured a new 3.5-litre V6 engine delivering 290 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Like the Odyssey, it was front-wheel drive and did not offer all-wheel drive or electrified options. The Carnival's towing capacity was 1,587.5 kilograms. It provided smooth acceleration and a solid driving experience, with various driving modes to suit different preferences. The Carnival's fuel consumption was estimated at 10.6 litres per 100 kilometres, and it averaged 10.8 L/100 km during testing. While it felt athletic and composed, it could be stiff over uneven surfaces.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey offered easy access with wide-opening doors and a lower ride height. Inside, it featured quality leather seats, tri-zone climate control, and ample storage space. The Magic Slide second-row seats allowed for flexible seating arrangements, and the third-row seat was comfortable for adults. The Odyssey provided 929 litres of cargo space behind the third row, expandable to 2,452 litres with the third-row seat folded. Removing the second-row seats created a massive 3,984 litres of cargo space, though the seats were heavy and challenging to reinstall.

The 2022 Kia Carnival prioritized practicality with its SUV-style design. It offered eight-passenger seating with a versatile second-row bench seat. The SX trim featured VIP Lounge Seats with power adjustments and leg rests, adding luxury to the rear seats. The Carnival's third-row seat was spacious, and the rear cargo area provided 1,139 litres of volume. Folding the third-row seats created 2,460 litres of cargo space, and removing the second-row seats expanded it to 4,110 litres. The Carnival's smart hands-free power-sliding doors and liftgate added convenience, though they could be triggered unintentionally.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey Touring was equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, satellite radio, and smartphone connectivity. It included CabinWatch and CabinTalk technology for monitoring and communicating with rear passengers. The rear entertainment system featured a 10.2-inch display, but it was considered outdated. The Odyssey's infotainment system lacked a tuning knob and required specific voice commands for navigation, making it less user-friendly compared to competitors.

The 2022 Kia Carnival offered a range of technology features, starting with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system on the LX trim. Higher trims, like the EX+, featured a 12.3-inch widescreen infotainment system with navigation, wireless charging, and a digital instrument cluster. The SX trim included a 12-speaker Bose audio system. The Carnival's technology was intuitive, but a quick reference guide was recommended for setup. The Passenger View camera and Blind View Monitor added convenience and safety.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey came with Honda Sensing, a suite of safety features including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, and lane-keeping assist. It also had automatic high-beam headlights and a rear-seat reminder system. However, Honda Sensing lacked refinement, with occasional false warnings and abrupt responses. The Odyssey received a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.

The 2022 Kia Carnival offered a comprehensive list of safety features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assistance. It also had a driver monitoring system and rear parking sensors. Higher trims added features like blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and a surround-view camera system. The Carnival's ultrasonic rear occupant alert system and Safe Exit Assist provided additional safety measures. The IIHS awarded the Carnival a Top Safety Pick rating.