2023 Kia Carnival vs 2022 Hyundai Kona

The 2022 Hyundai Kona received a significant makeover, enhancing its overall sophistication. The vehicle was extended by 4 centimetres compared to the 2021 model, and featured a revised grille, front and rear fascias, and enhanced LED lighting. The sporty new character lines, contrasted by lower body cladding, gave the Kona a more refined appearance. New alloy wheel designs completed the exterior styling changes. Inside, the instrument panel and centre console were separated to emphasize a more horizontal layout, creating a wider, more spacious look. Ambient lighting for the front cupholders and footwells added a touch of sophistication. The introduction of the sporty N Line and Kona N trims brought unique styling elements, including body-colour cladding and rocker panels, and new wheel designs. The Kona N Line featured exclusive black seats with red stitching, a black headliner, and alloy sport pedals, while the Kona N raised the sport quotient with wide fenders, 19-inch alloy wheels, and N sport bucket seats.

The 2023 Kia Carnival distinguished itself with a unique sense of style and impressive technology. The Carnival SX trim, with its extra-cost Storm Blue paint, conveyed an upscale image. High-tech front and rear lighting, an intricate grille, and decorative roof pillar trim contributed to its attractive appearance. Inside, dual instrumentation and infotainment screens added sophistication, while dual power sunroofs provided ample natural light. The interior materials were of high quality, preventing the minivan from feeling cheap. The robust transmission shifter's solid action imparted a sense of quality. However, the black alloy wheels were considered boring and unimaginative. The Carnival's interior was designed to resemble an SUV, with a lower driving position and a centre console similar to those found in SUVs. The SX trim featured genuine leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel, although the controls for these features were somewhat distracting to use.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona offered a variety of engines and transmissions, catering to different performance preferences. The Essential and Preferred trims featured a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT. The N Line trim boasted a turbocharged 1.6-litre engine with 195 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, coupled with a seven-speed DCT. The Kona N, with its turbocharged 2.0-litre engine, delivered 276 horsepower and 289 pound-feet of torque, paired with an N eight-speed wet DCT. The Kona N featured exclusive driving features like N Grin Shift and N Track Sense Shift, along with performance enhancements such as launch control and high-performance brakes. Our test vehicle, a Kona N Line with the 1.6-litre engine and AWD, provided ample power and was enjoyable to drive. The Kona's handling was composed, with a low centre of gravity contributing to its surefootedness.

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. The Carnival's powertrain provided a towing capacity of up to 1,587 kilograms. The minivan offered Eco, Normal, Smart, and Sport driving modes. Despite lacking AWD and a hybrid powertrain, the V6 engine supplied ample power, even with a full load of passengers. The transmission operated flawlessly, and Sport mode was effective on steep inclines. However, the brakes experienced fade during a mountain descent, although this was a one-time issue. The Carnival's ride quality was firm and sporty with a single occupant, while a full load resulted in a softer ride. The minivan was satisfying to drive, although the Honda Odyssey was noted to be more athletic.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona, while compact, offered ample headroom and legroom for front-seat occupants. The N Line's front seats provided excellent support during spirited driving. However, rear-seat occupants faced challenges, with small door openings and compromised head- and legroom. The Kona's cargo space was limited, with 544 litres available with all seats up, expanding to 1,296 litres with the rear seats folded. Towing was not recommended for the Kona.

The 2023 Kia Carnival's interior resembled an SUV, with a lower driving position and a centre console similar to those found in SUVs. The Carnival offered three types of upholstery, with the SX trim featuring genuine leather. The minivan's three-zone automatic climate control system included heated and ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel. The Carnival's second-row VIP Lounge Seats, available in the SX trim, provided luxury but limited cargo space to 2,460 litres. The third-row seat offered adequate legroom, and the Carnival's cargo capacity was impressive, with 1,139 litres available behind the third row. The maximum cargo space, with the second-row seats removed, was 4,110 litres.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona featured an 8-inch display with Bluetooth connectivity as standard, with SiriusXM and Hyundai BlueLink available on higher trims. The Kona N and N Line with the Ultimate Package offered a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation and an eight-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were standard with the base screen, while the larger screen required wired connections. The Kona's infotainment system was intuitive, and Hyundai BlueLink provided connected services for three years.

The 2023 Kia Carnival SX featured 12.3-inch digital instrumentation and infotainment touchscreens, similar to a Mercedes-Benz. The digital instrumentation impressed with its graphics and imagery, while the infotainment system included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a three-year Kia Connect subscription. The 12-speaker Bose audio system was deemed mediocre. Additional tech included Quiet Mode, Passenger Talk, and a passenger view camera. The Kia Connect subscription was inactive during testing, limiting voice recognition capabilities.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona offered standard safety features such as automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance, and rear occupant alert. Available technologies included adaptive cruise control and blind-spot warning. The Kona received five stars from the NHTSA for overall crash protection and "Good" ratings from the IIHS in all crashworthiness tests. The Kona's forward collision-avoidance system received a "Superior" rating for vehicle-to-vehicle protection.

The 2023 Kia Carnival featured a range of driver assistance systems, with forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist standard on all trims. The Carnival's rear-seat reminder system used ultrasonic sensors to detect movement, while adaptive cruise control and Safe Exit Assist were standard from the EX trim. The Carnival received a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS, although the standard headlights received a Poor rating.