2022 Kia Carnival vs 2022 Buick Enclave

The 2022 Kia Carnival, a fresh addition to the automotive scene, distinguished itself with unique design elements across its various trims. The LX and LX+ trims featured a standard black grille and 17-inch aluminum wheels, while the EX trim offered a more sophisticated look with a mirrored grid-pattern grille, 19-inch machined-finish wheels, and simulated leather upholstery. The SX trim added black wheels, textured metal dashboard trim, and real leather, along with the luxurious VIP Lounge Seats. The Carnival's SUV-inspired design included features like simulated skid plates, a floating roof, and roof rails, giving it a robust appearance. Despite the visible sliding door tracks, Kia cleverly integrated them into the vehicle's character lines, maintaining a sleek look. The Carnival's design was praised for its sharp angles and conservative taste, setting it apart from competitors like the Chrysler Pacifica, Honda Odyssey, and Toyota Sienna.

Inside, the Carnival continued the SUV theme with a dashboard and centre console reminiscent of a crossover. This approach, combined with Kia's attention to style, gave the Carnival an upscale feel even in its base trim. The interior was designed to be practical yet stylish, offering a comfortable and visually appealing environment for front-seat occupants.

In contrast, the 2022 Buick Enclave embraced a more conservative design approach, reflecting its traditional customer base. However, over the years, Buick transitioned to an SUV-focused lineup, aligning with market trends. The Enclave, a three-row crossover SUV, received a mid-cycle refresh for 2022, featuring exterior enhancements like a new grille, fascias, and wheel designs. The Avenir trim boasted unique styling elements, including a distinctive grille and 20-inch wheels. Inside, the Enclave's centre console was redesigned with push-button gears and upgraded materials. The Avenir trim offered climate-controlled front seats, heated second-row captain's chairs, and a split sunroof. The Enclave's interior was spacious, with comfortable seating for six adults, and the Avenir trim added a touch of luxury with exclusive seat patterns and piping.

The 2022 Kia Carnival was equipped with a 3.5-litre V6 engine, delivering 290 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It offered front-wheel drive, with no all-wheel drive or electrified options. The Carnival's towing capacity was 1,587.5 kilograms. The V6 engine provided smooth and steady acceleration, while the automatic transmission operated seamlessly. The Carnival featured Normal, Eco, Sport, and Smart driving modes, with Smart mode being the most commonly used. However, it occasionally exhibited delayed downshift responses, particularly on hills. The Carnival's fuel efficiency was rated at 10.6 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving, and it averaged 10.8 L/100 km during testing. The front-wheel-drive Carnival felt agile and athletic, with a flat cornering stance, although it could be stiff over uneven surfaces.

The 2022 Buick Enclave featured a 3.6-litre V6 engine with direct injection, producing 310 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque. It came with a nine-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive in Canada. The Enclave's towing capacity was 2,268 kilograms. Known for its quiet and smooth ride, the Enclave excelled in providing a premium driving experience. The Avenir Technology package enhanced the ride with a premium suspension and real-time chassis damping. The Enclave handled various terrains with ease, offering a serene cabin environment thanks to Buick's QuietTuning and active noise cancellation technology. Despite its size, the Enclave's powertrain was responsive, delivering good acceleration. The nine-speed automatic transmission performed flawlessly, and the engine produced pleasant sounds under wide-open throttle. While not designed for off-road adventures, the Enclave's AWD and ground clearance made it capable of handling light trails and wintry conditions.

The 2022 Kia Carnival, a practical minivan with SUV styling, offered versatile seating and cargo options. Most trims in Canada featured eight-passenger seating with a second-row bench seat. The middle seat could slide forward or backward, fold flat, or be removed for added flexibility. The SX trim included VIP Lounge Seats with power adjustments, heating, ventilation, and Ottoman-style leg rests. These seats were a standout feature, although they limited cargo space and headroom. The Carnival's third-row seat was comfortable for adults, and the rear cargo area provided ample space. The smart hands-free power-sliding side doors and liftgate had pros and cons, with the liftgate opening automatically when needed. The Carnival offered 1,139 litres of cargo space behind the third row, expandable to 2,460 litres with the third-row seats folded. Removing the second-row seats increased cargo volume to 4,110 litres, surpassing even a Chevy Suburban.

The 2022 Buick Enclave provided easy ingress and egress, with excellent visibility and comfortable seating. All Enclaves came with power-adjustable front seats, tri-zone climate control, and rear-seat climate controls. The spacious cabin accommodated passengers in all three rows, with ample headroom, legroom, and shoulder room. The third row was suitable for adults, and the second-row captain's chairs facilitated access. The restyled centre console featured push-button transmission gears, cupholders, and USB ports. The Enclave offered 668 litres of cargo space behind the third row, expandable to 1,634 litres with the third row folded, and 2,758 litres with both rows folded. Power-folding third-row seats added convenience.

The 2022 Kia Carnival's technology offerings varied by trim. The LX trim featured analog gauges, an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and six speakers. Starting with EX+ trim, the Carnival boasted a 12.3-inch widescreen infotainment system with HD Radio, SiriusXM, voice recognition, and UVO Link connected services. It also included navigation, wireless smartphone charging, and eight speakers. The EX+ and SX trims featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, while the SX trim added a 12-speaker Bose audio system. The Carnival's technology was intuitive, but a quick reference guide was recommended for setup.

The 2022 Buick Enclave featured a standard 4.2-inch driver information centre, with Premium and Avenir trims offering an 8-inch reconfigurable version. The Essence trim included an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and wireless phone charging. Premium and Avenir trims added navigation. The Enclave's infotainment system supported up to 10 devices, with a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot. The Premium and Avenir trims featured a 10-speaker Bose audio system, although more power was desired. The Enclave included SiriusXM 360L, six USB ports, and various safety features like adaptive cruise control, head-up display, and HD surround vision.

The 2022 Kia Carnival offered a comprehensive suite of safety features and advanced driving assistance systems. Standard equipment included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure and keeping assistance, and rear parking sensors. The EX trim added front parking sensors, active blind-spot and rear cross-traffic warning, and adaptive cruise control. The Carnival featured an ultrasonic rear occupant alert system and Safe Exit Assist. The EX+ trim included a surround-view camera system and a Blind View Monitor. The IIHS awarded the Carnival a Top Safety Pick rating.

The 2022 Buick Enclave made significant updates to its driver-assist and safety tech. The Buick Driver Confidence Plus package became standard, including automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, lane-change alert, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, and more. Premium trim added enhanced automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, a surround-view camera, and rear pedestrian alert. The NHTSA gave the Enclave a five-star overall safety rating, while the IIHS rated it "Good" in most crash tests, with an "Acceptable" score in the updated side-impact test.