2022 Kia Carnival vs 2023 Genesis GV70

The 2022 Kia Carnival, a fresh addition to the minivan segment, showcased a distinctive design that set it apart from its competitors. The LX and LX+ trims featured a standard black grille and 17-inch aluminum wheels, while the EX trim offered a more refined look with a mirrored grid-pattern grille, 19-inch machined-finish wheels, and simulated leather. The SX trim added black wheels, textured metal dashboard trim, and real leather, with VIP Lounge Seats as a standout feature. The Carnival's SUV-inspired styling included simulated skid plates, a floating roof design, and roof rails, giving it a robust appearance. Despite the visible sliding door tracks, Kia cleverly integrated them with character lines, maintaining the vehicle's crossover-like appeal. Inside, the Carnival continued the SUV theme with a stylish dashboard and centre console, offering an upscale feel even in the base trim.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 drew design inspiration from the G70 compact luxury sedan, evident in its split-bar headlights and chrome line that visually connected it to its sedan counterpart. The GV70's interior was a testament to luxury, featuring top-notch materials and a contemporary yet classic design. The climate controls were seamlessly integrated into a curving bezel, and the touchscreen rose organically from the dash. The GV70's dash included a full touchscreen backed by a rotary dial and button controls, offering a user-friendly experience. The GV70 was available in five trims in Canada, with the 2.5T and 3.5T powertrains, and an Electrified GV70 model. Each trim level offered a range of features, from power-adjustable seats and a panoramic sunroof to advanced audio systems and smart parking assist, ensuring a luxurious driving experience.

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 driving the front wheels. It lacked all-wheel drive and electrified powertrain options, but offered a towing capacity of 1,587.5 kilograms. The V6 engine provided smooth and steady acceleration, with the automatic transmission operating unobtrusively. The Carnival featured Normal, Eco, Sport, and Smart driving modes, with Smart mode being the most commonly used. However, it exhibited delayed downshift responses, particularly noticeable when cornering or ascending hills. The Carnival's fuel consumption was rated at 10.6 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving, with a tested average of 10.8 L/100 km. The front-wheel-drive Carnival felt taut and athletic, with a flat cornering stance, though it could feel stiff over uneven surfaces.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 offered two engine options: a turbocharged 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 300 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque, and a twin-turbo 3.5-litre V6 engine generating 375 horsepower and 391 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. The turbo-four provided ample power for most driving situations, while the V6 catered to performance enthusiasts with its extra grunt and throaty engine note. The GV70 balanced comfort and sharp handling, offering a refined driving experience. The Electrified GV70 featured a 77.4-kWh battery pack powering two electric motors, delivering a combined 429 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque. It offered a range of 383 kilometres and could fast charge from 10 to 80 percent in 18 minutes. The electric GV70 maintained well-rounded handling, leaning slightly towards comfort.

The 2022 Kia Carnival, a practical minivan, offered eight-passenger seating on most trims in Canada, with a versatile second-row bench seat. The SX trim featured power-adjustable, heated, and ventilated VIP Lounge Seats with Ottoman-style leg rests, providing a luxurious experience. However, these seats limited maximum cargo volume as they couldn't be removed or folded flat. The third-row seat offered suitable comfort for adults and ample space for kids, with a large cargo area behind it. The Carnival's smart hands-free power-sliding side doors and liftgate had pros and cons, with the liftgate opening automatically when standing nearby. The Carnival provided 1,139 litres of cargo volume behind the third-row seat, expandable to 2,460 litres with the third-row seats folded. Removing the second-row seats increased cargo volume to 4,110 litres, though re-installing them required care and patience.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 offered 1,611 litres of cargo space with the rear seats folded, and 818 litres with the seats in use, making it competitive in the compact luxury SUV segment. The GV70 featured a hands-free power liftgate, large cupholders in the centre console, and a retractable lid tray. Front-seat occupants found it easy to adjust to a comfortable seating position, while rear-seat legroom was tighter, requiring front-row occupants to slide their seats forward. The rear bench reclined for added comfort, though it was necessary to find a suitable seating position.

The 2022 Kia Carnival's LX trim featured traditional analog gauges, an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto connectivity. Starting with EX+ trim, the Carnival offered 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 a Passenger View camera. The EX+ and SX trims featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, with the SX trim adding a 12-speaker Bose surround-sound audio system. Kia provided a quick reference guide for the technology, emphasizing the importance of familiarizing oneself with the features.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 came standard with a 14.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system, navigation, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The touchscreen was user-friendly, with large icons and logical menu navigation. The GV70 also featured a rotary dial for scrolling and selecting, though its proximity to the rotary shifter could cause confusion. The GV70 included four USB ports, wireless device charging, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and a nine-speaker stereo system. Available features included ambient lighting, a digital instrument panel, a Lexicon 18-speaker audio system, and the Genesis digital key.

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 with stop-and-go capability. The Carnival featured an ultrasonic rear occupant alert system and Safe Exit Assist on EX and higher trims. The EX+ trim included a surround-view camera system and a Blind View Monitor. The 2022 Kia Carnival received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 provided a full suite of safety features and driver-assistance technology, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, driver attention monitoring, blind-spot monitoring, and highway driving assist. The 2.5T Advance Plus added a blind-spot camera system and a 360-degree parking camera system, while the Prestige grade included reverse automatic emergency braking. The Electrified GV70 came standard with much of this equipment. The Genesis GV70 received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.