2023 Toyota Sequoia vs 2022 Kia Carnival

The 2022 Kia Carnival, a fresh addition to the automotive scene, showcased a distinctive design that set it apart from its competitors. Each trim level offered unique styling elements, with the LX and LX+ featuring a standard black grille and 17-inch aluminum wheels. The EX trim elevated the aesthetic with a mirrored grid-pattern grille, 19-inch machined-finish wheels, and simulated leather upholstery. The SX trim further enhanced the interior with real leather, textured metal dashboard trim, and the luxurious VIP Lounge Seats. The Carnival's SUV-inspired design included features like simulated skid plates, a floating roof, and roof rails, contributing to its appealing and upscale appearance.

In contrast, the 2023 Toyota Sequoia made a bold statement with its redesigned exterior, drawing inspiration from the Toyota Tundra pickup truck. The Sequoia's traditional grille and front bumper gave it a more refined look compared to the Tundra's aggressive styling. Inside, the Sequoia shared design elements with the Tundra, featuring an industrial theme with leather, wood, and metallic finishes in the Capstone trim. The 14-inch infotainment system dominated the dashboard, while the cream white-over-black interior added a touch of luxury. Despite its upscale appearance, some materials reminded occupants of its pickup truck origins.

The 2022 Kia Carnival was powered by a 3.5-litre V6 engine, delivering 290 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque to the front wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. It offered a towing capacity of 1,587.5 kilograms (3,500 pounds) but lacked all-wheel drive and electrified powertrain options. The V6 engine provided smooth acceleration, and the automatic transmission operated seamlessly. The Carnival featured Normal, Eco, Sport, and Smart driving modes, with Smart mode being the preferred choice despite occasional delayed downshifts. Fuel efficiency was rated at 10.6 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving, with a tested average of 10.8 L/100 km.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia boasted a hybrid powertrain, combining a twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre V6 engine with a 36-kilowatt electric motor/generator and a 1.87 kilowatt-hour battery pack. This setup produced 437 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque, significantly enhancing towing capacity to 4,137 kilograms (9,120 pounds). The Sequoia's fuel efficiency improved to 11.7 L/100 km in combined driving, with a tested average of 13.2 L/100 km. The SUV offered multiple driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Sport+, but the ride quality varied depending on the mode. The steering was slow, and the regenerative braking system felt unresponsive at times.

The 2022 Kia Carnival excelled in practicality, offering versatile seating configurations and ample cargo space. Most trims featured eight-passenger seating with a flexible second-row bench seat. The SX trim introduced VIP Lounge Seats with power adjustments, heating, ventilation, and Ottoman-style leg rests. While these seats were luxurious, they limited cargo capacity. The Carnival's rear cargo area provided 1,139 litres of space 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, surpassing many competitors.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia offered a comfortable cabin with features like leather upholstery, a JBL audio system, and a triple-zone climate control system. However, the second-row captain's chairs lacked sliding functionality, limiting third-row legroom. The third-row seat, positioned above the battery pack, had limited comfort and legroom. Cargo capacity was compromised by the hybrid powertrain, with only 325 litres behind the third-row seat, expandable to 1,387 litres with the third-row seats folded. The Sequoia's maximum cargo capacity was 2,460 litres, significantly less than its predecessor and competitors.

The 2022 Kia Carnival featured a range of technology options, starting with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system on the LX trim. Higher trims offered a 12.3-inch widescreen infotainment system with HD Radio, SiriusXM, voice recognition, and UVO Link connected services. The EX+ and SX trims included a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12-speaker Bose audio system. The technology was generally intuitive, but a comprehensive guide was recommended for setup and usage.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia came equipped with the Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system, featuring an 8-inch touchscreen on the base trim and a 14-inch touchscreen on higher trims. The system supported wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with connected services offering user accounts and an Intelligent Assistant. The Capstone trim included a 10-inch head-up display and a surround-view camera system. However, the system had some quirks, such as glare on the display and occasional issues with Bluetooth pairing.

The 2022 Kia Carnival offered a comprehensive suite of safety features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and rear parking sensors. Higher trims added features like blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control. The Carnival also included an ultrasonic rear occupant alert system and Safe Exit Assist. The IIHS awarded the Carnival a Top Safety Pick rating.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5, which included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Additional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and parking sensors with automatic braking. While crash test ratings were not available, the Sequoia's platform shared with the Tundra received high ratings from the IIHS.