2023 Kia Carnival vs 2022 Lincoln Navigator

The 2022 Lincoln Navigator underwent subtle styling changes, including new headlights, taillights, and wheel designs, with a standard 22-inch design in Canada. The front end was restyled, featuring an Audi-esque grille with the Lincoln star and chrome detailing, which some felt reduced the vehicle's elegance and presence. Despite this, the Navigator's updates were largely successful, with the new "single-frame" grille being a minor footnote. Inside, the Navigator dazzled with quality materials and a mid-century modern design, featuring Lincoln's Constellation instrumentation and infotainment display theme. The new Sync 4 infotainment system with a 13.2-inch touchscreen display added to the vehicle's appeal, keeping it competitive in the screen size race.

The 2023 Kia Carnival distinguished itself with a unique sense of style, impressive technology, and upscale image. The Carnival SX trim, with its high-tech front and rear lighting, intricate grille, and decorative roof pillar trim, was particularly attractive. The interior featured dual instrumentation and infotainment screens, standard on the EX+ and SX trims, adding sophistication. The SX trim's dual power sunroofs provided ample natural light, and the flashy dashboard trim mirrored the exterior's appearance. The Carnival's interior materials were of high quality, preventing the minivan from feeling cheap, and the robust transmission shifter added a sense of quality.

The 2022 Lincoln Navigator was powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre V6 engine, delivering 440 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque. It featured a 10-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive in Canada. The Navigator's towing capacity ranged from 3,674 to 3,765 kilograms, depending on wheelbase and drivetrain selections. The adaptive-damping suspension with Road Preview technology and a new electronic brake booster improved ride quality and braking performance. The Navigator's fuel consumption was rated at 13.2 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving, with an observed average of 12.6 L/100 km during testing.

The 2023 Kia Carnival was equipped with a 3.5-litre V6 engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission, providing 290 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. It had a towing capacity of up to 1,587 kilograms and was rated to consume 10.6 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving. The Carnival offered Eco, Normal, Smart, and Sport driving modes. Despite lacking all-wheel drive and a hybrid powertrain, the V6 engine delivered ample power, and the transmission operated smoothly. The brakes performed well in most situations, though they faded during a mountain descent. The Carnival's ride quality varied depending on passenger load, with a firm, sporty feel when lightly loaded and a softer ride when fully occupied.

The 2022 Lincoln Navigator offered exceptionally comfortable heated, ventilated, and available massaging front seats with 30-way power adjustment. The second-row captain's chairs were also heated, ventilated, and massaging, providing a comfortable ride. The third-row seat was roomy and supportive, benefiting from the independent rear suspension design. The Navigator's cargo space was generous, with 546 litres behind the third row, 1,627 litres with the third row folded, and a maximum of 2,925 litres with the second row collapsed. The long-wheelbase Navigator L offered even more cargo capacity.

The 2023 Kia Carnival featured a driver’s seat with a lower driving position and an SUV-like centre console. It offered cloth, artificial leather, and genuine leather upholstery options, with the latter feeling stiff. The Carnival SX included heated and ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel. The VIP Lounge Seats in the SX trim were power-adjustable, heated, and ventilated, but limited cargo capacity to 2,460 litres. The third-row seat was habitable for adults, with adequate legroom and USB ports. The Carnival provided 1,139 litres of cargo volume behind the third row, with a maximum of 4,110 litres when the second-row seats were removed.

The 2022 Lincoln Navigator featured a new Sync 4 infotainment system with a 13.2-inch touchscreen display, offering Bluetooth, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay. The system included voice recognition and over-the-air update capability. The Lincoln Play rear-seat entertainment system, fortified with Amazon Fire TV, provided access to streaming services. The optional 28-speaker Revel 3D audio system delivered exceptional sound quality.

The 2023 Kia Carnival SX had 12.3-inch digital instrumentation and infotainment touchscreens, offering Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The Kia Connect services included remote engine starting and a Find My Car function. The 12-speaker Bose audio system was mediocre. Additional tech features included Quiet Mode, Passenger Talk, and a passenger view camera.

The 2022 Lincoln Navigator introduced new driver assistance systems, including Intersection Assist, Active Park Assist 2.0, and ActiveGlide. A surround-view camera system was standard. ActiveGlide, a semi-autonomous driving technology, was approved for use on over 200,000 kilometres of North American roads, providing hands-free driving under certain conditions.

The 2023 Kia Carnival offered a range of driver assistance and collision avoidance systems, with features like forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist standard on all trims. The EX trim added blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and Safe Exit Assist. The Highway Driving Assist technology was smooth and reliable. The IIHS rated the Carnival as a Top Safety Pick, though the standard headlights received a Poor rating.