2022 Kia Carnival vs 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan was a standout in its segment, boasting a design that was both conservative and timeless. Its refreshed exterior featured new front styling that aligned it with Volkswagen’s larger models, such as the Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport. The restyled grille, adorned with the new VW logo and an optional illuminated grille bar, added a touch of modernity. Standard LED headlights and redesigned aluminum wheels further enhanced its appeal. Inside, the Tiguan Highline R-Line offered a luxurious cabin with perforated leather upholstery, touch-sensing controls, and ambient lighting, although the lower half's hard plastic betrayed its mass-market roots. The SUV's interior was spacious, with heated front seats and a heated steering wheel as standard features, making it a comfortable choice for families.

The 2022 Kia Carnival, on the other hand, was a fresh entrant in the market, offering a unique design that set it apart from its competitors. Each trim level had distinct design elements, with the EX trim featuring a mirrored grid-pattern grille and 19-inch machined-finish aluminum wheels. The SX trim added black wheels and real leather upholstery, along with the standout VIP Lounge Seats. The Carnival's SUV-inspired styling included simulated skid plates, a floating roof design, and roof rails, giving it a robust appearance. Inside, the Carnival continued the SUV theme with a dashboard and centre console reminiscent of a crossover. The interior was upscale, even in base trim, with the SX offering luxurious features like power-adjustable VIP Lounge Seats and a dual sunroof setup.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan retained its turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 184 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 221 lb-ft of torque at 1,900 rpm. This power was delivered through an eight-speed automatic transmission to VW’s 4Motion AWD system, which could direct up to half of the power to the rear wheels. The Tiguan offered Eco, Normal, Sport, and Individual driving modes, along with Onroad, Snow, Offroad, and Custom Offroad settings. Despite its 19 cm ground clearance, the Tiguan was best suited for well-traveled paths. The SUV's MacPherson struts and multi-link independent rear suspension provided a balanced ride, though the engine's torque delivery resulted in some turbo lag. Fuel efficiency was rated at 9.8 L/100 km in combined driving, with our test averaging 9.5 L/100 km.

In contrast, the 2022 Kia Carnival featured a new 3.5-litre V6 engine, delivering 290 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque to the front wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Carnival's towing capacity was 1,587.5 kg. The V6 engine provided smooth and effortless acceleration, with driving modes including Normal, Eco, Sport, and Smart. While Smart mode was generally effective, it exhibited delayed downshift responses, particularly on inclines. The Carnival's fuel consumption was rated at 10.6 L/100 km, with our testing loop averaging 10.8 L/100 km. The front-wheel-drive Carnival felt athletic, with a flat cornering stance, though it could be stiff over uneven surfaces when lightly loaded.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan was a spacious compact crossover, comparable to smaller midsize SUVs. It offered an optional third row, though cargo space was compromised with it in use. The Highline R-Line trim provided leather-wrapped, power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation, and excellent outward visibility. The second row was roomy, with rear air conditioning vents and a USB charging port. The switch to touch controls on the steering wheel and dashboard was a notable change, though it required some acclimatization. Cargo space was generous, with up to 2,078 litres available in the two-row configuration.

The 2022 Kia Carnival excelled in practicality, with an SUV-style dashboard and centre console. Most trims offered eight-passenger seating, with a versatile second-row bench seat. The SX trim featured VIP Lounge Seats with power adjustment, heating, ventilation, and an Ottoman-style leg rest. The Carnival's third-row seat was comfortable for adults, and the rear cargo area was spacious, with 1,139 litres of volume behind the third row. Folding the third-row seats increased cargo space to 2,460 litres, and removing the second-row seats in certain trims expanded it to 4,110 litres. The Carnival's smart hands-free power-sliding doors and liftgate added convenience, though they could be inadvertently activated.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan came equipped with standard digital gauges, with the Highline R-Line featuring a 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro system. The MIB3 infotainment system, available on most trims, included an 8-inch touchscreen, Car-Net connected services, and smartphone mirroring. The Highline R-Line added a redesigned navigation system and a nine-speaker Fender premium audio system. Despite improvements, the MIB3's natural voice recognition was underwhelming. The Tiguan also offered an available Park Assist system for autonomous parking.

The 2022 Kia Carnival's technology varied by trim. The LX trim featured analog gauges and an 8-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth and smartphone connectivity. Starting with EX+ trim, the Carnival boasted a 12.3-inch widescreen infotainment system with navigation, wireless charging, and eight speakers. The EX+ and SX trims included a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12-speaker Bose audio system. The Carnival's tech was generally intuitive, though a comprehensive quick reference guide was provided to help users navigate its features.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan offered standard safety features such as Front Assist and Side Assist. New for 2022 were Travel Assist, combining adaptive cruise control with lane-centring assistance, and Emergency Assist, which could safely stop the vehicle if the driver became unresponsive. The 2021 Tiguan earned a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the IIHS, and the 2022 model's enhancements aimed to improve this score.

The 2022 Kia Carnival featured a comprehensive suite of safety features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure 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's ultrasonic rear occupant alert system and Safe Exit Assist provided additional safety measures. The EX+ trim included a surround-view camera system and a Blind View Monitor. The 2022 Carnival received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS.