2023 Kia Carnival vs 2023 Hyundai Palisade

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade, Hyundai's largest SUV, received a styling update that enhanced its already commanding road presence. The new front fascia, with its bold strokes and squared-off grille, gave the Palisade a stronger look. Standard LED accents, daytime running lights, and headlights added to its appeal, while the Ultimate Calligraphy trim featured premium rear accent lighting and a unique grille. The 20-inch alloy wheels, standard across the lineup in Canada, contributed to the vehicle's premium feel. Inside, the Ultimate Calligraphy trim boasted a stylish interior with premium Nappa leather and a dual-pane sunroof, while lower trims offered cloth or leatherette seats. The Palisade accommodated up to eight passengers, with second-row captain's chairs available on higher trims.

The 2023 Kia Carnival, while not equipped for off-roading, distinguished itself with a unique style and impressive technology. Available in various trims, the Carnival's SX trim featured high-tech front and rear lighting, an intricate grille, and decorative roof pillar trim. The interior boasted dual instrumentation and infotainment screens, adding sophistication. The SX trim's dual power sunroofs provided ample natural light, and the interior materials were of good quality. The Carnival's driving position and centre console arrangement resembled those of an SUV, offering a different feel from typical minivans. The SX trim included VIP Lounge Seats, which, while luxurious, limited cargo space and accessibility to the third row.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade was powered by a 3.8-litre V6 engine, delivering 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This made it more powerful than several competitors, including the Mazda CX-9 and Volkswagen Atlas. The Palisade's eight-speed automatic transmission could be controlled with paddle shifters, and its standard all-wheel drive (AWD) system proved capable during off-road tests. While not designed for rock-crawling, the Palisade offered a comfortable ride and competitive towing capacity of up to 2,268 kilograms. Its fuel economy was rated at 12.6 litres per 100 kilometres in the city, 9.5 on the highway, and 11.2 combined.

The 2023 Kia Carnival featured a 3.5-litre V6 engine with 290 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It offered front-wheel drive (FWD) and various driving modes, including Eco, Normal, Smart, and Sport. The Carnival's towing capacity was 1,587 kilograms, and its fuel consumption was rated at 10.6 litres per 100 kilometres combined. While AWD was unavailable, the V6 engine provided ample power, and the transmission operated smoothly. The Carnival's brakes performed well in most situations, though they experienced fading during a mountain descent. The minivan offered a firm, sporty ride when lightly loaded, with a softer ride when fully occupied.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade offered ample space for seven or eight passengers, with generous legroom in all three rows. The second-row seats featured a one-touch slide for easy access to the third row, and the third-row seats folded flat for increased cargo space. The Palisade provided 509 litres of cargo space behind the third row, 1,297 litres behind the second row, and 2,447 litres with all but the front-row seats folded. A hands-free smart liftgate was standard on most trims, and the vehicle included HVAC vents and cupholders for all passengers.

The 2023 Kia Carnival's interior resembled an SUV, with a lower driving position and a centre console similar to those found in SUVs. The Carnival offered three types of upholstery, with genuine leather available in the SX trim. The SX trim featured VIP Lounge Seats, which limited cargo space to 2,460 litres and made third-row access challenging. However, these seats provided a luxurious experience for road trips. The Carnival's third-row seat was spacious enough for adults, and the minivan offered 1,139 litres of cargo space behind the third row. The smart power liftgate revealed a deep well for additional storage, and the third-row seats could be tumbled into the well for more cargo space.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade came equipped with a 12.3-inch colour touchscreen infotainment system, featuring Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, navigation, HD Radio, SiriusXM satellite radio, and Bluetooth connectivity. A premium 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system was standard on higher trims. The Palisade offered a 4.2-inch colour driver info display or a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster on select models. Remote accessibility and management features were enhanced with Hyundai's Bluelink connected vehicle system, allowing remote control of heated and cooled seats and other functions.

The 2023 Kia Carnival SX featured 12.3-inch digital instrumentation and infotainment touchscreens, reminiscent of a Mercedes-Benz. The digital instrumentation impressed with its lush graphics and changing imagery. The infotainment system included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a three-year subscription to Kia Connect services. However, the 12-speaker Bose audio system was mediocre. Additional tech features included Quiet Mode, Passenger Talk, and a passenger view camera. The Kia Connect subscription was inactive during testing, limiting the native voice recognition system's effectiveness.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade earned a Top Safety Pick+ from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). It came with Hyundai's Smart Sense suite of safety features, including forward collision avoidance, driver attention warning, high beam assist, and lane-keeping assist. Blind-spot collision avoidance and rear cross-traffic collision avoidance were standard on all trims. The Palisade also featured adaptive cruise control, Highway Driving Assist, and a full-display digital rearview mirror on higher trims. Safe exit warning and rear seat occupant alert were standard, with rain-sensing wipers on the Ultimate Calligraphy grade.

The 2023 Kia Carnival was equipped with a range of driver assistance and collision avoidance systems, with features added as you moved up the trim levels. Standard features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. The Carnival's rear-seat reminder system used ultrasonic sensors to detect movement and alert the owner if a child or pet was left inside. The minivan also featured adaptive cruise control, Safe Exit Assist, and Junction Turning Detection. Higher trims included a surround-view camera and Blind-Spot View Monitor. The IIHS rated the Carnival as a Top Safety Pick, though standard headlights on lower trims received a Poor rating.