2024 Hyundai Palisade vs 2023 Kia Carnival

The 2023 Kia Carnival presented a unique blend of style and functionality, setting itself apart from the typical minivan image. It featured a distinctive design with high-tech front and rear lighting, an intricate grille, and decorative roof pillar trim, all contributing to its upscale appearance. The SX trim, in particular, showcased dual instrumentation and infotainment screens, adding a touch of sophistication to the interior. The dual power sunroofs provided ample natural light, enhancing the overall ambiance. However, the black alloy wheels were considered somewhat uninspired. Inside, the Carnival's materials were of good quality, preventing it from feeling cheap, and the robust transmission shifter added a sense of quality.

In contrast, the 2024 Hyundai Palisade stood out with its distinctive styling, making it easily recognizable among family-friendly SUVs. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim, in particular, exuded luxury with its artificial suede headliner, quality upholstery, and metal speaker grilles. The interior's sophistication was further enhanced by the striped dashboard and door trim. The Palisade's design might not have appealed to everyone, but those who appreciated its aesthetics likely found the rest of the vehicle equally appealing. The overall impression was that of a luxury SUV, despite its mass-market positioning.

The 2023 Kia Carnival was equipped with a 3.5-litre V6 engine, delivering 290 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. It featured a front-wheel-drive system paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Carnival offered a towing capacity of up to 1,587 kilograms and was rated to consume 10.6 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving. However, during testing, it averaged 11.1 litres per 100 kilometres. The absence of all-wheel drive and a hybrid powertrain was notable, especially in wet conditions where AWD would have been beneficial. Despite this, the V6 engine provided ample power, and the transmission operated smoothly. The brakes, however, showed signs of fading during a mountain descent, although they performed well in other situations.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade featured a 3.8-litre V6 engine, producing 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. It came standard with all-wheel drive in Canada, offering a towing capacity of 2,268 kilograms and 20.3 centimetres of ground clearance. The Palisade provided several driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Sport, Smart, and Snow, with the ability to lock the AWD system for off-road conditions. The V6 engine delivered satisfying acceleration, and the transmission was responsive. The Palisade averaged 15.0 litres per 100 kilometres during testing, higher than the expected 11.1 litres per 100 kilometres. The suspension offered a firm yet comfortable ride, and the brakes performed well under stress.

The 2023 Kia Carnival offered a unique driving experience, resembling an SUV more than a traditional minivan. It featured three types of upholstery, with genuine leather in the SX trim. The interior included a three-zone automatic climate control system, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The SX trim's VIP Lounge Seats were a standout feature, providing comfort but limiting cargo space to 2,460 litres. Without these seats, the Carnival offered a maximum cargo space of 4,110 litres. The third-row seat was spacious, and the smart power liftgate revealed 1,139 litres of cargo volume behind it.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade provided a comfortable and well-equipped interior, with artificial leather in the Urban trim and premium Nappa leather in the Ultimate Calligraphy trim. It featured heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a dual-panel sunroof. The Palisade offered configurable storage options and excellent second-row comfort. The third-row seat was more spacious than most rivals, with standard heating and air conditioning vents. The hands-free power tailgate provided 509 litres of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 2,447 litres with the second-row seats folded.

The 2023 Kia Carnival SX featured 12.3-inch digital instrumentation and infotainment touchscreens, offering a visually appealing and functional interface. The infotainment system included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio. However, the 12-speaker Bose audio system was considered mediocre. Additional tech features included Quiet Mode, Passenger Talk, and a passenger view camera. The Kia Connect subscription was inactive during testing, limiting some functionalities.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade came with a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and touchscreen infotainment system, supporting Bluetooth, SiriusXM, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim included wireless charging. The voice recognition system worked well, although it struggled with specific music requests. Hyundai's Bluelink connected services offered remote engine starting and emergency assistance. The 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system provided excellent audio quality. Additional technologies included a digital rearview mirror, semi-autonomous remote parking, and a head-up display.

The 2023 Kia Carnival was equipped with a comprehensive suite of driver assistance and collision avoidance systems, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. Blind-spot monitoring was available from the EX trim. The rear-seat reminder system used ultrasonic sensors to detect movement, and the Highway Driving Assist technology was highly effective. The Carnival earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, although the standard headlights received a Poor rating.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade featured an extensive array of safety systems, including forward-collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keep assist. Highway Driving Assist was standard, with lane-change assist on the Ultimate Calligraphy trim. The rear-seat reminder system used ultrasonic sensing, and the Palisade earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS. NHTSA crash tests were incomplete, but the Palisade received top ratings for side-impact collisions and rollover resistance.