2023 Kia Carnival vs 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2023 Kia Carnival presented a unique blend of style and functionality, setting itself apart from the typical minivan. It featured a distinctive design with high-tech front and rear lighting, an intricate grille, and decorative roof pillar trim, which contributed to its upscale image. The SX Prestige trim, in particular, was noted for its attractive Astra Blue paint and stylish interior, which included dual instrumentation and infotainment screens, dual power sunroofs, and quality materials that enhanced the overall feel of the vehicle. Despite its minivan classification, the Carnival's design and features made it a compelling choice for those seeking a vehicle with a touch of luxury.

In contrast, the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe embraced a bold new design direction, characterized by its boxy shape that prioritized storage capacity. This design choice was a departure from Hyundai's previous sleek and futuristic models, yet it managed to convey an upscale and premium look. The Santa Fe's exterior was complemented by a range of sophisticated colors and anodized-finish badging, while the interior offered premium styling with options like quilted Nappa leather in the Calligraphy trim. The Santa Fe's design was both functional and elegant, appealing to those who appreciated a spacious and well-organized vehicle.

The 2023 Kia Carnival was equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 290 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. This front-wheel-drive minivan offered a smooth driving experience with an eight-speed automatic transmission and various driving modes, including Eco, Normal, Smart, and Sport. Despite its lack of all-wheel drive and hybrid options, the Carnival provided ample power and a satisfying ride quality, although its brakes showed some fading during a mountain descent. The Carnival's fuel economy was rated at 22 mpg combined, but our test vehicle averaged 21.1 mpg.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe featured a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 277 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque. It came with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and offered front-wheel drive as standard, with all-wheel drive available. The Santa Fe's driving modes included Normal, Sport, and Snow, with the XRT trim adding off-road capabilities. A hybrid version with a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine was also available, offering improved fuel economy. The Santa Fe's towing capacity varied, with the XRT trim capable of towing up to 4,500 pounds. On the road, the Santa Fe provided a smooth and stable ride, although it exhibited some body roll through turns.

The 2023 Kia Carnival offered a spacious and versatile interior, with a design that resembled an SUV more than a traditional minivan. It featured three types of upholstery, with the SX Prestige trim offering genuine leather. The Carnival's interior included heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a three-zone automatic climate control system. The VIP Lounge Seats in the second row provided a luxurious experience but limited cargo space to 86.9 cubic feet. Without these seats, the Carnival offered a maximum cargo capacity of 145.1 cubic feet, making it highly practical for families.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe prioritized cargo space, with a longer wheelbase and body compared to its predecessor. The design focused on creating a comfortable and organized cargo area, ideal for car camping and tailgating. The Santa Fe's interior offered spacious first and second rows, with options for bench or captain's chairs. The cargo area provided 14.6 cubic feet of space, expanding to 79.6 cubic feet with the seats folded. The Santa Fe also featured innovative storage solutions, such as a UV sanitization compartment in the glovebox and a new grab handle for loading cargo.

The 2023 Kia Carnival SX Prestige boasted a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation and infotainment system, offering a visually impressive and user-friendly experience. The system included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a Wi-Fi hotspot, although the Bose audio system was deemed mediocre. Additional tech features included Quiet Mode, Passenger Talk, and Passenger View with Night Vision. The optional rear-seat entertainment system offered streaming capabilities, but teenagers preferred using their own devices.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe featured a curved panoramic display in the XRT, Limited, and Calligraphy trims, providing an elegant and intuitive interface. The system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 12-speaker Bose stereo, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The SE and SEL trims had a simpler 12.3-inch touchscreen, while higher trims offered wireless charging and Hyundai Pay for secure transactions. The Santa Fe also introduced a biometric fingerprint scanner for added convenience and security.

The 2023 Kia Carnival came equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist. The rear-seat reminder system used ultrasonic sensors to detect movement, while the Safe Exit System warned occupants of approaching vehicles. The EX trim added Junction Turning Detection and Highway Driving Assist, which provided semi-autonomous driving assistance. The SX trim included a surround-view camera and Blind-Spot View Monitor. The Carnival was named a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS for 2022, but its standard headlights received a Poor rating.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a robust array of safety features, with most advanced systems coming standard. The base SE trim included adaptive cruise control, forward collision-avoidance assist, blind-spot monitors, and a rear-occupant reminder system. Higher trims added features like a 360-degree camera system, blind-spot view monitor, and remote automatic parking. The Santa Fe also introduced driver monitoring, using an infrared camera and capacitive sensors to track alertness and hand placement. The system could bring the vehicle to a stop and notify authorities in case of an emergency.