Jeep Grand Wagoneer vs Kia Carnival

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer presented a traditional SUV aesthetic, sharing its frame and body shell with the standard Wagoneer. This resulted in a tall hood, broad shoulders, trapezoidal wheel arches, and an upright profile reminiscent of the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L. The Grand Wagoneer distinguished itself with a standard black roof, model-specific hood, front fascia, and grille, featuring laser-etched knurling in the grille slots. It offered a new body-on-frame architecture with independent front and rear suspension, and weight-saving aluminum and composite materials. Inside, it shared styling features with the Wagoneer but boasted higher-quality materials and more convenience features, such as 24-way power front seats with memory and massage functions, Nappa leather upholstery, and American Walnut wood trim.

In contrast, the 2023 Kia Carnival stood out with its distinctive style and upscale image, defying typical minivan conventions. The Carnival SX trim, with its high-tech lighting, intricate grille, and decorative roof pillar trim, was particularly attractive. Inside, dual instrumentation and infotainment screens added sophistication, while dual power sunroofs provided ample natural light. The interior materials were of high quality, and the robust transmission shifter added a sense of solidity. The Carnival's design cleverly blended minivan functionality with SUV-like aesthetics, offering a unique driving experience.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer was powered by a 6.4-litre Hemi V8 engine, delivering 471 horsepower and 455 lb-ft of torque. This engine, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, enabled the Grand Wagoneer to accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in approximately six seconds. The vehicle featured standard four-wheel drive with the Quadra-Drive II system, offering five drive modes and a height-adjustable Quadra-Lift air suspension system. With a maximum ground clearance of 25.4 cm, the Grand Wagoneer could tackle various terrains, although its size limited its off-road capabilities. Despite its power, the Grand Wagoneer was best driven at a leisurely pace due to its bouncy ride and imprecise steering at higher speeds.

The 2023 Kia Carnival, equipped with a 3.5-litre V6 engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission, produced 290 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. It offered four driving modes: Eco, Normal, Smart, and Sport. The Carnival's front-wheel-drive setup provided a towing capacity of up to 1,587 kg. While it lacked all-wheel drive and hybrid options, the V6 engine delivered ample power, and the transmission operated smoothly. The Carnival's brakes performed well in most situations, though they showed signs of fading during a mountain descent. The minivan offered a firm, sporty ride quality, with a softer ride when fully loaded, although third-row passengers experienced some bounce on highways.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer accommodated seven passengers with standard second-row captain’s chairs or eight with an optional third-row bench seat. It offered more third-row headroom and second-row legroom than its competitors, though front-row space was more limited. The Grand Wagoneer provided 775 litres of cargo space with all seats in place and 2,007 litres with the third row stowed. Its maximum towing capacity was 4,472 kg. Standard features included a sunroof, four-zone automatic climate control, and large storage bins, though forward visibility was somewhat restricted.

The 2023 Kia Carnival defied minivan norms with its SUV-like driving position and centre console arrangement. It offered three types of upholstery, with genuine leather in the SX trim. The Carnival SX featured heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a three-zone automatic climate control system. The VIP Lounge Seats in the SX trim provided luxury but limited 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, with USB ports and cupholders, and the smart power liftgate revealed a deep cargo well with 1,139 litres of space.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, dual touchscreens, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and a McIntosh audio system. It supported simultaneous Bluetooth pairing and offered a 4G-LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. Second-row passengers had a 10.25-inch touchscreen for climate control, and an optional rear-seat entertainment system added 10.1-inch screens. The Uconnect 5 infotainment system, with an Android-based operating system, offered over-the-air updates, though the screen response was occasionally slow.

The 2023 Kia Carnival SX boasted 12.3-inch digital instrumentation and infotainment touchscreens, reminiscent of a Mercedes-Benz. The digital instrumentation featured lush graphics that changed with the time of day. The infotainment system included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM, and a three-year Kia Connect subscription. While the 12-speaker Bose audio system was mediocre, additional tech features like Quiet Mode, Passenger Talk, and a passenger view camera enhanced the driving experience. The native voice recognition system had limitations, but the overall tech package was impressive.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer came with standard safety features such as a 360-degree camera system, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Optional features included intersection collision assist, driver-attention monitor, night vision, and traffic-sign recognition. The Active Lane Management System combined adaptive cruise control with automated lane centring, with a hands-free version planned for future release. Crash-test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time of review.

The 2023 Kia Carnival offered a comprehensive suite of safety features, with forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist standard across all trims. The rear-seat reminder system used ultrasonic sensors to detect movement, while adaptive cruise control and Safe Exit Assist were standard from the EX trim. The EX+ and SX trims added a surround-view camera and Blind-Spot View Monitor. The Highway Driving Assist technology was particularly noteworthy for its accuracy and smooth operation. The IIHS named the Carnival a Top Safety Pick, though the standard headlights received a Poor rating.