Kia Carnival vs Hyundai Ioniq 9

Ahead of a 2025-model-year refresh, the 2024 Kia Carnival carries over unchanged as Kia’s entry into a small, but competitive, minivan segment that also includes the Chrysler Pacifica, Honda Odyssey, and Toyota Sienna.

The Carnival offers a great driving experience and affordable starting price, but these upsides are tainted by a lack of all-wheel drive and mixed safety ratings.

Although the 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 isn’t the first three-row electric SUV through the door, it may be the best choice for most shoppers. With a starting price of $59,999 before fees and qualifying for EV rebates where they still exist, it’s much more affordable than a Tesla Model X or a Rivian R1S. And its standard 110.3-kWh battery pack provides a long range compared to a base-model Kia EV9.

Verdict: The Hyundai Ioniq 9 isn’t a perfect vehicle, but it offers terrific passenger space, good tech, and family-friendly features. Shoppers may find its design polarizing — you could easily say the same about the Hyundai Ioniq 5 or the Ioniq 6 — but families interested in electric vehicles will do well to test drive this new option.