Toyota Highlander Hybrid vs Kia Carnival

The 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid was priced at just over $50,000 for the base Hybrid LE, including destination charges and fees. In Canada, all-wheel drive was standard, while the U.S. offered a front-wheel drive version. The Highlander Hybrid XLE AWD came with a Special Edition package, and the Limited trim allowed for a Platinum package upgrade. The Limited trim with the Platinum package had an MSRP of $61,800 in Canada. Minimal appearance changes were made for 2023, with a new Cypress Green paint colour. The Highlander Hybrid's design was considered over-styled, with exaggerated forms and a lack of subtlety both inside and out. The interior was criticized for its mismatched textures, reflections, and lack of quality, with controls and storage areas feeling inexpensive and poorly designed.

The 2024 Kia Carnival adopted an SUV-like design with a prominent grille, slab sides, and pronounced hood, while retaining minivan features like sliding doors. The SX trim featured 19-inch wheels that complemented its distinctive look. Inside, the Carnival continued the SUV theme with chunky switchgear and a large shifter, making it appealing to image-conscious buyers. The interior materials were durable, acknowledging the wear and tear expected in a family vehicle. The Carnival offered various seating options, with higher trims featuring real leather upholstery and heated and ventilated seats. Despite the use of plastic materials, the Carnival's interior was well-organized and functional, with easy-to-use controls and ample storage space.

The 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid combined a 2.5-litre Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine with two electric motor-generators, plus a third motor for the rear wheels, providing standard AWD. It delivered 243 combined horsepower, tasked with moving 2,060 kilograms in Limited trim. The electric motors assisted with acceleration and allowed for low-speed electric-only driving. However, the gas engine's 175 pound-feet of torque limited high-speed passing power. While Toyota claimed a towing capacity of 1,588 kilograms, the Highlander Hybrid struggled with power and brake performance in mountainous conditions. It offered Eco, Normal, and Sport driving modes, with a Trail mode for light off-road use. The Predictive Efficient Drive system aimed to optimize fuel efficiency, but the test vehicle averaged 8.2 L/100 km, higher than the expected 6.7 L/100 km. The Highlander Hybrid was described as uninspiring to drive, with soft suspension and a noisy CVT, making it suitable for city and suburban use.

The 2024 Kia Carnival featured a 3.5-litre V6 engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive, producing 290 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. The Carnival's steering was praised for its balance, making it easy to maneuver in parking lots and precise at higher speeds. The chassis provided a comfortable ride, ideal for long road trips, with low interior noise levels. The drivetrain was refined, with smooth and quick gear shifts, and the V6 emitted a pleasant growl at full throttle. While not the most efficient powertrain, the Carnival's V6 and automatic transmission combination offered a reminder of its popularity before the rise of turbocharging and electrification.

The 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid accommodated seven or eight passengers, depending on the trim and configuration. Most models featured standard second-row captain’s chairs, with the third-row seat best suited for occasional use. The interior included three-zone automatic climate control and heated front seats, with higher trims offering additional features like a heated steering wheel and ventilated seats. The second-row captain’s chairs provided comfort, while the third-row access was tight and uncomfortable for adults. The Highlander Hybrid offered 453 litres of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 1,370 litres with the third row folded, and a maximum of 2,387 litres with the second row down. However, the interior storage design was criticized for being complex and impractical.

The 2024 Kia Carnival offered an eight-passenger configuration with a removable second-row bench seat, while SX models featured VIP Lounge seats with advanced sliding and recline functions. Standard features included power-sliding rear doors, a power liftgate, and tri-zone automatic climate control. The Carnival provided ample headroom and legroom across all three rows, although it had the least third-row legroom among minivans. With all seats in place, it offered 1,138 litres of cargo space, expanding to 4,110 litres with the second and third rows folded. The Carnival's interior was well-organized, with easy-to-use controls and ample storage, although it lacked features like fold-flat seating found in competitors.

The 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid introduced new technology for 2023, with upper trims featuring a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display and a new Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system. The Limited trim included a 12.3-inch touchscreen with over-the-air updates, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, HD Radio, and SiriusXM. Connected service plans were standard, with varying trial subscription lengths. The Drive Connect service plan offered an Intelligent Assistant and cloud-based navigation. The test vehicle included a head-up display and an 11-speaker JBL sound system. While the infotainment system was user-friendly, the graphics lacked contrast, making it difficult to read in certain conditions.

The 2024 Kia Carnival featured an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on lower trims, while higher trims upgraded to a 12.3-inch touchscreen and digital instrument cluster with wired connectivity. The SX grade included a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system. The Carnival's infotainment system was praised for its graphics and ease of use, with a dedicated button for the surround-view camera system. It also offered a cabin camera system and intercom for rear-seat communication, as well as a Quiet Mode to disconnect rear speakers.

The 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid came equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+, a suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and more. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were standard, with higher trims gaining additional features like parking sensors and a surround-view camera. The Highlander Hybrid received excellent crash-test ratings from both the IIHS and NHTSA, although the ADAS occasionally struggled with certain road conditions.

The 2024 Kia Carnival received mixed safety ratings from the IIHS, with high scores in some crash tests but lower ratings in updated tests. Headlights on higher trims were rated "Good," while others received a "Poor" rating. Front-crash prevention systems performed well in daytime testing but not at night. The NHTSA had not released safety ratings for the Carnival at the time of publication. Safety features varied by trim, with higher trims offering additional systems like blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and a surround-view camera.