2021 Cadillac XT6 vs 2022 Kia Carnival

The 2021 Cadillac XT6 exuded sophistication with its design, sharing styling cues with the XT4 and XT5 crossovers. The XT6 Sport trim, in particular, featured a traditionally-styled grille with darkened accents, enhancing its premium appearance. The SUV rode on 20-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, adding to its sharp lines and slim all-LED headlights, which were distinctly Cadillac. The interior mirrored the XT5, offering three color options and a luxurious feel, especially with the available Platinum Package that upgraded the seats to semi-aniline leather. However, some dashboard elements appeared less premium, though the steering wheel and console surfaces felt pleasant to the touch.

In contrast, the 2022 Kia Carnival presented a unique design for each trim level, with the SX Prestige trim offering a luxurious cabin with VIP Lounge Seats and a power rear sunroof. The Carnival's exterior boasted SUV styling elements, such as simulated skid plates and a floating roof design. Despite the visible sliding door tracks, Kia integrated them seamlessly with character lines. The Carnival's design was angular and conservatively tasteful, standing out in its segment. Inside, the SUV theme continued with a crossover-like dashboard and center console, and the interior offered various color schemes, including the attention-grabbing Tuscan Umber.

The 2021 Cadillac XT6 Sport was equipped with a 3.6-liter V6 engine, producing 310 horsepower and 271 lb-ft of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The base XT6 Luxury model featured a 2.0-liter turbo-four engine with 237 horsepower. The XT6 offered both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive options, with the Sport model exclusively available with AWD. However, the XT6's driving dynamics were hindered by its weight, particularly in the AWD Sport model, affecting its agility. Fuel economy was competitive, with the V6 achieving 19 mpg city and 26 mpg highway in FWD models.

The 2022 Kia Carnival featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 290 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, driving the front wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Carnival offered Normal, Eco, Sport, and Smart driving modes, with Smart mode being the most commonly used. The Carnival's fuel economy was rated at 22 mpg combined, and it felt taut and athletic on the road. However, it could feel stiff over uneven surfaces when lightly loaded. The Carnival's towing capacity was 3,500 pounds, and it lacked all-wheel drive and electrified powertrain options.

The Cadillac XT6 provided seating for seven, with the option to upgrade to captain’s chairs in the second row. While adults could fit in the third row, the XT6 offered less space than some competitors. The interior storage was limited, and the wireless phone charger was not easily accessible. However, the XT6 excelled in cargo space, with power-folding third-row seats and a standard power liftgate, though the cargo load floor was high.

The Kia Carnival was highly practical, with an SUV-style dashboard and center console. The second row offered various configurations, including VIP Lounge Seats in the SX Prestige trim. The third-row seat was comfortable for adults, and the rear cargo area was spacious, with 40.2 cubic feet of volume behind the third row. The Carnival's smart hands-free power-sliding side doors and liftgate added convenience, though they could open unintentionally. The Carnival offered more cargo volume than a Chevy Suburban when the second-row seats were removed.

The Cadillac XT6 featured an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, an eight-speaker Bose audio system, and a WiFi hotspot. Buyers could upgrade to a 14-speaker Bose audio system, navigation, and other features. However, the infotainment screen was smaller than competitors, and the tech was not cutting-edge.

The Kia Carnival's technology varied by trim, with the LX trim offering an 8-inch touchscreen and wireless smartphone integration. The EX trim introduced a 12.3-inch widescreen infotainment system with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, navigation, and wireless charging. The SX trim added a dual-screen rear entertainment system, while the SX Prestige featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display and a 12-speaker Bose audio system. The Carnival's tech was intuitive, but setting it up required time.

The Cadillac XT6 came with a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including automatic emergency braking, forward-collision alert, and lane-keep assist. However, the lane-keep assist system was not always reliable. The XT6 received a five-star frontal crash test rating from the NHTSA and was named a "Top Safety Pick+" by the IIHS.

The Kia Carnival offered a long list of advanced driving assistance systems, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assistance. The EX trim added features like front parking sensors and navigation-based adaptive cruise control. The Carnival's Highway Driving Assist was a Level 2 driving aid, though it was not always user-friendly. The Carnival also featured an ultrasonic rear occupant alert system and Safe Exit Assist. Crash-test results were unavailable at the time of review.