2022 Chevrolet Suburban vs 2023 Kia Carnival

The 2022 Chevrolet Suburban was redesigned in 2021, adopting Chevrolet's full-size truck design language. It shared its exterior styling with the Tahoe SUV and Silverado 1500 pickup, featuring a tall hood, long proportions, and large wheels that contributed to its supersized appearance. The Suburban was available in six trims, each offering different grille, fascia, and wheel designs, allowing for a degree of customization. The RST trim, in particular, stood out with its Cherry Red Tintcoat exterior, 22-inch bright-machined black-painted wheels, and sporty monochromatic black grille with Black Ice accents. Inside, the Suburban offered a spacious cabin with varying levels of luxury, from the economically comfortable base LS trim to the plush High Country. The RST trim featured Jet Black perforated leather seats with Victory Red stitching and optional heated second-row outboard seats, though the predominantly black interior made the cabin feel somewhat dark.

The 2023 Kia Carnival, in contrast, relied on a distinctive sense of style and impressive technology to differentiate itself from typical minivans. The SX Prestige trim, with its Astra Blue paint and decorative roof pillar trim, conveyed an upscale image. The Carnival's 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 imparted a sense of quality. However, the black alloy wheels were considered boring. The Carnival's interior was designed to prevent it from looking or feeling cheap, and it offered a firm, sporty ride quality. The SX Prestige trim included heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and VIP Lounge Seats, which were great for road trips but came with some compromises in terms of cargo space and accessibility.

The 2022 Chevrolet Suburban offered a choice of three engines: a 5.3-liter V8, a 6.2-liter V8, and a new 3.0-liter turbodiesel inline-six. The 5.3-liter V8 produced 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque, while the 6.2-liter V8 delivered 420 hp and 460 lb-ft. The 3.0-liter diesel engine provided 277 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque, offering excellent fuel economy and a five-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty. The Suburban's maximum towing capacity was 8,300 pounds. The RST test vehicle featured the 6.2-liter V8, which provided effortless power and acceleration, making it well-suited for towing. The Suburban's independent rear suspension improved ride and handling, creating more space for third-row passengers and increasing cargo capacity.

The 2023 Kia Carnival was equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission, producing 290 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. It offered a towing capacity of up to 3,500 pounds and was EPA-rated for 22 mpg in combined driving. The Carnival featured Eco, Normal, Smart, and Sport driving modes. While the V6 engine provided ample power, the lack of all-wheel drive and a hybrid powertrain was a drawback, especially in wet weather conditions. The Carnival's brakes performed well in most situations, but they experienced fade during a mountain descent. The minivan offered a firm, sporty ride quality, with a softer ride when fully loaded. Overall, the Carnival was satisfying to drive, though the Honda Odyssey was considered more athletic.

The 2022 Chevrolet Suburban excelled in interior space, offering seating for up to nine occupants with the optional front-row bench seat. Most Suburbans provided seven- or eight-passenger seating, with a livable third row that offered adequate headroom, knee room, and legroom. The Suburban boasted 41.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 144.7 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded flat. The second-row seats could slide forward or backward, and both the second and third rows folded flat with ease. The Suburban's optional power-sliding center console provided additional storage space. However, its size and mass made it challenging to maneuver and park in tight spaces, and the electronic push-button transmission controls required some adjustment for those accustomed to a column-mounted shifter.

The 2023 Kia Carnival offered a unique driving experience, with a lower driving position and an SUV-like center console arrangement. It featured three types of upholstery, with genuine leather available on the SX Prestige trim. The Carnival's three-zone automatic climate control system included heated and ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel. The smart sliding doors provided easy access to the second row, which could be configured with VIP Lounge Seats. These seats offered comfort and luxury but limited cargo space to 86.9 cubic feet and made third-row access more challenging. The Carnival's third-row seat was habitable for adults, with USB ports and cupholders. The smart power liftgate revealed 40.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, and the third-row seats could be tumbled into a storage well to expand cargo space. The Carnival offered a maximum cargo space of 145.1 cubic feet with the second-row seats removed.

The 2022 Chevrolet Suburban featured a range of technology options, with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and Google built-in available on the LT trim and above. The Chevrolet Infotainment 3 System with an 8-inch touchscreen was standard on the LS, while a 10.2-inch Chevrolet Infotainment 3 Premium System was standard on the LT and above. The system included Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and satellite radio. Wireless device charging and a WiFi hotspot were also available. The Suburban offered a range of camera views, including a "transparent trailer" view, and a nine-speaker Bose audio system was standard on the LT.

The 2023 Kia Carnival SX Prestige featured 12.3-inch digital instrumentation and infotainment touchscreens, offering a presentation similar to a Mercedes-Benz. The digital instrumentation impressed with its lush graphics and changing appearance based on the time of day. The infotainment system included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a one-year subscription to Kia Connect Ultimate connected services. The Carnival offered features like Quiet Mode, Passenger Talk, and Passenger View with Night Vision. The optional dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system allowed for streaming content, though teenagers preferred using their own devices. The 12-speaker Bose audio system was considered mediocre.

The 2022 Chevrolet Suburban came with the Chevy Safety Assist suite, which included automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, front pedestrian braking, rear park assist, and more. Additional features included adaptive cruise control, HD surround vision, and a head-up display. The Suburban received a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with four stars for front crash protection, five stars for side crash protection, and three stars for rollover resistance.

The 2023 Kia Carnival offered a range of driver assistance and collision avoidance systems, with features like forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist standard on all trims. The Carnival's rear-seat reminder system used ultrasonic sensors to detect movement, and the Safe Exit System warned occupants of approaching vehicles. The EX trim added Junction Turning Detection and Highway Driving Assist, while 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 the 2022 calendar year, though the standard headlights received a Poor rating.