2022 Kia Carnival vs 2022 Honda Odyssey

The 2022 Honda Odyssey, while not as stylish as the 2022 Kia Carnival, still managed to present a sense of style with its kinked sliding doors and dramatic hockey-stick character lines. The Elite trim level, which topped the lineup, featured dark gray 19-inch aluminum wheels, adding a touch of sophistication. The Odyssey's interior was designed with practicality in mind, offering a classic open-concept minivan design with a low console and ample storage space. Despite the haphazard placement of switchgear, the controls for stereo and climate functions were conveniently located near the infotainment system's display, making them easy to use. The expansive view through the massive windshield and small front quarter windows enhanced the driving experience, making the Odyssey a practical choice for families.

In contrast, the 2022 Kia Carnival stood out with its unique design elements across different trims. The Carnival's SUV styling flourishes, such as simulated skid plates and a floating roof design, gave it a more upscale appearance. The SX Prestige trim offered luxurious features like VIP Lounge Seats, real leather, and a textured metal dashboard trim. The Carnival's interior continued the SUV theme, with a dashboard and center console resembling a crossover rather than a minivan. The entry-level LX model featured a two-tone black-and-gray color scheme, while higher trims offered more vibrant options like Tuscan Umber. Overall, the Carnival's design was appealing, with sharp angles and a conservative yet tasteful approach, making it a standout in the segment.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. This front-wheel-drive minivan lacked all-wheel drive and electrified powertrain options, unlike some of its competitors. The Odyssey's EPA fuel economy estimate was 22 mpg in combined driving, which was lower than the hybrid Toyota Sienna and plug-in hybrid Chrysler Pacifica. Despite this, the Odyssey offered an enjoyable driving experience, with quick acceleration, responsive handling, and remarkable composure on mountain roads. However, the brakes tended to heat up during repeated use, leading to pedal vibration and audible grumbling, especially when descending hills.

The 2022 Kia Carnival featured a new 3.5-liter V6 engine delivering 290 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, driving the front wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. Like the Odyssey, the Carnival did not offer all-wheel drive or electrified powertrain options. The Carnival's towing capacity was 3,500 pounds. The V6 engine provided smooth and steady acceleration, while the automatic transmission operated unobtrusively. The Carnival offered various driving modes, including Normal, Eco, Sport, and Smart, with Sport mode resolving delayed downshift responses. The EPA estimated the Carnival's fuel economy at 22 mpg in combined driving, and during testing, it averaged 21.7 mpg. The Carnival's dynamic performance was taut and athletic, with a flat cornering stance, although it could feel stiff over certain road surfaces.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey offered easy access with wide-opening doors and a lower ride height compared to most SUVs. Inside, the Odyssey Elite featured quality leather, supportive front seats with power adjustment, heating, and ventilation, and a tri-zone automatic climate control system. The minivan provided impressive storage space, with numerous compartments and a handy floor tray. The second-row Magic Slide seats allowed for flexible configurations, enhancing convenience and safety. The third-row seat was comfortable for adults, and the Odyssey offered 32.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind it. Folding the third-row seat created 88.8 cubic feet of cargo space, while removing the second-row seats expanded the volume to 144.9 cubic feet.

The 2022 Kia Carnival, with its SUV-style design, offered practicality with some compromises. The second row featured individual captain’s chairs with a wide center pass-through, and the LX Seat Package added a middle seat for more flexibility. The EX and SX trims had an 8-passenger Slide Flex seat configuration, while the SX Prestige offered luxurious VIP Lounge Seats. The third-row seat was comfortable for adults, and the Carnival provided 40.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind it. Folding the third-row seats created 86.9 cubic feet of cargo space, and removing the second-row seats expanded the volume to 145.1 cubic feet. The Carnival's smart hands-free power-sliding side doors and liftgate added convenience, although they could open unintentionally.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey Elite was equipped with a range of technology features, although its infotainment system was becoming outdated compared to rivals. Starting with the EX trim, the Odyssey offered an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display, satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Touring trim added navigation and HondaLink connected services. The Odyssey Touring and Elite featured CabinWatch and CabinTalk technology, allowing the driver to monitor and communicate with rear-seat passengers. The rear-seat entertainment system, standard from the Touring trim, included a 10.2-inch display and various media inputs. However, the system was considered behind the times. The Elite trim added an 11-speaker premium audio system and a wireless charging pad.

The 2022 Kia Carnival, starting with the LX trim, featured traditional analog gauges and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The EX trim upgraded to a 12.3-inch widescreen infotainment system with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, HD Radio, SiriusXM satellite radio, and more. The Carnival also offered Passenger View and Passenger Talk features, enhancing communication with rear-seat passengers. The SX trim added a dual-screen rear entertainment system with touchscreen control and streaming capabilities. The SX Prestige trim included a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display and a 12-speaker Bose Centerpoint surround-sound audio system. Kia provided a comprehensive quick reference guide to help users navigate the technology.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was well-equipped with safety features, including the Honda Sensing suite, which encompassed adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and more. The Odyssey also had automatic high-beam headlights and a rear-seat reminder system. However, Honda Sensing lacked refinement, with occasional false warnings and abrupt responses. The blind-spot monitoring system's warning light was not ideally placed, and the radar's range was limited. Despite these issues, the Odyssey earned an overall five-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.

The 2022 Kia Carnival offered a comprehensive list of advanced driving assistance systems, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and more. The EX trim added front parking sensors, cyclist detection, and navigation-based adaptive cruise control with Highway Driving Assist. The Carnival's ultrasonic rear occupant alert system and Safe Exit Assist provided additional safety measures. The SX trim featured a surround-view camera system, while the SX Prestige included a Blind View Monitor. Crash-test results were unavailable at the time of review, but the Carnival's safety features were extensive.