2022 Kia Carnival vs 2022 Kia Telluride

The 2022 Kia Carnival stood out with its unique design elements across different trims. The LX trim featured a standard black grille and 17-inch aluminum wheels, while the EX trim offered a more sophisticated look with 19-inch machined-finish wheels and simulated leather options. The SX trim introduced a mirrored grid-pattern grille and black wheels, appealing to modern tastes. The SX Prestige trim focused on interior enhancements, including real leather and VIP Lounge Seats. The Carnival's SUV-like styling, with its tall hood and floating roof design, gave it a distinctive presence. Despite the visible sliding door tracks, the Carnival's design was sharp and angular, setting it apart from competitors like the Chrysler Pacifica, Honda Odyssey, and Toyota Sienna. Inside, the Carnival continued the SUV theme with a stylish dashboard and center console, offering an upscale feel even in the base trim. The interior color options, including the bold Tuscan Umber, added to its unique personality.

The 2022 Kia Telluride impressed with its muscular design and balanced proportions, maintaining its handsome midsize SUV appeal. For 2022, Kia made minor changes to the grille pattern and introduced new badges, preserving the Telluride's successful styling. Available in LX, S, EX, and SX trims, the Telluride offered a range of features and pricing options. The interior was well-organized, with logical controls and attractive materials. However, the glossy plastic in the lower cabin detracted from the overall premium feel, especially in the SX Prestige trim with its Nappa leather upholstery. Despite this, the Telluride's interior looked and felt more expensive than its price suggested. New standard features for 2022 included a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation, automatic climate control, and advanced driving aids like Highway Driving Assist and Smart Cruise Control-Curve. The Telluride S trim gained a wireless smartphone charger, enhancing its tech offerings.

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. While all-wheel drive and electrified powertrains were not available, the Carnival offered a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds. The V6 engine provided smooth and effortless acceleration, and the automatic transmission operated seamlessly. The Carnival offered Normal, Eco, Sport, and Smart driving modes, with Smart mode being the preferred choice despite some delayed downshift responses. The Carnival achieved an average fuel economy of 21.7 mpg, close to the EPA's estimate of 22 mpg. The front-wheel-drive Carnival felt athletic, with a flat cornering stance and good grip from its 235/55 Continental all-season tires. However, it could feel stiff over rough surfaces and bouncy over speed humps, potentially improving with a full load of passengers and cargo.

The 2022 Kia Telluride was powered by a 3.8-liter V6 engine producing 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. The engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, and all-wheel drive was available with a Lock mode for power distribution. The Telluride offered a smooth and comfortable ride, with a brake-based Torque Vectoring Cornering Control system enhancing its handling. Drivers could choose between Eco, Comfort, Smart, and Sport driving modes, with the SX trim featuring 20-inch wheels and 245/50 tires for added grip. The Telluride excelled on long-distance drives, aided by Highway Driving Assist technology. It achieved an average fuel economy of 21.1 mpg, matching the EPA's estimate of 21 mpg for the AWD model. The Telluride's towing capacity was 5,000 pounds, making it suitable for hauling trailers.

The 2022 Kia Carnival offered practicality with its minivan design, though the SUV-style dashboard and center console limited storage space compared to competitors. The LX trim featured captain's chairs in the second row, with an optional middle seat for added flexibility. The EX and SX trims offered an 8-passenger Slide Flex seat configuration, while the SX Prestige trim included power-adjustable VIP Lounge Seats with leg rests. The third-row seat provided ample space for adults, and the Carnival's large cargo area offered 40.2 cubic feet of storage behind the third row. Folding the third-row seats created 86.9 cubic feet of cargo space, and removing the second-row seats increased capacity to 145.1 cubic feet. The Carnival's smart hands-free power-sliding side doors and liftgate added convenience, though they could open unintentionally.

The 2022 Kia Telluride balanced form and function with its upscale interior design and practical features. The cabin included thoughtful details like overhead air vents, rear smartphone storage pouches, and USB ports in all three rows. Dual-zone automatic climate control served front-seat occupants, while a single-zone system catered to rear passengers. The Telluride offered SynTex simulated leather in lower trims, with real leather in EX and SX trims, and Nappa leather in the SX Prestige package. The Telluride's seats were comfortable for adults, with a one-touch sliding and folding mechanism for easy access to the third row. The SUV provided 21 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 46 cubic feet with the seats folded. The maximum cargo volume was 87 cubic feet, making it suitable for hauling large items.

The 2022 Kia Carnival featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in the LX trim. The EX trim upgraded to a 12.3-inch widescreen infotainment system with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, HD Radio, SiriusXM, and voice recognition. The Carnival included features like Passenger View and Passenger Talk for enhanced communication. The SX trim added a dual-screen rear entertainment system with streaming apps and voice control. The SX Prestige trim offered a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display and a 12-speaker Bose audio system. Kia provided a quick reference guide for the technology, emphasizing the need to familiarize oneself with the features.

The 2022 Kia Telluride came standard with a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, including navigation and voice recognition. The system required a wired connection for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Kia Connect offered connected services with a free trial subscription, including emergency assistance, remote engine start, and smart speaker integration. The Telluride featured USB ports in all rows, a wireless smartphone charging pad, and a Quiet Mode for the stereo. The SX trim included a 10-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, a head-up display, and a surround-view monitoring system.

The 2022 Kia Carnival offered a comprehensive suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS), including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assistance. The EX trim added front parking sensors, cyclist detection, and Highway Driving Assist (HDA). The Carnival featured an ultrasonic rear occupant alert system and Safe Exit Assist. The SX trim included a surround-view camera system, while the SX Prestige offered a Blind View Monitor. Crash-test results were unavailable at the time of review.

The 2022 Kia Telluride included Kia Drive Wise safety features, such as forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control. The Telluride featured Highway Driving Assist and Smart Cruise Control-Curve. Safe Exit Assist and Blind-Spot View Monitor were also included. The Telluride received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick" designation from the IIHS.