2022 Kia Carnival vs 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar

The 2022 Kia Carnival presented a unique design across its various trims, each offering distinct elements. The LX trim featured a standard black grille and 17-inch aluminum wheels, while the EX trim doubled the available paint colors and added 19-inch machined-finish wheels, simulated wood trim, and SynTex simulated leather. The SX trim introduced a mirrored grid-pattern grille and black wheels, and the SX Prestige focused on interior upgrades with real leather and VIP Lounge Seats. The Carnival's SUV styling included skid plates, a floating roof design, and a robust roof-rack on higher trims. Despite visible sliding door tracks, the Carnival's design was sharp and angular, standing out in its segment with a crossover-like interior and upscale appearance even in base trim.

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar exuded class and elegance, with a design that referenced the larger Range Rover's profile in a sporty package. Its long wheelbase, short overhangs, and signature grille and lights were unmistakably Range Rover. The Velar's design included a sloping roof, wide shoulder crease, and flush door handles, creating a streamlined yet blocky appearance. Special details like taillight lenses with depth illusions and air ducts reminiscent of Bugatti's NACA ducts added to its allure. The R-Dynamic trim featured bronze accents and a more aggressive bumper. Inside, the Velar's cabin was slick, with high-quality materials and a polished black center stack. The three screens offered sharp graphics, and upper trims added extra leather and richer textures.

The 2022 Kia Carnival was equipped with a new 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 290 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, driving the front wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. It offered a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds. The V6 engine provided smooth and effortless acceleration, with the automatic transmission operating unobtrusively. The Carnival featured Normal, Eco, Sport, and Smart driving modes, with Smart mode being the most used despite some delayed downshift responses. The EPA rated the Carnival at 22 mpg in combined driving, and it averaged 21.7 mpg during testing. The front-wheel-drive Carnival felt taut and athletic, with a flat cornering stance, though it could feel stiff over certain road surfaces.

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar shared its chassis with the Jaguar F-Pace, offering a lower center of gravity and lighter weight for improved cornering and braking. The base engine was a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four with 247 horsepower and 269 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard 4WD. The Velar's ride was smoother and more controlled, with an optional air suspension providing a plush "magic carpet" ride. The Terrain Response system offered six driving modes, but the Velar's street-focused mission limited its off-road capabilities. An optional 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system was available, offering up to 395 hp and 405 lb-ft of torque. This powertrain provided high performance while reducing emissions.

The 2022 Kia Carnival was a practical minivan with an SUV-style design that limited storage space compared to competitors. The LX trim featured second-row captain's chairs with a wide pass-through, while the LX Seat Package added a middle seat for more flexibility. The EX and SX trims offered an 8-passenger Slide Flex seat configuration, and the SX Prestige included power-adjustable VIP Lounge Seats with a rear sunroof. The Carnival's third-row seat was comfortable for adults, and the rear cargo area offered 40.2 cubic feet of space, expandable to 86.9 cubic feet with the third-row seats folded. Removing the second-row seats in certain trims increased cargo volume to 145.1 cubic feet.

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar had a tighter interior compared to midsize SUVs, with limited headroom and visibility due to its design. Cargo space was 16 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 49 cubic feet with the seats folded. The Velar's design included a controversial parking brake control integrated with the transmission button, which was illogical and potentially dangerous. The Pivi Pro infotainment system offered a simplified layout with customizable features, voice activation, and a 360-degree camera system. The Velar's interior featured high-quality materials, but some design choices, like the parking brake control, were frustrating.

The 2022 Kia Carnival's LX trim included analog gauges, an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and six speakers. The EX trim upgraded to a 12.3-inch widescreen infotainment system with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, HD Radio, SiriusXM, voice recognition, and UVO Link connected services. It also featured navigation, wireless smartphone charging, and eight speakers. The SX trim added a dual-screen rear entertainment system with touchscreen control and voice control capability. The SX Prestige included a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display and a 12-speaker Bose audio system.

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar's Pivi Pro infotainment system was reliable and user-friendly, with a simplified layout and customizable features. It included a voice assistant, air quality monitoring, a heated windshield, and advanced navigation features. The 4x4 app provided off-road measurements, and the 360-degree cameras offered a 3D view. The instrument panel could display full-width maps and reconfigure gauges, while the adaptive cruise control with steering assist was optional. Standard features included LED headlights, automatic high beams, power heated front seats, a proximity key, SiriusXM, and a 12-speaker Meridian stereo.

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

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar scored well in the European NCAP, with a five-star rating and a 93-percent score for front and side impact tests. Standard safety features included forward emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, parking sensors, traffic sign recognition, and a driver attention monitor. Optional features included 360-degree cameras and adaptive cruise control with steering assist.