2022 Kia Carnival vs 2023 Dodge Durango

The 2022 Kia Carnival presented a unique design across its various trims, each offering distinct elements that set them apart. 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 simulated skid plates, a floating roof design, and a robust roof-rack on higher trims. Despite the visible sliding door tracks, the Carnival's design was considered appealing, with sharp angles and a conservative yet upscale interior, even in the base trim.

The 2023 Dodge Durango, entering its 12th model year, maintained a familiar yet attractive design with clean, car-like styling and a slim grille flanked by forward-leaning headlights. The rear featured Dodge's signature "racetrack" taillights. The SRT 392 and SRT Hellcat models had subtle unique styling features, including a Viper-like hood and unique wheels. The Blacktop and Hemi Orange appearance packages offered additional customization options. The interior, while not as distinctive as the exterior, provided a comfortable space with materials suited to each trim level. The Citadel and SRT models offered more luxurious features, and the SRT Hellcat test car featured bold red leather upholstery.

The 2022 Kia Carnival was equipped with a 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 engine provided smooth acceleration, and the automatic transmission operated 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 estimated a combined fuel economy of 22 mpg, with real-world testing averaging 21.7 mpg. The Carnival's front-wheel-drive setup felt athletic, with a flat cornering stance, though it could feel stiff over uneven surfaces.

The 2023 Dodge Durango offered a range of powertrains, starting with a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine producing 293 horsepower (295 hp with dual exhaust) and 260 lb-ft of torque. The 5.7-liter Hemi V8, standard on the R/T and optional on the Citadel, delivered 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque. The SRT 392 featured a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 with 475 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque, achieving 0-60 mph in 4.4 seconds. The SRT Hellcat boasted a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 with 710 hp and 645 lb-ft of torque, reaching 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds. The Hellcat's performance was exhilarating, with minimal wind and tire noise at highway speeds, and the adaptive-damping suspension and Brembo brakes made the power manageable.

The 2022 Kia Carnival, a practical minivan with SUV styling, offered various seating configurations. The LX trim featured captain's chairs with a center pass-through, while the LX Seat Package added a middle seat for flexibility. The EX and SX trims had an 8-passenger Slide Flex seat configuration, and the SX Prestige included VIP Lounge Seats with power adjustments and leg rests. The third-row seat provided comfort for adults, and the cargo area offered 40.2 cubic feet of space behind the third row, expandable to 86.9 cubic feet with the seats folded. The Carnival's smart hands-free power-sliding doors and liftgate added convenience, though they could open unintentionally.

The 2023 Dodge Durango offered seven-seat or six-seat configurations, with standard front bucket seats, a second-row bench, and a third-row bench on SXT, GT, and R/T models. The Citadel and SRT models featured second-row captain's chairs. The Durango's interior space was competitive with other midsize SUVs, though it offered less cargo space than some rivals, with 17.2 cubic feet behind the third row, 43.3 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 85.1 cubic feet behind the first row. The Durango excelled in towing capacity, with V6 models towing up to 6,200 pounds and V8 models up to 8,700 pounds.

The 2022 Kia Carnival's LX trim included an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The EX trim upgraded to a 12.3-inch widescreen system with wired connectivity, HD Radio, SiriusXM, and navigation. Features like Passenger View and Passenger Talk enhanced communication, while the SX trim added a dual-screen rear entertainment system. The SX Prestige included a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display and a 12-speaker Bose audio system. Kia provided a comprehensive quick reference guide for the technology, which was generally intuitive to use.

The 2023 Dodge Durango's SXT and GT models featured an 8.4-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, while the Citadel and SRT models had a 10.1-inch touchscreen with wireless connectivity. The Uconnect 5 system on the larger screen was responsive and user-friendly, with added personality for SRT models. The SRT 392 and SRT Hellcat included the Performance Pages app for performance data, and a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system was available on the SRT Hellcat.

The 2022 Kia Carnival offered a comprehensive suite of advanced driving assistance systems, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assistance. The EX trim added front parking sensors, cyclist detection, and navigation-based adaptive cruise control with Highway Driving Assist. The Carnival also featured an ultrasonic rear occupant alert system and Safe Exit Assist. Crash-test results were unavailable at the time of review.

The 2023 Dodge Durango received mixed safety ratings, with "Good" marks in some IIHS tests but a "Marginal" score in the driver-side small overlap front test. The NHTSA gave it a four-star overall rating, with five stars in the side crash test. Standard driver-assist features included blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, while forward collision warning and other features were standard only on the Citadel.