2022 Kia Carnival vs 2023 Genesis GV70

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 aluminum wheels, simulated open-pore wood trim, and SynTex simulated leather. The SX trim introduced a mirrored grid-pattern grille and black wheels, and the SX Prestige trim focused on interior enhancements 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 sharp and angular, standing out in its segment. Inside, the SUV theme continued with a crossover-like dashboard and center console, offering an upscale look even in the base trim. The interior color options varied, with the EX trim and higher offering a Tuscan Umber color, adding to the Carnival's unique and attention-grabbing personality.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 shared stylistic connections with the G70 compact luxury sedan, particularly above the belt-line. Its design featured split-bar headlights and a strong chrome line that visually connected it to its sedan counterpart, giving it a coupe-like SUV appearance without sacrificing versatility. Inside, the GV70's cabin was a testament to luxury, with top-notch materials and excellent fit and finish. The design was both contemporary and classic, with climate controls integrated into a curving bezel and a touchscreen that rose organically from the dash. The GV70's dash included a full touchscreen backed by a rotary dial and button controls, offering a user-friendly interface. The gas-powered GV70 was available in two trims, 2.5T and 3.5T, while the Electrified GV70 offered Advance and Prestige trims. The GV70's interior was luxurious, with features like genuine leather upholstery, ambient lighting, and a premium stereo system, making it a strong contender in the luxury SUV market.

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 lacked all-wheel drive and electrified powertrain options, but offered a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds. The V6 engine provided smooth and steady acceleration, with the automatic transmission operating unobtrusively. The Carnival featured Normal, Eco, Sport, and Smart driving modes, with Smart mode being the most commonly used. However, it exhibited delayed downshift responses, particularly noticeable when cornering or climbing hills, which Sport mode helped to resolve. The EPA rated the Carnival at 22 mpg in combined driving, and during testing, it averaged 21.7 mpg. The front-wheel-drive Carnival felt taut and athletic, with a flat cornering stance and responsive handling, though it could feel stiff over uneven surfaces.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 offered two engine options: a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 300 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque, and a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine with 375 horsepower and 391 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. The turbo-four provided ample power for most driving situations, while the V6 catered to performance enthusiasts with its extra grunt and throaty engine note. The GV70 balanced comfort and sharp handling, offering a refined driving experience. The Electrified GV70 featured a 77.4-kWh battery powering two electric motors, producing a combined 429 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque, with a Boost Mode increasing output to 483 horsepower. It offered 236 miles of range and fast charging capabilities. The GV70 Electrified prioritized comfort over sportiness, with well-rounded handling and a focus on luxury.

The 2022 Kia Carnival was a practical minivan with an SUV-style design that limited storage space compared to competitors. The LX trim featured individual captain’s chairs with a wide center pass-through, while the LX Seat Package added a middle second-row seat for more flexibility. The EX and SX trims offered an 8-passenger Slide Flex seat configuration, and the SX Prestige trim included power-adjustable, heated, and ventilated VIP Lounge Seats with an Ottoman-style leg rest. The third-row seat was comfortable for adults, and the Carnival's rearmost cargo area provided ample space. The smart hands-free power-sliding side doors and liftgate had pros and cons, with the liftgate offering a deep storage well and 40.2 cubic feet of volume behind the third-row seat. Folding the third-row seats created 86.9 cubic feet of cargo space, and removing the second-row seats increased cargo volume to 145.1 cubic feet.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 offered 56.9 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 28.9 cubic feet with the seats in use, which was above average for the compact luxury SUV segment. It featured a hands-free power liftgate and decently large cupholders in the center console, though the in-door cupholders were limited in size. The center console included a tray with a retractable lid and a typical bin. The front seats were comfortable and easy to adjust, but rear-seat legroom was tighter, requiring front-row occupants to slide their seats forward. The rear bench reclined for added comfort, but finding a comfortable seating position required some adjustment.

The 2022 Kia Carnival's LX trim included traditional analog gauges, an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, 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, voice recognition, and UVO Link connected services. It also featured navigation, wireless smartphone charging, and eight speakers. The Carnival offered Passenger View and Passenger Talk features, as well as a Quiet Mode for the stereo. The SX trim added a dual-screen rear entertainment system with touchscreen control and device mirroring capability. The SX Prestige trim included a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display and a 12-speaker Bose Centerpoint surround-sound audio system.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 came standard with a 14.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The touchscreen was user-friendly, with large icons and logical menu navigation. The GV70 included four USB ports, wireless device charging, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and a nine-speaker stereo system. Ambient lighting, a digital instrument panel, and the Genesis digital key were available features. The rotary dial for scrolling and selecting was located next to the vehicle's rotary shifter, which could cause confusion for drivers.

The 2022 Kia Carnival offered a comprehensive suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS), including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, active blind-spot and rear cross-traffic warning, lane-departure, -keeping, and -centering assistance, and rear parking sensors. The EX trim added front parking sensors, cyclist detection, navigation-based 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 trim offered a Blind View Monitor. Crash-test results were unavailable at the time of review.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 provided a full suite of driver-assistance technology, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, driver attention monitoring, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The 2.5T's Advance Package added a blind-spot camera system, reverse automatic emergency braking, and a 360-degree parking camera system. The 3.5T's Sport Advance package included these features. The GV70 Electrified offered most of these features as standard, with the head-up display available in the Prestige trim.