2022 Kia Carnival vs 2023 Nissan Pathfinder

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, 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 look even in base trim. The interior color options varied, with the LX model featuring a two-tone black-and-gray scheme, while higher trims offered more vibrant choices like Tuscan Umber.

The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder carried over its redesign from the previous year, maintaining a blend of traditional and forward-thinking design elements. Its futuristic headlights and angular C-pillar contributed to a modern aesthetic that was expected to remain relevant for years. Inside, the Pathfinder offered a clean and sensible layout, making it both visually appealing and practical. The trims ranged from S to Platinum, with each level adding more features. The Rock Creek trim stood out with its rugged styling, off-road suspension, and water-repellent interior. The Pathfinder's interior provided ample headroom and legroom in the first two rows, with optional captain's chairs for easy access to the third row. The vehicle boasted numerous cupholders and storage compartments, and the Rock Creek's roof rack was both functional and stylish. However, the roof rack's proximity to the roof could make snow removal challenging in certain climates.

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 engine provided smooth and steady acceleration, and the automatic transmission operated unobtrusively. The Carnival featured Normal, Eco, Sport, and Smart driving modes, with Smart mode being the most commonly used despite some delayed downshift responses. The EPA estimated a combined fuel economy of 22 mpg, and testing showed an average of 21.7 mpg. The Carnival's front-wheel-drive setup felt athletic, with a flat cornering stance and responsive handling. However, it could feel stiff over rough surfaces when lightly loaded.

The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 284 horsepower and 259 lb-ft of torque. The Rock Creek trim offered a slight power increase to 295 hp and 270 lb-ft. Power was transmitted through a 9-speed automatic transmission to either front-wheel drive or available all-wheel drive. The Rock Creek trim featured off-road enhancements, including a taller suspension and off-road shocks. While the off-road tires provided a rougher ride on paved roads, they offered comfort on trails. The Pathfinder's engine was smooth and quiet, but the new shifter design was criticized for being unintuitive. The vehicle included a rotary drive mode dial with various settings, and the Rock Creek trim added an All-Terrain mode. The Pathfinder's towing capacity was 3,500 pounds, with the Rock Creek capable of towing up to 6,000 pounds.

The 2022 Kia Carnival offered practicality with its minivan design, though the SUV-style dashboard and center console limited storage space. The LX trim featured second-row captain's chairs with a wide pass-through, and the LX Seat Package added a middle seat for more flexibility. The EX and SX trims shared an 8-passenger Slide Flex seat configuration, while the SX Prestige offered power-adjustable VIP Lounge Seats with leather upholstery. The third-row seat provided comfort for adults, and the rear cargo area was spacious. The Carnival's 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 capacity to 145.1 cubic feet.

The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder provided up to 80.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the second and third rows folded flat. With the second row in use, it offered 45 cubic feet, and with all seats upright, 16.6 cubic feet of cargo space. The first two rows provided ample headroom and legroom, while the third row was suitable for shorter trips. The optional second-row captain's chairs allowed easy access to the third row, and the vehicle featured numerous cupholders and storage compartments. The Rock Creek trim's roof rack was functional, supporting up to 220 pounds, though its proximity to the roof could make snow removal challenging. The Pathfinder's windshield wipers could be folded outward, accommodating snowy conditions.

The 2022 Kia Carnival's LX trim featured analog gauges, an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, 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 included navigation, wireless smartphone charging, and eight speakers. The SX trim added a dual-screen rear entertainment system, while the SX Prestige featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display and a 12-speaker Bose audio system. The Carnival offered features like Passenger View, Passenger Talk, and Quiet Mode for enhanced convenience.

The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder came standard with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The SL, Rock Creek, and Platinum trims featured a larger 9-inch touchscreen. The system was user-friendly, though some found the graphics dated. The Pathfinder included four USB ports, Bluetooth, satellite radio, and voice recognition. The SV trim added a Wi-Fi hotspot, while the SL trim offered wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless device charging, and a third-row USB port. The Platinum trim added an additional third-row USB port. While not cutting-edge, the Pathfinder's tech features were practical and kept devices connected.

The 2022 Kia Carnival offered a comprehensive suite of advanced driving assistance systems, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. 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. The SX trim included a surround-view camera system, and the SX Prestige offered a Blind View Monitor. Crash-test results were unavailable at the time of review.

The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder included standard driver assistance features such as forward and reverse automatic emergency braking, collision warning, pedestrian detection, and blind-spot monitoring. The SV trim added ProPilot Assist with lane centering and adaptive cruise control. The SL trim offered front parking sensors, a 360-degree parking monitor, and traffic-sign recognition. The Platinum trim added rain-sensing wipers and a head-up display. The Pathfinder's off-road mode provided front- and side-view cameras for obstacle monitoring.