2023 Kia Carnival vs 2022 Land Rover Defender

The 2022 Land Rover Defender retained its iconic design, with a boxy profile, tailgate-mounted spare tire, and flat hood that paid homage to its predecessors. Despite these nostalgic elements, the Defender boasted a modern design with rounded corners for improved aerodynamics and recessed LED headlights that gave it a unique character. The interior was spacious, offering more headroom and legroom than the original, and featured a rugged yet stylish design with a mix of leather and suede upholstery, exposed screws, and metal trim. This combination of classic and contemporary elements made the Defender a standout in both style and functionality.

In contrast, the 2023 Kia Carnival presented a fresh take on the minivan segment with its SUV-like design and upscale image. The Carnival's exterior featured high-tech lighting, an intricate grille, and decorative roof pillar trim, while the interior was equipped with dual instrumentation and infotainment screens, dual power sunroofs, and quality materials. The SX Prestige trim offered genuine leather upholstery, although it was noted to be less supple than expected. The Carnival's design successfully blended style and practicality, making it an attractive option for those seeking a minivan with a touch of luxury.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender offered a range of powertrains, including a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 296 horsepower, a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six mild-hybrid with 395 hp, and a new 518 hp V8 engine. The V8 could accelerate the Defender 90 from zero to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds, with a top speed of 149 mph. All models featured a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive with a two-speed transfer case. The Defender excelled in off-road capabilities, with features like a 4WD system with low range, good approach, departure, and breakover angles, and up to 11.5 inches of ground clearance. It also offered a maximum towing capacity of 8,201 pounds.

The 2023 Kia Carnival was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 290 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It was front-wheel drive and offered driving modes such as Eco, Normal, Smart, and Sport. The Carnival had a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds and an EPA rating of 22 mpg in combined driving. While it lacked all-wheel drive and hybrid options, the V6 engine provided ample power, and the transmission operated smoothly. The Carnival's brakes performed well in most situations, although they experienced some fade during a mountain descent. Overall, the Carnival delivered a satisfying driving experience, with a firm, sporty ride quality.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender offered versatile seating and cargo configurations. The two-door Defender 90 had 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats, which were comfortable but challenging to access. The four-door Defender 110 was available in two-row, five-seat, and three-row, seven-seat configurations, with cargo space ranging from 11.4 to 70.4 cubic feet, depending on the seat arrangement. The interior emphasized functionality, with a large caged storage space, a spacious center-console storage bin, and optional roof racks and cargo boxes for additional storage.

The 2023 Kia Carnival provided a spacious and flexible interior, with three types of upholstery options and a three-zone automatic climate control system. The SX Prestige trim featured VIP Lounge Seats, which were power-adjustable, heated, and ventilated, but limited cargo space to 86.9 cubic feet. Without these seats, the Carnival offered up to 145.1 cubic feet of cargo space. The third-row seat was comfortable for adults, with USB ports and cupholders, and the smart power liftgate revealed 40.2 cubic feet of cargo volume behind the third row. The Carnival's interior design and features made it a practical choice for families.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender came with a standard Pivi Pro infotainment system, featuring a 10-inch central touchscreen and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity. A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster was standard on most trims, with an optional 11.4-inch touchscreen available. The interface was user-friendly, although the screen required a firm touch to respond. Optional features included a 14-speaker Meridian audio system, head-up display, and a surround-view camera system, which was particularly useful for off-roading.

The 2023 Kia Carnival SX Prestige boasted 12.3-inch digital instrumentation and infotainment touchscreens, offering a visually impressive and user-friendly experience. The infotainment system included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a one-year subscription to Kia Connect Ultimate connected services. Additional tech features included Quiet Mode, Passenger Talk, and Passenger View with Night Vision. The optional dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system offered streaming capabilities, although it was not widely used by passengers. Overall, the Carnival's technology package was comprehensive and enhanced the driving experience.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender offered standard driver-assist features such as lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, and traffic-sign recognition. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control. However, the Defender had not been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, which was not uncommon for luxury vehicles.

The 2023 Kia Carnival came equipped with a range of standard safety features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist. The Carnival also featured a rear-seat reminder system and a Safe Exit System. Starting with EX trim, additional features like Junction Turning Detection and Highway Driving Assist were available. The Carnival received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS for the 2022 calendar year, although the NHTSA had not performed crash tests on the vehicle.