2023 Kia Carnival vs 2023 Hyundai Palisade

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade, as Hyundai's largest SUV, had a commanding presence on the road, further enhanced by its 2023 styling update. The new front fascia, with its bold strokes and squared-off grille, gave the Palisade a stronger and more assertive look. Standard LED accents, daytime running lights, and headlights added to its modern appeal, while the top Calligraphy trim featured premium rear accent lighting and a unique glossy black and chrome grille. The interior of the Palisade was equally impressive, with the Calligraphy trim offering premium Nappa leather and a dual-pane sunroof that brightened the cabin. The Palisade's interior design drew inspiration from luxury brands, with horizontal quilting and dash lines reminiscent of Mercedes-Benz. The vehicle offered a range of seating configurations, with second-row captain's chairs in higher trims and a bench option for lower trims, accommodating up to eight passengers.

In contrast, the 2023 Kia Carnival stood out with its distinctive style and impressive technology, setting it apart from typical minivans. The Carnival's SX Prestige trim featured a sophisticated design with high-tech front and rear lighting, an intricate grille, and decorative roof pillar trim. Inside, the Carnival's dual instrumentation and infotainment screens added a touch of sophistication, while the dual power sunroofs provided ample natural light. The SX Prestige's interior materials were of high quality, and the robust transmission shifter added a sense of quality. The Carnival's seating options included power-adjustable, heated, and ventilated VIP Lounge Seats, which offered a luxurious experience for road trips but limited cargo space. The Carnival's third-row seat was spacious enough for adults, and the vehicle provided ample cargo capacity behind the third row, with a smart power liftgate for easy access.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade was equipped with a 3.8-liter V6 engine, delivering 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This powertrain was competitive within its class, offering more power than the Mazda CX-9 and Volkswagen Atlas, and slightly more than the Honda Pilot and Nissan Pathfinder. The Palisade's eight-speed automatic transmission could be controlled with paddle shifters, and front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available as a $1,900 option. The Palisade's towing capacity reached up to 5,000 pounds, and AWD models featured a dedicated Tow Mode for optimized shifting. Fuel economy for the Palisade was rated at 19 mpg city, 27 highway, and 22 combined for FWD models, while AWD models achieved 19 city, 25 highway, and 21 combined.

The 2023 Kia Carnival, on the other hand, was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, producing 290 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. The Carnival's powertrain offered a combined fuel economy of 22 mpg and a towing capacity of up to 3,500 pounds. The Carnival featured Eco, Normal, Smart, and Sport driving modes, allowing drivers to tailor their driving experience. However, the Carnival lacked all-wheel drive and hybrid powertrain options, which could have been beneficial in wet weather conditions. Despite this, 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. The minivan offered a firm, sporty ride quality, with a softer ride when fully loaded with passengers.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade offered generous interior space, comfortably seating seven or eight passengers. It provided 44.1 inches of legroom in the front row, 42.4 inches in the second, and 31.4 inches in the third, surpassing the Toyota Highlander. The Palisade's passenger volume measured 155.3 cubic feet, and its cargo space ranged from 18 cubic feet with all seats in place to 86.4 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded flat. The Palisade featured a hands-free smart liftgate, HVAC vents in all three rows, and a center console with a phone holder and cupholders. The vehicle's controls were intuitive, and automatic dual-zone climate control was standard in SEL trims and above.

The 2023 Kia Carnival, with its SUV-like design, offered a unique driving experience. The Carnival's interior featured three types of upholstery, with genuine leather available in the SX Prestige trim. The minivan's three-zone automatic climate control system included heated and ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel. The Carnival's smart sliding doors provided easy access to the second row, which could be configured with VIP Lounge Seats. These seats offered a luxurious experience but limited cargo space to 86.9 cubic feet. The Carnival's third-row seat was spacious, with USB ports and cupholders for passengers. The minivan provided 40.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, with a deep well for additional storage. The Carnival's third-row seats could be tumbled into the storage well to expand cargo space, although the resulting load floor had numerous cracks and crevices.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade boasted advanced technology features, including a standard WiFi hotspot and a 12.3-inch color touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, navigation, HD Radio, SiriusXM, and Bluetooth connectivity. A premium 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system was available in SEL models and standard in Limited and Calligraphy trims. The Palisade offered a 4.2-inch color driver info display or a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster in higher trims. An in-car intercom and rear-seat quiet mode were available, and the Bluelink connected vehicle system provided remote accessibility and management features. The Palisade also introduced Digital Key 2 Touch, compatible with both Android and Apple devices, allowing owners to unlock, start, and drive the car using their smartphones.

The 2023 Kia Carnival SX Prestige featured 12.3-inch digital instrumentation and infotainment touchscreens, offering a sophisticated presentation similar to a Mercedes-Benz. The digital instrumentation impressed with its lush graphics and changing imagery based on the time of day. The infotainment system included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM, and a one-year subscription to Kia Connect Ultimate connected services. The Carnival offered Quiet Mode, Passenger Talk, and Passenger View with Night Vision for rear passengers. The optional dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system provided streaming capabilities, although teenagers preferred using their own devices. The Carnival's 12-speaker Bose audio system was deemed mediocre by audiophiles.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade was equipped with Hyundai's Smart Sense suite of safety features, including forward collision avoidance, driver attention warning, high beam assist, and lane-keeping and lane-following assist. Blind-spot collision avoidance and rear cross-traffic collision avoidance were standard on all trims. The Palisade also featured navigation-based Smart Cruise Control, intelligent speed limit assist, and Highway Driving Assist I and II. A full-display digital rearview mirror was available, and the rear seat occupant alert used ultrasonic sensors to monitor the back seats. The 2022 Palisade earned a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS, and the 2023 model was expected to maintain or improve upon this rating.

The 2023 Kia Carnival came with a range of driver assistance and collision avoidance systems, with features added as you moved up the trim levels. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist. The Carnival's rear-seat reminder system used ultrasonic sensors to detect movement, and the Safe Exit System warned occupants of approaching vehicles. The EX trim added Junction Turning Detection and Highway Driving Assist, while the SX trim included a surround-view camera and Blind-Spot View Monitor. The Carnival's Highway Driving Assist technology was praised for its accuracy and smooth operation. The 2022 Carnival earned a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS, although the standard headlights received a Poor rating.