2023 Kia Carnival vs 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV

The 2023 Kia Carnival presented a unique blend of style and functionality, setting itself apart from the typical minivan. It featured a distinctive design with high-tech lighting, an intricate grille, and decorative roof pillar trim, which contributed to its upscale image. The SX Prestige trim, in particular, offered a sophisticated interior with dual instrumentation and infotainment screens, dual power sunroofs, and quality materials that enhanced the overall aesthetic. Despite its stylish appearance, the Carnival maintained practicality with its spacious interior and advanced technology.

In contrast, the 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV embraced a bold and aggressive design, drawing inspiration from its gasoline counterpart. It featured a tall hood, a scowling front end, and boomerang-shaped taillights, giving it a more assertive presence than other electric SUVs. The Blazer EV's interior was characterized by large round air vents, a flat-bottom steering wheel, and optional red leather upholstery, creating a fun and sporty atmosphere. However, some interior components felt flimsy, and the absence of a frunk limited its practicality compared to other electric vehicles.

The 2023 Kia Carnival was equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 290 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. It offered a smooth and powerful driving experience, with an eight-speed automatic transmission and various driving modes, including Eco, Normal, Smart, and Sport. Despite its front-wheel-drive configuration, the Carnival provided ample power even when fully loaded. However, the absence of all-wheel drive and a hybrid powertrain limited its versatility in adverse weather conditions and fuel efficiency.

The 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV offered a range of powertrain options, including a single-motor rear-wheel drive and a dual-motor all-wheel drive. The RWD model produced 340 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque, while the AWD version delivered 288 hp and 333 lb-ft of torque. The Blazer EV's performance was impressive, with strong acceleration and precise steering, although the RWD model felt traction-limited. The AWD version provided better off-the-line performance, and the forthcoming Blazer EV SS promised even more power with 557 hp and 648 lb-ft of torque.

The 2023 Kia Carnival offered a spacious and versatile interior, with a driving position reminiscent of an SUV. It featured three types of upholstery, with genuine leather available in the SX Prestige trim. The Carnival's interior was equipped with a three-zone automatic climate control system, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The VIP Lounge Seats in the second row provided a luxurious experience but limited cargo space to 86.9 cubic feet. Without these seats, the Carnival offered a maximum cargo capacity of 145.1 cubic feet, surpassing even the Chevrolet Suburban.

The 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV, while appearing like a traditional SUV, offered a spacious interior with headroom and legroom comparable to its rivals. However, it lacked the commanding driving position of a traditional SUV. The Blazer EV's cargo space was limited to 25.5 cubic feet with the second row in place and 59.1 cubic feet with the seats folded, less than the gasoline Blazer. It featured a "presence activated" liftgate and ample small-item storage, but the absence of a frunk reduced its practicality compared to other electric vehicles.

The 2023 Kia Carnival SX Prestige featured dual 12.3-inch digital instrumentation and infotainment touchscreens, offering a visually appealing and user-friendly interface. The infotainment system included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a complimentary one-year subscription to Kia Connect Ultimate connected services. Additional tech features included Quiet Mode, Passenger Talk, and Passenger View with Night Vision. However, the Kia Connect subscription was inactive during testing, limiting the effectiveness of the native voice recognition system.

The 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV introduced a new Google-based infotainment system with built-in Google apps, such as Google Maps and Google Assistant. It featured a 17.7-inch touchscreen and an 11-inch digital instrument cluster, both offering sharp graphics. The system included built-in route planning and over-the-air software updates. However, the elimination of standalone Android Auto and Apple CarPlay limited functionality for iOS users. The Blazer EV also featured a hands-free start sequence, enhancing its high-tech appeal.

The 2023 Kia Carnival came equipped with a comprehensive suite of driver assistance and collision avoidance systems, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist. The rear-seat reminder system and Safe Exit System added an extra layer of safety. The Highway Driving Assist technology was particularly impressive, providing smooth and reliable semi-autonomous driving assistance. The Carnival received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS for the 2022 calendar year, although the standard headlights received a Poor rating.

The 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV offered standard safety features such as automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, lane-keep assist, and automatic high beams. Optional driver aids included reverse automatic braking, park assist, and the Super Cruise hands-free driver assist system. However, crash-test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time of publication.