2023 Kia Carnival vs 2024 Kia Sorento

The 2023 Kia Carnival presented a unique blend of style and technology, setting itself apart from the typical minivan. It featured a distinctive design with high-tech lighting, an intricate grille, and decorative roof pillar trim, giving it an upscale image. The SX Prestige trim, in particular, was noted for its attractive Astra Blue paint and stylish interior, which included dual instrumentation and infotainment screens, dual power sunroofs, and quality materials that prevented it from feeling cheap. Despite its stylish appearance, the Carnival lacked an off-road package, relying instead on its interior fittings and technology to stand out.

In contrast, the 2024 Kia Sorento underwent a significant visual update, aligning more closely with its SUV siblings like the Telluride. It boasted a bold new front end with a large grille, vertically-stacked LED headlights, and wing-like daytime running lights, giving it a more intimidating presence. The rear received subtle updates, including new bumpers and LED taillights on higher trims. Inside, the Sorento featured a modern dashboard with a single-pane, twin-screen setup, offering a more contemporary and upscale feel. The cabin was noted for its improved materials and optional luxurious touches, such as faux open-pore wood grain and quality stitching.

The 2023 Kia Carnival was equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 290 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It was front-wheel drive only, with no all-wheel drive or hybrid options available. The Carnival offered four driving modes: Eco, Normal, Smart, and Sport. It had a towing capacity of up to 3,500 pounds and an EPA rating of 22 mpg in combined driving. Despite its power, the Carnival's brakes showed signs of fading during a mountain descent, though they performed well in other situations. The ride quality was firm and sporty with a single occupant but softened with a full load.

The 2024 Kia Sorento offered two engine options. The base engine was a 2.5-liter four-cylinder producing 191 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque, which struggled with the Sorento's weight. The EX and higher trims featured a turbocharged 2.5-liter engine with 281 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque, paired with a dual-clutch eight-speed automatic transmission. The Sorento was front-wheel drive by default, with all-wheel drive available as an option. The X-Line and X-Pro trims offered enhanced off-road capabilities, with increased ground clearance and all-terrain tires. The Sorento's ride was smooth and quiet, with confident cornering and well-weighted steering.

The 2023 Kia Carnival's interior was designed to resemble an SUV, with a visible hood and lower driving position. It offered three types of upholstery, with genuine leather available on the SX Prestige trim. The Carnival featured 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 were a standout feature, offering power-adjustable, heated, and ventilated seating, but they limited cargo space to 86.9 cubic feet. The third row was spacious enough for adults, and the Carnival provided ample cargo capacity behind it, with a smart power liftgate for easy access.

The 2024 Kia Sorento's cabin was modern and comfortable, with generous legroom in the first two rows. The third row was tighter, with 29.6 inches of legroom, but it was still more spacious than some competitors. The Sorento offered optional captain's chairs in the second row, allowing for easy access to the third row. The dashboard was ergonomic, with logically placed controls and ample small-item storage. Cargo space was limited with the third row in use, but folding it down provided up to 72.1 cubic feet of space. Higher trims included a power liftgate for added convenience.

The 2023 Kia Carnival SX Prestige featured 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, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a complimentary one-year subscription to Kia Connect Ultimate 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, though it was not widely used by teenagers during testing.

The 2024 Kia Sorento adopted a single-pane, twin-screen setup for its gauge and infotainment displays, with a redesigned infotainment system called "Connected Car Navigation Cockpit" (CCnC). The system prioritized popular features on the home screen and offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The Sorento included USB-C outlets in all three rows and an auxiliary jack for older devices. Higher trims featured a Bose 12-speaker surround sound system and Digital Key 2.0, allowing for keyless access and driving with compatible smartphones.

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 used ultrasonic sensors to detect movement inside the vehicle, while 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 was named a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS for the 2022 calendar year.

The 2024 Kia Sorento featured Kia's Drivewise suite of active safety features, with more standard and optional systems than ever before. Standard features included adaptive cruise control, forward automatic emergency braking, lane-following and lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring. Optional features included navigation-based adaptive cruise control, Highway Driving Assist, and Highway Driving Assist 2 with automated lane changes. The Sorento also offered surround-view cameras and a rear-view camera mirror on higher trims. The IIHS had not fully evaluated the 2024 Sorento, but it received "Good" ratings in several tests.