2023 Kia Carnival vs 2024 Subaru Outback

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 front and rear lighting, an intricate grille, and decorative roof pillar trim, which contributed to its upscale image. The SX Prestige trim, in particular, was noted for its attractive Astra Blue paint and sophisticated interior, which included dual instrumentation and infotainment screens, dual power sunroofs, and quality materials that enhanced the overall feel of the vehicle. Despite its stylish appearance, the Carnival maintained a practical approach with its spacious interior and advanced technology.

In contrast, the 2024 Subaru Outback maintained its rugged appeal with a few updates, such as a new front fascia and LED fog lights for the Wilderness trim. The Outback's exterior featured tasteful chrome accents and varying wheel designs across trims, with the Touring trim showcasing the most chrome. The interior of the Outback Touring XT was surprisingly luxurious, with Java Brown Nappa leather upholstery and a well-appointed cabin. The Outback's design emphasized capability and comfort, offering a balance between ruggedness and refinement that appealed to a wide range of consumers.

The 2023 Kia Carnival was equipped with a robust 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 290 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. This front-wheel-drive minivan offered an eight-speed automatic transmission and various driving modes, including Eco, Normal, Smart, and Sport. Despite its lack of all-wheel drive or a hybrid option, the Carnival provided a satisfying driving experience with its powerful engine and smooth transmission. However, the brakes showed signs of fading during a mountain descent, although they performed well in other driving conditions. The Carnival's ride quality was firm yet comfortable, with a sporty feel when lightly loaded and a smoother ride when fully occupied.

The 2024 Subaru Outback, true to its brand's tradition, featured a "Boxer" engine. The base model came with a 2.5-liter flat-four engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque. The XT trims, including the Wilderness, were upgraded to a 2.4-liter turbocharged engine, offering 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. This turbo setup improved towing capacity to 3,500 lbs and was paired with Subaru's Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and a Lineartronic CVT. The turbo engine provided a better fit for the Outback's weight, and the CVT mimicked the feel of an eight-speed transmission. The Outback's suspension and ground clearance made it a capable off-road vehicle, especially in the Wilderness trim with its advanced X-Mode.

The 2023 Kia Carnival offered a spacious and versatile interior, with a design that mimicked SUVs more than traditional minivans. It featured three types of upholstery, with the SX Prestige trim offering genuine leather. The Carnival's interior included a three-zone automatic climate control system, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The VIP Lounge Seats in the SX Prestige trim provided luxury but limited cargo space to 86.9 cubic feet. Without these seats, the Carnival offered a maximum cargo space of 145.1 cubic feet, rivaling large SUVs like the Chevrolet Suburban. The third-row seat was adult-friendly, and the smart power liftgate revealed a deep cargo well with 40.2 cubic feet of space.

The 2024 Subaru Outback, despite its sleek design, did not compromise on interior space. It offered more headroom and legroom than competitors like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. The Outback's cargo area measured 32.6 cubic feet with all seats in place and 75.6 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The vehicle came with dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, and a power-adjustable driver's seat starting from the Premium trim. Higher trims offered additional features like heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, and a hands-free power liftgate. The Outback's raised roof rails with retractable cross bars added to its practicality.

The 2023 Kia Carnival SX Prestige featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation and infotainment system, reminiscent of luxury brands like Mercedes-Benz. The system included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM, and a one-year subscription to Kia Connect Ultimate services. However, the 12-speaker Bose audio system was considered mediocre. The Carnival also offered features like Quiet Mode, Passenger Talk, and Passenger View with Night Vision. The optional dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system was sophisticated but underutilized by teenagers, who preferred their own devices.

The 2024 Subaru Outback Touring came with an 11.6-inch portrait-oriented infotainment screen, with the base trim retaining a dual-7-inch-screen system. The Subaru Starlink platform offered standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with wireless connectivity starting from the Premium trim. The climate controls were integrated into the touchscreen, with some hard buttons for essential functions. Wi-Fi capability was available on all but the base trim, and most trims featured a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. The Outback also included both USB-C and USB-A ports, catering to various device needs.

The 2023 Kia Carnival was equipped with a comprehensive suite of driver assistance and collision avoidance systems, with features like forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist standard across all trims. The rear-seat reminder system and Safe Exit System were notable safety features. Higher trims added advanced systems like Junction Turning Detection and Highway Driving Assist, which provided semi-autonomous driving assistance. The Carnival earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS for 2022, but the NHTSA had not yet tested it.

The 2024 Subaru Outback received a Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. The EyeSight suite of driver-assistance technologies was standard, including adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and automatic emergency steering. The Onyx Edition and higher trims added features like reverse automatic braking, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Touring trim included a wide-angle camera, digital rearview mirror, and driver-attention monitor, enhancing safety and driver awareness.