Kia Carnival Hybrid vs Buick Envista

Like many brands, crossover SUVs are now Buick's stock and trade. The venerable General Motors division now exclusively sells crossovers, in fact. And for the 2024 model year, there's a new name in the lineup.

The 2024 Buick Envista is the company's new entry-level model, replacing the Buick Encore and slotting below the Buick Encore GX (which confusingly keeps that name despite there no longer being a standard Encore). The Envista shares most hardware with the redesigned 2024 Chevrolet Trax but, as with all Buick models, it aims for a more upscale feel than its Bowtie-badged counterpart.

This new model launches in three guises. The Envista Preferred is the base model, the Sport Touring (ST) adds sporty styling touches, and the Avenir is the range topper. We sampled an Envista ST in Ann Arbor, Michigan on some of the same roads GM engineers used to tune this new addition to the Buick lineup.

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The 2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid is a new addition to the Kia Carnival minivan lineup, giving buyers the option of a hybrid powertrain for the first time. The Carnival gets a number of updates as well, including refreshed exterior styling and tech features, to help it remain competitive with the Chrysler Pacifica, Honda Odyssey, and Toyota Sienna in the small—but still significant—minivan segment.

Verdict: The Carnival's new hybrid powertrain enhances an already-impressive package.