Kia Carnival vs Honda Prologue

The 2024 Kia Carnival made a bold statement with its design, blending SUV-like aesthetics with the traditional functionality of a minivan. Kia's strategy was to cater to SUV enthusiasts by featuring a prominent grille, slab sides, and a pronounced hood, while still offering minivan staples such as sliding doors and modest ground clearance. The Carnival’s grille had a distinct concave shape filled with disco-ball-like trim, and its tail lights boasted filament-like lighting elements. The SX Prestige test car’s 19-inch wheels perfectly filled the wheel wells, complementing the bold design without overdoing it.

Inside, Kia continued its SUV-inspired theme with chunky switchgear and a sizable shifter, aimed at appealing to image-conscious buyers transitioning to a minivan. The controls were user-friendly and rugged in appearance, contributing to a comforting familiarity for new drivers. The SX Prestige trim provided a well-built interior, using materials practical for a vehicle subjected to the wear and tear of family use. Cloth seats were standard in the base LX model, leatherette in EX and SX trims, and genuine leather in the SX Prestige. Heated and ventilated seats in both the first and second rows, along with dual sunroofs, offered a touch of luxury. However, most interior surfaces remained plastic, even at the highest trim levels, trading off more luxurious materials for easier maintenance.

Contrasting this, the 2024 Honda Prologue projected a remarkably “normal” EV appearance. Its EX trim offered five color options, with Touring and Elite trims introducing the eye-catching Sonic Grey and the striking North Shore Pearl—a vivid turquoise that stood as the most visually captivating feature of the Prologue. The traditional Honda “H” logo centered on a smooth black panel indicated the EV nature of the vehicle. Honda’s array of accessories, such as skid plates and side claddings, allowed for personalization, giving the grille a more intricate look upon request.

From the side, the Prologue’s length and low stature, compared to the taller Passport, imparted an elongated, almost vintage gangster car vibe. The 19-inch standard wheels, scalable to 21 inches on the Elite trim, underscored the low roof line. The interior of our Elite trim tester offered a brown and black color scheme, with a more restrained gray and black available across all trims. The dash layout mirrored that of other modern Honda models, adapting to the Prologue’s unique EV traits. Not hiding behind the typical honeycomb pattern, piano black plastic adorned the space, complemented by upholstery on the dashboard and inside the doors. The Prologue’s interior embraced familiar and upscale touches while maintaining a comfortingly mundane feel.

The 2024 Kia Carnival kept its powertrain straightforward with only one option: a 3.5-liter V6 engine generating 290 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. This combination offered a smooth performance comparable to minivan peers like the Honda Odyssey. The absence of all-wheel drive and hybrid options meant the Carnival aligned more closely with the Odyssey’s traditional gas-only setup, outperforming slightly with 10 more horsepower.

The Carnival delivered a pleasant driving experience, highlighted by its well-tuned steering, comfortable ride, and refined drivetrain. The steering was appropriately light for easy maneuvering yet precise enough for confident control at higher speeds. Its softly sprung chassis ensured a smooth ride, ideal for long road trips. Interior noise was kept to a minimum, and an internal speaker system allowed easy communication between rows. The V6 engine and transmission achieved commendable harmony, providing smooth and almost imperceptible gear shifts while emitting a satisfying growl under full acceleration.

In contrast, the 2024 Honda Prologue offered varied powertrain options with both front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD). The FWD setup included a single motor providing 212 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque, available on EX and Touring trims, achieving a 296-mile range with 19-inch wheels. The AWD configuration, standard on the Elite trim, combined dual motors for 288 horsepower and 333 pound-feet of torque, offering a range of up to 281 miles with 19-inch wheels and 273 miles with 21-inch wheels.

One of the key selling points of the Prologue was its driving dynamics, tailored to feel instinctively Honda. It featured multiple regenerative braking settings, including a one-pedal drive mode for classic EV braking and a lower setting for a standard driving experience. The Prologue’s 121.8-inch wheelbase, the longest in its class, contributed to a comfortable ride. At highway speeds, cabin noise was noticeable, though not unpleasant, maintaining a sense of normalcy. In Sport mode, the throttle, brake, and steering responses sharpened, and despite the vehicle’s size, it handled winding roads impressively.

The 2024 Kia Carnival offered seven-passenger seating on the base LX trim, expanding to eight on higher trims. The SX Prestige models featured second-row captain’s chairs with footrests or optional VIP Lounge seats, providing luxurious comfort. Standard power-sliding rear doors, a power liftgate on higher trims, and tri-zone automatic climate control enhanced convenience.

Passenger space was generous, with headroom and first and second-row legroom comparable to rivals. The third-row legroom fell slightly short in comparison to competitors. However, the Carnival excelled in cargo space, providing 40.2 cubic feet behind the third row and an expansive 145.1 cubic feet with both rear rows folded—ahead of the Honda Odyssey, Chrysler Pacifica, and Toyota Sienna.

The Kia’s design made excellent use of space, with practical storage solutions upfront and intuitive controls, though it lacked features like the Pacifica’s Stow ‘n Go seating. It could tow up to 3,500 pounds, matching its minivan peers.

Conversely, the 2024 Honda Prologue focused on providing a seamless transition for new EV owners, featuring conventional door handles and familiar interior designs. It boasted 111.7 cubic feet of passenger volume, surpassing its Cadillac Lyriq counterpart, with notable legroom of 39.4 inches in the rear and 41.4 inches in the front. Headroom was adequate, and the reclining rear seats, coupled with a standard panoramic moonroof on Touring and Elite trims, improved spatial perception.

The Prologue’s standard features included heated front seats and dual-zone climate control, with additional amenities like driver’s seat memory, front seat ventilation, and a heated steering wheel available on higher trims. Front passengers benefited from practical storage with a two-tier setup in the center console and ample room for personal items.

The cargo area, accessed via a hands-free power liftgate on Touring and Elite trims, provided 25.2 cubic feet of space, extending to 57.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. While the Prologue lacked a front trunk, it offered additional storage beneath the cargo floor, albeit with some reaching challenges for shorter users.

The 2024 Kia Carnival featured an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on the base LX trim, upgrading to a dual 12.3-inch touchscreen and instrument cluster on higher trims, though these required wired connections. A 12-speaker Bose premium audio system was available, and the vehicle included a Wi-Fi hotspot and USB ports across all three rows. The infotainment system was well-designed, with clear graphics and user-friendly controls, complemented by additional safety and convenience features like cabin cameras and intercom systems.

The 2024 Honda Prologue, on the other hand, came standard with keyless access, a wireless charger, and four USB-C ports. It also featured wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on an 11.3-inch infotainment screen, with an additional 11-inch digital driver display and an optional head-up display on the Elite trim. The Prologue integrated Google Built-In, offering route-planning and charger-finding features. Higher trims boasted a 12-speaker Bose audio system and Active Sound Control, enhancing the driving experience with artificial powertrain sounds.

The 2024 Kia Carnival received mixed safety ratings from the IIHS, with top marks in some crash tests but lower scores in others, particularly in updated test versions. The SX Prestige model’s headlights were rated highly, but other trims' headlights fared poorly. The Carnival also included a comprehensive suite of safety features, such as blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, and more advanced systems on higher trims.

The 2024 Honda Prologue came equipped with the standard Honda Sensing suite, including newly added features like rear cross-traffic braking and blind-zone steering assist. Higher trims received additional systems like front-park assist and a surround-vision system. The Prologue had not yet been rated by safety organizations, but Honda aimed for top safety classifications.