Kia Carnival vs Kia EV9

The 2024 Kia EV9 broke new ground for Kia's electric SUVs. Its exterior, while unmistakably Kia, adopted a more futuristic, blocky design that drew comparisons to digital clocks with its sharp, angular body lines. The EV9 had a signature look, especially in its lighting, where the "Star Map" daytime running lights created a slim, connect-the-dots-style line. Depending on the trim, the LED headlights presented themselves as either two dashes or 12 dots, with the Land and GT-Line trims featuring a Digital Pattern Lighting Grille that added a constellation of smaller light points. This grille wasn't available with matte exterior colors, an option costing an additional $995.

The blocky aesthetic continued with the EV9's wheels, ranging from the visually dynamic 19-inch wheels on the base model to the geometric 21-inchers on the GT-Line. Inside, the EV9 felt fresh and light, particularly with the dual sunroofs and two-tone light gray interior of the test model. The seats were eight-way power-adjustable, with the higher trims adding even more customization options. The SynTex seating surfaces were comfortable and the interior fabrics seemed durable enough to handle regular use.

The 2024 Kia Carnival, by contrast, sported an SUV-like exterior despite being a minivan. Its prominent grille, slab sides, and pronounced hood contributed to this SUV illusion, although the sliding doors and lack of ground clearance clearly pointed to its minivan roots. Design elements such as the disco-ball-like trim of the grille and the filament-style taillights added a touch of flair. The SX Prestige model's 19-inch wheels perfectly filled out the wheel wells, giving the Carnival a distinctive look without seeming overly ambitious.

Inside, the Carnival continued the SUV theme with chunky switchgear and a sizable shifter, giving image-conscious buyers a more rugged feel. The SX Prestige trim was built solidly, with materials designed to withstand the wear and tear of family life. While lower trims offered cloth seats, higher trims featured leatherette or real leather upholstery. First- and second-row seats could be heated and ventilated, and dual sunroofs were available. However, much of the interior was still primarily plastic, even on the top trim level, leading to a varied texture experience.

The 2024 Kia EV9 offered a range of powertrain options, starting with the base Light trim featuring a single motor with rear-wheel drive (RWD), producing 215 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, with an EPA-estimated range of 230 miles. The Light Long Range model, with a larger 99.8-kWh battery, reduced horsepower to 201 but extended the range to 304 miles. The higher trims, Wind and Land, came with all-wheel drive (AWD) and two electric motors, generating 379 horsepower and 443 lb-ft of torque, offering 280 miles of range. The performance-focused GT-Line trim provided 516 lb-ft of torque but reduced the range to 270 miles.

When driving the EV9 GT-Line around Napa Valley, the power delivery was smooth and refined, offering a seamless transition to cruising speeds without overwhelming acceleration. The handling was stable, with good control and minimal body roll, though some mild rocking in the suspension was noted. The regenerative braking system, adjustable via steering wheel paddles, felt natural and comparable to traditional gas-powered vehicles. The EV9 supported fast charging capabilities, with Kia claiming it could charge from 10 to 80 percent in just 25 minutes on a high-speed DC fast charger.

In contrast, the 2024 Kia Carnival stuck to a simpler powertrain approach, featuring a 3.5-liter V6 engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive (FWD). This setup produced 290 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, surpassing the Honda Odyssey's similar engine by 10 horsepower. The Carnival's steering was well-balanced, making the vehicle easy to maneuver in tight spaces while maintaining precision at higher speeds. Its comfortable ride and low interior noise levels made for pleasant long journeys, aided by an internal speaker system for easy communication between rows.

The Carnival's drivetrain was impressively refined, with the V6 engine providing smooth and quick shifts, and a pleasant growl at full throttle. Despite lacking modern turbocharging or hybrid systems, the Carnival demonstrated why such traditional setups remain popular, offering a dependable and engaging driving experience.

The 2024 Kia EV9 stood out with its rare all-electric three-row configuration. The third row was notably spacious, providing 39.5 inches of headroom comparable to, and even surpassing, many rivals like the Kia Telluride and BMW X7. Depending on the middle row's setup, third-row legroom varied from 30.8 to 32 inches. With just two seats in the third row, the EV9 could seat up to seven passengers, offering configurations with either second-row captain’s chairs or a bench seat. Cargo space was competitive, offering 20.2 cubic feet behind the third row, expandable to 43.5 cubic feet with the third row folded, and reaching 81.7 cubic feet with only the front seats in use. The flat load floor made handling luggage easier, and while front storage space was decent, the higher trims offered additional features like a rear console drawer and tray table for second-row passengers.

The 2024 Kia Carnival, available in both seven- and eight-passenger configurations, provided versatile seating arrangements. The SX Prestige trim featured second-row captain’s chairs with footrests, and VIP Lounge seats with one-touch reclining and sliding functions were also available. Power-sliding rear doors were standard, and higher trims offered additional conveniences like a power liftgate and tri-zone automatic climate control. However, the Carnival had the least third-row legroom among current minivans.

Cargo capacity was a strong point for the Carnival. With all seats in place, it offered an impressive 40.2 cubic feet of cargo space, featuring a deep cargo well for secure storage. With the second and third rows folded, the Carnival boasted 145.1 cubic feet of space, outdoing the Honda Odyssey and far surpassing rivals like the Toyota Sienna and Chrysler Pacifica.

The 2024 Kia EV9 elevated its tech game with a curved display integrating three screens. A 12.3-inch driver information display, a central 5-inch climate control screen, and another 12.3-inch infotainment screen offered a user-friendly interface. Standard features included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as a wireless charging pad. Higher trims came equipped with a 14-speaker Meridian Premium Audio system, while an available head-up display was standard on the GT-Line trim. One of the EV9’s standout features was its connectedness, allowing over-the-air (OTA) updates for performance upgrades and additional lighting patterns, purchasable through the Kia Connect store.

The 2024 Kia Carnival featured an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on the base LX trim, upgrading to a 12.3-inch touchscreen and digital instrument cluster on higher trims. A 12-speaker Bose premium audio system, standard Bluetooth voice recognition, and rear-seat voice recognition were also available. The Carnival offered multiple USB ports across all three rows, a competent infotainment system with easy-to-read graphics, and intuitive controls. A cabin camera system and an intercom feature for rear passengers added convenience, while the Quiet Mode allowed front passengers to disconnect the rear speakers.

The 2024 Kia EV9 came with a robust suite of standard safety features. Adaptive cruise control with navigation-based, machine learning, and stop-and-go capabilities was included. Blind-spot collision avoidance assist, forward collision avoidance, and rear cross-traffic collision avoidance were standard, with enhanced features like the Blind-spot View Monitor available on higher trims. Although it hadn’t been rated by U.S. agencies yet, the EV9 earned the highest rating from Euro NCAP.

The 2024 Kia Carnival received mixed ratings from the IIHS, performing well in certain crash tests but less favorably in others, particularly in updated side crash tests. The SX Prestige trim's headlights were rated "Good," while others were rated "Poor." Standard safety features included blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, and automatic emergency braking. Higher trims added adaptive cruise control, Highway Driving Assist, and advanced camera systems. The NHTSA had not yet released safety ratings for the Carnival.