Toyota Land Cruiser vs Kia Carnival

The 2024 Kia Carnival made a bold design statement, adopting an SUV-like appearance to attract buyers typically drawn to SUVs. Its prominent grille, slab sides, and pronounced hood gave it a rugged look, although the sliding doors and lack of ground clearance revealed its minivan roots. The Carnival featured unique styling elements, such as a concave grille with disco-ball-like trim and filament-like taillights. The SX Prestige model's 19-inch wheels complemented its design without appearing overdone. Inside, the Carnival continued the SUV theme with chunky switchgear and a large shifter, making it appealing to image-conscious buyers. The interior materials were durable, acknowledging the wear and tear expected in a family vehicle, with options ranging from cloth seats in the base model to real leather in the SX Prestige trim.

In contrast, the 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser offered a more traditional SUV design with a focus on off-road capability. The base 1958 model had a retro look with round headlights and basic equipment, while the higher-end Land Cruiser trim featured a modern, upscale appearance with additional off-roading hardware. The Land Cruiser's interior was utilitarian, with traditional switchgear and a focus on functionality. The Premium Package added leather upholstery, a sunroof, and advanced technology features. Despite its utilitarian design, the Land Cruiser provided a comfortable driving experience, with a high seating position and excellent visibility. However, the rear window design and limited storage space were noted drawbacks.

The 2024 Kia Carnival was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 290 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. It was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive, offering a smooth and refined driving experience. The steering was well-tuned, providing a balance between ease of maneuverability and precision. The Carnival's chassis offered a comfortable ride, making it suitable for long road trips. While it lacked all-wheel drive and hybrid options, the V6 engine's performance was commendable, with smooth gear shifts and a pleasant engine note at full throttle.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser featured Toyota's i-Force Max hybrid system, combining a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric motor. This setup produced 326 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque, transferred through a full-time four-wheel-drive system. The Land Cruiser excelled in off-road conditions, with features like Multi-Terrain Select and Crawl Control. However, its on-road fuel efficiency was disappointing, with observed mileage falling short of EPA estimates. The Land Cruiser's suspension was tuned for off-road capability, resulting in a less agile performance on twisty roads. Despite this, it offered a powerful and responsive driving experience, particularly in urban and suburban settings.

The 2024 Kia Carnival offered versatile seating configurations, with seven-passenger seating standard on the base LX trim and eight-passenger seating on higher trims. The SX Prestige model featured second-row captain's chairs with footrests, enhancing passenger comfort. The Carnival provided ample cargo space, with 40.2 cubic feet behind the third row and 145.1 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded. While it lacked fold-flat seating like some competitors, the Carnival's sliding doors and low step-in height made it easy to load passengers and cargo. The front cabin was well-organized, with intuitive controls and ample storage space.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser offered a spacious interior with comfortable front seats, although the second-row seats lacked thigh support. The Premium Package added leather upholstery and a sunroof, enhancing the cabin's appeal. The Land Cruiser provided 46.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 82.1 cubic feet with the seats folded. However, the high load floor made loading heavy items challenging. The Land Cruiser's interior was functional, with a focus on practicality, although some features, like the rear window design, were less convenient.

The 2024 Kia Carnival featured an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on the base LX trim, while higher trims upgraded to a 12.3-inch touchscreen and digital instrument cluster. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with clear graphics and intuitive controls. The Carnival offered a range of connectivity options, including a Wi-Fi hotspot and USB ports for all three rows. Additional features included a surround-view camera system and a cabin camera system for monitoring rear passengers.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser upgraded from the 1958 model's 8-inch touchscreen to dual 12.3-inch displays with the Premium Package. The Toyota Audio Multimedia system offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with access to Apple Music and Amazon Music accounts. The Premium Package added a JBL premium sound system, wireless smartphone charger, and digital key technology. The Land Cruiser's infotainment system was well-equipped, with a cloud-based navigation system and a conversational digital assistant for voice commands.

The 2024 Kia Carnival received mixed safety ratings from the IIHS, with high scores in some crash tests but lower ratings in others. The SX Prestige model's headlights received a "Good" rating, while other trims were rated "Poor." Standard safety features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic emergency braking. Higher trims added adaptive cruise control and a surround-view camera system. The NHTSA had not released safety ratings for the Carnival at the time of publication.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser came equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, offering a comprehensive suite of advanced driving assistance systems. Features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. The Premium Package added front cross-traffic alert and lane-change assist. The Land Cruiser received a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with high scores in side-impact testing but a lower rollover resistance rating. While some safety features were effective, others required manual intervention in certain driving conditions.