Kia Carnival vs. Toyota Sienna: Which One’s Best for Me?

Can’t seem to decide which minivan is best for you? Having a hard time picking between Sienna and Carnival? Well, if you make lots of road trips, the 2022 Sienna will be the right investment, as it’s the most fuel-efficient minivan¹ in the US right now (36 MPG combined). This is achieved thanks to the hybrid powertrain. Do keep in mind, however, that Carnival is more powerful (it has more HP and pound-feet of torque) and is faster to accelerate.

So, if camping out in the wilderness is something that you do every weekend, Kia’s minivan will be the right choice. Besides, it has a significantly higher cargo capacity (145 cubic feet vs. 101), which makes it perfect for large families with lots of cargo. On the downside, it’s only available with FWD, though, while Sienna can also be AWD. Toyota’s best-seller is easier to drive, too, and boasts responsive handling. Both Carnival and Sienna can seat up to 8 passengers and are capable of towing 3,500 pounds.

For long trips, Carnival is the obvious pick, as it features a more polished interior with cozy seats. Sienna is a bit more tech-savvy, however, especially the entry-level trims. More importantly, it performs better in third-party crash tests. Read on to learn more about each minivan and to see how they compare in terms of the powertrain, comfort, pricing, and more.

At a Glance

Let’s look at the key points of each product.

Overview of Kia Carnival:

Carnival is all-new for the 2022 model year. That’s right: it’s a brand-new model that’s replacing the Kia Sedona. A top-class minivan, it appeals to US drivers with a mighty engine, impressive cargo capacity, and a premium interior with supportive seats and lots of headroom and legroom.

Polished Interior, Problematic Lounge Seats

Carnival provides more than enough space for a comfortable ride. Every single row of seats is spacious, while the materials are upscale and give the minivan an “expensive” look. And if you’ve got the bucks for that, the premium trims will please you with leather upholstery for the seats. Strangely enough, the lounge seats can’t be removed and that limits the available cargo capacity.

An Abundance of Cargo Space

With Carnival, you’ll have plenty of space to store your cargo. With the second and third-row seats tucked away, you’ll get access to 145.1 cubic feet. Flexibility is another big pro: the second-row seats are very easy to fold or remove, while the third-row seats can fold right into the floor of the minivan. Even with just the third row folded, Carnival will still have 86.9 cubic feet, and that’s quite a lot.

Lots of HP and Torque But No AWD

The Kia Carnival is powered by a 3.5-lit V6 that puts out 290 HP and 262 pound-feet of torque. It doesn’t struggle much, no matter how steep the climbs are or how challenging the terrain is. There is one minor con, though: this is the only available engine (no hybrids available), and there’s no RWD or AWD, only front-wheel drive.

Comes at an Affordable Price

While this isn’t the cheapest minivan on the US market, Carnival is a very reasonably priced minivan. This is true both for the entry-level trims and the top tiers. And it’s cheaper than Sienna, its main rival. Carnival is a bit more expensive than the 2021 Sedona, though, but it’s still an affordable choice for the average family.

Overview of Toyota Sienna:

Sienna has been around for decades and has a strong foothold in the market of minivans. It’s known as the most fuel-efficient option at US dealerships. Plus, it is easy (and fun) to drive and comes with an enticing list of basic features. What else does this world-famous nameplate have to offer? Take a look!

Outstanding MPG Ratio, But Slow Acceleration

Yes, Sienna is quite an economical minivan. With a combined fuel efficiency of 36 MPG, it will save you a substantial amount of money in the long run. On the downside, while the hybrid powertrain is, indeed, very efficient, it’s not very impressive in terms of acceleration and top speed. Sienna’s 2.5-lit 4-cylinder motor lacks passing power, which means lackluster performance on steep hills and muddy/snowy terrain.

A Big Set of Entry-Level Features

Another thing that makes Toyota’s best-seller stand out is the generous list of techy features that come with the cheapest trims. You’ll get a decent dashboard with a 9-inch touchscreen, full Smartphone, voice control support, and a lovely stereo system. The same is true for the safety features. These include forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, and lane departure warning.

Polished Handling, Easy to Drive

If you’re new to minivans and are looking for a vehicle with a refined, comfortable ride quality, Sienna will be a great pick. While it’s not nearly as agile as a sports car, you will feel in control over the road, and that’s more important. As mentioned, the engine does struggle a bit, but Sienna is still one of the most stable minivans out there and doesn’t “wobble” on swift turns.

High Safety Rating, Low Cargo Capacity

Sienna’s cargo capacity is much lower than the market average (you’ll only get 101 cubic feet). But, that’s compensated by impressive performance in crash tests. Toyota’s hauler earned a 5/5 rating in the NHTSA trials. On top of that, it’s incredibly dependable, according to the latest J.D. Power study.

How do they compare?

Powertrain and Ride Quality

Edge: Sienna

Carnival is quick to accelerate, has more HP and pound-feet of torque, and easily handles tough roads. However, it’s not nearly as fuel-efficient as the Toyota Sienna (22 MPG combined vs. 36 MPG combined) and doesn’t have AWD. Besides, while Carnival does have a more capable powertrain, Sienna is easier to drive and boasts a refined ride quality, despite the lack of passing power. Carnival is quite smooth as well but tends to lean a bit. That puts Toyota one step ahead of Kia.

Interior Quality and Technology

Edge: Carnival

Technology-wise, Sienna has a slight edge over Carnival. The difference isn’t dramatic, as Kia’s minivan is quite feature-packed as well. However, Sienna is more generous with the entry-level trims, and that’s a big pro. Plus, the touchscreen is more responsive. At the same time, if we talk about the interior, Carnival is the undisputed #1. The styling and material quality are simply unmatched, even with the basic tiers.

The seats are almost equally great, with Carnival offering a bit more comfort. With Sienna, you will have less cargo space because of the rear seats. The same is true for Carnival’s lounge seats. But, as mentioned, it has a higher cargo capacity (45% more, to be exact). Overall, the Korean minivan is a better choice in this regard.

Family-Friendliness

Edge: Sienna

Both minivans can seat up to 8 passengers. And they have the same towing capacity: 3,500 pounds. Sienna is more durable and safer, though. The reliability scores for Carnival aren’t available yet. Yet, we do have access to many crash test results, and while Carnival performed decently, it fell slightly behind Sienna.

Pricing and Warranties

Edge: Carnival

As mentioned, Carnival is quite an affordable minivan. Depending on the trim, it will cost you up to 10% less than Sienna. On top of that, Kia offers a better guarantee. Sienna comes with a standard 3-year/36,000-mile limited and 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain deal, while Carnival is covered by a 5-year/60,000-mile basic and 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. So, it’s obvious that Kia Carnival “beats” Sienna in terms of pricing and warranties.

What the Users Say

Before we come up with a verdict for this Carnival vs. Sienna standoff, let’s see what regular drivers have to say about these minivans. We studied the most popular and trusted forums in the US and checked out unbiased customer reviews to see which minivan gets more recognition from the people. Now, Sienna has always been praised for its chart-topping fuel economy ratings, along with the large feature set and top-notch ride quality.

For the average family, that’s pretty much what a perfect minivan looks like. Toyota is also complimented for the interior, the seats, and the strong performance in third-party crash/safety tests. And what about Kia’s brand-new offering? Most reviews say that Carnival isn’t at all boring to drive, thanks to the mighty engine. The interior also gets lots of attention, mainly because it’s very cozy and features premium materials.

People who have more than two kids swear by the above-average cargo capacity. The VIP seats are frowned upon, though, as they limit the available cargo space. The same is being said for Sienna’s second-row seats, by the way. The one thing that’s greatly appreciated by younger families in Carnival is the (relatively) low price and the extended warranties. So, yes, both Toyota and Kia did a wonderful job with their minivans, but they appeal to slightly different target audiences. Please, keep that in mind.

Conclusion

Alright, let’s sum it up! Do you want extra cargo capacity, a powerful engine, and a polished interior? Then Kia’s family hauler will be a bargain. But if you put fuel economy, refined ride quality, and safety above everything else, you should invest in Sienna. As a bonus, you’ll get a generous set of techy features with the basic trims and a choice between FWD and AWD. Its hybrid engine isn’t particularly impressive, though.

Kia Carnival is more affordable and is backed by a better warranty deal, making it a go-to minivan if you’re on a limited budget.

Related Reads:

• Kia Sorento vs. Toyota Highlander: Which One’s Best For Me?
• Honda Odyssey vs. Toyota Sienna: Which should you choose?

Featured Image Credit: (Left) 20201013 Kia Carnival Front Side | Image Credit: Ki hoon, Wikimedia Commons CC SA 4.0; (Right) 2012 Toyota Sienna | Image Credit: Sasukekun22 at English Wikipedia CC 3.0