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2025 Buick Enclave vs Honda PilotHead-to-Head: 2022 Kia Carnival vs Toyota Sienna
This Kia Carnival vs Toyota Sienna comparison has AWD & hybrid-power up against a potent V6 & snazzy styling with a combined list of features a mile long.
Two Modern Family Haulers
You would think, given the demands of raising children, that minivans would sit atop any family’s list of “Must Have Vehicles” thanks to sliding doors and cavernous interior space. Alas, the minivan has been relegated to the Dorky Pile here in America, in favor of the SUV. Which results in minivan makers following their customers and evolving their offerings to be increasingly SUV-esque.
In this Kia Carnival versus Toyota Sienna comparison, the Kia leans hardest into the minivan-that-looks-like-an-SUV styling. As a follow on to their Telluride design hit, it works and gives the Carnival high-end, chiseled good looks. However, Toyota recently released a Woodland Edition with added ground clearance, a tow hitch, and standard AWD in an effort to lure in would-be SUV buyers. So, if you want the family hauling abilities of a minivan with SUV looks, read on to see which of these vans in utility clothing is best.
Kia Carnival vs Toyota Sienna Specs
Replacing the long-running Sedona, Kia’s 2022 Carnival is so different they even changed the name. Under the hood, a 3.5L V6 is fitted across the lineup making 290 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. Mated to an 8-speed automatic, the Carnival is front-wheel-drive only, no AWD option as with the Sienna.
It is within one inch of the Toyota’s length at 203” versus 204”, however it absolutely smokes the Sienna on the cargo space comparisons that we’ll cover below. As ever, Kia shines in the warranty department with their 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain coverage and 5-year/60,000-mile vehicle term. What you won’t find here is any complimentary maintenance.
Toyota overhauled the Sienna last year, implementing a hybrid-only power plant running the front wheels via CVT. They also made AWD available to further differentiate it from the minivan pack. Consisting of a 2.5L inline-4 and a pair of electric motors on the front axle, the Sienna makes a combined 245 horsepower. Selecting AWD tacks on a third motor out back.
Comparing warranties is tough, because the Toyota has an impressively long-term covering the hybrid system at 8 years or 100,000 miles and the battery with a 10-year/150,000-mile window. As well, factory-scheduled maintenance is included for 2 years or 25,000 miles. However, the vehicle warranty is only 3 years or 36,000 miles and the powertrain coverage runs for 5 years and 60,000 miles, which is relatively light when looking at the Kia.
Driving and Performance
That healthy, 290-horse V6 and slick 8-speed transmission are more than up to the task of moving the 4,300-pound 2022 Kia Carnival around with ease. Plus, it can tow up to 3,500 pounds helping further the minivan-meets-SUV mission. But it comes with a cost at the pumps. Fuel economy is only so-so, especially compared to the hybrid-powered Toyota, with EPA ratings of 19 mpg in city driving and 26 mpg on the highway.
Toyota matches Kia with a 3,500-pound tow rating, enough to lug a couple jet skis to the lake. It’ll just take longer due to a pokier power plant and 300 or so more pounds of minivan beef. The big upside to this hybrid setup shows up in fueling, which won’t happen all that frequently. Between the 18-gallon gas tank and 36 mpg rating for city or highway driving, the FWD Sienna can stretch to nearly 650 miles between gas station visits. AWD models drop a single mpg from the city rating.
Both vans are set up with four-corner independent suspension, but only the 2022 Toyota Sienna offers a sporty model in the XSE. Though somewhat contrarian given its fuel-sipping ethos, the XSE is shod with 20” rubber and a sport-tuned suspension. As well, drivers can tighten up vehicle calibrations with Sport mode if Normal, Eco, and EV aren’t cutting it.
Comfort and Interior
Long gone are the days of mouse fur covered minivan benches that barely fold. Today, you can get yourself a 2022 Kia Carnival with reclining second-row thrones sprouting power-operated footrests and winged headrests. Granted, that is found higher up the trim ladder, but all Carnivals have a stowable third row and removable second row with the ability to seat 7 or 8 passengers. Max cargo space is a whopping 145 cubic feet, quite a bit more than the Sienna’s 101 cubes.
Leather upholstery is available on the Kia, as are heated and ventilated front seats with power adjustment. Heck, even the second row can be equipped with fully climatized cushions. “Free mode” on the central second row seat allows for sliding fore and aft, making it easier for parents to assist the wee ones. Other cabin niceties include an available dual panel sunroof, triple-zone automatic climate control, and hands-free liftgate access to the cargo hold.
An expected feature these days that is found on both the Carnival and Sienna are hands-free power-sliding doors. Inside the 2022 Toyota Sienna, owners will find a third row that flip/stows in one motion and “super-slide” middle seats with up to 25” of range. While tri-zone HVAC control is standard, Toyota literally one-ups Kia with available quad zone climate controls. Other interior amenities found only in the Sienna are the heated steering wheel and sunshades available for second and third-row windows.
Like the Kia, Toyota makes the best interior features available higher up the trim tree. That includes reclining second row captain’s chairs with ottomans, driver’s seat memory settings, and a moonroof. Heated and cooled seating can also be optioned and soft-touch dashboard material with contrast stitching looks fancy as part of the two-tone scheme in the Limited and Platinum models.
Trims and Features
Any Kia Carnival vs Toyota Sienna comparison is going to fall short of listing every single bell and whistle, as the list is roughly a mile long. Check our in-depth reviews of the 2022 Kia Carnival and 2022 Toyota Sienna for a deeper dive on this front, but suffice it to say, these two minivans are packed with features.
Kia’s Carnival offers five trim levels starting with the $32,100 LX up to the $46,100 Prestige. The LX and LX Seat Package models feature an 8” infotainment screen with Apple and Android smartphone integration, plus seven USB ports. At $37,600, Carnival EX brings a 12” infotainment display, wireless charging, an in-cabin camera with intercom, and Highway Driving Assist. The $41,100 SX trim adds a dual-screen rear entertainment system, Surround View Monitor, and Rear Parking Collision Avoidance.
All 2022 Carnivals come with Drive Wise, the suite of driver-aids that includes Blind Spot Detection with Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Following and Keeping Assist, Driver Attention Warning and High Beam Assist. However, only top-dog SX Prestige vans feature a 12-speaker Bose audio system, 12” digital gauge cluster, and Blind View Monitor with live feeds of the what’s sitting in your blind spot.
Toyota’s Sienna is overall pricier, with the base LE starting at $34,560, plus $2,000 if you want AWD. But that base model comes nicely equipped with a 9” touchscreen embedded with Apple, Android, and Amazon software. Like the Kia, there is a Wi-Fi hotspot and long list of driver-aids including Pre-Collision Warning, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and Automatic High Beams. Just shy of $40,000, Sienna XLE comes with parking sonar, while the $42,100 XSE shares many of those features wrapped in a spicier package. A rear entertainment system with an 11.6” screen that drops down from the headliner is available for an extra $1800.
New for 2022, the $45,350 Woodland Edition rides 0.6” higher than its brethren and comes standard with AWD. It also features Driver Easy Speak, Toyota’s name for driver bullhorn. A 1500W power outlet, 12-speaker JBL stereo, and navigation system round out this model. Limited models will run you $46,800 and come setup with a 7” screen in the gauge cluster and wireless charging surface. Ringing at an even $50,000, the Platinum Sienna piles on with a 10” color head-up display and Birds-Eye View Camera.
Kia Carnival vs Toyota Sienna – Who Wins?
These new minivans from Toyota and Kia are awesome as far as I’m concerned, though I may be biased considering the three tiny humans that dominate my day. The 2022 Toyota Sienna is the obvious choice if you want to brag about fuel economy or live in the Snow Belt. That comes with a bigger sticker, but read our new vs used article comparing this 2022 model with a used Sienna to ease the price point.
However, my money would go to the 2022 Kia Carnival. Have you seen one on the road? I have no problem with driving around in a loaf-of-bread-on-wheels to help with the kids, but that Carnival is super sharp. It has a whole lot more cargo space, over 24” of screen real estate, and a cool semi-autonomous driving mode. Throw in that legendary warranty and I’m sold.
