Side by side comparison of the 2023 Kia Carnival vs the Honda Odyssey.

Both minivans provide different seating arrangements and other family-friendly features, yet Honda’s is a better hot rod than Kia’s. comparison of the 2023 Kia Carnival vs the Honda Odyssey.

Despite the fact that minivan battles sound as interesting as making toast, the 2023 Kia Carnival and the 2023 Honda Odyssey are competitive adversaries that each provide somewhat different variations on a tried-and-true premise. The Carnival replaced the Sedona in the Kia lineup last year, bringing in a new generation with SUV-inspired styling and cutting-edge technology. The current-generation Odyssey has undergone cosmetic changes and gained valuable functions since its launch a few years ago. Both minivans receive minor updates for 2023, but we’re comparing them to help customers decide which one is best for them.

Interior and cargo space

The interior of a minivan is its most important feature. Is it true that the seats can be adjusted? Can you fit a whole family’s luggage inside? Buyers of minivans want to know these things, and the Carnival and Odyssey have different answers.

The more passengers a minivan can transport, the more valuable it is as a shuttle. Both the Carnival and the Odyssey feature eight seats. The versatility of the second-row seats sets them distinct, even if the third row also folds flat into the floor. The Honda’s second row features a three-seat bench with a removable middle seat. Although the outboard seats are spacious and can slide forward, backward, or side to side, they may be removed completely for maximum space after it’s gone. The Kia comes standard with removable captain’s chairs, and a three-seat arrangement with a central seat that freely glides fore and aft is also available. The top-tier Carnival SX Prestige has a recliner-style “VIP Seat” option. The cushions on these seats are heated and ventilated, and there is a power-operated ottoman. These sumptuous thrones are immobile and have odd adaptations.

For freight storage, the Carnival has 40 cubic feet behind the third row and 145 cubic feet behind the front seats. The latter statistic obviously excludes vehicles with non-removable VIP seats. The Odyssey has 156 cubic feet of storage space behind the front seats and 39 cubic feet of storage space behind the third row. In our luggage test, we were able to fit 48 pieces of luggage and 14 carry-on suitcases behind the Carnival’s third row. In the same test, the Odyssey held 11 and 52 carry-ons, respectively.

Driver assistance technology and infotainment elements are available.

Except for the base Carnival LX, which features an 8.0-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, the 12.3-inch touchscreen is standard on all variants. Every Odyssey has an 8.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but they require a linked connection. Fans of SiriusXM satellite radio should be aware that the service is only available on the Odyssey’s base EX variant.

Kia and Honda minivans both have rear-seat entertainment systems. The former use a single screen that falls from the ceiling, whilst the latter employs two independent screens located on the vehicle’s front seats. Both provide a Wi-Fi hotspot that requires a subscription, but the Carnival includes it as standard, whilst the Odyssey only includes it on the top two trim levels. Both minivans include a video view of the back seats and an in-cabin intercom system that conveys the driver’s voice to passengers in the back, but both amenities are only available on the Honda’s top two variants, while the Kia is less expensive.

The Carnival and Odyssey come standard with a variety of driver assistance systems, including automated emergency braking, automatic high lights, a blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, and lane-keeping assistance. Both vehicles include adaptive cruise control, but only the Honda has it as standard. Surprisingly, the Odyssey does not come with a surround-view, 360-degree camera.

Engine and transmission

In comparison to minivans like the Toyota Sienna and Chrysler Pacifica, which also offer hybrid and all-wheel-drive options, the powertrain options for the Carnival and Odyssey are more straightforward. Both have front-wheel drive and a V-6 engine that is naturally aspirated. The Honda’s 3.5-liter engine produces 280 horsepower, which is only slightly higher than the Kia’s 290 horsepower, and both engines create 262 pound-feet of torque. Furthermore, the Carnival’s eight-speed automatic transmission has two fewer gears than the Odyssey’s 10-speed automatic.

Despite having more horsepower, the 2022 Carnival performed substantially slower in our acceleration testing than the 2021 Odyssey. Although the Honda is astonishingly fast, reaching 60 mph in 6.5 seconds, the Kia is no slacker. That is 0.5 seconds faster than the Carnival, and the gap extends to 0.7 seconds when travelling from 5 to 60 mph, which is more realistic of real-world driving. Furthermore, the Honda is more powerful while mimicking a highway passing maneuver, speeding from 50 to 70 mph in 4.5 seconds vs 5.0 seconds for the Kia.

Miles per gallon

Owners of minivans are probably more concerned with fuel efficiency than speeding through stop signs, unless they are late for band or soccer practice. However, when it comes to saving money at the petrol pump, the Honda has the advantage based on both its EPA ratings and its real highway performance.

The Odyssey gets a combined rating of 22 mpg, with city ratings of 19 mpg and interstate ratings of 28 mpg. The Carnival has the same combined and city estimations as its competition, but its highway rating of 26 mpg is lower. At 75 mph, each minivan was put through our real-world highway fuel-economy test. Both cars outperformed their EPA highway ratings, with the Honda getting 30 mpg and the Kia getting 28 mpg.

Price and trim levels

The 2023 Kia Carnival has a cheaper starting price than the 2023 Honda Odyssey. The Carnival’s base LX model starts at $33,935 and the Odyssey’s entry-level EX model starts at $38,635 That’s a $4700 discount for frugal families, yet the cheapest Kia minivan isn’t lacking in desirable features. It is wonderfully equipped.

When compared to Honda’s minivan model levels, the Carnival portfolio maintains a pricing disparity of between $2700 and $3700 across the board. The Odyssey EX-L, with a starting price of $41,705, is $2270 more expensive than the equivalent $39,435 Carnival EX. Don’t be misled by the name of the Odyssey’s new Sport trim level ($42,505) for 2023; it essentially merely adds red and black inside and exterior details. Furthermore, Honda now provides free scheduled maintenance for two years or 24,000 miles. Kia owners will be without it.

The $42,635 Carnival SX and $45,745 Odyssey Touring are the second-to-last models in their respective lineups. The SX, on the other hand, comes with more standard features at a lesser cost (ventilated front seats, wireless phone charging, etc.). The SX Prestige’s ($47,035) attractive VIP lounge seats can be swapped for the standard second-row bench at no extra cost in 2023. Despite having cutting-edge technology and features, we don’t think the Odyssey Elite is as inspiring as its more expensive rival. Furthermore, it is $3760 more expensive than the Carnival at $50,765. Kia’s minivan was maybe dubbed the Carnivalue.