Yahoo Autos Here’s How the 2023 Kia Carnival Compares to the Honda Odyssey
Minivan face-offs might sound as exciting as making toast, but the 2023 Kia Carnival and the 2023 Honda Odyssey are formidable foes that each offer slightly different takes on a tried-and-true formula. The Carnival replaced the Sedona in the Kia lineup last year, ushering in a new generation with SUV-inspired styling and innovative features. The current-gen Odyssey debuted several years ago and has since received a facelift and added meaningful features. For 2023, not a lot changes for either minivan, but we’re comparing the two so folks can decide which model is a better fit.
Interior and Cargo Space
The most important part of a minivan is inside. How flexible are the seats? Can you fit an entire family’s worth of luggage in it? These are the things that minivan buyers want to know, and the Carnival and Odyssey have different answers to the same questions.
The more people a minivan can hold, the more useful it is as a shuttle. Both the Carnival and Odyssey can seat up to eight. Their third rows also fold flat into the floor, but it’s the configurability of their second-row seats that set them apart. The Honda’s second row features a three-seat bench that includes a removable middle seat. Once it’s gone, the outboard seats can slide fore and aft or side to side or be removed entirely for maximum space, but they’re bulky. The Kia comes standard with removable captain’s chairs, and a removable three-seat setup with a middle seat that independently slides fore and aft is also available. The top-of-the-line Carnival SX Prestige offers an option for recliner-style “VIP Seats” that have heated and ventilated cushions and a power-operated ottoman. Unfortunately, these ritzy thrones have unwieldy adjustments and can’t be removed.
When it comes to cargo storage, the Carnival provides 40 cubic feet behind the third row and 145 cubes behind the front seats. Obviously, the latter figure doesn’t apply to models with the non-removable VIP seats. The Odyssey has 39 cubic feet behind the third row and 156 cubes behind the front seats. During our luggage test, we managed to fit 14 carry-on suitcases behind the Carnival’s third row and 48 total with all the seats out of the way. In the same test, the Odyssey held 11 and 52 carry-ons, respectively.
Infotainment Features and Driver-Assistance Tech
The base Carnival LX comes standard with an 8.0-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but all other models have a 12.3-inch touchscreen. Every Odyssey has an 8.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but they require wired connections. Fans of SiriusXM satellite radio should also know that only the Odyssey offers the subscription-based service on its base EX model.
The Kia and Honda minivans both offer rear-seat entertainment systems. The former has two separate screens mounted on the front seats and the latter uses a single screen that drops down from the ceiling. While both offer a subscription-based Wi-Fi hotspot, this feature is standard on the Carnival but only comes on the Odyssey’s top two trim levels. Likewise, both minivans offer an in-cabin intercom system that transmits the driver’s voice to rear passengers as well as a camera view of the rear seats, but, again, those features only come on the Honda’s top two trims, whereas they’re available at a lower price point on the Kia.
The Carnival and Odyssey each have a host of standard driver-assistance technology that includes automated emergency braking, automatic high-beam headlights, a blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, and lane-keeping assist. Both also offer adaptive cruise control, but it’s only standard on the Honda. Oddly, the Odyssey isn’t available with a 360-degree, surround-view camera.
