Toyota Sienna vs Kia Carnival

The 2024 Kia Carnival made a bold design statement, adopting an SUV-like appearance to attract buyers who might otherwise lean towards SUVs. Its prominent grille, slab sides, and pronounced hood gave it a rugged look, although the sliding doors and low ground clearance revealed its minivan roots. The Carnival's styling details, such as the slightly concave grille with disco-ball-like trim and filament-like taillights, added a distinctive touch. The SX trim's 19-inch wheels filled the wheel wells perfectly, enhancing its overall aesthetic without appearing overdone. Inside, the Carnival continued the SUV theme with chunky switchgear and a large shifter, appealing to image-conscious buyers. The interior materials were robust, acknowledging the wear and tear expected in a family vehicle, with real leather upholstery available in the SX trim.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna, while attempting to break away from the traditional minivan mold, still retained its boxy shape to maximize interior space. Its trapezoidal grille and upswept body lines gave it a unique look, but the resemblance to a hand vacuum was hard to shake. The Sienna's narrow taillights and flower-petal wheel designs in the Platinum package added some flair, but it remained unmistakably a minivan. The interior of the Sienna received updates for 2025, with a new woodgrain finish in the Platinum package, although not all passengers appreciated the aesthetic. Despite these efforts, the Sienna's design leaned more towards practicality than style, offering ample seating for up to eight passengers and a spacious cargo area.

The 2024 Kia Carnival featured a straightforward powertrain with a 3.5-litre V6 engine producing 290 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. While it lacked all-wheel drive and hybrid options, the Carnival's V6 engine delivered a pleasant driving experience with smooth and quick gear shifts. The steering was well-balanced, making it easy to maneuver in parking lots and providing precise control at higher speeds. The Carnival's chassis offered a comfortable ride, and the interior remained quiet, aided by an internal speaker system for communication between front and rear passengers.

In contrast, the 2025 Toyota Sienna relied on a hybrid powertrain with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine and a continuously variable transmission (CVT), producing a net horsepower of 245. While this might seem modest for a vehicle seating up to eight, the electric motor's torque compensated for any perceived sluggishness. The Sienna excelled in fuel efficiency, with a combined rating of 6.6 litres per 100 kilometres for the front-wheel-drive model. However, the CVT's droning noise during hard acceleration detracted from the overall driving experience. The Sienna's handling was secure but lacked the crispness and precision of its competitors, and the brakes showed signs of strain during demanding driving conditions.

The 2024 Kia Carnival offered versatile seating configurations, with most Canadian models featuring an eight-passenger setup and SX models equipped with VIP Lounge seats. The Carnival excelled in cargo space, providing 1,138 litres with all seats in place and up to 4,110 litres with the second and third rows folded. While it lacked fold-flat seating like the Pacifica, the Carnival's sliding doors and low step-in height made passenger loading easy. The front cabin was well-organized, with intuitive controls and ample storage, although it lacked a storage nook found in the Sienna.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna prioritized passenger comfort with power-adjustable, heated, and ventilated front seats in the Limited with Platinum package. The second-row captain's chairs with ottoman-style leg rests were a hit with passengers, and the third-row seat accommodated adults comfortably. The Sienna's cargo capacity was generous, with 949 litres behind the third row and 2,129 litres with the third row stowed. However, its maximum cargo capacity of 2,860 litres fell short of rivals due to the non-removable second-row seats. The Sienna's interior featured thoughtful storage solutions, but some passengers found the seat cushions uncomfortable on long drives.

The 2024 Kia Carnival offered a range of infotainment options, with lower trims featuring an 8-inch touchscreen and higher trims upgrading to a 12.3-inch touchscreen and digital instrument cluster. The SX grade included a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system, and Bluetooth voice recognition was standard across all trims. The Carnival's infotainment system was user-friendly, with clear graphics and intuitive controls. It also featured a cabin camera system and an intercom for communication between front and rear passengers.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna boasted a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and touchscreen display for the Toyota Audio Multimedia (TAM) system in higher trims. The Limited with Platinum package included a four-zone automatic climate control system, a 10-inch head-up display, and a camera-based digital rearview mirror. The TAM system offered connected services with varying subscription periods, and the digital assistant responded accurately to voice commands. The Sienna's infotainment system was complemented by a 12-speaker JBL premium audio system, although the sound quality was criticized for excessive bass. The four-zone climate control system and digital rearview camera added convenience for passengers.

The 2024 Kia Carnival received mixed safety ratings from the IIHS, with top scores in some crash tests but lower ratings in others. The headlights on higher trims were rated "Good," while lower trims received "Poor" ratings. The Carnival's front-crash prevention systems performed well in daytime testing but not at night. Standard safety features included lane keep assist, forward collision avoidance, and rear parking sensors, with additional features available on higher trims.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna featured TSS 2.0, an older version of Toyota's safety suite, which some drivers preferred for its less intrusive technology. TSS 2.0 included forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. The Sienna also had blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. While the Sienna received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, its frontal crash-test result was lower than expected. The new rear-seat reminder technology added an extra layer of safety for families.