2022 Sienna vs. Carnival Comparison
Gone are the days when vans were viewed as miniature buses designed for toting around the kids. With the 2022 Toyota Sienna’s souped-up Woodland Edition, you’ll be ready to tackle the carpool lane and backroad trails. It has a raised ride height, available AWD, and standard roof rails with cross bars. The Kia Carnival is new for 2022. Previously called the Kia Sedona, it has newly improved design and feature options across five models.
They are, however, still vans at their core. That’s why they both come with loads of active and passive safety features to help keep everyone safe.
You’ll also be cool, calm, and collected with the Sienna’s available three-zone automatic climate control and available four-zone automatic climate control with separate control panels. The Carnival includes standard Air Conditioning and Rear Air Conditioning but doesn’t allow for separate temperature control on the base model.
Get a closer look at what makes these family vans a force to be reckoned with across all vehicle categories.
Safety
- Both vans come with extensive suites of active safety features.
- Only the Sienna has the addition of Road Sign Assist (RSA) to help you read important information on the road.
- The 2021 Sienna received a higher rating from the IIHS than the 2022 Carnival.
When you have a van full of precious cargo, it’s reassuring to know that the Sienna and Carnival have lots of standard active safety features.
Standard Safety Features
With the Toyota Sienna, Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 (TSS 2.0) active safety features are there for those unexpected moments. This safety suite includes a Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection (PCS w/PD), Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist (LDA w/SA), Lane Tracing Assist (LTA), Automatic High Beams (AHB), Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC), and Road Sign Assist (RSA). The Carnival, on the other hand, has standard Forward Collision Avoidance-Assist (FCA) with Pedestrian Detection, Driver Attention Warning (DAW) with Leading Vehicle Departure Alert, Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), Lane Following Assist (LFA), High Beam Assist (HBA) active safety features standard. More advanced features such as Navigation-Based Smart Cruise Control w/ Stop and Go (SCC w/ S&G) are only standard starting on the Carnival EX. A comparable Road Sign Assist feature is not available on any model. Looking back to 2021, the Sienna safety systems achieved a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Ratings for the 2022 model year are not yet available. When equipped with specific headlights, the 2022 Kia Carnival received the 2021 Top Safety Pick designation, which is a step below the Sienna.
Performance
- The Sienna comes standard with a hybrid engine making for a more fuel-efficient drive.
- Choose between FWD and AWD on any Sienna.
- Customize your drive with more drive mode options with the 2022 Sienna.
The most recent generation of the Toyota Sienna brings some big performance updates.
Fuel Efficient and Fun to Drive
Don’t settle for less. Come away with more in the Sienna, which has a standard hybrid engine. It has up to an EPA-estimated 36/36/36 (city/highway/combined) MPG rating, which far surpasses the estimated MPG ratings for the Carnival. The Carnival has an EPA-estimated 19/26/22 (city/highway/combined) MPG rating across the board but does not have a hybrid model. Even with its available All-Wheel Drive, the Sienna still has an EPA-estimated 35/36/35 (city/highway/combined) MPG rating. You only have the Front-Wheel Drive option with the Carnival and lower fuel economy ratings. To try to keep up with its more fuel-efficient competitor, the 2022 Kia Carnival has Eco Drive Mode, which prioritizes fuel economy over performance. Comparatively, the Sienna has Normal, Eco, EV, and Sport driving modes.
Interior
- While the Carnival only comes with front and rear air conditioning, the Sienna has available three-zone automatic climate control.
- Get a bigger touchscreen and more connectivity options standard with the Sienna.
- You can seat up to eight in the Sienna or give your passengers more room with the 7-passenger models.
Whether you’re driving for hours during a road trip or maneuvering through the city to drop the kids off at school, the Sienna has everything you need to make your ride enjoyable.
Comfort and Convenience
Keep everyone comfortable in the Sienna with its available three-zone automatic climate control and separate rear digital control panel. Four-zone automatic climate control is also available on the Sienna XLE and higher. Passengers in the Kia Carnival will have to argue over the perfect temp with the synced up standard Air Conditioning and Rear Air Condition. For Tri-Zone Automatic Temperature Control you’d need the Carnival EX or higher. Pass the time with some music. The Sienna has standard Android Auto™, Apple CarPlay®, and Amazon Alexa compatibility. Plus, you can also try SiriusXM® with a three-month Platinum Plan trial subscription. All of these apps are displayed on a 9-in. touchscreen display. Comparatively, the Carnival has Android Auto™ and Apple CarPlay® but lacks Amazon Alexa integration. The standard 8-in. touchscreen is a bit smaller, too. You’ll have to get the Carnival EX or higher for SiriusXM® Satellite Radio and a larger touchscreen. Interior amenities are nice, but the reason you bought a van in the first place is for the extra space. Seat eight passengers standard in the Sienna LE or seven in the base model Carnival LX. When you don’t need the added middle seat, the Sienna seven-seater models come with a unique super-long-slide seat feature that gives you easy access to the third row or optimal leg room for the second row. Find this for a starting MSRP of $39,850 in the Sienna XLE FWD. The luxury of the Carnival’s 2nd Row «VIP» Lounge Seats w/ Wing-Out Headrest and Leg Extension brings more comfort to the second row of the SX Prestige, which starts at $46,100 MSRP.
Conclusion: 2022 Sienna vs. Carnival
Both of these vans bring something special to this head-to-head comparison. However, the Sienna comes with more standard features so you don’t have to spend more on the necessities. You’ll also save more with the Sienna, which has a standard hybrid engine and up to an EPA-estimated 36/36/36 (city/highway/combined) MPG rating. You won’t find an available hybrid engine with the Kia Carnival for added fuel savings. The Kia Carnival also only has seven seats standard with the base model. There’s room for one more in the Sienna LE 8-passenger. Get excitement out of a stereotypically straight-and-narrow ride with the cool and capable 2022 Sienna.
- You’ll have better estimated fuel economy ratings with the Sienna’s standard hybrid engine.
- Seat up to eight in the Sienna 8-passenger.
- The Sienna gives you more bang for your buck.
Minivan Wars: 2022 Kia Carnival Vs. 2021 Toyota Sienna
Both offer up to eight seats, but they go about it in different ways.
There are a number of exciting minivans out there these days, and no, we’re not being sarcastic. Although the world seems to prefer SUVs, these family haulers are still selling well, and two of the most recent debutants are the Toyota Sienna and the Kia Carnival, the latter of which was formerly known as the Sedona. Both are stunning vehicles for their class, but while one is traditionally powered, the Japanese contender uses a hybrid powertrain. The result is an astonishing mpg estimate, but can the Carnival outfence the Sienna with its tech? Let’s see how these impressive machines stack up in our latest minivan comparison.
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Design: Striking and Stylish
As is common these days, both vehicles are fitted with LED headlights. The Carnival fits its on either side of the brand’s signature Tiger-Nose grille. This vehicle calls itself a ‘Grand Utility Vehicle’, so it’s no surprise that its styling is inspired by SUVs (we see a bit of Cadillac Escalade in the C-pillar). 17-inch wheels are standard here, with 19s available. It looks sleek and classy, and we love it.
In the Toyota camp, a massive front grille dominates the face while the profile shows off a very muscular rear arch. Depending on the trim you have, you can get a look that borders on being too sporty, but it fits with the manga styling that Toyota has become a big fan of over the years. Here, you can get wheels as large as 20 inches, but the overall shape is still quite obviously that of a van.
For its cleaner, more modern aesthetics, we give our vote to Kia on this one.
Kia
Kia
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CarBuzz
Interior: Tech Meets Comfort
In the all-new Carnival, you can have eight seats, just like with the Sienna. But Kia claims that the Carnival offers best-in-class passenger room with 168.2 cubic feet of volume. That’s pretty cool, but can you spec ottomans in the second row as in the Sienna? No, but you can have heated and ventilated seats back there with power controls. Does the Kia come with a Sienna-rivaling nine-inch touchscreen infotainment display as standard? Again, no. You only get an eight-inch unit, but you can upgrade to a 12.3-inch navigation display with a matching cluster for the driver. The Carnival also offers wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless charging, and a Bose 12-speaker audio system. The Sienna, on the other hand, offers a whopping seven USB ports, Amazon Alexa, and a 12-speaker JBL sound system. Wireless charging is included here too, but overall, the Carnival seems to offer better equipment and more space.
Kia
Kia
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CarBuzz