2022 Kia Carnival vs. Toyota Sienna: Toyota Has 1 Huge Advantage
Lisa Steuer McArdle
· 4 min read
Are you trying to decide between the 2022 Kia Carnival and the Toyota Sienna
minivans
? The Toyota Sienna does have an all-wheel drive option, which is one big advantage. But whichever one you choose will probably depend on a few factors. That's why you'll want to carefully consider the pros and cons of these two family friendly vans to find the one that's right for you.
What the Kia Carnival and Toyota Sienna have in common
Unlike most SUVs and crossovers, these MPVs or multipurpose vehicles (AKA minivans) provide plenty of passenger or cargo room. Both of these vans offer comfortable seating for seven or eight passengers, depending on the seat configuration you choose.
They can also haul the kinds of cargo that you'd never be able to get into a crossover. Each vehicle also has a max towing capacity of 3,500 pounds.
According to
Kelley Blue Book
, they share a similar price point in the low to mid $30,000 range, with the 2022 Kia Carnival's starting price at $32,100. The 2022 Toyota Sienna's estimated starting price is expected to be a bit higher at around $35,000.Let Jerry find your price in only 45 seconds
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How they're different
MORE: Kia Isn't Fooling Anyone With the 2022 Carnival...and That's Alright
Let's start with the powertrains. The Kia Carnival offers a powerful 3.5-liter V6 engine for 290 horsepower, but there isn't a hybrid option. In contrast, the Toyota Sienna only offers a hybrid engine. That's not surprising, given Toyota's commitment to hybrid vehicles. Electric motors in the front and rear pair up with a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine for 245 hp and impressive fuel mileage.
The Carnival only gets 19 mph in town and 22 mpg on the highway. Compare that with the Sienna's mileage. Front-wheel-drive models get a rock-solid 36 mpg, while all-wheel-drive models get an estimated 35 mpg. In terms of fuel economy, the Sienna wins hands down.
The Sienna has 33.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third seat, while the Carnival boasts a very respectable 40.2 cubic feet. With the middle and rear seats folded down, it offers a massive 145.1 cubic feet behind the front seats. That makes the Carnival the clear winner in terms of load capacity.
All Carnivals feature front-wheel drive. However, the Sienna also offers an option for all-wheel-drive, as we mentioned already. This gives it better traction and makes it a winner in the safety category.
Will the Kia Carnival or Toyota Sienna work best for your lifestyle?
MORE: Toyota Offers an Off-Road Ready Sienna
If you do a lot of driving in bad weather or on challenging roads, the optional all-wheel drive is a huge advantage—at virtually no cost to the Sienna's impressive mileage ratings. All-wheel drive simply offers better traction in snow, ice, heavy rain, mud, or on loose gravel roads than front-wheel drive.
It also provides better stability and greater safety in general. That's an extremely important consideration when your family is in the back!
Forget about all-wheel drive if all you're looking for is a smooth, comfortable ride for a crew of eight. The Carnival offers amenities such as seven USB chargers located across all three rows of seats and a movable center console that allows easy access to a child in the middle seat. It also has plenty of room for all the groceries or sports gear a large, active family needs.
There's no clear winner here since your choice will probably depend on your climate, the kind of driving you do, and the needs of your family.
Whichever minivan, er MPV, you choose, be sure to check for the cheapest insurance rates at
Jerry
. Because let's face it, if you need a minivan, you're probably too busy to hunt down the best insurance rates by yourself. The Jerry app makes it easy! Just 45 seconds is all it takes to get the best rate for your new MPV. No traipsing or calling around. No long forms to fill out. No time or effort—just savings with Jerry!
