Brand new in 2021, the Kia Carnival looks poised to upend the minivan industry. But how does it compare with the longstanding family favourite, the Honda Odyssey? Let's take a peek.

Price

Let's be honest here. It really always comes down to price, doesn't it?

While the two vans share many similarities when it comes to engine, drivetrain, cargo space, and safety and convenience features, the Carnival comes in close to $10,000 less than the Odyssey.

And this doesn’t just apply to the entry levels. The fully loaded Carnival SX checks in comfortably under $50,000 (at $48,295) while the fully loaded Odyssey touring sneaks under $55,000. (at $54,305.)

On top of this, the no charge warranty offered from Kia far exceeds the Honda warranty, with 2 more years and 40,000 more km’s of comprehensive warranty coverage. That's worth another $1200 right there.

But are all the features, technology, and safety included for that price? Let's delve a bit deeper.

Safety

Both vans come packed with optional safety and convenience features that are included based on trim level. The top of line trim levels (SX and Touring) are fully loaded with the following features:

• Brake Assist
• Blind Spot Monitoring
• Lane Departure Warning
• Cross-Traffic Alert
• Rear Parking Aid
• Adaptive Cruise Control
• Power Liftgate
• Remote Engine Starter
• Navigation System
• Passenger video monitoring
• In-cabin intercom system
• And so much more

All this to say, both vehicles come with all the safety features and technology that you expect... and several all-new technologies that will blow your mind.

Styling

They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But in this case, the brand new Kia Carnival easily beats out every other minivan in the market. Beauty is in the eye of... EVERYONE. With modern lines, boxy SUV styling, and a state-of-the-art passenger cabin, there's really no comparison in which the Carnival won't come out on top. We'll just let the comparison pictures speak for themselves.

Comparison Chart

The Verdict

Both the Kia Carnival and Honda Odyssey give you the incredible utility that minivans are known for. The Odyssey gives you 4 trims to choose from while the Carnival offers 5. This may seem trivial, but if you're looking for just a few more budget-friendly features, that extra trim level will save you quite a bit. Instead of jumping up four price increments, you're only navigating through 5 smaller increments.

But at the end of the day, the $8,610 difference in entry price between the Kia Carnival and the Honda Odyssey is everything. Even a small difference in price for many minivan buyers with growing families is the difference between a comfortable budget and one that's constricting.

But beyond the much lower price, the Carnival offers styling features like the 2nd row captains chairs on the SX trim that simply aren’t offered by the odyssey.

The 2022 Kia Carnival offers unrivaled value in the minivan segment that veteran and first time minivan buyers alike should strongly consider. Sorry Honda.

So, are you ready to experience the highly anticipated 2022 Kia Carnival for yourself? Call us at 250-360-1111 or email us at [email protected]. Build your own Kia Carnival here. Ask a question here. Or book a test drive here. We're here to help!

Ready to keep reading? Let's take a peek at some other articles that might be of interest:

• The Kia Carnival Sneak Peek 
• Kia Earns Five Spots on the Editor's Choice Awards 
• Why You Should Think Twice Before Using Your Line of Credit to Purchase a Vehicle