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    Reasons To Choose The Toyota Sienna Over Kia Carnival

    Image Source: Felix Mizioznikov / Shutterstock

    Mini-van or Sport Utility Vehicle? Mother’s vehicle for soccer or gentle off-roader? The decision between functionality or conceit is no longer such a glaring opposition. The stylish 2025 Kia Carnival upgrades with a fresh hybrid choice to better match up against the very practical 2024 Toyota Sienna, which comes as standard with a hybrid powertrain.

    The Carnival’s SUV design, spaciousness, and value enhance for 2025, but comes with a higher price tag. Whereas the Sienna remains one of the most practical family vehicles available, priced around $1,000 of the new Carnival.

    Prices, features, and models of Toyota Sienna versus Kia Carnival

    • Starting at $37,895 for Carnival LX and going up to $53,995 for Hybrid SX Prestige
    • Toyota Sienna hybrid ranges from $38,580 to $55,000
    • Our recommendations: Kia Carnival EX, Toyota Sienna LE

    Which Kia Carnival variant is recommended to purchase?

    The base model Carnival LX comes at $37,895, which includes the mandatory $1,395 destination fee. To align with Sienna and its hybrid capabilities, we would upgrade to the LXS model instead of sticking with the LX base model, as the hybrid option is not available for the LX. The 2025 Carnival LXS Hybrid is priced at $41,895, which includes the $1,395 destination fee. It is equipped with a 12.3-inch touchscreen featuring wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, six USB ports, heated front seats with synthetic leather upholstery, an electric driver’s seat, eight seats, and a range of driver-assist technologies.

    Fully loaded, a Carnival SX Prestige Hybrid is equipped with leather upholstery, a 12-speaker Bose sound system, and a surround-view camera system for $53,995.

    Another advantage over the Toyota is that all Carnival models come with a 5-year/60,000-mile warranty.

    Which Toyota Sienna variant stands out for purchase?

    The Sienna has a 3-year/36,000-mile warranty but also covers two years or up to 25,000 miles of scheduled maintenance. This is beneficial if you prefer your dealer for service.

    The Sienna is offered in multiple trims, including LE, XLE, XLE Woodland, XSE, Limited, and Platinum. The base LE is priced at $38,850, inclusive of a $1,395 destination fee. It includes standard modern minivan features, power sliding doors, a plethora of safety technologies, and a 9.0-inch touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. This variant offers the best value and is our top recommendation.

    The Sienna XLE adds a sunroof and synthetic leather upholstery. The premium Sienna Limited includes full leather upholstery, JBL audio system, navigation, and an in-car communication system. The Sienna Platinum with all-wheel drive surpasses $55,000.

    The Sienna offers better value and the option to add all-wheel drive for an additional $2,000 on all trims except for the XLE Woodland where it is included as standard.

    Advantage: Sienna provides greater value.

    Size, comfort, and cargo capacity comparison between Toyota Sienna and Kia Carnival

    Sienna: Offers 33.5 cubic feet of space behind the third row, 75.2 behind the second row, and 101 behind the front row
    Carnival: Provides 40.2 cubic feet behind the third row, 86.9 behind the second row, and a spacious 145.1 behind the front row, making it the leader in cargo space
    Both can accommodate eight passengers comfortably

    In both minivans, a sunken tub in the rear can store the folded third row under the floor, creating significantly more cargo room compared to an SUV. The power-sliding side doors simplify family life and allow easy access for children in their safety seats without parents straining their backs. Unlike the Chrysler Pacifica, neither offers Stow ‘n Go second-row seats that fold into the floor.

    How spacious is the Kia Carnival?

    It can seat either seven or eight occupants. Most Carnival models feature a second-row bench seat with a movable central fold-down seat that can act as a console when down or help achieve eight-passenger seating when up. These seats are detachable, unlike the Sienna. The second-row seats on the Carnival slide on a track enabling forward and backward movement and can also shift inward to create an access path to the back or outward to create a center aisle. The top-of-the-line SX Prestige offers second-row captain’s chairs with optional foldable leg rests. These are suitable for children to nap during road trips, but adults or tall teenagers may find it a bit cramped.

    How spacious is the Toyota Sienna?

    The Sienna may not be as roomy as the Carnival, but it offers practical storage throughout, including a storage shelf on the front passenger side for phones and other items. Additionally, it has a two-tiered center console for ample storage. Although leather seats are an option, Kia provides nicer leather upholstery.

    The second-row seats in the Sienna can move back and forth by more than 25 inches, making it ideal for installing captain’s chairs with manually extendable footrests. The functionality works slightly better in the Sienna, unless there is someone in the third row. However, a drawback is that the middle seats in the Sienna cannot be removed. Toyota’s solution is to allow the seat bottoms to flip up, after which the entire unit can slide forward to rest against the front seats. Accessing the third row is a bit more cumbersome due to the latches in the Sienna.

    Advantage: Kia Carnival.

    Both come with standard automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection
    Sienna secured a Top Safety Pick+
    Both can be equipped with a surround-view camera system

    The Siennaand Festival are well-stocked with cutting-edge technology aimed at preventing or lessening collision impacts. They feature standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitors, and dynamic lane control, while Toyota includes adaptive cruise control as a standard feature.

    How secure is the Kia Festival?

    The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has yet to conduct tests on the Festival, and the IIHS awarded the 2024 version with a Top Safety Pick title, as long as it’s equipped with the SX Prestige’s LED projector headlights. Other variants have subpar headlights but maintain impressive crash test results. We will provide updates once the 2025 model undergoes testing.

    Driver-assist features consist of blind-spot cameras that display side views on the instrument cluster, adaptive cruise control, high-speed automatic emergency braking, and a comprehensive surround-view camera system.

    How safe is the Toyota Sienna?

    The Sienna has received a Top Safety Pick+ accolade and a five-star rating from the NHTSA, although it did encounter issues with its front driver impact evaluations.

    Toyota equips the Sienna with adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitors, rear cross-traffic alerts, active lane control, and automatic high beams. Available options include a surround-view camera system, head-up display, front and rear parking sensors, and a digital rearview mirror with a camera feed that aids in observing beyond the passengers seated in the back.

    Advantage: Toyota Sienna.

    • Sienna exhibits more power initially but can be noisy
    • The Festival provides a smoother and quieter ride
    • Upcoming Festival hybrid sparks curiosity

    Is the Kia Festival all-wheel drive?

    No, it isn’t. Nevertheless, it performs admirably, thanks to a 290-hp V-6 linked to a seamless 8-speed automatic transmission. Overtaking on the freeway is effortless, although its acceleration does not astonish unsuspecting drivers. Various driving modes adjust the throttle response, with Sport mode offering slightly higher responsivity. The Festival’s performance claims rely on its tranquil, comfortable suspension comprising front struts and a multi-link rear setup. It can be exceptionally serene in higher trims, providing an advantage over the rougher Sienna. However, it remains a minivan at its core, featuring unresponsive steering and unwieldy handling.

    How about the Festival Hybrid?

    We will furnish drive impressions once we have tested it, but here are the known details. It combines a 1.6-liter turbo-4 engine with a 54-kw electric motor to produce a combined output of 242 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque. Similar to the hybrid setups in the Kia Sorento and Kia Sportage, this hybrid powertrain is paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive exclusively. It incorporates active grille shutters and 17-inch wheels optimized for aerodynamics.

    Is the Toyota Sienna AWD?

    The Sienna boasts two significant powertrain advantages over the Festival: standard hybrid technology and optional all-wheel drive for an additional $2,000. Toyota’s hybrid configuration combines a 4-cylinder engine with two motors and a small battery pack, resulting in 245 hp. With AWD, a third electric motor independently transfers power to the rear wheels from the engine and front wheels. The hybrid system excels at low speeds, offering substantial torque for quick getaways, although it diminishes as the speed increases. While the drive isn’t as seamless or robust as the Festival’s, Toyota’s suspension handles corners better and remains stable on the highway. The Sienna’s unequivocal strength lies in its fuel efficiency.

    Advantage: Toyota Sienna.

    Sienna vs. Festival gas mileage

    The Sienna achieves 36 mpg combined with FWD or 35 mpg with AWD
    The Festival attains 21 mpg combined; EPA ratings are not final for the Hybrid
    The Sienna stands as the most fuel-efficient three-row vehicle without needing to be plugged in

    Is the Kia Festival fuel-efficient?

    Not until the 2025 Hybrid variant arrives. The EPA rates the V-6 at 18 mpg city, 26 highway, 21 combined, which falls short compared to the brand’s robust Telluride three-row SUV that peaks at 23 mpg combined.

    Is the Toyota Sienna fuel-efficient?

    Being a hybrid, the Sienna offers impressive fuel efficiency and stands as the most fuel-efficient three-row vehicle without requiring a plug. It achieves 36 mpg across the board with front-wheel drive, or 35/36/35 mpg with AWD.

    Advantage: Toyota Sienna.

    2025 Kia Festival Hybrid

    Considering overall ownership cost and value, the 2024 Toyota Sienna shines with a TCC Rating of 6.7 out of 10. The Sienna may lack the modern flair of the Festival, but the Festival boasts superior top-tier features that contribute to the 2024 model earning a high TCC Rating of 7.0 out of 10. (Read more about how we rate cars.) The 2025 Festival raises some queries – specifically concerning its hybrid variant – a question that only time will answer.

    Image Source: Felix Mizioznikov / Shutterstock

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