Best Minivan Comparison: Kia Carnival vs. Toyota Sienna vs. Honda Odyssey vs. Chrysler Pacifica
Best Minivan Comparison: Kia Carnival vs. Toyota Sienna vs. Honda Odyssey vs. Chrysler Pacifica
Mark Twain may or may not have once said, “The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated.” We feel the same about the minivan. Once the go-to for expanding families, the minivan has taken a back seat to the midsize SUV over the last couple decades. However, we are here to tell you that the minivan is back and better than ever. In this video, Ryan ZumMallen and Mike Schmidt from Edmunds take an in-depth look at the best minivans. In this minivan comparison, we test the new 2022 Kia Carnival and see how it stacks up against the Toyota Sienna, Honda Odyssey and Chrysler Pacifica.
Replacing the Kia Sedona, the new 2022 Carnival is sure to turn some heads. The Carnival’s distinctive look, with styling that practically resembles an SUV, sets it apart from minivan mainstays such as the Honda Odyssey, Toyota Sienna and Chrysler Pacifica. Kia also set out to make Carnival the most powerful minivan, giving it a class-leading 290 horsepower. Inside, the Carnival features the quintessential qualities that you’d expect from today’s minivan. On top of the multitude of parking cameras and an abundance of USB ports, the Kia Carnival’s interior is spacious, versatile, and easy to get in and out of.
The Toyota Sienna is quite possibly the most recognized minivan on the planet, thanks to some clever marketing from Toyota that dubbed the Sienna the “Swagger Wagon.” Nicknames aside, the Sienna provides everything you’d expect from a minivan. It has a comfortable and spacious interior, ranks high on safety tests, and features plenty of tech to satisfy the whole family. For 2021, Toyota set out to improve the fuel economy of the Sienna. The new 245-hp hybrid drivetrain gets an EPA-estimated 36 mpg combined.
Did you know that the Chrysler Pacifica was the No.1-selling minivan in the U.S. in 2020? It sold over 10,000 more units than the runner-up, the Honda Odyssey. When you look closely, it’s easy to see why. The 2021 Pacifica, with its updated styling and available all-wheel drive, has some of the best attributes of an SUV to go along with the excellent practicality of a minivan. The interior of the Pacifica features the Stow ‘n Go seats, a unique feature that allows you to fold the second-row seats into the floor in mere seconds. The controls of the Pacifica are easy to use, and getting in and out of it is a breeze.
The Honda Odyssey is the top-rated minivan on Edmunds. It offers modern technology, gobs of interior space, and pleasing levels of luxury and convenience. The Odyssey is also a pleasure to drive. The V6 engine offers enough power on the streets and on the highways, even with a cabin full of passengers. Of the four minivans compared in the video, the Honda Odyssey easily offers the best driving experience of the group. We’ll miss the vacuum option from previous years, but the kid-friendly features and ultra-quiet cabin help rank the Honda Odyssey at the top of most “Best Minivan” lists.
The Sienna, Pacifica and Odyssey have dominated the minivan market for years now. But with the arrival of the Kia Carnival, they have some serious competition. So if you’re in the market for a great family hauler, we encourage you to take a look at these minivans. SUVs are all still the go-to for growing families, but this new generation of minivans offers a lot of the same features and conveniences. Trust us, these aren’t the minivans you grew up with and you won’t be disappointed. This is our 2021 minivan showdown with the brand-new Kia Carnival, Toyota Sienna, Chrysler Pacifica and Honda Odyssey.
