Compare the2022 Kia CarnivalVS 2021 Chrysler Voyager

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Carnival are reminded to check the back seat when a sensor determines the back seat is occupied. The Voyager doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Carnival has standard Forward Collision Avoidance, which use forward mounted sensors to warn the driver of a possible collision ahead. If the driver doesn’t react and the system determines a collision is imminent, it automatically applies the brakes at full-force in order to reduce the force of the crash or avoid it altogether. The Voyager doesn't offer collision warning or crash mitigation brakes.

The Carnival’s lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. The Voyager doesn’t offer a lane departure warning system.

The Carnival SX/Prestige has a standard Surround View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Voyager only offers a rear monitor and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the front or sides.

The Carnival has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. A system to reveal vehicles in the Voyager’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Carnival has a standard cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Cross-path warning costs extra on the Voyager.

The Carnival’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Voyager doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Carnival and the Voyager have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights and rearview cameras.

The Carnival comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire van and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Voyager’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years and 24,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Carnival 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Chrysler covers the Voyager. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Voyager ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2020 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Chrysler vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in initial quality, above the industry average. With 53 more problems per 100 vehicles, Chrysler is ranked 28th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Chrysler vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia third in reliability, above the industry average. With 69 more problems per 100 vehicles, Chrysler is ranked 29th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Chrysler vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 4 places higher in reliability than Chrysler.

The Carnival’s 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 3 more horsepower (290 vs. 287) than the Voyager’s 3.6 DOHC V6.

For more complete vehicle control the Carnival has Shiftronic, with the available convenience of an automatic transmission and the complete gear control of a manual transmission without the inconvenience of a clutch. Shiftronic allows the driver to eliminate unwanted shifts and maximize engine braking by down shifting while cornering. The Voyager doesn’t offer a transmission that allows complete gear control.

The Carnival EX/SX/Prestige’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Voyager’s 65 series tires.

For better load carrying, ride, handling and brake cooling the Carnival EX/SX/Prestige has standard 19-inch wheels. The Voyager’s largest wheels are only 17-inches.

The Carnival has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Voyager; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

The Carnival offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the Voyager can only carry 7.

The Carnival has 3.1 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Voyager (168.2 vs. 165.1).

The Carnival has .8 inches more front headroom, .8 inches more front hip room, .4 inches more front shoulder room, 1.5 inches more rear legroom, 1.6 inches more rear hip room, .2 inches more rear shoulder room and .9 inches more third row hip room than the Voyager.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Carnival EX/SX/Prestige’s power liftgate can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Voyager doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening liftgate.

When two different drivers share the Carnival SX/Prestige, the memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The Voyager doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Carnival SX/Prestige’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Voyager doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Carnival EX/SX/Prestige’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Voyager’s optional rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open them fully. Only its driver’s window opens automatically.

The Smart Key standard on the Carnival allows you to unlock the doors, cargo door and start the engine all without removing a key from pocket or purse. This eliminates searching for keys before loading groceries, getting in the vehicle in bad weather or making a hurried start to your trip. The Chrysler Voyager’s Keyless-Enter-N-Go doesn’t unlock the cargo door.

The Carnival has a standard locking fuel door. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The Voyager doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

The Carnival has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. The Voyager has an automatic headlight on/off feature standard only on the LX.

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors standard on the Carnival detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The Voyager doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Carnival to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Voyager doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Carnival’s optional rear view mirror has an automatic dimming feature. This mirror can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on it, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Voyager doesn’t offer the luxury of an automatic dimming rear view mirror.

Both the Carnival and the Voyager offer available heated front seats. The Carnival Prestige also has standard heated second row seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated second row seats aren’t available in the Voyager.

The Carnival SX/Prestige has standard front air conditioned seats and the Carnival Prestige also has them in the second row. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The Voyager doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Carnival EX/SX/Prestige’s standard automatic temperature control maintains the temperature you set, automatically controlling fan speed, vents and temperature to maintain a consistent, comfortable environment. The Voyager doesn’t offer automatic air conditioning.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the Carnival EX/SX/Prestige has a standard Smart Cruise Control, which alters the speed of the vehicle without driver intervention. This allows the driver to use cruise control more safely without constantly having to disengage it when approaching slower traffic. The Voyager doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.

To direct the driver from any location to a given street address, a GPS navigation system is standard on the Carnival EX/SX/Prestige. The Carnival’s navigation system also has a real-time traffic update feature that offers alternative routes to automatically bypass traffic problems. (Service not available in all areas.) The Voyager doesn’t offer a navigation system.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Kia Carnival EX/SX/Prestige has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Voyager doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The Carnival SX/Prestige has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Voyager doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.