Compare the2022 Kia CarnivalVS 2022 Honda Odyssey

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Carnival has a standard backup collision prevention system that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Odyssey doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

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 Odyssey only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the 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. Only the Odyssey EX/EX-L/Touring/Elite offers a blind spot warning system.

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. Only the Odyssey EX/EX-L/Touring/Elite has a cross-path warning system.

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 Odyssey doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Carnival and the Odyssey 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, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems 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 Odyssey’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 Honda covers the Odyssey. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Odyssey ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Carnival has a standard 180-amp alternator. The Odyssey’s 150-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

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 Honda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in initial quality, above the industry average. With 41 more problems per 100 vehicles, Honda is ranked 19th, 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 Honda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia third in reliability, above the industry average. With 48 more problems per 100 vehicles, Honda is ranked 27th.

The Carnival’s 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 10 more horsepower (290 vs. 280) than the Odyssey’s 3.5 SOHC V6.

For better stopping power the Carnival’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Odyssey:

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Carnival’s wheelbase is 3.6 inches longer than on the Odyssey (121.7 inches vs. 118.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Carnival is 1.4 inches wider in the front and 1.5 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Odyssey.

The Carnival has 4.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Odyssey (168.2 vs. 163.6).

The Carnival has .2 inches more front headroom, .2 inches more front legroom, 1.2 inches more front hip room, 1.1 inches more front shoulder room, 1.6 inches more rear hip room, 1.6 inches more rear shoulder room, .3 inches more third row headroom and 2 inches more third row hip room than the Odyssey.

The power windows standard on both the Carnival and the Odyssey have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Carnival is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Odyssey prevents the driver from operating the rear windows just as it does the other passengers.

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 Odyssey has an automatic headlight on/off feature standard only on the EX/EX-L/Touring/Elite.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Carnival has standard extendable sun visors. The Odyssey doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The Carnival’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Honda only offers heated mirrors on the Odyssey EX/EX-L/Touring/Elite.

Both the Carnival and the Odyssey 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 Odyssey.

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 Odyssey doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.