Compare the2023 Ford Transit Connect WagonVS 2023 Kia Carnival

The Transit Connect Wagon offers optional 911 Assist, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to get turn-by-turn driving directions or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Carnival doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the Transit Connect Wagon and the Carnival have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact 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, rearview cameras, available lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, front parking sensors, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

The Transit Connect Wagon’s 5 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the Carnival runs out after 100,000 miles.

There are almost 4 times as many Ford dealers as there are Kia dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Transit Connect Wagon’s warranty.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Transit Connect Wagon has a standard 220-amp alternator. The Carnival’s 180-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Transit Connect Wagon has a 800-amp battery. The Carnival only offers a standard 660-amp battery.

On the EPA test cycle the Transit Connect Wagon gets better fuel mileage than the Carnival (24 city/28 hwy vs. 19 city/26 hwy).

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Transit Connect Wagon’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Carnival doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Transit Connect Wagon has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Carnival doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

The Transit Connect Wagon stops much shorter than the Carnival:

The Transit Connect Wagon’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Carnival LX’s standard 65 series tires.

The Transit Connect Wagon has a standard full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your work or a trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the Carnival; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

The Transit Connect Wagon’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Carnival doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The Ford Transit Connect Wagon may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 350 to 700 pounds less than the Kia Carnival.

The Transit Connect Wagon is 1 foot, 1 inches shorter than the Carnival, making the Transit Connect Wagon easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Transit Connect Wagon is 6.3 inches narrower than the Carnival, making the Transit Connect Wagon easier to handle and maneuver in traffic.

For excellent aerodynamics, the Transit Connect Wagon has standard flush composite headlights. The Carnival has recessed headlights that spoil its aerodynamic shape and create extra drag.

The front grille of the Transit Connect Wagon XLT offers available electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Carnival doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Transit Connect Wagon has 6 inches more front headroom, 1.2 inches more front legroom, 6.2 inches more rear headroom and 3.3 inches more third row headroom than the Carnival.

A standard locking glovebox keeps your small valuables safer in the Transit Connect Wagon Titanium. The Carnival doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The Transit Connect Wagon’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Carnival’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are optional on the Transit Connect Wagon to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Carnival doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

Consumer Reports rated the Transit Connect Wagon’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Carnival’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the Transit Connect Wagon offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Carnival doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Transit Connect Wagon has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the Carnival EX/SX/Prestige.

The Transit Connect Wagon Titanium’s optional Enhanced Active Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Carnival doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Insurance will cost less for the Transit Connect Wagon owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Transit Connect Wagon will cost $280 to $2290 less than the Carnival over a five-year period.

The Transit Connect Wagon will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Transit Connect Wagon will retain 51.49% to 52.41% of its original price after five years, while the Carnival only retains 43.3% to 44.41%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Ford Transit Connect Wagon will be $7483 to $18005 less than for the Kia Carnival.

The Ford Transit Connect outsold the Kia Carnival/Sedona by 28% during 2022.