The Enclave has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Carnival doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.
With its standard Front Pedestrian Braking, the Buick Enclave is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Kia Carnival, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:
|
Enclave |
Carnival |
Overall Evaluation |
ACCEPTABLE |
MARGINAL |
|
Crossing Child - DAY |
|
12 MPH |
AVOIDED |
AVOIDED |
25 MPH |
-20 MPH |
-13 MPH |
|
Crossing Adult - NIGHT |
|
12 MPH Brights |
AVOIDED |
-10 MPH |
12 MPH Low beams |
AVOIDED |
-6 MPH |
25 MPH Brights |
-17 MPH |
-13 MPH |
25 MPH Low beams |
-22 MPH |
-5 MPH |
|
Parallel Adult - NIGHT |
|
Warning Issued-Brights |
1.9 sec |
1.7 sec |
In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Buick Enclave achieved a “Good” rating - the highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Kia Carnival has not been tested.
The Enclave offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Carnival doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.
The Buick Enclave’s rear backup camera has a standard washer for maintaining a clear view under various conditions. In contrast, the Kia Carnival does not offer a rear camera washer, meaning its effectiveness relies on manual cleaning by the user when necessary.
Both the Enclave 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, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available front parking sensors and driver alert monitors.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Buick Enclave is safer than the Kia Carnival:
|
Enclave |
Carnival |
OVERALL STARS |
5 Stars |
4 Stars |
|
Driver |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
HIC |
165 |
239 |
Neck Injury Risk |
20.1% |
23.1% |
Neck Stress |
178 lbs. |
245 lbs. |
Neck Compression |
2 lbs. |
12 lbs. |
Leg Forces (l/r) |
32/13 lbs. |
141/167 lbs. |
|
Passenger |
|
STARS |
4 Stars |
4 Stars |
HIC |
234 |
250 |
Chest Compression |
.7 inches |
.8 inches |
Neck Injury Risk |
35.9% |
50.7% |
Neck Stress |
159 lbs. |
174 lbs. |
Leg Forces (l/r) |
160/266 lbs. |
632/305 lbs. |
New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the Enclave is much safer than the Carnival:
|
Enclave |
Carnival |
Overall Evaluation |
GOOD |
MARGINAL |
Structure |
GOOD |
GOOD |
|
Driver Injury Measures |
|
Head/Neck Rating |
GOOD |
GOOD |
Chest Rating |
GOOD |
GOOD |
Thigh/hip Rating |
GOOD |
GOOD |
Thigh Forces L/R |
67/90 pounds |
90/315 pounds |
Leg/foot Rating |
GOOD |
GOOD |
Thigh Forces L/R |
67/90 pounds |
90/315 pounds |
Restraints |
GOOD |
GOOD |
|
Rear Passenger Injury Measures |
|
Head/Neck Rating |
ACCEPTABLE |
MARGINAL |
Chest Rating |
GOOD |
MARGINAL |
Thigh Rating |
GOOD |
GOOD |
Restraints |
ACCEPTABLE |
ACCEPTABLE |
Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Buick Enclave is safer than the Carnival:
|
Enclave |
Carnival |
Overall Evaluation |
GOOD |
ACCEPTABLE |
|
Driver Injury Measures |
|
Head/Neck |
GOOD |
GOOD |
Torso |
GOOD |
GOOD |
Shoulder Deflection |
.47 in |
.51 in |
Shoulder Force |
-156 lbs. |
178 lbs. |
Torso Max Deflection |
.79 in |
1.14 in |
Torso Deflection Rate |
4 MPH |
5 MPH |
Pelvis |
ACCEPTABLE |
ACCEPTABLE |
Pelvis Force |
915 lbs. |
1071 lbs. |
Head Protection |
GOOD |
GOOD |
|
Passenger Injury Measures |
|
Head/Neck |
GOOD |
GOOD |
Torso |
GOOD |
MARGINAL |
Shoulder Deflection |
.83 in |
2.01 in |
Shoulder Force |
-312 lbs. |
357 lbs. |
Torso Max Deflection |
1.06 in |
1.97 in |
Torso Deflection Rate |
8 MPH |
13 MPH |
Pelvis |
GOOD |
GOOD |
Pelvis Force |
602 lbs. |
892 lbs. |
Head Protection |
GOOD |
GOOD |
The Buick Enclave has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2025 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and an “Acceptable” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Carnival is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2025.