Compare the2025 Lexus TXVS 2025 Kia Carnival

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Lexus TX have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Kia Carnival doesn’t offer pretensioners for its second-row seat belts.

The TX has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Carnival doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

The TX offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Carnival doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the TX AWD’s standard Downhill Assist allows you to creep down safely. The Carnival doesn’t offer Downhill Assist.

Both the TX and the Carnival have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

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 Lexus TX is safer than the Carnival:

	TX	Carnival
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	38	53
Neck Tension	134 lbs.	178 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Shoulder Deflection	.35 in	.51 in
Shoulder Force	156 lbs.	178 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.1 in	1.14 in
Torso Deflection Rate	4 MPH	5 MPH
Pelvis	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	1049 lbs.	1071 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	143	186
Neck Tension	67 lbs.	245 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	MARGINAL
Shoulder Deflection	.67 in	2.01 in
Shoulder Force	245 lbs.	357 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.1 in	1.97 in
Torso Deflection Rate	6 MPH	13 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis Force	446 lbs.	892 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

Warranty

The TX’s corrosion warranty is 1 year and unlimited miles longer than the Carnival’s (6/unlimited vs. 5/100,000).

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in reliability, above the industry average. With 52 more problems per 100 vehicles, Kia is ranked 8th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lexus first in overall reliability. Kia is ranked 10th.

Engine

The TX has more powerful engines than the Carnival:

	Horsepower	Torque
TX 350 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder	275 HP	317 lbs.-ft.
TX 500h 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid	366 HP	406 lbs.-ft.
TX 550h+ 3.5 DOHC V6 hybrid	404 HP
Carnival 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid	242 HP	271 lbs.-ft.
Carnival 3.5 DOHC V6	287 HP	260 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Motor Trend the TX 350 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Kia Carnival 4 cyl. hybrid gas:

	TX	Carnival
Zero to 60 MPH	7.7 sec	7.9 sec
Quarter Mile	15.8 sec	16 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	91 MPH	88.2 MPH

As tested in Motor Trend the TX 500h 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Kia Carnival 3.5:

	TX	Carnival
Zero to 60 MPH	6.1 sec	7.7 sec
Quarter Mile	14.7 sec	15.8 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	93.4 MPH	90.4 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the TX running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the Carnival:

			MPG
TX
	FWD	2.4 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/27 hwy
	AWD	2.4 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	27 city/28 hwy
		2.4 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/26 hwy
Carnival
	FWD	3.5 DOHC V6	18 city/26 hwy

The TX 550h+ CVT can travel with zero emissions for 33 miles. The Carnival can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regardless of its engine, the TX’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. Kia only offers an automatic engine start/stop system on the Carnival Hybrid.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Lexus TX higher (7 out of 10) than the Kia Carnival (5 to 6). This means the TX produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Carnival every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

The TX 550h+ has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Carnival doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	TX 350	TX 500h/550h+	Carnival
Front Rotors	13.3 inches	15.7 inches	12.8 inches
Rear Rotors	13.3 inches	13.3 inches	12.8 inches

The TX’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Carnival are solid, not vented.

The TX stops much shorter than the Carnival:

	TX	Carnival
70 to 0 MPH	174 feet	191 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	117 feet	132 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the TX has larger tires than the Carnival (255/55R20 vs. 235/65R17).

The TX’s standard 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/LXS’ standard 65 series tires. The TX’s optional tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Carnival EX/SX/Prestige’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the TX has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Carnival LX/LXS. The TX’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels on the Carnival EX/SX/Prestige.

Suspension and Handling

The TX offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Carnival’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

Chassis

The TX F Sport uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Carnival doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The TX has .5 inches more front headroom, .5 inches more front legroom and .6 inches more rear headroom than the Carnival.

Cargo Capacity

Pressing a switch automatically lowers or raises the TX Premium/Luxury/F Sport’s third row seats, to make changing between cargo and passengers easier. The Carnival doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the TX. The Carnival doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Towing

The TX’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Carnival’s (5000 vs. 3500 pounds).

Servicing Ease

The TX uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Carnival uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Kia. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in service department satisfaction. With a 59% lower rating, Kia is ranked 24th.

Ergonomics

The TX’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Carnival does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The TX’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 Carnival’s standard passenger windows don’t open or close automatically.

If the windows are left open on the TX the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Lexus service department.) The driver of the Carnival can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The TX’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 standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The TX Luxury/F Sport has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Carnival doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the TX Luxury/F Sport has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Carnival doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The TX’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Carnival offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The Lexus TX has power folding mirrors that offer unparalleled convenience while maneuvering in tight places or parked. With the mirrors folded it’s easier to walk past and help prevent parking damage. The mirrors can be quickly unfolded when the driver is ready to leave. Power folding mirrors are only offered on the Carnival EX/SX/Prestige.

The TX has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel is only available on the Carnival Prestige.

The Lexus TX has a standard Homelink wireless remote control system for garage door operation and device management, conveniently located on the rear view mirror. Homelink® eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries. Kia charges extra for Homelink® on the Carnival.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Lexus TX has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the Carnival EX/SX/Prestige offers wireless charging.

The TX Premium/Luxury/F Sport’s optional Advanced Park can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Park will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Carnival doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

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