2022 Kia Carnival vs 2023 Honda HR-V

The 2022 Kia Carnival stood out with its unique design elements across different trims. The LX trim featured a standard black grille and 17-inch silver-painted aluminum wheels, while the EX trim offered a more upscale look with 19-inch machined-finish aluminum wheels and simulated leather in three color options. The SX trim introduced a mirrored grid-pattern grille and black wheels, appealing to modern tastes. The SX Prestige trim focused on interior luxury with real leather and VIP Lounge Seats. The Carnival's SUV styling cues, such as simulated skid plates and a floating roof design, added to its appeal, making it a standout in its segment. Inside, the Carnival's dashboard and seating arrangements resembled a crossover, offering an upscale feel even in the base trim. The interior color options, including the bold Tuscan Umber, matched the vehicle's distinctive personality.

The 2023 Honda HR-V received a significant styling update, shedding some of its previous quirky charm for a more sophisticated and modern appearance. The lowered beltline and simplified detailing contributed to a sleeker look, with cleaner lines and fewer interruptions. The HR-V's new design included hidden windshield wipers and the removal of black molding strips on the roof. The model we tested was in a Nordic Forest Pearl color, adding to its refined aesthetic. The HR-V's interior featured new seats with black or gray cloth, while the Sport trim added orange contrast stitching and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. The EX-L trim offered perforated leather seats and dual-zone climate control, enhancing comfort. The interior design followed the trend of refinement seen in the 2022 Civic, with premium touches like a metal honeycomb grille and touch-sensitive lights. Despite its fastback look, visibility remained excellent, with larger rear windows and door-mounted mirrors.

The 2022 Kia Carnival was equipped with a robust 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 290 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. This engine powered the front wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission, providing smooth and effortless acceleration. The Carnival offered four driving modes: Normal, Eco, Sport, and Smart, with Smart mode being the most commonly used. However, there was a noticeable delay in downshifting when accelerating out of corners, which was more pronounced on inclines. The Carnival's fuel economy was rated at 22 mpg combined, with our testing averaging 21.7 mpg. The vehicle's dynamic performance was impressive, with a flat cornering stance and responsive handling, although it could feel stiff over uneven surfaces when lightly loaded.

The 2023 Honda HR-V featured a 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine, producing 158 horsepower and 138 lb-ft of torque, an improvement over the previous model. The continuously variable transmission (CVT) included a Step-Shift function to mimic traditional automatic transmission sounds. The HR-V offered Normal, Snow, and ECON drive modes, with Sport mode available by shifting the lever. The vehicle's handling was enhanced by new front and independent rear suspensions, making it enjoyable to drive on winding roads. However, the HR-V was not as powerful as some competitors, and the cabin noise was noticeable at higher speeds. The HR-V was available with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, providing versatility for different driving conditions.

The 2022 Kia Carnival excelled in practicality, offering a spacious interior with various seating configurations. The LX trim featured captain's chairs in the second row, with an optional middle seat for added flexibility. The EX and SX trims provided an 8-passenger Slide Flex seat configuration, while the SX Prestige offered luxurious VIP Lounge Seats with power adjustments and leg rests. The Carnival's cargo space was generous, with 40.2 cubic feet behind the third row and up to 145.1 cubic feet with the second-row seats removed. The smart hands-free power-sliding doors and liftgate added convenience, although they could open unintentionally. The Carnival's deep storage well and fold-flat third-row seats enhanced its cargo-carrying capabilities.

The 2023 Honda HR-V, as a subcompact SUV, offered a well-thought-out interior with a focus on comfort and functionality. The center console featured a shelf for storing cords and small items, while the rear seats provided a higher seating position for easier access. The HR-V's cargo space measured 24.4 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 55.1 cubic feet with them folded, slightly smaller than the previous model. Despite the reduction, Honda claimed it remained competitive in its class. The HR-V's passenger volume varied slightly between trims, with the EX-L offering more space. The rear seats folded nearly flat, creating a versatile cargo area, although legroom was slightly reduced compared to the previous model.

The 2022 Kia Carnival offered a range of technology features, starting with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system in the LX trim, which included Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The EX trim upgraded to a 12.3-inch widescreen infotainment system with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, HD Radio, SiriusXM, and navigation. The Carnival also featured Passenger View and Passenger Talk, enhancing communication with rear passengers. The SX trim added a dual-screen rear entertainment system with streaming capabilities, while the SX Prestige included a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display and a 12-speaker Bose audio system. The technology was generally intuitive, but a comprehensive guide was recommended for setup.

The 2023 Honda HR-V featured a tablet-style infotainment display, with the EX-L trim offering a 9-inch screen and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The LX and Sport trims had a 7-inch display with wired connectivity. The HR-V's infotainment system included a 7-inch digital gauge cluster, Bluetooth, and multiple USB ports. The EX-L trim added a wireless charging pad, WiFi capability, and an eight-speaker audio system. The system's Smart Shortcuts feature adapted to user preferences, enhancing convenience. The HR-V's technology was user-friendly, with physical knobs for power and volume control, and the EX-L trim offered additional buttons for navigation functions.

The 2022 Kia Carnival came equipped with a comprehensive suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS), including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assistance. The EX trim added front parking sensors, cyclist detection, and navigation-based adaptive cruise control with Highway Driving Assist (HDA). The HDA system combined adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assistance, although it was not always reliable. The Carnival also featured an ultrasonic rear occupant alert system and Safe Exit Assist, enhancing safety for passengers. The SX trim included a surround-view camera system, while the SX Prestige offered a Blind View Monitor. Crash-test results were not available at the time of review.

The 2023 Honda HR-V included the Honda Sensing suite of ADAS as standard across all trims, addressing previous criticisms. The suite featured adaptive cruise control, collision-mitigation braking, lane-keeping assist, and traffic-sign recognition. The HR-V also included a driver-attention monitor and a blind-spot information system on higher trims. The EX-L trim added front and rear parking sensors and low-speed braking control. The safety features were generally unobtrusive and effective, with a new single-camera system providing a wider field of vision. Crash-test results for the 2023 model were pending, but the 2022 model received high safety ratings.