2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS vs 2023 Kia Carnival

The 2023 Kia Carnival presented a unique blend of style and functionality, setting itself apart from the typical minivan. It featured a distinctive design with high-tech front and rear lighting, an intricate grille, and decorative roof pillar trim, which contributed to its upscale image. The SX Prestige trim, in particular, offered a sophisticated interior with dual instrumentation and infotainment screens, dual power sunroofs, and quality materials that prevented the minivan from feeling cheap. Despite its stylish appearance, the Carnival lacked an off-road or overlanding package, relying instead on its impressive technology and unique interior fittings to stand out in the full-size van category.

In contrast, the 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS exuded a soft sensuality in its design, which, while bordering on boring, aged well. The GLS 450 test vehicle boasted bright-finish 22-inch AMG rims, a new silver four-louver grille design, and polished metal exterior accents, all complemented by a lustrous Twilight Blue paint color. Inside, the GLS 450 showcased a Bahia Brown over Black interior color scheme with natural-grain Grey Oak, contrast stitching, and polished aluminum accents, creating a luxurious environment. The GLS's interior was a place of comfort and elegance, with massaging front seats, heated rear seats, and a four-zone automatic climate control system ensuring a pleasant experience for all occupants.

The 2023 Kia Carnival was equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 290 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. This front-wheel-drive minivan offered a satisfying driving experience, with Eco, Normal, Smart, and Sport driving modes to choose from. Despite its lack of all-wheel drive or a hybrid powertrain, the Carnival provided ample power even with a full load of passengers. However, its brakes showed signs of fading during a steep mountain descent, and wind noise was noticeable at higher speeds. The Carnival's ride quality was firm and sporty with a single occupant but softened when fully loaded, although it could become bouncy on certain road surfaces.

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450, on the other hand, featured a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine with mild-hybrid technology, producing 375 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. This powertrain provided smooth and swift acceleration, reaching 60 mph in 5.8 seconds. The GLS 450's nine-speed automatic transmission and variable 4Matic all-wheel-drive system offered a sublime driving experience, with Eco, Comfort, Sport, and Individual driving modes available. The GLS 450 excelled in handling, thanks to its adaptive air suspension and massive Continental Premium Contact tires, while its brakes performed admirably under duress. The GLS also offered an Off-Road menu within MBUX for those planning to venture off the beaten path.

The 2023 Kia Carnival defied the typical minivan stereotype with its SUV-like driving position and center console arrangement. It offered three types of upholstery, with the SX Prestige trim featuring genuine leather, although it felt stiff and dry. The Carnival's interior included a three-zone automatic climate control system, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The smart sliding doors and VIP Lounge Seats added convenience, but the latter limited cargo space to 86.9 cubic feet and posed challenges for accessing the third row. The Carnival's third-row seat was suitable for adults, and the cargo area provided 40.2 cubic feet of space behind it, with a maximum of 145.1 cubic feet when the second-row seats were removed.

In contrast, the 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS offered a luxurious interior with supple leather surfaces, massaging front seats, and a wide range of adjustments. The GLS's front seats provided a commanding view, while the second-row captain's chairs offered excellent thigh support and expansive legroom. However, accessing the third-row seat was cumbersome, and space was snug for adults. The GLS's cargo space was practical, with 17.4 cubic feet behind the third row, 42.7 cubic feet behind the second row, and a maximum of 84.7 cubic feet behind the front seats. The AMG Line package added sporty styling but could be inconvenient when entering or exiting the vehicle.

The 2023 Kia Carnival SX Prestige featured 12.3-inch digital instrumentation and infotainment touchscreens, offering a presentation similar to a Mercedes-Benz. The digital instrumentation impressed with its lush graphics and changing themes, while the infotainment system included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a one-year subscription to Kia Connect Ultimate connected services. However, the 12-speaker Bose audio system was mediocre, and the Kia Connect subscription was inactive during testing. Additional tech included Quiet Mode, Passenger Talk, and Passenger View with Night Vision, as well as an optional dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system, which teenagers showed little interest in.

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS came equipped with the latest MBUX infotainment system, featuring a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen. The system offered improved graphics and themes, along with intuitive touchscreen operation and outstanding natural voice recognition technology. However, touch-sensitive areas on the steering wheel and center console caused occasional frustration by altering displays unintentionally. Despite this, MBUX remained a model of technology done right, with impressive augmented reality for navigation and a standard Burmester surround-sound system with Dolby Atmos technology.

The 2023 Kia Carnival came with a comprehensive suite of driver assistance and collision avoidance systems, with features like forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist standard across all trims. The rear-seat reminder system used ultrasonic sensors to detect movement inside the minivan, while the Safe Exit System warned occupants of approaching vehicles. The EX trim added Junction Turning Detection and Highway Driving Assist, which provided semi-autonomous driving assistance. The SX trim included a surround-view camera and Blind-Spot View Monitor. The Carnival earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS for 2022, but NHTSA had not performed crash tests as of the review.

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS offered an extensive array of safety features, with over 20 significant systems available. The advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) could be adjusted through MBUX, allowing drivers to customize their sensitivity and alert preferences. The GLS's ADAS performed admirably, with smooth and subtle steering inputs and speed adjustments. The adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist systems handled various driving conditions with ease, while the lane-departure warning system provided a distinctive haptic thudding through the steering wheel. The GLS's safety technology was outstanding, with only a single instance of lane-centering assist momentarily turning off during testing.