2024 Kia Carnival vs 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ was a striking vehicle with a design that commanded attention. Its exterior styling was reminiscent of a long sedan, despite being an SUV, with a long hood and low ground clearance. The vertical light bars and LED headlights added a modern touch, while the grille and lighting effects enhanced its unique style. Inside, the LYRIQ boasted luxurious details, such as leather-wrapped seats and polished controls, though the floating center console was less practical. The 33-inch OLED display was a standout feature, offering a sleek and integrated look.

In contrast, the 2024 Kia Carnival adopted an SUV-like appearance with its prominent grille and slab sides, yet retained the practicality of a minivan with sliding doors. The Carnival's design included interesting details like a concave grille and filament-like taillights. Inside, the Carnival featured chunky switchgear and a large shifter, providing a rugged feel. The SX Prestige trim offered real leather upholstery and dual sunroofs, though the interior was predominantly plastic. Despite this, the Carnival's design was functional, with easy-to-use controls and ample space for passengers and cargo.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ, despite its sporty exterior, was more suited for comfortable long-distance travel. It featured a dual-motor powertrain with 500 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque, providing continuous all-wheel drive. The standard setup was a single rear motor with 340 hp. The LYRIQ's 102-kilowatt-hour battery offered a range of 314 miles with rear-wheel drive, though real-world testing showed closer to 260 miles. Charging was efficient, with the ability to reach 80% in about 30 to 35 minutes. However, the LYRIQ's handling was hindered by its weight, affecting steering and cornering performance.

The 2024 Kia Carnival was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine with 290 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. The Carnival's steering was well-suited for its size, offering ease of maneuverability and precision. The chassis provided a comfortable ride, making it ideal for road trips. The drivetrain was refined, with smooth and quick shifts from the transmission. While not the most efficient, the Carnival's powertrain was a reminder of the appeal of naturally-aspirated V6 engines and conventional transmissions.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ faced challenges with build quality and functionality. Misaligned rear fenders and a problematic charging port were notable issues. The interior design, while luxurious, lacked practicality, with a small center cubby and a cumbersome rotary selector for the touchscreen. The LYRIQ offered generous headroom and legroom, but its cargo space was limited, with only 28 cubic feet behind the seats and 60.8 cubic feet when folded.

The 2024 Kia Carnival excelled in passenger space and practicality. It offered seven-passenger seating as standard, with an eight-passenger configuration available on higher trims. The SX Prestige model featured second-row captain’s chairs with footrests, enhancing comfort. The Carnival provided substantial cargo space, with 40.2 cubic feet behind the third row and 145.1 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded. The interior was well-organized, with easy-to-find controls and ample storage options.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ featured a 33-inch OLED screen with three sections, offering touch-enabled controls and a large, legible instrument cluster. The infotainment system ran native Google Maps and Google Assistant, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. The Super Cruise system provided excellent hands-free driving capabilities, and the 19-speaker AKG stereo offered variable surround sound modes.

The 2024 Kia Carnival came with an 8-inch touchscreen on the base LX trim, with higher trims upgrading to a 12.3-inch touchscreen and digital instrument cluster. The Carnival offered a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system and a Wi-Fi hotspot. USB ports were available for all three rows, and the infotainment system was user-friendly with clear graphics. The Carnival also featured a cabin camera system and an intercom for rear-seat communication.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ had not been crash-tested by NHTSA or IIHS at the time of writing. It came standard with forward automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and Cadillac's Safety Alert Seat. Optional features included adaptive cruise control and a 360-degree camera system.

The 2024 Kia Carnival received mixed scores from IIHS, with high ratings in some crash tests but lower ratings in others. The SX Prestige model’s headlights received a "Good" rating, while other trims were rated "Poor." Standard safety features included blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, and automatic emergency braking. Higher trims offered additional driver-assistance features like adaptive cruise control and a surround-view camera system.