2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 vs 2024 Kia Carnival

The 2024 Kia Carnival made a bold design statement, adopting SUV-like features to attract buyers typically interested in SUVs. Its prominent grille, slab sides, and pronounced hood gave it a distinctive look, although the sliding doors and lack of ground clearance revealed its minivan roots. The Carnival's styling included unique details like a slightly concave grille with disco-ball-like trim and filament-like taillights. The SX Prestige model's 19-inch wheels were well-proportioned, enhancing its appearance without overdoing it. Inside, the Carnival continued the SUV theme with chunky switchgear and a large shifter, appealing to image-conscious buyers. The interior materials were durable, acknowledging the wear and tear expected in a family vehicle, with options ranging from cloth seats in the base model to real leather upholstery in the SX Prestige trim.

The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 retained its distinctive appearance, drawing retro comparisons to the Lancia Delta while maintaining a unique presence on the road. The mid-cycle refresh brought subtle changes to the lower front fascia, but the iconic "Parametric Pixel" headlights and taillights, round wheel arches, and high rear spoiler remained. The new XRT trim stood out with red tow hooks and black plastic bumper cladding featuring a "digital camouflage" pattern. The XRT also introduced exclusive colors, Ultimate Red and Cosmic Blue Pearl, while the overall color palette expanded. New wheel designs were introduced, with 19-inch wheels standard on SE and SEL trims, 20-inch on the Limited, and rally-style 18-inch wheels exclusive to the XRT. Inside, the Ioniq 5's cabin remained minimalistic and modern, with minor changes to the center console for improved functionality.

The 2024 Kia Carnival offered a straightforward powertrain with a 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 290 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. It lacked all-wheel drive and hybrid options, aligning with Honda's Odyssey strategy. The Carnival's steering provided the right balance of feel and effort, making it easy to maneuver in parking lots and precise at higher speeds. The chassis delivered a comfortable ride, ideal for long road trips, with low interior noise levels and an internal speaker system for communication between rows. The V6 engine was refined, offering smooth and quick gear changes, and emitted a pleasant growl at full throttle.

The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 XRT introduced a Terrain Mode button on the steering wheel, offering Snow, Mud, and Sand options to adjust throttle mapping, wheel slip, power distribution, and regenerative braking. The XRT handled off-road conditions well, with all-wheel drive as standard. The Ioniq 5's battery capacity increased for 2025, extending the range to 318 miles in single-motor, rear-wheel drive configuration, while the base trim had a 245-mile range. Power output varied with powertrain choice, with rear-wheel drive models producing 168 to 225 horsepower and all-wheel drive models delivering 320 horsepower and 446 pound-feet of torque. The Ioniq 5's electric vehicle instant torque provided an enjoyable driving experience despite its weight.

The 2024 Kia Carnival offered seven-passenger seating on the base LX trim, with sliding and removable second-row seats. Higher trims featured an eight-passenger configuration, with SX Prestige models offering second-row captain's chairs with footrests. The Carnival provided ample 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 plenty of storage options. The Carnival could tow up to 3,500 pounds, matching the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna.

The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 addressed previous complaints by adding a rear windshield wiper and revising the center console for improved functionality. Interior dimensions remained unchanged, with generous headroom and legroom. Cargo space measured 26.3 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 58.5 cubic feet with them folded down, plus an additional .85 cubic feet in the frunk. The Ioniq 5 transitioned to the North American Charging System, allowing access to Tesla's Supercharger network, and included a Combined Charging System adapter for public and fast charging.

The 2024 Kia Carnival featured an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on the base LX trim, while higher trims upgraded to a 12.3-inch touchscreen and digital instrument cluster. A 12-speaker Bose premium audio system was available, along with Bluetooth voice recognition and a Wi-Fi hotspot. USB ports were accessible in all three rows, and the infotainment system was user-friendly with clear graphics. The Carnival also offered a cabin camera system and an intercom for communication between rows.

The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 retained its 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system and digital instrument cluster, with improved functionality and faster processing speeds. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto became standard, and the Bose Premium Audio system was available on the XRT trim. The Ioniq 5 featured standard navigation, dynamic voice recognition, and five USB-C ports. A head-up display was exclusive to the Limited trim, and a wireless charging pad was available from the SEL trim level.

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

The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 maintained its high safety standards, earning a Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA. New standard safety features included an enhanced driver attention system and parking-distance warnings. The Ioniq 5 offered Highway Driving Assist 1 and 2, with adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist, and the XRT trim included a surround-view monitor and blind-spot view monitor.