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Are you considering buying either the 2023 Honda Odyssey or the 2023 Kia Carnival, but can’t figure out which minivan to get? See how the two minivans measure up in this 2023 Honda Odyssey vs. 2023 Kia Carnival comparison. 

2023 Honda Odyssey vs. 2023 Kia Carnival: What are the differences?

Front angle view of gray 2023 Honda Odyssey
Sonic Gray Pearl 2023 Honda Odyssey | Honda

In this 2023 Honda Odyssey vs. 2023 Kia Carnival comparison, we evaluated several areas. This includes performance, gas mileage, towing, safety, passenger and cargo space, interior features and technologies, warranty coverage, and price.

Odyssey vs. Carnival: Performance and gas mileage

Front angle view of gray 2023 Kia Carnival, highlighting its release date and price
Panthera Metal 2023 Kia Carnival | Kia

On the performance front, the 2023 Honda Odyssey is powered by a 3.5-liter V-6 engine, which generates 280 horsepower. In comparison, the 3.5-liter V-6 engine in the 2023 Kia Carnival generates 290 horsepower. Neither minivan offers an all-wheel drive system, as all models for the Odyssey and Carnival have front-wheel drive.

While the Carnival has a slightly more powerful engine, the Odyssey has quicker acceleration. It has a 0-60 mph time as low as 6.5 seconds, compared to 7.0 seconds for the Carnival.

Also, for efficiency, the Carnival has a slight edge. It gets an estimated gas mileage of up to 19 city/26 highway mpg, compared to 19 city/28 highway mpg for the Odyssey.

Odyssey vs. Carnival: Towing

The 2023 Odyssey and 2023 Carnival are evenly matched for towing. Both minivans have a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 pounds.

Odyssey vs. Carnival: Safety

For safety, the Odyssey has the advantage. For the previous model year, the Odyssey earned an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award, which is the highest IIHS rating. However, the Carnival received the second-tier IIHS award. Given that both minivans are carryover models, they will likely have similar IIHS ratings for the 2023 model year.

Odyssey vs. Carnival: Passenger and cargo space

The Carnival is slightly bigger than the Odyssey, resulting in more interior space. It has a total passenger volume of 168.2 cu-ft and a maximum cargo capacity of 145.1 cu-ft. In comparison, the Odyssey has a total passenger volume of 163.6 cu-ft and a maximum cargo capacity of 144.9 cu-ft.

Odyssey vs. Carnival: Warranty coverage

For warranty coverage, the Odyssey has the backing of a 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. The warranty coverage for the Carnival is much more generous, though, with the backing of a 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. However, unlike the Carnival, the Odyssey has a free maintenance plan, with two years or 24,000 miles of coverage.

Odyssey vs. Carnival: Price

Which minivan costs more: the 2023 Odyssey or the 2023 Carnival? The starting price of the 2023 Odyssey ranges from $37,340 MSRP for the EX trim up to $49,470 MSRP for the Elite trim. In comparison, the starting price of the 2023 Carnival ranges from $32,600 MSRP for the LX trim up to $45,700 for the SX Prestige trim. As you can see, the Carnival is cheaper.

2023 Honda Odyssey vs. 2023 Kia Carnival: Which minivan is better?

In this 2023 Honda Odyssey vs. 2023 Kia Carnival comparison, each minivan has various advantages. For the 2023 Odyssey, advantages include acceleration, safety, and a free maintenance plan. Conversely, advantages for the 2023 Carnival include a more powerful engine, gas mileage, passenger and cargo space, warranty coverage, and a lower price. 

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