Is the Kia Carnival Killing Honda and Toyota’s Minivans?
Every year, the automotive market continues to amaze with new and exciting vehicle models, which are constantly competing to win over vehicle consumers. Kia is an example of an automaker that has always been making a variety of new and improved models annually. One of its latest models is the 2023 Kia Carnival, which will definitely uphold Kia’s status.
Two of Kia’s known competitors are Hyundai and Toyota. As a successor to the Sedona, the Kia Carnival is compared to the Toyota Sienna and the Honda Odyssey minivan models. So, is the Carnival better than these two models?
What are the sales for Kia, Honda, and Toyota minivans?
The Kia Carnival made 17,075 vehicle sales over the past year and 1,226 sales in the past month. On the other hand, the Honda Odyssey made 47,615 sales over the past year and 8,004 sales in the last recorded month. Both figures for the Odyssey are superior compared to the Carnival.
For the Toyota Sienna, there were 20,061 sales made and recorded between January and November for the year 2022. The last monthly sales recorded by the Sienna were made in March, when 6,840 vehicles were sold. In the same quarter, the Carnival had recorded only 2,387 vehicle sales.
Sales are in favor of the Kia Carnival
According to GoodCarBadCar, the Honda Odyssey is far ahead in terms of sales compared to the other two minivan models. Its monthly sales in the last year have increased by 123.20% from a total of 3,586 vehicles. However, its sales are greatly diminishing as the years go by. In the previously recorded year, the Odyssey made 76,125 vehicle sales. This is a 37.45% decrease in sales for this model.
The Kia Carnival’s monthly and yearly sales in the previous year were less than the sales made in the current year. Its annual sales have gone up by 62.16% from its previously recorded yearly sales of 10,530 vehicles. When the Carnival’s monthly sales are compared with those of the previous year, a 10.15% increase is seen from its previous 1,113 sales. Therefore, it is evident that the Carnival is trending upward.
The Toyota Sienna recorded only 6,480 sales throughout the year 2022. This is more than two times less than the Carnival’s total recorded sales for 2022, which was 17,075 vehicles. The Carnival is thus already ahead of the Sienna in sales and may surpass it in the years to come.
The Kia Carnival is a worthy minivan competitor
Kia got it right with the Carnival since it has commendable features, particularly the 2023 Kia Carnival. It is a spacious vehicle with seven-passenger seating and a cargo capacity of 40 cubic feet, making it a good car for family trips. According to Kia, the Carnival’s starting MSRP is $33,100, which is reasonably affordable for a minivan. The Carnival also has excellent handling and an impressive exterior design.
Additionally, the Carnival excels in performance, as it comes with a powerful six-cylinder V6 3.5-liter Lambda III engine that generates 290 hp at 6,400 rpm and 262 lb-ft at 5,000 rpm. This model is also available in LX Pass Van trim, which includes an eight-speed automatic transmission with manual mode select.
It has a large gas tank with a fuel capacity of 19 gallons and a fuel economy of 19/26 mpg. Its wheelbase measures 121.7 inches, which offers a better ride quality for people who use the Carnival. A blind-spot monitoring system and a 12.3-inch display screen also come with the SX trim. So, the Carnival will surely prove itself a worthy competitor to the Toyota Sienna and the Honda Odyssey.
