Does the 2022 Honda Odyssey in Albuquerque, NM Measure Up to the Kia Carnival MPV?

Although SUVs and crossovers are the current darlings of the automotive world, the tried and true minivan is the best choice for family transport. The 2022 Honda Odyssey in Albuquerque, NM has long been a top contender in the minivan wars, but there's a new challenger in the form of the Kia Carnival MPV. Despite being branded as a Multi-Purpose Vehicle, the Carnival still competes in the minivan segment. Let's check out how the two compare.

Minivan Style

You've heard the saying since you were a kid: beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But in the case of the Kia Carnival, we think most buyers will agree that it's one of the best-looking, if not the best-looking minivans on the market. With boxy SUV styling, modern lines, and a near-luxury level interior, there's no denying the Carnival stands out in a crowd.

Lacking a cohesive look, the Honda Odyssey has some jaunty lines here, some chiseled looks there, and the floating roof appearance in the back. It doesn't have the neatly put-together SUV-like look that is offered on the Carnival. Its interior is certainly not as plush, either, although the top-of-the-range Carnival SX Prestige trim may be a little too nice for the average messy human child!

Safety in the 2022 Kia Carnival and 2022 Honda Odyssey in Albuquerque, NM

Both of these dependable vehicles come standard with a variety of safety and convenience features that you'd expect of a modern minivan. But the Carnival comes loaded down with advanced safety and driver-assist features like you won't believe! Even the entry-level model is equipped with automatic lane-keep assist and forward automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection.

Moving up to the LXS trim gets blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert and Safe Exit Assist, which alerts passengers when exiting the vehicle into oncoming traffic. Additional upgrades for the EX trim and higher include more auto emergency braking system capability to detect turning vehicles and cyclists, automatic rear braking, a parking camera with surround-view for the SX and higher, and even a blind-spot camera view for the SX Prestige.

Likewise, the Odyssey comes with some of the same features, although the list is shorter. Auto emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and pedestrian detection are standard, but there's no blind-spot monitoring on the LX base model. There's no Odyssey model with a blind-spot camera, surround-view camera, cyclist/turning car detection, rear auto braking, or the Safe Exit Assist alert.

Minivan Pricing

Finally, we come to comparing the prices of the two. While both share several similarities in drivetrain, engine, safety and convenience amenities, cargo space, and even entry-level pricing, that's where it ends. The Carnival outshines the 2022 Honda Odyssey in Albuquerque, NM, at every trim level in price and features.

At the base level, the costs are close, with the Carnival LX ($32,100) being about $200 less than the Odyssey LX, but with features more similar to the next level Odyssey EX which is $35,690. The Odyssey LX can't match the base Carnival, which includes power sliding doors and a touchscreen infotainment system along with the features listed above.

Other amenities in the Carnival which are difficult to find on the Odyssey include a navigation system, wireless Smartphone charger, hands-free liftgate, in-car intercom, and an in-car camera for views of the rear seats. These can be found on the mid-level Carnival EX, but Honda only offers them standard on the top trims.

The top of the line Carnival SX Prestige ($46,100) is not quite as much as the top-tier Odyssey Elite ($47,820) but has way more stuff. You'll get substantially more for your money with the Kia Carnival!

And One More Thing

On top of everything else, there's the phenomenal Kia 10-year/100,000-mile warranty that Honda can't even touch. And it comes standard, with no extra cost to you.

So there you have it. Yes, the Honda Odyssey is an excellent minivan, but the Kia Carnival is outstanding in almost every respect! Come to Fiesta Kia at 7400 Lomas Blvd NE in Albuquerque to take a test drive and discover for yourself. We hope to see you soon!