What To Know
- The Highlander has a slightly better fuel economy than the Carnival, with an EPA-estimated 22 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway compared to the Carnival’s 19 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway.
- The Carnival is a good choice for buyers who want a vehicle with a spacious interior, a long list of standard features, and a lower price tag.
The Toyota Highlander and the Kia Carnival are two of the most popular family-hauling SUVs on the market. Both vehicles offer spacious interiors, plenty of features, and strong safety ratings. But which one is the right choice for you? In this blog post, we’ll compare the Toyota Highlander vs Kia Carnival in terms of price, performance, features, safety, and more.
Price
The Toyota Highlander has a starting price of $36,065, while the Kia Carnival has a starting price of $32,100. The Highlander is available in six trim levels, while the Carnival is available in four. The top-of-the-line Highlander Platinum trim has a starting price of $49,585, while the top-of-the-line Carnival SX Prestige trim has a starting price of $46,290.
Performance
The Toyota Highlander is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine that produces 295 horsepower and 263 lb-ft of torque. The Kia Carnival is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine that produces 290 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. Both engines are paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Highlander has a slightly better fuel economy than the Carnival, with an EPA-estimated 22 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway compared to the Carnival’s 19 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway.
Features
The Toyota Highlander comes standard with a variety of features, including an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, a rearview camera, and a suite of safety features. The Kia Carnival also comes standard with a variety of features, including an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, a rearview camera, and a suite of safety features. However, the Carnival offers a few more standard features than the Highlander, such as a power liftgate, heated front seats, and a sunroof.
Safety
The Toyota Highlander and the Kia Carnival have both received excellent safety ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The Highlander received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS. The Carnival received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS.
Interior
The Toyota Highlander has a spacious interior with seating for up to eight passengers. The front seats are comfortable and supportive, and the second-row seats offer plenty of legroom and headroom. The third-row seats are a bit cramped, but they’re still usable for short trips. The Kia Carnival has a even more spacious interior with seating for up to eight passengers. The front seats are comfortable and supportive, and the second-row seats offer even more legroom and headroom than the Highlander. The third-row seats are also more spacious than the Highlander’s, making them more comfortable for longer trips.
Cargo Space
The Toyota Highlander has 16.1 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seats. The Kia Carnival has 40.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seats. With the second-row seats folded down, the Highlander has 48.4 cubic feet of cargo space, while the Carnival has 85.1 cubic feet of cargo space.
Which One is Right for You?
The Toyota Highlander and the Kia Carnival are both excellent family-hauling SUVs. The Highlander is a good choice for buyers who want a vehicle with a strong reputation for reliability and resale value. The Carnival is a good choice for buyers who want a vehicle with a spacious interior, a long list of standard features, and a lower price tag.
Final Verdict
The Toyota Highlander and the Kia Carnival are both excellent family-hauling SUVs. The Highlander is a good choice for buyers who want a vehicle with a strong reputation for reliability and resale value. The Carnival is a good choice for buyers who want a vehicle with a spacious interior, a long list of standard features, and a lower price tag. Ultimately, the best way to decide which SUV is right for you is to test drive both vehicles and see which one you prefer.
Questions We Hear a Lot
Q: Which SUV has a better fuel economy?
A: The Toyota Highlander has a slightly better fuel economy than the Kia Carnival.
Q: Which SUV has a more spacious interior?
A: The Kia Carnival has a more spacious interior than the Toyota Highlander.
Q: Which SUV has a lower price tag?
A: The Kia Carnival has a lower price tag than the Toyota Highlander.
Q: Which SUV is more reliable?
A: The Toyota Highlander has a stronger reputation for reliability than the Kia Carnival.
Q: Which SUV is safer?
A: The Toyota Highlander and the Kia Carnival have both received excellent safety ratings from the NHTSA and the IIHS.