Compared: 2023 Kia Carnival vs. 2023 Kia Telluride
Breaking down the differences between Kia's capable family haulers.
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QuickTakes:
Coming a long way from the modest, bare-bones economy cars from yesteryear, Kia pushes style, tasteful finishes, and impressive value for money into its two biggest and most spacious models. This begs the question: How do Kia's largest utility vehicles compete against each other?
Kia's flagship SUV, the three-row midsize 2023 Telluride leads with its rugged good looks and off-road capability. The 2023 Carnival, which is Kia's minivan, prioritizes practicality but is styled to exude somewhat of a rugged SUV vibe.
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The Kia Carnival Is Priced Lower Than the Telluride
The Telluride comes in five trims: LX, S, EX, SX, and SX Prestige. The midsize SUV in the base LX configuration starts at about $37,000, with the SX Prestige topping out at $52,000. Front-wheel drive (FWD) comes standard, with all-wheel drive (AWD) available for around $2,000.
The Carnival comes in four trims, with additional packages available along the way. The base Carnival LX starts a step under the Telluride equivalent, ringing in at just over $34,000. This is followed by the EX, SX, and the range-topping $48,000 SX Prestige.
Both Kias are equipped with an eight-speed automatic transmission paired with a V6 engine producing 290 horsepower in the Carnival and 291 horsepower in the Telluride. However, unlike the SUV, AWD is unavailable in the minivan.
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The Kia Telluride Is More Adventure-Inclined Than the Carnival
The Carnival comes standard with power sliding rear doors and seating for seven. The Seat Package for the LX trim adds one extra seat — the middle position of the second row — for an eighth occupant, as well as many smart safety features. A highlight within the EX specification is the Quiet Mode, which disables the rear speakers — perfect for maintaining a peaceful cabin for sleeping third-row passengers on a road trip.
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If the long road trip involves some mild off-roading, the Telluride is better suited. It can also seat eight, and the SX trim features the optional X-Line and X-Line Pro packages, which are tailored with the off-road adventurist in mind with rugged off-road tires, additional ride height for crawling across trails safely, and standard AWD.
Keeping in line with the adventurous theme, the Telluride also boasts a larger towing capacity for the occasional boat, small camper, or utility trailer. The Carnival is rated to 3,500 pounds, while the Telluride can tow 5,000.
The Telluride's available X-Line Pro package increases that limit to 5,500 pounds. Towing capacity aside, the Carnival holds a significant edge in cargo space. There's 40.2 cubic-feet behind its third row, nearly double the Telluride's 21.0 cu-ft. The Carnival's maximum cargo capacity soars up to a whopping 145.1 cu-ft with both rear rows of seats folded flat, handily beating the Telluride's 87.0 cu-ft.
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AWD Saps Fuel Economy, but Only by a Little
Both 2023 Kias come with nearly identical drivetrains and almost identical power outputs. Because of this, they also have similar fuel economy ratings.
EPA estimates put the Carnival at 19/26/22 mpg city/highway/combined and the Telluride at 20/26/23 mpg. The Telluride's optional AWD does make a slight difference, lowering fuel economy to 18/24/21 mpg.
All vehicle pricing includes MSRP plus destination charges (set at the time of publication), and will be rounded to the nearest thousand.
