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Are you considering buying either the Toyota Sienna or the Kia Carnival but can’t decide which minivan to get? See how the two minivans measure up in this 2023 Toyota Sienna vs. 2023 Kia Carnival minivan comparison.

2023 Toyota Sienna vs. 2023 Kia Carnival: What are the differences?

Side view of Celestial Silver 2023 Toyota Sienna
Celestial Silver 2023 Toyota Sienna | Toyota

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

Sienna 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 Toyota Sienna has a hybrid powertrain, which produces a total system output of 245 horsepower. In comparison, the 3.5-liter V-6 engine in the 2023 Kia Carnival generates 290 horsepower. However, unlike the Carnival, the Sienna offers a traction-enhancing all-wheel drive system.

For efficiency, the Sienna has the advantage. It has an estimated gas mileage of up to 36 city/36 highway mpg, compared to a fuel economy of up to 19 city/26 highway mpg for the Carnival.

Sienna vs. Carnival: Towing

The 2023 Sienna and 2023 Carnival are evenly matched for towing. Both minivans can tow up to 3,500 pounds. 

Sienna vs. Carnival: Safety

On the safety front, the Sienna has the advantage. For the previous model year, the Sienna 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.

Sienna vs. Carnival: Passenger and cargo space

The Carnival is slightly bigger than the Sienna, 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 Sienna has a total passenger volume of 162.5 cu-ft and a maximum cargo capacity of 101.0 cu-ft. 

Sienna vs. Carnival: Interior features and technologies

For interior features and technologies, unlike the Carnival, the Sienna offers a head-up display and a Wi-Fi hotspot. However, unlike the Sienna, the Carnival offers a panoramic roof and cooled rear seats. 

Sienna vs. Carnival: Warranty coverage

For warranty coverage, the Sienna has a 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. However, the Carnival has a more generous 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. Unlike the Carnival, though, the Sienna has a free maintenance plan, with two years or 25,000 miles of coverage.

Sienna vs. Carnival: Price

Which minivan costs more: the 2023 Sienna or the 2023 Carnival? 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. 

While the price information is not yet available for the 2023 Sienna, it will likely cost slightly more than the 2022 Sienna. The starting price of the 2022 Sienna ranges from $34,710 MSRP for the LE trim up to $50,150 MSRP for the Platinum trim. 

2023 Toyota Sienna vs. 2023 Kia Carnival: Which minivan is better?

In this 2023 Toyota Sienna vs. 2023 Kia Carnival comparison, each minivan has various advantages. For the 2023 Sienna, advantages include an available all-wheel drive system, gas mileage, safety, and a free maintenance plan. Conversely, advantages for the 2023 Carnival include higher engine horsepower output, passenger and cargo space, basic and powertrain warranty coverage, and a lower price.

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