The 2024 Kia Carnival and the 2024 Toyota Sienna are two great choices if you’re looking to buy a brand-new minivan. Minivans offer more interior space and are easier to enter and exit. You’ll also find a great selection of convenience and technological features, capable powertrains, and excellent safety specifications.
That’s why our minivan match-up will be useful in helping you decide. We’ll compare each vehicle in terms of interior, performance, and safety. Then, you’ll be well-informed to choose a winner for your family’s transportation needs.
Alternatively, visit Mike Shaw Kia in Corpus Christi, TX, and check out the 2024 Carnival range.
The 2024 Kia Carnival offers plenty of interior space, with a large 168-cubic foot passenger cabin. Conversely, the 2024 Toyota Sienna has less, with a mere 163 cubic feet of space. This enables all three rows of the 2024 Carnival to offer impressive space. The standard configuration is an eight-seat layout with second and third-row bench seats.
However, buyers of the 2024 Carnival can pick a seven-seat configuration. A VIP Lounge seat option is available for the top trim. This replaces the second-row bench with two power-adjustable airplane-style seats with extendable leg rests and wing-out head rests. The 2024 Sienna has a similar option with captain chairs.
Furthermore, the 2024 Carnival includes a power-adjustable driver and front passenger seat for higher trims. Buyers can also opt for leather upholstery and open-pore wood or satin chrome interior accents. Tri-zone automatic climate control is also present for higher trim levels. The 2024 Sienna has similar equipment levels but doesn’t offer as many premium upholstery and interior accent choices.
Remote start is standard for the 2024 Kia Carnival range. Higher trims add Kia Connect support. Here, owners can pre-heat or pre-cool the interior via the Kia Access App. They can also control some vehicle functions and define maintenance reminders.
Both minivans have Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ as standard, plus Bluetooth® hands-free and wireless audio streaming. The 2024 Carnival also adds standard USB charging ports for all three rows and two 12-volt power ports. Higher trims add two 115-volt power outlets. Buyers can also opt for a rear entertainment system with dual screens. The top trim gains a Bose 12-speaker sound system, too.
The 2024 Kia Carnival offers a massive 40 cubic feet of cargo space when all three rows of seats are deployed, while the 2024 Toyota Sienna can only manage up to 34 cubic feet in the same configuration. Both vehicles offer split-folding third rows for more capacity. If you need even more space, you can fold the second row in the 2024 Carnival and gain an amazing 145 cubic feet capacity.




The 2024 Kia Carnival is powered by a 3.5-liter direct injection V6. The engine produces 290 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. It drives the front wheels through an 8-speed automatic gearbox. Testers also noted that the 2024 Carnival has sprightly acceleration, a well-balanced ride, and good handling characteristics. The 2024 Carnival range comes with an Eco Driving mode as well to maximize fuel economy. Furthermore, Kia rates the 2024 Carnival at 3,500 pounds of towing capacity, regardless of trim.
The 2024 Toyota Sienna is a hybrid, with 243 horsepower combined output. The system uses a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated 4-cylinder engine, an electric motor, and a CVT gearbox.
Every 2024 Carnival comes with Kia’s Drive Wise Technologies suite. Blind-spot collision avoidance assist is standard, as is forward collision avoidance assist with automatic emergency braking. A navigation-based smart cruise control system with stop-go is also included. Higher trims add a highway driving assist system, too. Further standard features include a driver attention monitor and a rear occupant alert system.
The 2024 Sienna comes with some of these features as part of its Toyota Safety Sense™ system. Furthermore, both minivans have a full complement of airbags. They also include child seat anchors for the second and third rows of seating. A tire pressure monitor is standard, too.
If you want the most spacious minivan out there, the 2024 Kia Carnival is it. But, it’s also got a great array of features, a reliable powertrain, and class-leading safety features. That’s why it’s our pick, and we think you should experience it too.
Swing by Mike Shaw Kia in Corpus Christi, TX, for a test drive. Then, we’ll help you with purchasing, trade-ins, and securing financing.