Kia Carnival vs Honda Odyssey
Minivans · head to head, 2022–2027
The Kia Carnival and Honda Odyssey were both sold for 6 model years (2022–2027). Among the Carnival's own years, its best bet is 2024; no year to avoid; the newest year rated a good buy is 2024. Among the Odyssey's own years, its best bet is 2017; years to avoid: 2018–2020, 2025; the newest year rated a good buy is 2024.
Kia Carnival
Minivan · 2022–2027
- Best bet 2024
- Newest good buy 2024
- Avoid none
- Be careful 2022, 2025
Honda Odyssey
Minivan · 2010–2027
- Best bet 2017
- Newest good buy 2024
- Avoid 2018–2020, 2025
How to read this: each model's verdicts compare that model's own years with each other (serious owner complaints per car on the road against that model's usual year, using New York registrations). They are not a reliability ranking of one model against the other, so a good-buy Carnival year says nothing about whether it beats a Odyssey. (How we judge.)
Year by year, side by side
| Year | Kia Carnival | Honda Odyssey | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | Not rated | Not rated | Side by side |
| 2026 | TOO NEWOnly 1.1 years of owner reports | TOO NEWOnly 1.1 years of owner reports | Side by side |
| 2025 | CAREFULSerious complaints 2.3× usual, mostly engine and speed control | AVOIDSerious complaints 4.5× usual, mostly engine and power train | Side by side |
| 2024 | BEST BUYSerious complaints 0.7× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.8× usual | Side by side |
| 2023 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.8× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.7× usual | Side by side |
| 2022 | CAREFULSerious complaints 1.2× usual, mostly structure and engine | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.8× usual | Side by side |
Each chip rates that year against the same model's other years. Tap a chip for the year's details; "Side by side" compares both models that year, trim by trim.
Compare any year, trim by trim
2027: the newest shared year, at a glance
| 2027 Kia Carnival | 2027 Honda Odyssey | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict (vs the model's own years) | Not rated | Not rated |
| Starting price (MSRP range) | $37,490 to $53,590 base price by trim, 9 trims | — |
| Engines and horsepower | 1.6L 4-cyl turbo hybrid 3.5L 6-cyl | 3.5L 6-cyl, 280 hp |
| Fuel economy (EPA combined) | 21–33 mpg | 22 mpg |
| Seats | 7–8 | — |
| Third row | Yes | — |
| Cargo behind last row | 40.2 cu ft | — |
| Max cargo | 145.1 cu ft | — |
| Max towing | 2,500–3,500 lb | — |
| NHTSA crash rating | 5 of 5 stars | 5 of 5 stars |
| Recalls · owner complaints (NHTSA) | 0 · 0 | 0 · 0 |
Sources: OpenSpec and the makers' equipment guides, NHTSA vPIC, EPA and NHTSA ratings. Cargo, towing and bed length rows appear when we have them. "—": not in our data. Compare every 2027 trim →
Key features: base trim vs top trim
| Carnival LX lowest price, $37,490 | Carnival Hybrid SX Prestige highest price, $53,590 | Odyssey EX-L first listed | Odyssey Elite last listed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wireless Apple CarPlay | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Adaptive cruise control | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Blind-spot warning | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Heated front seats | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Ventilated front seats | — | Standard | No | Standard |
| Sunroof or moonroof | — | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| 360-degree camera | — | Standard | No | No |
| Power liftgate or tailgate | — | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Remote start | — | Standard | Standard | Standard |
"Standard" and "Optional" are for that trim as the 2027 data lists it (a package or option adds an "Optional" item); "—": not verified in our sources, never a guess. The cheapest and most expensive trim of each model; every trim is on the model's 2027 page (Carnival, Odyssey).
Known fixes and extended coverage
Kia Carnival
7 manufacturer programs on file: 1 extended coverage, 6 repair programs.
- Extended coverage This warranty extension is to address a horn sound malfunction condition. WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: DEALER PARTS AND SERVICE MANAGER MEMO (WTY048) - This document is the announcement to the dealer Parts and Service managers advising… (WTY048, 2022–2024 models)
Honda Odyssey
18 manufacturer programs on file: 18 extended coverage, 0 repair programs.
- Extended coverage It is important that your dealership follows the requirements listed in the service bulletins (and below) or your claim may be debited. (AAW08072019, 2011–2014 models)
- Extended coverage Today, June 1, 2019, American Honda is announcing a warranty extension for certain 2011-14 Odyssey and 2013-16 Pilot vehicles with either Taffeta White or White Diamond Pearl paint to address customer concerns with peeling paint. American… (ABOM06012019, 2011–2014 models)
- Extended coverage Warranty extension: mil comes on with dtcs p0301 thru p0304 - the piston rings on certain cylinders may rotate and align which can lead to spark plug fouling. (2010–2013 models)
- Extended coverage There may also be a Network Loss message and/or display issues. For these vehicles that display any of the above symptoms and it is determined that the symptoms relate to the MOST bus network connectors, American Honda is extending the… (ONLR9Q04052021, 2018–2020 models)
From manufacturer bulletins filed with NHTSA, counted per program. A count is how many programs exist, not how good or bad a model is: a maker that extends coverage is paying for a known problem. A dealer can look up whether a car has had the work done or is still covered.
Which should you buy?
- Buying used, years both are rated a good buy: 2023–2024. In those years, choose on price, size and features.
- Years to skip: Odyssey 2018–2020, 2025.
- Newest year rated a good buy: Carnival 2024; Odyssey 2024.
- Best EPA combined rating in 2027: Carnival at 33 mpg (Odyssey: 22), for the most efficient version of each.
- Before you buy either: run the VIN for open recalls and ask the dealer whether the extended-coverage repairs above were done.
Rules applied to the data on this page: no overall winner is declared, because our verdicts compare each model with itself.