Kia Carnival vs Toyota Sienna
Minivans · head to head, 2022–2027
The Kia Carnival and Toyota Sienna 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 Sienna's own years, its best bet is 2022; years to avoid: 2024; the newest year rated a good buy is 2023.
Kia Carnival
Minivan · 2022–2027
- Best bet 2024
- Newest good buy 2024
- Avoid none
- Be careful 2022, 2025
Toyota Sienna
Minivan · 2010–2027
- Best bet 2022
- Newest good buy 2023
- Avoid 2024
- Be careful 2011–2012, 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 Sienna. (How we judge.)
Year by year, side by side
| Year | Kia Carnival | Toyota Sienna | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | Not rated | Not rated | Side by side |
| 2026 | TOO NEWOnly 1.1 years of owner reports | Not rated | Side by side |
| 2025 | CAREFULSerious complaints 2.3× usual, mostly engine and speed control | CAREFULSerious complaints 1.7× usual, mostly structure and air bags | Side by side |
| 2024 | BEST BUYSerious complaints 0.7× usual | AVOIDSerious complaints 2.7× usual, mostly brakes and engine | Side by side |
| 2023 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.8× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.5× usual, mostly brakes and structure | Side by side |
| 2022 | CAREFULSerious complaints 1.2× usual, mostly structure and engine | BEST BUYSerious complaints 0.3× 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
2026: the newest shared year with full data, at a glance
Newer years (up to 2027) have thinner price and equipment data for one or both models, so this table uses 2026. Use "Compare any year" above for the others.
| 2026 Kia Carnival | 2026 Toyota Sienna | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict (vs the model's own years) | TOO NEW | Not rated |
| Starting price (MSRP range) | $37,390 to $53,490 base price by trim, 9 trims | $40,820 to $58,210 base price by trim, 6 trims |
| Engines and horsepower | 1.6L 4-cyl turbo hybrid 3.5L 6-cyl | 2.5L 4-cyl, 189 hp |
| Fuel economy (EPA combined) | 21–32 mpg | 35–36 mpg |
| Seats | 7–8 | 7–8 |
| Third row | Yes | Yes |
| Cargo behind last row | 40.2 cu ft | 33.5 cu ft |
| Max cargo | — | 101 cu ft |
| Max towing | 3,500 lb | 3,500 lb |
| NHTSA crash rating | 5 of 5 stars | 5 of 5 stars |
| Recalls · owner complaints (NHTSA) | 2 · 48 | 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 2026 trim →
Key features: base trim vs top trim
| Carnival LX lowest price, $37,390 | Carnival Hybrid SX Prestige highest price, $53,490 | Sienna LE lowest price, $40,820 | Sienna Platinum highest price, $58,210 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Ventilated front seats | — | Standard | — | Standard |
| Sunroof or moonroof | — | Standard | Optional | Standard |
| 360-degree camera | — | Standard | — | Standard |
| Power liftgate or tailgate | — | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Remote start | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard |
"Standard" and "Optional" are for that trim as the 2026 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 2026 page (Carnival, Sienna).
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)
Toyota Sienna
17 manufacturer programs on file: 12 extended coverage, 5 repair programs.
- Extended coverage Dealer Package: Certain 2011 ? 2018 Model Year Sienna Vehicles Coverage for the Sliding Door Center Hinge Assembly. and pursuant to a class action settlement, Toyota is announcing a Customer Support Program to provide coverage for repairs… (2011, 2011–2012, 2012–2013, 2013–2015, 2015–2016, 2016–2017, 2017, 2017–2018 models)
- Extended coverage Customer Support Program: and pursuant to a proposed class action settlement, Toyota is announcing a Customer Support Program to provide coverage for the fuel filler door hinge and pin. Toyota is providing additional coverage for repairs… (2011–2018 models)
- Extended coverage Sienna Sliding Door Certain 2011 ? 2018 Model Year Sienna Vehicles ? Pursuant to the proposed settlement's Customer Confidence Program: o Coverage for repairs to the power sliding door cable sub-assembly, sliding door center hinge… (2011–2018 models)
- Extended coverage Toyota is providing extended coverage under this Customer Support Program for repairs related to excessive corrosion to the wire harness connections at the Rear Motor Generator. (22TE09, 2021–2024 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. In those years, choose on price, size and features.
- Shopping around 2024: the Carnival is rated best buy (serious complaints 0.7× usual), while the Sienna is rated avoid (serious complaints 2.7× usual, mostly brakes and engine). Each against its own other years.
- Shopping around 2022: the Sienna is rated best buy (serious complaints 0.3× usual), while the Carnival is rated careful (serious complaints 1.2× usual, mostly structure and engine). Each against its own other years.
- Years to skip: Sienna 2024.
- Newest year rated a good buy: Carnival 2024; Sienna 2023.
- Third row: both the 2026 Carnival and Sienna offer one.
- Lower starting price in 2026: the Carnival, from $37,390 against $40,820. Prices are the maker's listed base prices, not what dealers charge.
- Best EPA combined rating in 2026: Sienna at 36 mpg (Carnival: 32), 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.