Kia Carnival vs Toyota Sienna: Which Is Better for You?

Many of us grew up riding in minivans that were far from what we’d call luxurious, or even particularly comfortable. The kinds of minivans we had to pile into as kids and teens were pretty barebones, putting functionality above everything else. That might’ve been alright back then, but these days we want more from our vehicles. After all, what are comfort and convenience if not things we need more than ever? Looking at a Kia Carnival for sale, it’s clear that this is a minivan designed for those of us who demand more from our vehicles. How does it stack up against a minivan like the Toyota Sienna, which has been around a lot longer? Let’s take a good look, and we’ll see why so many people are choosing the Carnival over any other model. 

We get this question a lot because Kia calls the Carnival a “multi-purpose vehicle” (MPV), which is fair, since its design is clearly an impressive blend of SUV styling and minivan functionality. Still, it makes sense to compare it to other minivans, like the Toyota Sienna, even though the Sienna is probably one of those minivans many people have bad memories of from decades ago. Toyota has come a long way to make the Sienna better than before, but Kia has approached the Carnival with a fresh take that gives it numerous advantages over Toyota’s offering.

Engines and performance might not be the first thing you look at with something like a minivan, but we think it should be. Ultimately, much of your experience with your vehicle each day comes down to the kind of power it delivers and the feeling you get from it on the road. Although Toyota has a good reputation for impressive performance, the Sienna actually comes up a bit short compared to the Kia Carnival. Toyota offers just one engine for the Sienna, a 2.5L hybrid that provides 245 hp. This isn’t awful, but it’s not something anyone’s going to brag about.
 
Kia offers two engines for the Carnival, so you can choose the kind of experience you prefer. Standard is a 3.5L V6 engine that delivers 287 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque, ensuring you have plenty of muscle to make driving the Carnival feel fantastic. If you want enhanced fuel efficiency, Kia offers a turbocharged hybrid engine that provides 242 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque. That’s more in line with the Sienna’s horsepower, but with greater torque than Kia’s standard engine. Considering this hybrid gives the Carnival an estimated 34 MPG in the city and 31 MPG on the highway, it’s a terrific choice if you want a minivan that can go a long time between stops for gas. 

Many factors we’re looking at today can impact your overall driving experience, but none of that really matters if you don’t have the functionality you need in your vehicle. Minivans have to be spacious inside. Their whole appeal lies in an incredibly functional interior layout that works well for passengers and cargo alike. The 2026 Carnival offers best-in-class interior space, ensuring you have all the room you need for whatever you want to do. While the Sienna is pretty roomy, it just can’t compete.
 
The Toyota Sienna has 33.5 cu.ft. of rear cargo space behind the third-row seats and 101 cu.ft. of total cargo volume behind the front row when you fold down the second and third rows. By comparison, the 2026 Kia Carnival gives you 40.2 cu.ft. of rear cargo volume behind its back seats and an incredible 145.1 cu.ft. of cargo space with the second and third rows folded down. That’s a massive difference across the interior, ensuring you have all the room you need in the Carnival for whatever you’re looking to do each day. With plenty of space for up to eight passengers to stretch out in comfort, the Carnival is an amazing choice for any family. 

The quality of the time you spend in your vehicle largely depends on the features you have available. Convenience and tech features are easy to think of as extra niceties, but they can really improve your drive each day. If you stick to standard features to keep things simple, Kia offers a Smart Key system with push-button start that makes it easy to get in and get going, especially on hectic mornings when everything seems to be against you getting out the door. You get heated, power-adjustable side mirrors that are easy to adjust and stay clear in all kinds of weather, with integrated LED turn signals so others can see what you’re doing.
 
Tri-zone automatic climate control is standard on the Carnival to help keep everyone comfortable inside, and you can choose between seven- or eight-passenger seating. A gorgeous 12.3-inch infotainment display with navigation is standard on every 2026 Kia Carnival, and it looks fantastic. There’s also an available curved 12.3-inch instrument display if you want to take your tech features to the next level. By comparison, Toyota provides a standard eight-inch multimedia display in the Sienna, which is significantly smaller than what every Carnival has. This makes Kia’s system easier to see at a glance and use, which we much prefer. 

No matter how good your vehicle is or how carefully you drive each day, we all know that things can happen that you never expect. Life has a way of throwing curveballs at us on a pretty regular basis, so it helps to know that someone has your back with a little extra help when you need it. Kia comes through with the most impressive warranty protection we’ve ever seen, which is perfect for when the unexpected comes up and you hope someone has you covered. For starters, every new Carnival comes with a five-year/60,000-mile full vehicle warranty and roadside assistance during its coverage period. Toyota offers just a three-year/36,000-mile vehicle warranty on the 2026 Sienna, which is pretty typical for the industry and highlights just how impressive Kia’s protection is.
 
Taking things to the next level, the Kia Carnival offers an incredible 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, covering the parts of your vehicle that take the most abuse. Once again, Toyota falls behind with a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty, which is what you’d expect from the auto industry these days. We hope that Kia is setting a new standard that every other manufacturer will match with this industry-leading warranty protection. Until then, the Carnival is covered far beyond what Toyota provides for the Sienna. 

There’s only so much that you can gain from reading about different vehicles and what they offer. This kind of research is a great way to get things started, but you really have to take the Carnival for a test drive to fully appreciate what it has to offer. That’s why we’re here at Lupient Kia Brooklyn Park to make sure you experience the Carnival for yourself and discover why it’s the better choice for you. With a spacious interior, impressive performance, and unbeatable warranty protection, the Carnival is simply in a league of its own. Maybe it should be called the Carnival MVP instead of MPV? Take one for a spin, then let us know what you think.