MPVs have become less of a want and more of a need these days for families. Sure, you can stuff 7-8 people in your Chevrolet Suburban, but the passengers in the 3rd row will hold that trip against you. Let’s be real, an SUV cannot outperform an MPV in terms of practicality, utility, comfort, or cargo space. An MPV lets you seat the whole family comfortably, while not compromising on the legroom or the cargo space. That’s why we have this Honda Odyssey vs. Kia Carnival duel today. We will compare their performance, cabins, safety, and driver assistance technology, and let you know which one of these is the best bang for your buck.
But before throwing both opponents in the ring, why not get to know them a little?
Honda Odyssey
The Honda Odyssey has long been celebrated as one of the most beloved family minivans, consistently winning praise worldwide. Since its introduction in 1994, the Odyssey quickly became famous for redefining practicality and comfort in the minivan segment.
Families love it because Honda designed the Odyssey to prioritize everyday usability, long journeys, and kid-friendly features over flashy styling. The model earned multiple awards, including numerous “Best Minivan” titles from automotive publications and organizations across different countries.
In the United States, the Odyssey has consistently ranked as a top-selling minivan, often battling the Toyota Sienna for leadership. Its reputation continues to thrive, supported by strong customer loyalty, impressive reliability ratings, and generations of satisfied long-term owners.
Kia Carnival
The Kia Carnival has carved out a special place in the family vehicle world by blending versatility with modern style. Launched in 1998, it quickly gained attention as an MPV that balanced practicality with a premium and comfortable experience.
Unlike many rivals, the Carnival leaned into its “multi-purpose” label, becoming equally popular for large families and executive transport. It has collected several global awards, especially for design and safety, strengthening Kia’s reputation as an innovative automaker worldwide.
Sales have been particularly strong in markets such as South Korea, Australia, and North America, where demand has steadily grown each year. Today, the Carnival remains well-regarded as a confident mix of family-focused engineering and upscale appeal that resonates internationally.
Honda Odyssey vs. Kia Carnival: Editor’s Opinion
Our vote? The Kia Carnival! It’s bold, sharp, and refuses to wear the “boring minivan” label. Meanwhile, the Odyssey is still the reliable straight-A student, but sometimes you want the kid who knows how to ace the test and throw the afterparty. Carnival is that kid. It makes hauling kids, pets, and gear feel less like a chore and more like a flex.
The 2025 Honda Odyssey starting price in the UAE is AED 180,900. In opposition, the 2025 Kia Carnival starting price in the UAE is AED 152,250. Let’s see if the Odyssey justifies its AED 28,650 price difference.
Performance
Let’s talk about the performance of these MPVs:
| Honda Odyssey | Specs | Kia Carnival |
| V6 | Engine | V6 |
| Naturally Aspirated | Forced Induction | Naturally Aspirated |
| 3500cc | Displacement | 3500cc |
| 10-speed AT | Transmission | 8-speed AT |
| FWD | Drivetrain | FWD |
| 280 hp | Power | 268 hp |
| 355 Nm | Torque | 330 Nm |
| 12 km/L | Fuel Economy | 9.3 km/L |
| 2080 kg | Weight | 2100 kg |
Both these MPVs share identical powetrains. The Honda Odyssey not only has more power than the Carnival, but it’s also more fuel efficient.
Cabin Comfort
This is the primary selling feature of these vehicles, so let’s dive in and explore:
| Honda Odyssey | Specs | Kia Carnival |
| 8 | No. of seats | 8 |
| Leather | Seat Material | Pure Leather Seats |
| Standard | Paddle Shifters | Unavailable |
| Tri-Zone Automatic with Humidity Control and Air Filtration | Climate Control | Tri-Zone Automatic |
| 7” TFT Drivers Display + 9” Centre Screen + 12.8” Rear Entertainment | Multimedia | 12.3” Drivers Display + 12.3” TFT Supervision Cluster |
| Standard | Apple CarPlay and Android Auto | Standard |
| Standard | Wireless charging | Optional |
| Unavailable | Ambient Lighting | Unavailable |
| Available | Sunroof | Dual Sunroof |
| 11-Speaker Premium Audio System including Subwoofer | Sound System | 12-speaker Bose premium audio system with Surround Sound |
| Powered, heated, and ventilated seats with Magic Slide and Walk-in Feature | Seat Functions | Powered, heated, and ventilated seats. |
| 4412 L | Luggage Capacity | 4110 L |
The Honda Odyssey has better climate control, seat functions, and more screens. It also has more space for cargo. It even has paddle shifters, something we wouldnt expect from an MPV. Carnival, on the other hand, offers wireless charging as an ‘optional’ feature. It has a dual sunroof, though, and a better sound system too. This Honda Odyssey vs Kia Carnival is getting intense by the minute.
Safety and Driver Assistance
Now, we will test these cars’ safety and driver assistance features to see which one is the safest and most loaded:
| Honda Odyssey | Specs | Kia Carnival |
| 8 airbags | Airbags | 7 airbags |
| Standard | Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) | Standard |
| Standard | Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) | Standard |
| Standard | Automated Emergency Braking (AEB) | Optional |
| Adaptive Cruise Control with Low Speed Follow | Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Standard | ISOFIX | Standard |
| Standard | Electronic Power Steering (EPS) | Standard |
| Optional | Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA) | Optional |
| Optional | Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) | Optional |
| Standard | Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) | Standard |
| Standard | Hill Start Assist (HSA) | Standard |
| Standard | Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) | Standard |
| Standard | Traction Control (TRC) | Standard |
| Unavailable | Heads-Up Display (HUD) | Unavailable |
| Standard | Lane Departure Assist | Optional |
| Optional | Lane Change Assist | Optional |
| Standard | 360 Cameras | Optional |
| Standard | Parking Sensors | Standard |
Looking at the stats, the Honda Odyssey seems to have justified its AED 28,650 price margin. Our final verdict on this Honda Odyssey vs Kia Carnival comparison is that the Carnival looks cooler and is less expensive. The Odyssey is the ultimate MPV you can buy in the UAE right now.
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