Honda Odyssey vs Kia Carnival

What's the difference?

The Honda Odyssey isn’t a bad choice for those looking to ferry around a large gaggle of people, but its far from the best option.

The first two rows are great and are supremely comfortable for those four occupants, but third-row usage will depend on how much those passengers are susceptible to motion sickness.

However, the Odyssey’s biggest weakness might be its sluggish engine and mundane CVT, with rivals like the new Kia Carnival and even Toyota Prius V offering better performance and better economy, respectively.

Still, the Honda Odyssey, and people movers in general, remain a solid option for those that don’t want another SUV or value the practicality and space afforded.

Kia has dubbed the Carnival a Grand Utility Vehicle and I think that’s an apt description. The space will excite families and all occupants will be fairly comfortable. Sibling squabbles may not be as bad in the back seats due to the sheer number of amenities! I love how practical the boot space is and the driving experience is really good. I wasn’t perturbed by the size of this at all because it didn’t handle like a beast. 

Bonus, the turbo-diesel engine is very efficient given the size of the body it’s moving around. I give this a 9.5/10.

My kid loved this car. He loved touching every button he could and wanted me to fit his child seat in every position, so he could really ‘test the car mummy’. I’ve definitely gone to pro-level with child seat installation now and he gives this a 10/10.

Gone are the days where people movers could be considered daggy or uncool. No, please, don’t click away, we’re serious!

The 2021 Honda Odyssey features a new front grille, bumper and headlights that combine for a much more imposing and aggressive front fascia.

The chrome highlights look especially good against the 'Obsidian Blue' paintwork of our test car, at least to our eyes, and between this and the new Kia Carnival, people movers might just be cool again.

In profile, the 17-inch wheels do look a little small next to the massive doors and huge panels, but they do feature a funky two-tone look.

The chrome touches also follow along the Odyssey’s flanks and are found in the door handles and window surrounds to break things up a bit.

From the rear, the Odyssey’s large dimensions are hard to hide, but Honda has tried to jazz things up with a roof-mounted rear spoiler and more chrome around the tail-lights and rear fog light surrounds.

Overall, the Odyssey looks handsome and confident without straying into the ‘trying too hard’ or ‘over the top’ territory, and if anything, at least it’s not another high-riding SUV, which are quickly overtaking streets and car parks the world over.

Step inside and the Odyssey’s layout is nothing special, but gets the job done.

The first- and second-row seats are plush and comfortable, while the dashboard also features woodgrain touches to lift the interior ambience.

The 8.0-inch multimedia screen sit proudly in the centre stack, while the shifter is on the dashboard to maximum interior space.

With the dimensions to suit transporting a developing nation, the Carnival ain't small. It’s not too high, being only 1775mm tall, but the 1995mm width and 5155mm length is what will make you question whether it will fit inside your garage.

Don’t fret, it has a superb 11.7m turning circle, so navigating your local Westfield car park is more than possible.

You will fill a car space but you’ll still fit (just). The 172mm ground clearance makes it easy to get in and out (even for kids, hurrah).

With dimensions like those, it would be easy for it to look like a brick-on-wheels, but it doesn’t. In fact, I’d even call it stylish.

The size has been nicely tapered at the front and sports a handsome mix of chrome and black accents to break up the wide body panelling.

The interior is downright plush and a true delight to be in. There’s a beautiful mix of synthetic leather trims, synthetic wood/chrome/piano black panelling and soft touchpoints throughout that create a real sense of refinement. 

Measuring 4855mm long, 1820mm wide, 1710mm tall and with a 2900mm wheelbase, the Honda Odyssey is not just an imposing behemoth on the outside, but also a spacious and practical people mover on the inside.

Up front, occupants are treated to plush and comfortable seats with electronic adjustment and individual fold-down armrests.

Storage options abound, with deep door pockets, a dual-chamber glove box, and a tricked-out centre storage console that can retract into the centre stack and features two hidden cupholders.

Because of the compact engine and transmission package, and the fact the centre console tucks away, there is actually just empty space between the two front occupants, which is a missed opportunity.

Maybe Honda could have put another storage bin there, or even a cooled box for chilled drinks on long road trips. Either way it’s a notable, unexploited cavity.

The second-row seats are probably the place to be in the Odyssey, though, with its two captain’s chairs offering supreme comfort.

Adjustability is also plentiful, with forward/backwards, recline and even left/right positioning available.

However, while there are cupholders and roof-mounted climate controls present, there really isn’t much else to keep second-row occupants, well, occupied.

Would be nice to see some charging ports or even entertainment screens to keep kids and adults placated on long journeys, but at least the head, shoulder, and legroom is generous.

In the third row, it’s a tighter squeeze, but I managed to get my 183cm (6'0") frame comfortable.

The three-row bench is the least comfy place to be, but there is a charging outlet and cupholders back there.

Those with child seats also take note, the second-row captain’s chairs top-tether anchor point is very low down on the seat back, meaning you might have to max out the strap length to get it there.

Also, because of the captain’s chairs, the top tether strap can be knocked off quite easily, as the inner shoulders of the seats are smooth offering nothing for the strap to catch onto if pushed towards the middle of the car.

And you can’t even install the car seat in the third row because the bench seat doesn’t feature any ISOFIX points. 

With all seats in place, the boot will happily swallow 322 litres (VDA) of volume, more than enough for groceries, school bags or even the stroller.

However, the boot floor is quite deep, making the retrieval of bulkier and heavy items a little cumbersome.

With the third-row folded, though, that cavity is filled in and the Odyssey features a completely flat floor then able to take on 1725L of volume.

Honda has even found a place for the space saver spare wheel, though it’s not underneath the car or tucked into the boot floor as you'd expect.

The spare is under the two front seats, and requires the removal of some interior carpets and trim to access. 

It’s not in the most convenient of places, but props to Honda for getting one in there when other seven-seaters just opt for a puncture repair kit. 

The interior is what makes people movers so practical as a family car, and the Carnival is no different. In this case, it's packaged beautifully, too.

The interior invokes a sense of limo-like space with ample head- and legroom for even taller occupants in the front and middle rows. Even the third row is adequate for my 168cm height (5'6").

Amenities throughout are great and each row benefits from a healthy features list. There are a minimum of two USB-A ports in each row, as well as, two 12-volt ports in the car.

The middle row was a favourite for my six-year old because of the directional air vents, climate control and retractable sunblinds. Third row passengers get the same, minus the climate control.

A special mention to the designers for putting the controls for the electric sliding rear doors and boot lid on the RHS of the steering wheel and key fob. As a parent, I salute you for these very useful placements!

Individual storage is good with a glove box, large middle console, phone tray, device holder (passenger side), two cupholders and drink bottle holders in the first row.

The second row gets map pockets, cupholders, a phone holder plus two extra cupholders and ‘table’ when you fold down the middle seat.  

Third row occupants get a couple of cupholders each plus a small snack tray.

The boot, how I love thee. It’s ginormous. With all three rows in action, you still get 627L of capacity because the floor is deep.

It’s deep because the third row folds down into the well to create a level loading space when not in use and that pumps up the capacity to 2785L! It’s also easy to gain access to because of the powered boot lid.

Basically, you’ll have the room necessary to ferry the crew and their gear around.

The technology throughout feels modern and user-friendly (a winning combo) with a large 12.3-inch touchscreen multimedia system that has Bluetooth connectivity, satellite navigation as well as wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

There are four grades for the Carnival with a petrol and diesel variant per grade. Our Platinum diesel model sits right at the top and costs $67,580, before on road costs.

However, that seems fairly priced considering the competition. It’s roughly on par with another 2XL people mover, the Hyundai Staria ($67,000) and a tad more expensive than newcomer LDV Mifa ($63,990). But there’s not a lot on the market that competes with the luxury factor this model offers, nor are they as smartly dressed.

The features list is stellar, with the following items coming as standard: electrically-adjustable, heated and ventilated front seats, heated outboard seats in the middle row, a powered tailgate, three-zone climate control, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, eight seats (2/3/3 configuration), 19-inch alloy wheels and not one but two sunroofs. Just to name a few.

All 2021 Honda Odysseys are powered by a 129kW/225Nm 2.4-litre ‘K24W’ four-cylinder petrol engine, which drives the front wheels via a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT).

Peak power is available at 6200rpm, while maximum torque is on stream from 4000rpm.

Honda diehards might note the K24 engine designation and be reminded of the rev-hungry 2.4-litre unit of the Accord Euro from the early 2000s, but this Odyssey’s powerplant is built for efficiency rather than performance.

Compared to the likes of the Kia Carnival (which is available with a 216kW/355Nm 3.5-litre V6 or 148kW/440Nm 2.2-litre turbo-diesel) the Odyssey is noticeably down on power.

The Australian Odyssey also doesn’t feature any form of electrification, such as the Toyota Prius V, which would excuse the lower outputs and push the Honda people mover more into green territory.

The Carnival Platinum has two engines available, a 3.5-litre V6 petrol version, and our model, which has a 2.2-litre, four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine with a maximum output of 148kW and 440Nm of torque.

That makes hauling the big body plus your gear a breeze. It also has a braked towing capacity of 2000kg, if you need to add a trailer for weekend pursuits.

The eight-speed auto transmission combined with the grunty engine makes for a very pleasant driving experience.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey, regardless of grade, will return a fuel consumption figure of 8.0 litres per 100km, according to official figures.

This betters the fuel economy of the petrol-powered Kia Carnival (9.6L/100km), as well as the Mazda CX-8 (8.1L/100km) and soon-to-be-replaced Toyota Kluger (9.1-9.5L/100km).

In our week with the Odyssey Vi LX7, we managed an average of 9.4L/100km in a mix of inner-city and freeway driving, which isn’t too far off the official figure.

Though the fuel consumption isn’t too bad for a naturally aspirated petrol engine, those who want to save costs at the bowser should look to the petrol-electric Toyota Prius V hybrid, which sips just 4.4L/100km.

It’s powerful but is it efficient? Deliciously, so. The official combined fuel figure is 6.5L/100km and after driving around 850km, my trip computer was reading an average of 6.7L. That’s better than some hybrids on the market but I expect it to be higher in the city.

The Carnival has a 72L fuel tank with an approximate range of 1100km.

Though the Honda Odyssey looks like a bus on the outside, it doesn’t feel like one behind the wheel.

The Odyssey drives differently to an SUV, which is a good thing, feeling more hunkered down and connected to the road compared to the wallowy and bouncy nature of some high-riders.

Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t Honda’s best handling model, but there is certainly enough feedback in the steering wheel to know exactly what’s happening underneath, and the Odyssey always feels predictable, regardless of road condition.

And because visibility is excellent all around, the Honda Odyssey is just an easy, no-fuss car to drive.

The second-row is also great while on the move, and might actually be the better place to be.

The seats do a great job at soaking up little bumps and road imperfections, and there is plenty of room to stretch out and relax while someone else handles driving duties.

It’s a shame, then, that there isn’t more going on in the second row to keep passengers happy.

The third-row seats, though, are nowhere near as comfortable.

Maybe it’s the fact they are positioned right over the rear axle, or it’s the thick and vision-obscuring C- and D-pillars – or a combination of both – but time in seats five, six and seven, aren't ideal for those prone to motion sickness.

Maybe kids, or those with stronger stomachs can get comfortable in the third row, but for us, it was not a pleasant experience.

It’s an incredibly smooth ride and the power makes it responsive in most conditions.

Because of its length, I was a bit choosy with when I ‘zipped’ across traffic, but overall, it handles urban and open-road driving very well. 

The suspension absorbs the bumps in the road and the cabin is quiet but you occasionally get some wind noise at higher speeds.

If the back passengers are struggling to hear you, there is a handy ‘talk’ function that will transmit the drivers voice to the back rows, if you need to communicate without raising your voice.

It's easy enough to park with the clear 360-degree view camera but I found myself reversing into spots because the visibility was so much better out of the front windows.

I didn’t much like the idea of reversing out of a car space in a high traffic zone but the rear cross-traffic alert plus the front and rear parking sensors do help ease any anxiety. 

The safety list is extensive with the following being standard features: LED daytime running lights, lane departure alert, lane keeping aid, emergency lane keeping aid, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert (always good to have), 360-degree view reversing camera, front and rear parking sensors.

The ‘check rear occupant’ alert and autonomous emergency braking with car, pedestrian and cyclist detection and junction assist (operational from 5.0-85 km/h), forward collision warning and rear collision warning are always great to have on a family vehicle.

It is missing a feature you tend to see on Kia's top models and it's one I would have liked to have seen on such a large car - the blind-spot camera view that pops up on the instrument panel when you indicate.

The Carnival was recently awarded a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating in 2021 and, surprisingly, only has seven airbags but that does include a drivers’ knee airbag and curtain airbags covering all three rows. It’s missing the newer front centre airbag, though.

There’s a total of five ISOFIX child seat mounts and five top tether anchor points across the middle and third rows (3/2) and with the middle row is wide enough to have three child seats side by side.

There is plenty of room to install a 0-4 rearward facing child seat in the middle row.

Like all new Hondas sold in 2021, the Odyssey comes with a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty, with six-years of rust protection assurance.

Scheduled service intervals are every six months or 10,000km, whichever occurs first, but this is much sooner than the industry standard of 12 months/15,000km.

According to Honda’s 'Tailored Service' price guide, the first five years of ownership will cost buyers $3351 in servicing fees, averaging out to around $670 per year.

The Kia Carnival petrol meanwhile, is about $2435 to service over five years, averaging out to be about $487 per year.

The Toyota Prius V also needs to be serviced every six months/10,000km, but the cost of the first five years of ownership totals just $2314.71 – more than $1000 less than the Odyssey.

The ongoing costs for the Carnival are pretty good with it coming with Kia’s better-than-average for the market, seven year/unlimited km warranty.

This also comes with a capped-priced servicing plan for up to seven years or 105,000km (whichever comes first).

Services average $545, which is competitive for the market and servicing intervals are easy at every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever occurs first.