I've owned three minivans, one before marriage and kids and two after having kids with my wife. In all honesty, they are amazing and after selling our last one two years ago my wife said we would never get one again. Well, after our two week road trip and 3200 miles with kids in a new rental CRV, we've decided we want a minivan again. Currently looking at the Toyota for the fuel economy as we have some big trips planned over the next 5-7 years as our kids are nearly grown and we want to fit in much as possible. However, we might go used to save some money and kids are still hard on things so it is hard to justify anything new. Edit: Meant to add that we have owned multiple SUV / CUV in betweem the minivans and somehow always found out way back to a minivan because of how amazing they are.
@@27Zangle minivans are the best, i hate the new suv trends, they are smaller in room and size. in europe they literally stopped producing the VW Sharan and Seat Alahambra. you can still buy old stocks Other manufacturer dont have any good minivans either because they are all jumping on to the SUV trend. What do i do with a 7 seater SUV?
@@Vanguard.I I owned two Caravans. A 1994 way back, it was about 8 years old when I got it. The other was a 2006 Caravan. Both great vehicles and little problems. Neither never left me stranded. The third was a 2007 Kia Sedona. It did leave us stranded in town with a bad started at 128k miles, but that was an easy fix and expected with that many miles.
One little thing to consider when buying a minivan: My 2005 Sienna will turn 19 years old on January 7th 2024 (built date). 300k, and zero issues. Wonder how that Kia will stand in 19 years. Great video!
I don’t think the new siennas have the same quality. Test drove a 70k mile 21 XSE and the shocks were already bad, powertrain gutless, interior falling apart etc. it might run forever but everything else about it falls apart. Toyota is relying on its branding to earn some cheap cash.
Everyone likes to dog kia and Hyundai which I understand. We had a odyssey for 12 years and it was great. We bought a new 2023 odyssey model 6 months ago and have nothing but issues. Trunk leaks, infotainment not responsive to touch, sun roof not opening. Honda has tried to fix the issues 4 times now. We are considering a buyback. I think Honda and Toyota are not the same anymore.
@@grizzly2880 for Odyssey you really want a touring or an elite. Transmission is bad on the other trims and they are better built. Have an 18 and everything is great on it.
We need the 4 Van Showdown: Pacifica PHEV, Sienna, Carnival, & Odyssey just to see the four varieties of options available bc they are definitely not all on the same level. It would be fun to see all 4 vans with the same cost (at least within $1k window or so).
Carnival SX prestige with the 8 seat package. Now you have luxury and utility with the ability to remove the seats. Also the middle seat can be slide all the way up to the center console so you can have easier access to the rear facing car seat
Sienna all day..AWD, HYBRID. PERFECT COMBO. The only problem is they crazy increased the price+ mark ups.... Used to be a 35k car(base model), nowadays good luck getting one at a reasonable price.
Smartstream means it is both port and direct injection. When you run the engine normally it does port injection, when you put the gas on hard, it does direct injection. It's the best of both worlds and one of Hyundai's newer and more reliable engines. No carbon build up.
In the past 25+ years I have owned 4 Kia/Hyundai products, and all have been great cars and very reliable. Aside from regular maintenance, the only thing that failed was a heater motor, and that was replaced under warranty. Otherwise no issues at all. Historically they only have one engine series that had issues, and that's the Theta2 series, which they gave a lifetime warranty.
I would be a lot more interested in the Sienna if they offered the I-force max V6 and a regular tranny. Anyone who says a minivan doesn’t need power probably doesn’t have a large family. Try maxing out your van with 6-7 people, full cargo, and driving at elevation. I currently do that with my Sedona in Montana.
Don't forget, the middle row in the Kia can be removed or fold the middle seat to be a table, removed to make captain chairs and turned around to face the third row. Versatility for the W.
I was in the market for a minivan last year and test drove Honda, Toyota, and Kia. We ended up going with the Honda odyssey bc it was more comfy and cheaper than the other two. However, I do regret not going with the Sienna. The mpg is amazing and the Honda gets 19 mpg if that.
I had a Kia Soul for 10 years. The last two years it was using oil almost as fast as the gas. My wife likes the looks of the Carnival but with the mileage it gets and reliability Toyota is known for, the Sienna was an easy pick for us.
@@TheRealCatoffunny, I actually changed it more often then recommended. It’s just a poor design and that’s why they had a class action lawsuit about the oil consumption. They extended the drivetrain warranty to 150,000 miles but I had 160,000 so I was SOL.
@@TheRealCatof The GDI engine in the Soul builds up carbon (as all direct injection engines do). I dont think you can conclude the oil burning is as a result of the oil chance schedule. You're just assuming.
I worked for a company that ran a fleet of Caravans. They would run those vans hard putting over 300,000 miles. They would have transmission issues but the engines were solid.
Had my Sienna since 2004. I've had no really major issues. Recently, I had to get a new radiator, which was the biggest issue I've had. It still runs great.
As a family of 6 I agree with the minivan being convenient for a daily. If you want to road trip its much too small for 6 with gear. Even with a roof rack maxed you will want at least a hitch for another rack. If i were buying new for all around i would get a Honda Pilot and put a full roof rack with a hitch for rack options. Obviously a Suburban or Expedition would be optimal if $ wasn't a concern.
In my experience with a large family and owning multiple minivans, Honda Pilot, Subaru Ascent, and various full-size SUVs... A minivan with roof box holds significantly more than a Honda Pilot with the same roof box, and the passengers have tons more room in the minivan. The problem with full-size SUVs is driving them daily. You can easily maneuver and park a minivan (or Pilot, Ascent, etc.) as if it were a Honda Accord.
@MatthewHashim for sure. We had a 7.3 Excursion for years and miss it terribly. Sitting in line at preK pickup wasn't it's strong suit but it got almost the same mpg as our current Pacifica and much more capability and range. I only say Pilot because it's still a V6 and comes with a tow hitch.
@@danichicago9140 the Excursion is a special beast! Talk about super sized! We owned a Pacifica Hybrid and the MPG in daily use was ridiculously good. It was also super comfortable on the highway. We were usually in the 35-50 MPG equivalent due to running almost entirely on battery. We live in a hilly area so the MPG could fluctuate dramatically if the gas engine had to turn on. Only sold it because of recalls. Stellantis really needs to get their stuff together... The hybrid system recalls due to fire risk is just bad.
Minivans have always been more practical than SUVs. I think the updated styling on nearly all the newer models are what make them more appealing nowadays.
We feel like the Chrysler Pacifica should have been on the list due to Stow&go and AWD The hybrid Pacifica I will agree isn’t very reliable and doesn’t offer AWD or stow&go but the Traditional V6 and AWD is such a great combo
@@haroldbeauchamp3770 That's not true, Chrysler is part of a huge conglomerate that is financially sound. The reason there are so few Chrysler products is because FCA halted new vehicle development for several years while they were seeking a merger partner. Now there are new vehicles in development again, but they are years behind the competition.
@@Johnny_Socko thanks for the information. My comment was based solely on the recent news story of them pulling out of car shows due to financial concerns.
@@haroldbeauchamp3770 Oh, I see what you're saying. I think the financial concerns they were talking about were "Auto shows cost too damn much", lol. (Personally I think it's a mistake...auto shows are a good way for people to check out cars without going to a dealer.)
it is insane to me. friends, intelligent people, really smart people. when you say minivan, they scoff and are willing to throw double the price at a full size SUV for similar capabilities as a minivan. just insane how people can get so illogical as soon as you start suggesting a minivan. even if it were the same price as the full size SUV, it's still not a fair fight because the minivan has automatic sliding rear doors and such a low floor height. simple insanity that such logical people go so illogical at the thought of a minivan adorning their driveway. everything a full size SUV can do, a minivan can do it better, and then at half the price.
The last time I checked, in order to get AWD on the Sienna, you have to give up the 8 passenger seating and are stuck with the middle row captains chairs. Also, the top 3 trim require the middle row captains chairs. The Kia allows 8 passenger with 2nd row bench seat on all trims. Due to trims and packaging, the Kia wins for my family with 3 kids.
Love minivans! I need an Acura mini van with SHAWD and Turbo 6 cylinder from the MDX Type S, They can call it the ODX Type S! LOL! But seriously though, it would be cool if Honda just added the AWD from the Pilot to the Odyssey and a power front passenger seat the has the same number of adjustments as the driver seat.
I have 2 Hyundais and 1 Toyota. Both of them are 2020’s. My 2 Hyundais have had no problems at ALL on the other and my Toyota has blew up 3 times and had more maintenance than I can count. Transmission/ blew up, Engine exploded, then the Transmission blew up again under normal use. I don’t even go that far, they only have around 40k miles. I don’t abuse them or go over speed limits. Also my gas cap rusted off.. And I use it a lot it’s not like it’s in a barn sitting there. I know my friends and family had similar experiences with Toyota as I did. And turns out the problems I had are actually kind of common with Toyota vehicles, I think Toyotas days of “Best reliability” are well gone and they are using their past to advertise that they have the best cars. Have my 2 Hyundais work perfectly, a lot of my friends and family own Hyundais and never has big issues. Im picking Hyundai/Kia all day thank you
2016 Sedona engine and transmission failure at 91,000. Kia warranty paid $12,000 for replacement. It only took three months and I had a loaner vehicle. 😂
Middle row seats can be removed in other Carnival trims. I've done it and placed several sheets of 4x8 plywood on the floor. Plus the difference is way more than 3k. You're comparing a mid trim Toyota with a tom trim Carnival and it's already a 3k difference. Compare prices between same trims. It takes many years before you make up the difference in gas price savings...
Probably should've included the Chrysler Pacifica. With stow n go you can fit plywood in it. We have a 2019 Dodge Grand Caravan GT and use it to haul bigger things than my truck.
I have a 2019 Sienna LE AWD and the 2nd row seats are removable, giving me 150 cubic feet. I wouldn't trade that for the newer model as I haul lots of stuff.
The Carnival is much better looking than the Sienna. But for $3k more with Sienna, you're getting much better efficiency, likely better reliability, and better resale value. It's just unfortunate the interior environment is cheaper quality and it's ugly as sin on the outside.
Their 3.5 smart stream V6 is one of their most reliable engines, not part of the Theta engines co-designed with Mitsubishi and Chrysler. We've only had them here in the US for about 4 years in mostly their large vehicles (Telluride), the Stinger, and Genesis models, but reliability is far improved on those models.
I like Pacifica stow n go seats. I wish you can buy deleted third row. I don’t need it. I need CARGO room more than anything. Now they are getting rid of small cargo vans this year. My option would be a cheaper model of a minivan. Pacifica seems to be the leader on my list.
They need to stop comparing base price. Kia can be had for a discount. Sienna, you get robbed with markups from the dealer. As someone who loves toyota- the Kia is simply a better value.
Yes very reliable, you should try them, they outlasted all the Toyota's in my neighborhood, some previous Toyota owners even bought a Kia, they must have seen my cars, and said these are very reliable, i have the last laugh 🤣 @@GeoBob-xf3hh
I would like to have seen you touch on the reliability of these two vehicles to consider the difference in price. Do you think the better mpg will pay for the difference in price in the long run? You also save on brake service with the hybrid.
Thanks for reviewing and both did well. Personally speaking , if I was leasing either vehicle will do. If I am buying for long term, Toyota will offer better resell value. I like kia boxy design better.
Proud owner of 23' Sienna Woodland. We do 33-34 MPG CITY and 34-39 mpg hwy, NOT other minivan do that... To fully understand the Sienna, you need to travel and move around city about 1K miles, will find the suspension is out of the world, just incredible good suspension as well the steering handle like a luxury car. We are 4 people at my house and lookefor many vehicles and brands but not a single one reach efficiency, superior driving and longevity like the new Sienna. The hybrid had been with Toyota for more than 15 years, and I will trust that over an EV. I think the future is hybrid vehicles, not EVs. We could go a SUV, or cheaper car, but Sienna is in another league that not other brands or model can compete. Space, efficiency, and good price. I drive a 24' 2500hd for work, but everything had the opportunity to get into the Sienna. It feels like a luxury mini van.
Mini vans are so versatile. As a surfer I love the space and ability to sleep and change inside. But it is still the most emasculating vehicle out there. I’ll stick with the truck for now.
Can you compare the back seat of the Kia Carnival Sx Prestige to the Lexus Ultra Luxury? I think these back seats are BETTER than the seats in the Lexus Ultra Luxury. I am very tempted to buy this because it can be a VIP transport vehicle in one instant and a minivan in another instant and a huge luggage transport system in another instant. So, Very versatile!
Taking the seats out is easy. I did it. You just need an airbag plug simulator. A guy sells them online. And no there is a law that would not allow Toyota to void the warranty if it is an engine or transmission repair issue. The law is such that they must prove taking the seats out affects the engine etc. it doesn’t. 😊
That's a hilarious comparison.. The left out the Chrysler/ Dodge vans just to be able to compare. I wouldn't even go look at the Kia. I may consider the Toyota if it was up to par with the Chryslers.. without being a completely different price point.
I love the room you get in a mini van . On trips we have 3 of us plus many times in-laws and 1 other person . 6 total with luggage . Mini van handles all. That with plenty of comfort left over . Only. Issue is we cannot get a Sienna . Toyota is not making enough of them . Odd as the rav4 also hybrid , there are plenty of those Only issue we have with Toyota is there ultra boring infotainment center . We honestly think it’s the most boring of nearly all other vehicles in existence .
Don't forget that you also have to consider which one is going to be in the shop more, and my bet is the Kia will be. I have had a 2nd gen awd sienna limited and it was trouble free. I am currently the owner of a 3rd gen awd sienna limited, which is also been trouble free. Almost 250,000 mi, and everything still works perfectly.
Assuming an average annual mileage in the U.S. of 13,500 miles and a gasoline price of $4 per gallon, the Toyota pays for itself after about 3.17 years despite being more expensive, but it is more efficient.
If safety is your priority, Kia Carnival should be avoided. It has ridiculous bumper mounted turn signals that are virtually invisible in traffic. In a world of suvs and crossovers, the turn signals are mounted too low to be visible. (stupid name, great vehicle) is slightly better in execution, function, fit and finish, but lacks the efficiency of the Sienna. However, Kia is losing sales on the lack of awd.
I still think the Pacifica has everyone in this segment beat for features and content, but the reliability is not there. If I was on the budget, I would go with a Carnival.
The power train on Sienna is really a downgrade from the old 2GR-FXE. Yes, they fool around the system to make 0-100km similar to old 2GR system. But accleration at highway speed to overtake is brutally slow. The gas milage is not much better than the old 2GR system either. Especially on highway. So what is the point having the 4 hanger other than cutting cost?
Of course SUV's are just a jacked up ugly station wagons, which use more fuel and costly for tyre replacement, and mini vans are great for families if they seat up to 7, I used to own one a Toyota Tarago.
Long term maintenance will be cheaper with the Toyota due to the power train. There is no starter or alternator to worry about and because the breaks are regenerative you will be changing pads and rotors a lot less.
i have had minivans , because you can put 2 bikes in and take them out, an SUV does not do it. Windsurfers, surfboards, wet suits, and and and , much more than lots of people, i like Hondas
When it comes to hybrids, Toyota dominates. It's just that as far as the Sienna goes, they should have put paid more attention to the interior. Just because it's a people mover doesn't mean that the occupants have to sacrifice refinement. Hopefully those get addressed for the next generation. The Carnival is a much more pleasant place to be in with far more attractive materials, better ride and NVH. A lot of comments here are questioning Kia reliability without realizing that their V6 powerplants have been solid. That being said, the hybrid powertrain used in the Santa Fe would be a much better fit to improve fuel efficiency. Whether that will cost the Carnival total cargo space like in the Sienna and the Pacifica hybrid remains to be seen. On another note, I'm also concerned with performance in the Sienna with a load of people and cargo. It might be best in class for efficiency but you'll be left wanting for those quick on-ramp merge situations.
It would be great if all mini vans were hybrids.... Only issue is that you now have to worry about maintenance on the hybrid engine and than later you have to worry about replacing the batteries. So account for that in cost, not to mention that Toyota has an issue with moisture in the oil because of the hybrid issues. Not to mention that sienna has the worse road noise of all the minivans. Don't forget that Kia has acoustic windshield and on the ex and higher acoustic passenger glass.
I still don't fully understand why they haven't tried to make a minivan with a 30-50kwh battery to work like hybrid- ev with 300+ hp for quick and fun acceleration and 600+ miles of range. They have the space to make minivans a more fun and practical vehicle all around.
I hate the cargo space design of Toyota, it's not flat! Flat is the cargo space of a Nissan Quest, start from 2011. And that's what I don't understand, how come none of these manufacturers can do the same. The Kia Carnival's cargo space looks better though
![DDG & G Herbo - Nosey [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/I9Ra0Zc2NlQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Most people never use a suv as it's intended for. Minivans offer more space and function than suv for majority of people
I've owned three minivans, one before marriage and kids and two after having kids with my wife. In all honesty, they are amazing and after selling our last one two years ago my wife said we would never get one again. Well, after our two week road trip and 3200 miles with kids in a new rental CRV, we've decided we want a minivan again. Currently looking at the Toyota for the fuel economy as we have some big trips planned over the next 5-7 years as our kids are nearly grown and we want to fit in much as possible. However, we might go used to save some money and kids are still hard on things so it is hard to justify anything new.
Edit: Meant to add that we have owned multiple SUV / CUV in betweem the minivans and somehow always found out way back to a minivan because of how amazing they are.
@@27Zangle minivans are the best, i hate the new suv trends, they are smaller in room and size.
in europe they literally stopped producing the VW Sharan and Seat Alahambra. you can still buy old stocks
Other manufacturer dont have any good minivans either
because they are all jumping on to the SUV trend. What do i do with a 7 seater SUV?
@@27Zanglefp 4|
@@27Zanglewhat minivans did you own?
@@Vanguard.I I owned two Caravans. A 1994 way back, it was about 8 years old when I got it. The other was a 2006 Caravan. Both great vehicles and little problems. Neither never left me stranded. The third was a 2007 Kia Sedona. It did leave us stranded in town with a bad started at 128k miles, but that was an easy fix and expected with that many miles.
One little thing to consider when buying a minivan: My 2005 Sienna will turn 19 years old on January 7th 2024 (built date). 300k, and zero issues. Wonder how that Kia will stand in 19 years. Great video!
I don’t think the new siennas have the same quality. Test drove a 70k mile 21 XSE and the shocks were already bad, powertrain gutless, interior falling apart etc. it might run forever but everything else about it falls apart. Toyota is relying on its branding to earn some cheap cash.
@@Noeaskr Always good to know! I hope that Toyota wont follow John Deere's path, converting a very good brand into a complete junk.
Can't compare a kia to Toyota or Honda lol
Gotta compare it to a grand caravan 😂
Everyone likes to dog kia and Hyundai which I understand. We had a odyssey for 12 years and it was great. We bought a new 2023 odyssey model 6 months ago and have nothing but issues. Trunk leaks, infotainment not responsive to touch, sun roof not opening. Honda has tried to fix the issues 4 times now. We are considering a buyback. I think Honda and Toyota are not the same anymore.
@@grizzly2880 for Odyssey you really want a touring or an elite. Transmission is bad on the other trims and they are better built. Have an 18 and everything is great on it.
We need the 4 Van Showdown: Pacifica PHEV, Sienna, Carnival, & Odyssey just to see the four varieties of options available bc they are definitely not all on the same level. It would be fun to see all 4 vans with the same cost (at least within $1k window or so).
Carnival SX prestige with the 8 seat package. Now you have luxury and utility with the ability to remove the seats. Also the middle seat can be slide all the way up to the center console so you can have easier access to the rear facing car seat
Sienna all day..AWD, HYBRID. PERFECT COMBO. The only problem is they crazy increased the price+ mark ups.... Used to be a 35k car(base model), nowadays good luck getting one at a reasonable price.
Smartstream means it is both port and direct injection. When you run the engine normally it does port injection, when you put the gas on hard, it does direct injection. It's the best of both worlds and one of Hyundai's newer and more reliable engines. No carbon build up.
Toyota invented this dual injection system Hyundai and Kia are paying Toyota to use it!
Minivans are Badass 👍
Nathan is well versed in minivans and is TFLs minivan man.
He also got a “Great Deal” on a Hyundai
In the past 25+ years I have owned 4 Kia/Hyundai products, and all have been great cars and very reliable. Aside from regular maintenance, the only thing that failed was a heater motor, and that was replaced under warranty. Otherwise no issues at all. Historically they only have one engine series that had issues, and that's the Theta2 series, which they gave a lifetime warranty.
I read this comment while my 2022 Hyundai is in the shop for a new transmission and I’ve been driving a Pacifica for 3 months.
Single male here, no kids, and dang I enjoy these minivan reviews!!
With you man 😂
As you should
Ironic as it would seem, women/mothers are the only ones that don’t like minivans
@@fallujah0351exactly
@@fallujah0351Not all ladies hate the minivan. I love mine and have my eye on a new Sienna when my current Sienna is stolen by my 16 yo son. 🥳
I would be a lot more interested in the Sienna if they offered the I-force max V6 and a regular tranny. Anyone who says a minivan doesn’t need power probably doesn’t have a large family. Try maxing out your van with 6-7 people, full cargo, and driving at elevation. I currently do that with my Sedona in Montana.
That engine won't fit in a Sienna, even if it did, the Sienna would be SUPER expensive. It's already not cheap as it is.
@@LoneWolfSpartyexcept it shouldn’t be. An engine upgrade should cost 4 to 5k
@@eastonwilliams1722 ? The iForce max engine alone is like 30k as a whole assembly. And no minivan is cheap these days, regardless of the make.
Don't forget, the middle row in the Kia can be removed or fold the middle seat to be a table, removed to make captain chairs and turned around to face the third row. Versatility for the W.
I like the interior of the carnival but the awd sienna has my vote. Hope there's a drag race between sienna carnival and pacifica!
carnival is junk
@@DaleWillyawesome, thanks for the detailed info you provided with that to back it up.
@@DaleWillyyou are junk.
@@DaleWilly how many accounts do you have to like your own comments? I’m sure TFL loves the RUclips algorithm bump but dang seems quite odd.
"Side by side acceleration test"
I was in the market for a minivan last year and test drove Honda, Toyota, and Kia. We ended up going with the Honda odyssey bc it was more comfy and cheaper than the other two. However, I do regret not going with the Sienna. The mpg is amazing and the Honda gets 19 mpg if that.
That's a good point. Have to look at fuel efficiency at top or near the top when choosing the right vehicle ten years down the road
Surprise my old honda still gives 25 mpg combined. On highway it is 29
@@bobby350zHonda odyssey?
@@jaunie8217 - yup. I don't drive it like my Z. Or it could be the computer is lying to me.
I had a Kia Soul for 10 years. The last two years it was using oil almost as fast as the gas. My wife likes the looks of the Carnival but with the mileage it gets and reliability Toyota is known for, the Sienna was an easy pick for us.
Yeah, soul with a wimpy 4 cylinder that was under the recall, not a bulletproof v6 from Kia. These are great motors.
Your Soul wouldn't have been burning oil if you actually changed your oil when recommended. Skill issue.
@@TheRealCatoffunny, I actually changed it more often then recommended. It’s just a poor design and that’s why they had a class action lawsuit about the oil consumption. They extended the drivetrain warranty to 150,000 miles but I had 160,000 so I was SOL.
@@TheRealCatof The GDI engine in the Soul builds up carbon (as all direct injection engines do). I dont think you can conclude the oil burning is as a result of the oil chance schedule. You're just assuming.
do you know about the recent massive Toyota recalls? There is your Toyota reliability... Google it.
I worked for a company that ran a fleet of Caravans. They would run those vans hard putting over 300,000 miles. They would have transmission issues but the engines were solid.
Which van?
Had my Sienna since 2004. I've had no really major issues. Recently, I had to get a new radiator, which was the biggest issue I've had. It still runs great.
As a family of 6 I agree with the minivan being convenient for a daily. If you want to road trip its much too small for 6 with gear. Even with a roof rack maxed you will want at least a hitch for another rack. If i were buying new for all around i would get a Honda Pilot and put a full roof rack with a hitch for rack options. Obviously a Suburban or Expedition would be optimal if $ wasn't a concern.
In my experience with a large family and owning multiple minivans, Honda Pilot, Subaru Ascent, and various full-size SUVs... A minivan with roof box holds significantly more than a Honda Pilot with the same roof box, and the passengers have tons more room in the minivan. The problem with full-size SUVs is driving them daily. You can easily maneuver and park a minivan (or Pilot, Ascent, etc.) as if it were a Honda Accord.
@MatthewHashim for sure. We had a 7.3 Excursion for years and miss it terribly. Sitting in line at preK pickup wasn't it's strong suit but it got almost the same mpg as our current Pacifica and much more capability and range. I only say Pilot because it's still a V6 and comes with a tow hitch.
@@danichicago9140 the Excursion is a special beast! Talk about super sized! We owned a Pacifica Hybrid and the MPG in daily use was ridiculously good. It was also super comfortable on the highway. We were usually in the 35-50 MPG equivalent due to running almost entirely on battery. We live in a hilly area so the MPG could fluctuate dramatically if the gas engine had to turn on. Only sold it because of recalls. Stellantis really needs to get their stuff together... The hybrid system recalls due to fire risk is just bad.
Minivans have always been more practical than SUVs. I think the updated styling on nearly all the newer models are what make them more appealing nowadays.
We feel like the Chrysler Pacifica should have been on the list due to Stow&go and AWD
The hybrid Pacifica I will agree isn’t very reliable and doesn’t offer AWD or stow&go but the Traditional V6 and AWD is such a great combo
My understanding is that Chrysler is going through a massive financial crisis. Likely couldn’t afford to loan one to these guys.
@haroldbeauchamp377i wish stow and go on the hybrid 0
@@haroldbeauchamp3770 That's not true, Chrysler is part of a huge conglomerate that is financially sound. The reason there are so few Chrysler products is because FCA halted new vehicle development for several years while they were seeking a merger partner. Now there are new vehicles in development again, but they are years behind the competition.
@@Johnny_Socko thanks for the information. My comment was based solely on the recent news story of them pulling out of car shows due to financial concerns.
@@haroldbeauchamp3770 Oh, I see what you're saying. I think the financial concerns they were talking about were "Auto shows cost too damn much", lol. (Personally I think it's a mistake...auto shows are a good way for people to check out cars without going to a dealer.)
it is insane to me. friends, intelligent people, really smart people. when you say minivan, they scoff and are willing to throw double the price at a full size SUV for similar capabilities as a minivan. just insane how people can get so illogical as soon as you start suggesting a minivan.
even if it were the same price as the full size SUV, it's still not a fair fight because the minivan has automatic sliding rear doors and such a low floor height. simple insanity that such logical people go so illogical at the thought of a minivan adorning their driveway.
everything a full size SUV can do, a minivan can do it better, and then at half the price.
The last time I checked, in order to get AWD on the Sienna, you have to give up the 8 passenger seating and are stuck with the middle row captains chairs. Also, the top 3 trim require the middle row captains chairs. The Kia allows 8 passenger with 2nd row bench seat on all trims. Due to trims and packaging, the Kia wins for my family with 3 kids.
Love minivans!
I need an Acura mini van with SHAWD and Turbo 6 cylinder from the MDX Type S, They can call it the ODX Type S! LOL! But seriously though, it would be cool if Honda just added the AWD from the Pilot to the Odyssey and a power front passenger seat the has the same number of adjustments as the driver seat.
For 2015 the Kia Sedona was rated as the most reliable minivan! Hard to believe Korean vehicle was rated as more reliable than the Japanese!!
I have 2 Hyundais and 1 Toyota. Both of them are 2020’s. My 2 Hyundais have had no problems at ALL on the other and my Toyota has blew up 3 times and had more maintenance than I can count. Transmission/ blew up, Engine exploded, then the Transmission blew up again under normal use. I don’t even go that far, they only have around 40k miles. I don’t abuse them or go over speed limits. Also my gas cap rusted off.. And I use it a lot it’s not like it’s in a barn sitting there. I know my friends and family had similar experiences with Toyota as I did. And turns out the problems I had are actually kind of common with Toyota vehicles, I think Toyotas days of “Best reliability” are well gone and they are using their past to advertise that they have the best cars. Have my 2 Hyundais work perfectly, a lot of my friends and family own Hyundais and never has big issues. Im picking Hyundai/Kia all day thank you
Agreed!
um sure. :O lOL
I worry about the KIA at 100K miles. The Toyota I wouldnt even blink.
Don't, i have two 14 year old Kia's, one with 250K and the other 300K miles on them.
2016 Sedona engine and transmission failure at 91,000. Kia warranty paid $12,000 for replacement. It only took three months and I had a loaner vehicle. 😂
Because you are brain warped with Toyota being the best brand…the new ones aren’t the same…Kia’s have improved significantly.
@@bradleyscarreviews Toyota mini vans are built in North Korea now.
@@woodjunkjrjr2689that’s why Dave is brain warped 😅
Middle row seats can be removed in other Carnival trims. I've done it and placed several sheets of 4x8 plywood on the floor. Plus the difference is way more than 3k. You're comparing a mid trim Toyota with a tom trim Carnival and it's already a 3k difference. Compare prices between same trims. It takes many years before you make up the difference in gas price savings...
Monkey-cam is excellent but please use it when driving. Would be nice to get an impression of visibility, obstructing A-pillars etc.
I wish they did not take away the 6 cylinders engine for the Sienna and most of other vans. I am not a fan of the 4 cylinders or hybrid.
Probably should've included the Chrysler Pacifica. With stow n go you can fit plywood in it. We have a 2019 Dodge Grand Caravan GT and use it to haul bigger things than my truck.
I have a 2019 Sienna LE AWD and the 2nd row seats are removable, giving me 150 cubic feet. I wouldn't trade that for the newer model as I haul lots of stuff.
The Carnival is much better looking than the Sienna. But for $3k more with Sienna, you're getting much better efficiency, likely better reliability, and better resale value. It's just unfortunate the interior environment is cheaper quality and it's ugly as sin on the outside.
Much better looking? Thats subjective. I personally like the Sienna’s better
the Toyota is FAR better in every way
@@DaleWilly except it's noisier, not as responsive, harsher riding, and the interior quality not as good. Lol
@@DaleWillyit’s not better in every way, troll.
Sienna got some big hips. They’re good vans.
Rented a sienna for a road trip with 6 people and all our crap. Everyone was comfortable and we got 34 mpg…. Can’t best that
Just bought a '12 Sienna. V6. AWD. Love it. Very versatile. It's not cool, but my other car is a 911, so I'm OK with that! 😂
Kia is nice but with all the Kia engine problems going on can you trust it
Their 3.5 smart stream V6 is one of their most reliable engines, not part of the Theta engines co-designed with Mitsubishi and Chrysler. We've only had them here in the US for about 4 years in mostly their large vehicles (Telluride), the Stinger, and Genesis models, but reliability is far improved on those models.
@@markcoopers1930 It's a 3.8L V6.
@@palebeachbum 3.5L V6. The 3.8L is in the Telluride.
Says it at 2:21. And on Wikipedia
Avoid turbos and cvts in all brand, Kia's non turbo engines are reliable.
@@markcoopers1930 you're right. I didn't even know they had more than one V6 in their new models.
I like Pacifica stow n go seats. I wish you can buy deleted third row. I don’t need it. I need CARGO room more than anything. Now they are getting rid of small cargo vans this year. My option would be a cheaper model of a minivan. Pacifica seems to be the leader on my list.
They need to stop comparing base price. Kia can be had for a discount. Sienna, you get robbed with markups from the dealer. As someone who loves toyota- the Kia is simply a better value.
I've seen both cars on the streets here in LA, and the kia looks really nice and elegant. but the Sienna is Large, like almost ginormous.
The Carnival would be my choice, i have two 14 year Kia's, and they're very reliable, there's a Hybrid Carnival coming soon too.
reliable???? lmao good one; I needed the laugh
Yes very reliable, you should try them, they outlasted all the Toyota's in my neighborhood, some previous Toyota owners even bought a Kia, they must have seen my cars, and said these are very reliable, i have the last laugh 🤣 @@GeoBob-xf3hh
Wish the Sienna had removable 2nd row seats!
Definitely a deal breaker.
Would love of you compared the size to a kia EV9
I would like to have seen you touch on the reliability of these two vehicles to consider the difference in price. Do you think the better mpg will pay for the difference in price in the long run? You also save on brake service with the hybrid.
I'll take the reliability ans dependability over the "feel" of a bit more premium.
Thanks for reviewing and both did well. Personally speaking , if I was leasing either vehicle will do. If I am buying for long term, Toyota will offer better resell value. I like kia boxy design better.
Need to get a chrysler is this comparison. I am curious if the inventors of the minivan still make a good one...
Good work guys. And great video title. 😂
Proud owner of 23' Sienna Woodland. We do 33-34 MPG CITY and 34-39 mpg hwy, NOT other minivan do that...
To fully understand the Sienna, you need to travel and move around city about 1K miles, will find the suspension is out of the world, just incredible good suspension as well the steering handle like a luxury car.
We are 4 people at my house and lookefor many vehicles and brands but not a single one reach efficiency, superior driving and longevity like the new Sienna. The hybrid had been with Toyota for more than 15 years, and I will trust that over an EV. I think the future is hybrid vehicles, not EVs.
We could go a SUV, or cheaper car, but Sienna is in another league that not other brands or model can compete. Space, efficiency, and good price.
I drive a 24' 2500hd for work, but everything had the opportunity to get into the Sienna. It feels like a luxury mini van.
You guys really need to do a medium off road trail in the woodland edition...
Mini vans are so versatile. As a surfer I love the space and ability to sleep and change inside. But it is still the most emasculating vehicle out there. I’ll stick with the truck for now.
Comfort is important when sitting waiting for your tow truck driver
The resale value on Kia’s says a lot, they are easy to steal, and you don’t see many old Kia’s on the road either. Sienna all day
Can you compare the back seat of the Kia Carnival Sx Prestige to the Lexus Ultra Luxury? I think these back seats are BETTER than the seats in the Lexus Ultra Luxury. I am very tempted to buy this because it can be a VIP transport vehicle in one instant and a minivan in another instant and a huge luggage transport system in another instant. So, Very versatile!
Is there fold in stowaway seating the seats actually fold away and go underneath the car looking for the most space
Honda vs Toyota is the two best
Love the van content
I'd buy the Sienna AWD in a heartbeat if the middle seats were removable. They really missed out on marketing these to the camping/outdoor demo.
Taking the seats out is easy. I did it. You just need an airbag plug simulator. A guy sells them online. And no there is a law that would not allow Toyota to void the warranty if it is an engine or transmission repair issue. The law is such that they must prove taking the seats out affects the engine etc. it doesn’t. 😊
Big negative for the sienna for me is the fact you can't get second row bench for the higher trims. Not everyone wants captain seats for second row...
Who knew a minivan review can be so humourous
That's a hilarious comparison.. The left out the Chrysler/ Dodge vans just to be able to compare. I wouldn't even go look at the Kia. I may consider the Toyota if it was up to par with the Chryslers.. without being a completely different price point.
I'm at 12mpg city on a 2019 awd Sienna. But gets the job done
Wait till the facelift of Carnival where they offer the hybrid option with AwD.
I love the room you get in a mini van . On trips we have 3 of us plus many times in-laws and 1 other person . 6 total with luggage . Mini van handles all. That with plenty of comfort left over . Only. Issue is we cannot get a Sienna . Toyota is not making enough of them . Odd as the rav4 also hybrid , there are plenty of those
Only issue we have with Toyota is there ultra boring infotainment center . We honestly think it’s the most boring of nearly all other vehicles in existence .
We drove the Sienna and I was not impressed with the power, interior, or handling dynamics. We went with a used Pacifica Hybrid instead.
Don't forget that you also have to consider which one is going to be in the shop more, and my bet is the Kia will be.
I have had a 2nd gen awd sienna limited and it was trouble free. I am currently the owner of a 3rd gen awd sienna limited, which is also been trouble free. Almost 250,000 mi, and everything still works perfectly.
Google recent massive Toyota recalls, there is your Toyota reliability...
Assuming an average annual mileage in the U.S. of 13,500 miles and a gasoline price of $4 per gallon, the Toyota pays for itself after about 3.17 years despite being more expensive, but it is more efficient.
If safety is your priority, Kia Carnival should be avoided. It has ridiculous bumper mounted turn signals that are virtually invisible in traffic. In a world of suvs and crossovers, the turn signals are mounted too low to be visible. (stupid name, great vehicle) is slightly better in execution, function, fit and finish, but lacks the efficiency of the Sienna. However, Kia is losing sales on the lack of awd.
You didn’t mention reliability and resale value. While the sienna is more expensive upfront, you get a lot more over time.
Pacifica plug-in hybrid
I still think the Pacifica has everyone in this segment beat for features and content, but the reliability is not there. If I was on the budget, I would go with a Carnival.
Toyota baby! I dont care if the KIA has all the bells and whistles 😂
I know Kia is different now but it takes time to find out. My Highland has 400K miles and is still very reliable.
I think North America (Canada at least) is getting a hybrid Carnival for 2025
just one of them
The power train on Sienna is really a downgrade from the old 2GR-FXE. Yes, they fool around the system to make 0-100km similar to old 2GR system. But accleration at highway speed to overtake is brutally slow. The gas milage is not much better than the old 2GR system either. Especially on highway. So what is the point having the 4 hanger other than cutting cost?
Would 2 full size bikes fit in either or both standing upright
My 2012 Sienna has 102,000 miles and leaking small oil drops 😢
Otherwise no issues 🎈
More minivan content. please... The best vehicles ever!
Monkey Cam is awesome
Good, but the resale value and quality are in Toyota.
I was wondering if they both have a spare/donut tire?
I like Stow N Go how could some one not
I don’t get it I don’t see it the Kia just looks like any other minivan seriously where does it looks like a crossover or suv 🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️
What about the Honda Odyssey in comparison with this twos ?
Of course SUV's are just a jacked up ugly station wagons, which use more fuel and costly for tyre replacement, and mini vans are great for families if they seat up to 7, I used to own one a Toyota Tarago.
Long term maintenance will be cheaper with the Toyota due to the power train. There is no starter or alternator to worry about and because the breaks are regenerative you will be changing pads and rotors a lot less.
Great video however the trim levels are off. So u can’t compare apples to oranges. Toyota sweeps the competition without question
Also have to factor the difference in fuel costs. If you keep these 5-6 years the Toyota will work out to be more affordable.
Kia's 2025 Carnival will have option for hybrid.
And still be almost worthless after 100k miles
i have had minivans , because you can put 2 bikes in and take them out, an SUV does not do it. Windsurfers, surfboards, wet suits, and and and , much more than lots of people, i like Hondas
Ditto
Two old guys that’s for sure.
1 pessimistic grumpy perv - 1 optimistic fun loving
Love the Monkey Cam! Great innovation. Hope Andre remembers to take them off while changing his Smartstream self-lubricating catheters. :)
Toyota is loud because it has a port and direct injection. It is important in long term engine reliability.
I'm liking the Sienna but the CVT is a deal breaker :(
The “monkey cam” was good but could’ve been better executed
When it comes to hybrids, Toyota dominates. It's just that as far as the Sienna goes, they should have put paid more attention to the interior. Just because it's a people mover doesn't mean that the occupants have to sacrifice refinement. Hopefully those get addressed for the next generation. The Carnival is a much more pleasant place to be in with far more attractive materials, better ride and NVH. A lot of comments here are questioning Kia reliability without realizing that their V6 powerplants have been solid. That being said, the hybrid powertrain used in the Santa Fe would be a much better fit to improve fuel efficiency. Whether that will cost the Carnival total cargo space like in the Sienna and the Pacifica hybrid remains to be seen. On another note, I'm also concerned with performance in the Sienna with a load of people and cargo. It might be best in class for efficiency but you'll be left wanting for those quick on-ramp merge situations.
Just because Kia makes better looking vehicles than in the past doesn't mean they aren't still old school crappy Kia quality....because they are.
It would be great if all mini vans were hybrids.... Only issue is that you now have to worry about maintenance on the hybrid engine and than later you have to worry about replacing the batteries. So account for that in cost, not to mention that Toyota has an issue with moisture in the oil because of the hybrid issues. Not to mention that sienna has the worse road noise of all the minivans. Don't forget that Kia has acoustic windshield and on the ex and higher acoustic passenger glass.
Certain trim levels of the Sienna have acoustic glass. And there's a bulletin for the issue you described with the oil.
I still don't fully understand why they haven't tried to make a minivan with a 30-50kwh battery to work like hybrid- ev with 300+ hp for quick and fun acceleration and 600+ miles of range. They have the space to make minivans a more fun and practical vehicle all around.
The main difference here is brand reliability, Toyota versus Kia, unless you lease vehicles.
Honda Odyssey!!!
I hate the cargo space design of Toyota, it's not flat! Flat is the cargo space of a Nissan Quest, start from 2011. And that's what I don't understand, how come none of these manufacturers can do the same. The Kia Carnival's cargo space looks better though