Head-to-head
2026 Honda Odyssey vs 2026 Kia Carnival
The Kia Carnival edges it, 92.5 to 88.4, on fuel & range, safety, performance. The Honda Odyssey is ahead on tech & comfort and space & cargo.
B
2026 Honda Odyssey
The 2026 Honda Odyssey is sold in the U.S. as a gas minivan. The most efficient version, the Odyssey, is EPA-rated at 22 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 2 recall camp…
vs
B2026 Kia Carnival
The 2026 Kia Carnival is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas minivan with 2 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Carnival Hybrid, is EPA-r…
More Honda Odyssey head-to-heads More Kia Carnival head-to-heads Every Odyssey vs Carnival model year
Verdict · default weights
2026 Kia Carnival
Slight edgeThe Kia Carnival edges it, 92.5 to 88.4, on fuel & range, safety, performance. The Honda Odyssey is ahead on tech & comfort and space & cargo.
Fuel & range 2026 Kia Carnival leads by 31.1
Tech & comfort 2026 Honda Odyssey leads by 21.8
Safety 2026 Kia Carnival leads by 9.4
| Category · weight | 2026 Honda Odysseyoverall 88.4 | 2026 Kia Carnivaloverall 92.5 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricenot compared | No data | No data | ||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 68.9 | 100 | ||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | ||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 84 | 93.4 | ||||||||||||
NHTSA 5-Star rating, WhichTrim Safety Signal (open recalls by severity), owner complaints, standard driver-assist features (from the press kit, or from what the manufacturer filed with NHTSA where there is none). Open park-outside / do-not-drive advisories cost 25 points. | ||||||||||||||
| Space & cargow 2 | 99 | 93.6 | ||||||||||||
Seats, cargo volume behind the 1st and 2nd rows, rear legroom. | ||||||||||||||
| Performancew 2 | 98.3 | 99.9 | ||||||||||||
Horsepower, torque and horsepower per ton. | ||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 100 | 78.2 | ||||||||||||
Standard (1) and optional (0.5) infotainment, convenience, climate and interior features from the manufacturer's press kit. | ||||||||||||||
| Warrantynot compared | No data | No data | ||||||||||||
| Overall | 88.4 | 92.5 | ||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 5 of 7 categories compared
Honda Odyssey: base trim EX-L FWD · Kia Carnival: base trim LX FWD. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Change what matters to you →Scores are 0–100 per category from the data on this page. The weights are yours to set.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2026 Kia Carnival wins
- It is rated 32 combined against 22 (EPA mpg or MPGe).
- It costs $950 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($2,100 against $3,050).
- It lists 36 standard driver-assist features against 28.
Where the 2026 Honda Odyssey answers
- It lists more comfort and tech equipment (62 points against 48.5 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½).
- It seats 8 against 7.
Ranked by how far apart the two score on each measure, so a price gap and a horsepower gap are compared on the same scale. Every figure is on this page.
Specifications side by side
53 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Honda OdysseyEX-L FWD | Kia CarnivalLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | — | $37,390 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | — | naturally aspirated |
| Cylinder count | 6 | 6 |
| Engine displacement | 3,471 cc | 3,470 cc |
| Engine type (full description) | V6 24-Valve SOHC i-VTEC | 3.5-liter V6 Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) Lambda III Engine |
| Fuel injection system | direct injection | gdi mpi |
| Valve configuration | SOHC | DOHC 24-Valve |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 280 hp | 287 hp |
| Torque | 262 lb-ft | 260 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | 19 mpg | 18 mpg |
| MPG (combined) | 22 mpg | 21 mpg |
| MPG (highway) | 28 mpg | 26 mpg |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | 3.610 | 3.510:1 |
| Transmission speeds | 10 | 8 |
| Transmission type | automatic | automatic |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | — | 6.8 in |
| Overall height | 69.6 in | 68.5 in |
| Overall length | 205 in | 203 in |
| Overall width | 78.5 in | 78.5 in |
| Wheelbase | 118 in | 122 in |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 1st row | 141 cu-ft | 145 cu-ft |
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | 86.6 cu-ft | — |
| Cargo volume behind 3rd row | 32.8 cu-ft | 40.2 cu-ft |
| Total interior volume | 160 cu-ft | — |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | 8 | 7 |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 38.7 in | 40.9 in |
| Second-row headroom | 39.2 in | 39.5 in |
| Third-row headroom | 38.3 in | 38.6 in |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 40.9 in | 41.1 in |
| Second-row legroom | 40.9 in | 40.5 in |
| Third-row legroom | 38.1 in | 35.6 in |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | 4,526 lbs | — |
| Curb weight (minimum) | 4,526 lbs | 4,555 lbs |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | — | 6,283 lbs |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | MacPherson Strut | MacPherson strut |
| Rear suspension type | Compact Multi-Link with Trailing Arms | Multi-link |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | Dual-Pinion Electric Power-Assisted Rack-and-Pinion | Column-Mounted Electric Power steering |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | 19.8 ft | — |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | 320 mm | 325 mm |
| Front brake type | ventilated disc | ventilated disc |
| Parking brake type | Electric | epb |
| Rear brake diameter | 330 mm | 325 mm |
| Rear brake type | solid disc | solid disc |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 18 in | 17 in |
| Wheel material | forged alloy | forged alloy |
| Wheel width | — | 6.5 in |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | 235/60R18 103H | P235/65R17 |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | 19.5 gal | 19 gal |
| Minimum recommended octane | 87 | 87 |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | HondaLink | — |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | 63.1 in | 64.2 in |
| Second-row shoulder room | 61.6 in | 63.2 in |
| Third-row shoulder room | 60 in | 59.5 in |
Green marks the better value where the direction is unambiguous (more room, more power, lower price). Blank rows are specs the press kit does not publish.
Equipment, feature by feature
222 features · differences first, then sharedSafety40 differ · 52 listed
| Feature | Honda OdysseyEX-L FWD | Kia CarnivalLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Forward Collision Avoidance (FCA) - Car / Pedestrian / Cyclist (Fusion-type with Sensor) | — | std |
| Navigation-based Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go (N-SCC with S&G) | — | std |
| Forward Collision Warning (FCW) | std | — |
| Lane Following Assist (LFA) | — | std |
| Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Avoidance (RCTA) | — | std |
| Lane Departure Warning (LDW) | std | — |
| Rear view monitor with dynamic parking guidance | — | std |
| Driver Attention Warning (DAW) | — | std |
| Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) | — | std |
| Parking Distance Warning - Forward and Reverse (PDW-F/R) | — | std |
| Parking Distance Warning - Reverse (PDW-R) | — | std |
| Safe Exit Assist (SEA) | — | std |
| 1st-row side airbags | — | std |
| 3-point seat belts | — | std |
| Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low-Speed Follow | std | — |
| Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) Body Structure | std | — |
| Brake Assist | std | — |
| Child-Proof Rear Door Locks | std | — |
| Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) with Advanced Pedestrian Detection | std | — |
| Cross Traffic Monitor | std | — |
| Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) | std | — |
| Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Hold | — | std |
| Front seat-belt pretensioners | — | std |
| Height adjustable front headrests | — | std |
| Height adjustable rear headrests - 7 seats | — | std |
| Height-adjustable front seat-belt anchors | — | std |
| Highway Driving Assist (HDA) | — | std |
| Impact sensing door unlock | — | std |
| Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA) | — | std |
| Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH): Lower Anchors (2nd-row all, 3rd-row outboard) Tether Anchors (2nd-row all, 3rd-row all) | std | — |
| Parking Distance Warning - Forward and Reverse (PDW-F/R) | — | std |
| Rear Occupant Alert (ROA) with Ultrasonic Sensor | — | std |
| Rear Seat Reminder (RSR) | std | — |
| Rearview Camera with Dynamic Guidelines | std | — |
| Road Departure Mitigation System (RDM) | std | — |
| Speed sensing door lock | — | std |
| Three-Row Side Curtain Airbags with Rollover Sensor | std | — |
| Traffic Sign Recognition System (TSR) | std | — |
| Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) with Traction Control | std | — |
| Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) | — | std |
| Dual front advanced air bags | std | std |
| Dual front seat-mounted side air bags | std | std |
| Full-length side curtain air bags | std | std |
| Lane Keeping Assist (LKA) | std | std |
| 4-wheel Antilock Brakes System (ABS) | std | std |
| Blind Spot Collision Avoidance (BCA) | std | std |
| Driver's knee airbag | std | std |
| Electronic Stability Control (ESC) | std | std |
| High Beam Assist (HBA) | std | std |
| Hill-start Assist Control (HAC) | std | std |
| Immobilizer | std | std |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) - high line | std | std |
Infotainment25 differ · 25 listed
| Feature | Honda OdysseyEX-L FWD | Kia CarnivalLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Wi-fi hotspot | — | std |
| Bluetooth Hands-free with Voice Recognition | — | std |
| 10-Speed Automatic Transmission (10AT) with Shift-By-Wire (SBW) and Paddle Shifters | std | — |
| 12.3-inch audio display unit with navigation, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, HD Radio, SiriusXM, Bluetooth with Voice Recognition and integrated modem (AVN 5.0) | — | std |
| 160-Watt Audio System with 7 Speakers, Including Subwoofer | std | — |
| 2nd-row USB ports (integrated into side of 1st-row seats) | — | std |
| 3rd-row USB ports (located above arm rests) | — | std |
| 6-speakers (including tweeters) | — | std |
| 9-Inch Color Touchscreen Display | std | — |
| Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink® | std | — |
| Bluetooth® Streaming Audio | std | — |
| CabinTalk® In-Car PA System | std | — |
| Charging Port, 1st-Row USB-C 3.0A (1) | std | — |
| Charging Ports, 2nd-Row: USB-C 3.0A (x2) | std | — |
| Floor console media port with 2 USB ports | — | std |
| HD Radio™ | std | — |
| HondaLink® | std | — |
| Radio Data System (RDS) | std | — |
| SiriusXM® | std | — |
| Speed-Sensitive Volume Compensation (SVC) | std | — |
| Steering wheel mounted audio controls | — | std |
| USB-A 2.5A Smartphone/Audio Interface | std | — |
| Wireless Android Auto™ Compatibility | std | — |
| Wireless Apple CarPlay® Compatibility | std | — |
| Wireless Phone Charger | std | — |
Convenience19 differ · 20 listed
| Feature | Honda OdysseyEX-L FWD | Kia CarnivalLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Remote Engine Start | std | — |
| 12-Volt Power Outlet (3rd Row) | std | — |
| 12-Volt Power Outlet (Front and Cargo) | std | — |
| 2nd-row sliding doors | — | std |
| Cruise Control | std | — |
| Electric Parking Brake with Automatic Brake Hold | std | — |
| HomeLink® Remote System | std | — |
| Honda Maintenance Program 1yr / 12k miles | std | — |
| Luggage power outlet | — | std |
| Manual tailgate | — | std |
| One-Touch Turn Indicators | std | — |
| Power door locks with driver and passenger control | — | std |
| Power Tailgate with Programmable Height | std | — |
| Power windows (front and rear) | — | std |
| Power Windows with Auto-Up/Down Front and 2nd-Row Windows | std | — |
| Power windows with driver's one-touch auto-up/down and safety | — | std |
| Security System | std | — |
| Smart Entry with Walk Away Auto Lock® | std | — |
| Smart power sliding rear doors (hands-free) | — | std |
| Smart Key with push-button start, burglar alarm, immobilizer and panic | std | std |
Climate1 differ · 2 listed
| Feature | Honda OdysseyEX-L FWD | Kia CarnivalLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Rear-Seat Heater Ducts | std | — |
| Tri-zone automatic climate control with auto defog and rear control | std | std |
Seating20 differ · 20 listed
| Feature | Honda OdysseyEX-L FWD | Kia CarnivalLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 8-way power adjustable driver's seat with 4-way power lumbar support | std | — |
| Heated front seats (3-level) | std | — |
| Front Passenger's Seat with 8-Way Power Adjustment, Including 4-Way Power Lumbar Support | std | — |
| 8-way power adjustable driver's seat with 4-way power lumbar support | std | — |
| 2nd-row removable seats (Excluding VIP seats) | — | std |
| 2nd-row sliding side seats | — | std |
| 3rd-row 60/40 split-folding seats with double recline | — | std |
| 3rd-row seatback hooks | — | std |
| 7-passenger seating | — | std |
| 8-Person Seating Capacity | std | — |
| 8-way power adjustable passenger seat with power switch for Driver to adjust front passenger seat | std | — |
| Cloth seat trim | — | std |
| Driver's Seat with 12-Way Power Adjustment, Including 4-Way Power Lumbar Support and Two-Position memory | std | — |
| Head Restraints at all Seating Positions | std | — |
| Height adjustable driver's seat | — | std |
| Magic Slide® 2nd-Row Seats with Armrests and Walk-in Feature | std | — |
| Multi-Function 2nd-Row Center Seat | std | — |
| One-Motion 60/40 Split 3rd-Row Magic Seat® | std | — |
| Pure leather seat trim | std | — |
| Rear walk-in device | — | std |
Interior39 differ · 40 listed
| Feature | Honda OdysseyEX-L FWD | Kia CarnivalLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 4.2-inch TFT LCD supervision meter cluster | — | std |
| Automatic-Dimming Rearview Mirror | std | — |
| 2nd-row (behind 1st-row Passenger Seat) shopping hook | — | std |
| 2nd-Row Integrated Sunshades | std | — |
| 2nd-row puddle lamps | — | std |
| 2nd-row side seat armrests | — | std |
| 3rd-row center armrest with cupholders | — | std |
| 7-Inch TFT Meter | std | — |
| Active Noise Cancellation™ (ANC) | std | — |
| Beverage Holders (all rows) | std | — |
| Blue Ambient Light | std | — |
| Cargo Area Light | std | — |
| Cargo lamp | — | std |
| Coat hooks (x2) | — | std |
| Conversation Mirror with Sunglasses Holder | std | — |
| Door pocket bottle holder | — | std |
| Door scuff plates | — | std |
| Driver's and Front Passenger's Illuminated Vanity Mirrors | std | — |
| Floor console with center armrest, cupholders, storage and power outlet | — | std |
| Front door courtesy reflector | — | std |
| Front-Row Bag Hook | std | — |
| Illuminated Steering Wheel-Mounted Controls | std | — |
| Leather wrapped steering wheel and gear shift knob | std | — |
| Lockable Glove Compartment | std | — |
| Lower Seatback Pockets (2nd-row) | std | — |
| Map lamp | — | std |
| Map Lights (all rows) | std | — |
| Matte silver inside door handles | — | std |
| Matte silver sliding inside door handle | — | std |
| Metal paint crashpad garnish | — | std |
| Metal paint door garnish | — | std |
| Polyurethane wrapped steering wheel and gear shift knob | — | std |
| Room lamp | — | std |
| Day/night interior rear view mirror | — | std |
| Illuminated sunvisor with extendable visor vanity mirrors | — | std |
| Carpet Floor Mats | std | opt |
| Lower Seatback Pockets (front row) | std | — |
| Trip computer | — | std |
| Rheostat | — | std |
| Tilt and telescopic steering column | std | std |
Exterior37 differ · 41 listed
| Feature | Honda OdysseyEX-L FWD | Kia CarnivalLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Dual Power Tilting and Sliding Sunroof | std | — |
| 17-inch Alloy wheels | — | std |
| Active Shutter Grille | std | — |
| Black DLO surround molding | — | std |
| Black side sill garnish | — | std |
| Body-color outside mirrors | — | std |
| Capless Fuel Filler | std | — |
| Electric adjustable outside mirrors | — | std |
| Fin-Type Roof-Mounted Antenna | std | — |
| Folding outside mirrors | — | std |
| Half chrome coating outside door handles | — | std |
| Heated Power Side Mirrors with Integrated Turn Indicators, Memory and Reverse Gear Tilt-Down | std | — |
| Heated tailgate glass | — | std |
| Intermittent Rear Window Wiper/Washer | std | — |
| LED Fog Lights | std | — |
| LED Headlights with Auto-On/Off | std | — |
| LED Multi-Focus Reflector headlights (MFR) | — | std |
| Power Sliding Doors | std | — |
| Privacy glass (2nd-row Sliding Door, Tailgate, Quarter Fixed Glass, Rear Door, Backlite) | — | std |
| Rear combination lamps | — | std |
| Rear spoiler | — | std |
| Roofline Spoiler with Integrated Brake Light | std | — |
| Shark fin antenna | — | std |
| Silver Paint trim on Radiator Grille | — | std |
| Silver-painted C-Pillar garnish | — | std |
| Silver-painted tailgate garnish | — | std |
| Single exhaust with black finish | — | std |
| Solar glass (windshield) | — | std |
| Tailgate Spoiler | std | — |
| Taillights with Integrated LED Light Bars | std | — |
| Tinted glass (Delta Fixed) | — | std |
| Tinted glass (Front Doors) | — | std |
| Variable Intermittent Windshield Wipers | std | — |
| Variable intermittent windshield wipers (conventional) | — | std |
| Auto light control | — | std |
| Rear Privacy Glass | std | — |
| LED High Mounted Stop Lamp | — | std |
| Acoustic glass (windshield) | std | std |
| Heated outside mirrors with integrated turn signals | std | std |
| LED Daytime Running Light (DRL) | std | std |
| Temporary Spare Tire (steel) | std | std |
Powertrain11 differ · 11 listed
| Feature | Honda OdysseyEX-L FWD | Kia CarnivalLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Front-Wheel Drive | std | — |
| 10-Speed Automatic Transmission (10AT) with Shift-By-Wire (SBW) and Paddle Shifters | std | — |
| 3.5L Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) 6-cylinder engine | — | std |
| 8-speed automatic transmission with H-Matic Shifting | — | std |
| Active Control Engine Mount System (ACM) | std | — |
| Column Mounted Motor Driven Power Steering (C-MDPS) | — | std |
| Drive Mode Select | — | std |
| Eco Assist™ System | std | — |
| Idle Stop | std | — |
| Intelligent Traction Management (Snow Mode) | std | — |
| Variable Cylinder Management™ (VCM®) | std | — |
Chassis7 differ · 7 listed
| Feature | Honda OdysseyEX-L FWD | Kia CarnivalLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Compact Multi-Link Rear Suspension with Trailing Arms | std | — |
| Dual-Pinion Electric Power-Assisted Rack-and-Pinion Steering (EPS) | std | — |
| Gas shock absorber | — | std |
| MacPherson strut and stabilizer bar front suspension | — | std |
| MacPherson Strut Front Suspension | std | — |
| Multi-link rear suspension | — | std |
| Power-Assisted Ventilated Front Disc / Solid Rear Disc Brakes | std | — |
Cargo4 differ · 4 listed
| Feature | Honda OdysseyEX-L FWD | Kia CarnivalLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Towing Trailer Hitch | — | opt |
| Cargo Area Bag Hooks | std | — |
| Cargo net hook | — | std |
| Rear Storage Well | std | — |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPHonda Odyssey
Safety Signal 85 B
NHTSA overall ★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover ★★★★★ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★☆
Recalls 2
Owner complaints 63 · 2 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained about Engine (26), Electrical System (23), Forward Collision Avoidance (20)
Top recalls
- high Air Bags 26V332000 · 98,892 vehicles
- high Equipment Adaptive/Mobility 25V877000 · 1,019 vehicles
Kia Carnival
Safety Signal 89 B
NHTSA overall —
Frontal / side / rollover ★★★★☆ / — / ★★★★☆
Recalls 2
Owner complaints 55 · 3 crashes · 1 fires
Most complained about Electrical System (21), Unspecified (19), Power Train (14)
Top recalls
- high Fuel System, Gasoline 26V232000 · 141,032 vehicles
- minor Electrical System 26V046000 · 42,677 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Honda OdysseyEX-L FWD | Kia CarnivalLX FWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | — (base trim) | $37,390 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | — 4 trims | $37,390 – $53,490 9 trims |
| Powertrains | GAS | HEV, GAS |
| EPA configuration compared | Odyssey | Carnival Hybrid |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 22 | 32 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $3,050 | $2,100 |
| EV range | — | — |
| Basic warranty | — | — |
| Powertrain warranty | — | — |
| Roadside assistance | — | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2026 Honda Odyssey or the 2026 Kia Carnival?
The Kia Carnival edges it, 92.5 to 88.4, on fuel & range, safety, performance. The Honda Odyssey is ahead on tech & comfort and space & cargo. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2026 Kia Carnival scores 92.5 and the 2026 Honda Odyssey 88.4. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which has the better safety record, the 2026 Honda Odyssey or the 2026 Kia Carnival?
2026 Honda Odyssey: 5 NHTSA stars, grade B, 2 recalls. 2026 Kia Carnival: no NHTSA rating yet, grade B, 2 recalls. Crash ratings come from NHTSA's own tests; the grade is WhichTrim's read of the recall record, and the two can disagree.
What are the biggest differences between the 2026 Honda Odyssey and the 2026 Kia Carnival?
Where the 2026 Kia Carnival wins: it is rated 32 combined against 22 (EPA mpg or MPGe), costs $950 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($2,100 against $3,050), and lists 36 standard driver-assist features against 28. Where the 2026 Honda Odyssey answers: it lists more comfort and tech equipment (62 points against 48.5 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½) and seats 8 against 7.