2023 Chrysler Grand Caravan or Kia Carnival | Minivan Comparison

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Any comparison of minivans, the archetypical family haulers for nearly 40 years, could almost be likened to a comparison of horse-drawn buggies at the beginning of the 20^th century. As a replacement for the station wagon — once a staple of suburban driveways post-war — during the ’80s, ’90s and into the ’00s, the minivan has itself been placed on the endangered list by the now-ubiquitous crossover.

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Tim Cain, Driving.ca’s resident numbers cruncher, wrote a few months back: “With fewer children — Canada’s birth rate declined 20 per cent between 1980 and 2020 — [families] don’t even all require three-row utility vehicles. Five seats may well suffice.” The result, he continued, is that a minivan segment that produced nearly 185,000 sales in Canada in 2004, declined in each of the following seven years, falling 51 per cent between 2004 and 2013 and plunging a further 63 per cent between 2013 and 2021. “Minivans now account for only 1.5 per cent of 2022’s Canadian market, down from 4.3 per cent five years ago … and 8.8 per cent 15 years ago.”

Is the market knocking on Heaven’s doors? Not yet. As the inventor of the compact-sized “garageable van” way back in 1983 with the Dodge Caravan and Plymouth Voyager, Chrysler (now Stellantis) has futzed and finessed the formula over six generations into what is the current Grand Caravan, the senior citizen of family haulers.

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Although no longer enjoying robust sales, the Chrysler Grand Caravan (sold as a Dodge in the U.S.) nonetheless has a corporate stablemate, the Pacifica, not to mention a few stalwart competitors — Honda’s Odyssey, the Toyota Sienna and Kia’s Carnival (formerly Sedona). Let’s look at how the Grand stacks up against the newish Carnival.

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The Chrysler Grand Caravan

Henry Ford once said of his Model T, “Any customer can have a car painted any colour that he wants so long as it is black.” In the case of the seven-seat, built-in-Canada Grand Caravan, customers can have any trim they want as long as it’s the $48,495 SXT, which the company describes as a “pocketbook-friendly, quintessential family vehicle.” Oh, and white is the standard colour; any other shade is extra cost.

The SXT is not hurting in the utility, comfort or safety departments. Standard features include the second- and third-row Stow ’n Go seats, a seven-inch Uconnect 5 touchscreen radio with integrated voice command with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone compatibility. The front-wheel-drive Grand has a five-star overall safety rating from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and comes standard with a long list of safety features, electronic stability control, brake assist, child seat anchor system (LATCH), ParkView rear backup camera and more.

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For $1,495, the optional SafetyTec Group upgrades the minivan with features such as a 10.1-in touchscreen display, 4G LTE Wi-Fi hot spot, advanced brake assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-path detection, connected Travel & Traffic Services, forward collision warning with active braking, GPS navigation and more.

Power is courtesy of a 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 paired with a TorqueFlite nine-speed automatic transmission. The engine delivers 287 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque.

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The Kia Carnival

Where the Chrysler Grand Caravan is offered in a take-it-or-leave-it SXT trim, the Kia Carnival is available in no less than five trims (LX, LX+, EX, EX+ and SX), with pricing ranging from $35,795 to $49,595. The California-designed minivan is not exactly a stunner, with a bold, boxy appearance borrowing elements from Kia’s line of SUVs — Telluride, Sorento, and Seltos. Not surprising, the van is underpinned by the same third-generation N3 platform as the Sorento and K5. Inside, the three-row seven- or eight-passenger minivan can, at the higher trim levels, deliver a full measure refinement, technology and flexibility, with space to accommodate people, recreational equipment or cargo, depending on the need.

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Power for the front-wheel-drive Carnival comes from a 3.5L V6 that puts out 290 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque. The engine is mated to an eight-speed automatic. Combined fuel economy is 10.6 L/100 km according to NRCan, the same as the Grand Caravan. Towing capacity is 3,500 pounds, 100 pounds less than the Chrysler.

Highlights include a panoramic dashboard display, with available connected integration of the 12.3-inch TFT- LCD cluster and 12.3-inch AVN display, the available Martian Brown leather, and the pièce de résistance, available power-adjustable VIP Lounge Seats with head and leg rests powered by the touch of a button — the minivan equivalent of airline business-class seats.

Connectivity features include available personalized user profiles, available wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, available wireless smartphone charging and multi-Bluetooth connectivity. Depending on the trim, there’s up to nine USB ports and two inverters. Audiophiles will appreciate the available Bose premium sound system.

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As for safety, the Carnival has yet to receive a rating from NHTSA, although the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has endowed it with a Top Safety Pick. Standard safety features include lane keeping and following assist, smart cruise control, driver attention warning, park distance warning (standard rear sensors and available front sensors) and rear occupant alert. Available features include a surround-view monitor, blind-spot view monitor and smart cruise control.

Tale of the Tape

Not nearly as garageable as the original, the latest version of the Grand Caravan, debuting as a 2020 model, is 5,176 millimetres long, with a wheelbase of 3,089 mm. It’s 1,777 mm high and, with the mirrors out, is 2,022 mm wide. By comparison, the seven- or eight-seat Carnival, new for the 2022 model year, is a titch shorter at 5,156 mm, with a wheelbase of 3,091 mm. It is 1,740 mm high (without roof rails) and, at 2,266 mm, somewhat wider.

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Before getting into passenger room, let’s see how much crap one can stuff into one of these rigs — baby needs, luggage, camping gear, groceries for the brood, etc. Cargo capacity behind each row of seats (third row, second row with third row folded, and second and third row folded) shake out as 1,138 / 2,461 / 4,109 litres for the Carnival, appreciably more than the 915 / 2,478 / 3,978 litres for the Grand. (And who among minivan owners hasn’t treated their haulers as four-wheel storage containers?)

As for comfort, the Grand Caravan boasts appreciably more passenger interior volume than the Carnival, 4,672 litres versus 4,109. That said, in terms of headroom, legroom shoulder and hip room, it’s literally a game of an inch or two here, an inch or two there. In the front row, the Carnival has slightly more head, shoulder and hip room and an equal amount of legroom. In the middle row, the Grand has more headroom, but bows to the Kia in leg, shoulder and hip room. And at the very back, the Chrysler keeps its headroom advantage and boasts slightly more leg and shoulder room, losing out to the Carnival in hip room only.

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Three reasons to choose the Chrysler Grand Caravan

Which model to choose

Well, this is easy — the $48,495 seven-seat SXT, the only trim level available.

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Three reasons to choose the Kia Carnival

Which model to choose

Having five trim levels to choose from gives buyers the ability to pick one that best fits their budget and needs. That said, the topline seven-seat SX trim is the one that is closest to the Grand Caravan SXT. And speaking as someone who has flown both business class and economy, business is a hell of a lot more comfortable. Thus, the heated and ventilated second-row VIP lounge seats with power controls, wing-out headrests and leg extensions are just too good to pass up.

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Conclusion

Consumer Reports sums it up best: “Chrysler might have invented the modern minivan, but time has marched on, leaving the … Grand Caravan feeling dated and past (its) prime.” It cites the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna as far better choices. Not that the Chrysler is without good points, CR noting a ride that is very comfortable and settled, “and passengers will find a quiet, well-equipped cabin that offers considerable versatility.” As for the Carnival, CR says it’s roomy, comfortable, and refined, and has done very well among minivans in its testing. Meanwhile, US News cites the Kia for its supportive seats and spacious interior, “with plenty of room to fit everyone’s luggage.” Its final determination is that the minivan has plenty of good traits, and is good value.

Check out the latest Chrysler Grand Caravan and Kia Carnival models.