Honda Odyssey vs Kia Carnival

Published July 2026

Honda Odyssey vs Kia Carnival Close

A Comprehensive Cars Comparison by Cars4us

The Honda Odyssey and Kia Carnival are two of Australia’s best-known people movers, but they now occupy different parts of the market. Honda discontinued the Odyssey locally in 2022, making the 2021 Honda Odyssey Vi L7 a used-car alternative to the newer 2025 Kia Carnival S. The Odyssey offers seven-seat flexibility, second-row captain’s chairs and a more premium specification for less. The Carnival counters with eight seats, far greater luggage capacity, stronger performance and newer safety technology.

Powertrain & Performance

Honda Odyssey Vi L7

6.5/10

The Honda Odyssey uses a 2.4-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine producing 129kW and 225Nm, paired with a continuously variable transmission and front-wheel drive.
Its powertrain is tuned for smooth and predictable family driving rather than outright performance. Around town, the Odyssey feels easy to place and relaxed in stop-start traffic. The CVT keeps acceleration consistent, although the engine needs to work harder when the vehicle is carrying seven passengers or climbing steep hills.
The lower body and car-like driving position also help the Odyssey feel less cumbersome than its dimensions suggest. Steering is light, visibility is good and the ride remains comfortable across suburban roads.

Kia Carnival S

8.5/10

The Kia Carnival S uses a much larger 3.5-litre naturally aspirated V6 petrol engine producing 216kW and 355Nm, matched to an eight-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive.
That substantial power advantage becomes noticeable when the Carnival is fully loaded. It accelerates more confidently, overtakes with less effort and feels more settled at highway speeds. The conventional automatic also provides more decisive gear changes than the Odyssey’s CVT.
Despite being the larger vehicle, the Carnival remains easy to drive. Its stronger engine means it rarely feels strained, even when carrying eight occupants and their luggage.
Verdict: The Odyssey is smooth and well suited to urban family driving, but the Carnival’s stronger V6 delivers far greater performance when carrying passengers, travelling on the highway or tackling hills.

Interior Comfort & Features

Honda Odyssey Vi L7

8/10

The Odyssey Vi L7 offers a surprisingly premium cabin for a used family people mover. Standard equipment includes leather-appointed upholstery, heated front seats, power sliding rear doors and individual second-row captain’s chairs.
Those captain’s chairs are one of the Odyssey’s key advantages. They provide excellent comfort, generous personal space and easier access to the third row. The lower floor also makes entry and exit straightforward for children and older passengers.
An 8-inch infotainment touchscreen supports wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system now feels dated beside newer interfaces, but the cabin remains thoughtfully arranged with clear physical controls and practical storage.

Kia Carnival S

7.5/10

The Carnival S has a more contemporary dashboard built around a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen with wired and wireless smartphone connectivity. Over-the-air software capability also gives it a clear technology advantage over the older Honda.
As the entry-level Carnival, however, the S uses cloth upholstery and offers a more functional specification than the Odyssey Vi L7. It misses some of the premium seating and comfort features found further up the Carnival range.
The Kia still feels modern, spacious and family focused. Its broad dashboard, numerous storage areas and large display make it easy to live with, but the base trim is less luxurious than the used Honda.
Verdict: The Odyssey offers the more comfortable and premium seating arrangement, while the Carnival delivers newer infotainment technology and a more modern cabin design.

Space & Practicality

Honda Odyssey Vi L7

7/10

The Odyssey Vi L7 seats seven occupants in a 2-2-3 configuration, with two captain’s chairs in the second row. This arrangement provides excellent passenger comfort and creates a clear walkway to the third row.
With every seat in use, the Odyssey offers approximately 322 litres of luggage capacity. That is enough for shopping or several smaller bags, but larger family trips may require careful packing.
Its lower roofline and smaller exterior dimensions make it easier to manoeuvre in suburban car parks than the Carnival. Braked towing capacity is rated at 1,000kg, making it suitable for lighter trailers rather than larger caravans or boats.

Kia Carnival S

9/10

The Carnival S seats eight people across a 2-3-3 layout, giving it an immediate advantage for larger households. Its broader and longer body also creates more room for passengers across all three rows.
Boot capacity measures approximately 627 litres with every seat in use, almost double the Odyssey’s capacity. This makes the Carnival much easier to live with when carrying a full passenger load alongside prams, sports equipment or holiday luggage.
The Carnival also offers a 2,000kg braked towing capacity, doubling the Honda’s rating and allowing it to handle a broader range of trailers and recreational equipment.
Verdict: The Odyssey offers excellent access and passenger comfort for seven, but the Carnival is considerably more practical with an extra seat, a much larger boot and twice the towing capacity.

Fuel Economy

Honda Odyssey Vi L7

8/10

The Odyssey’s smaller four-cylinder petrol engine has a claimed combined fuel consumption of approximately 8.0L/100km. It runs on regular unleaded petrol and is most efficient during relaxed urban and suburban driving.
Real-world consumption will rise when the vehicle is fully loaded, but its lighter body and smaller engine generally make it more economical than the Carnival.
For families covering regular school runs and city kilometres, this lower fuel use can make a meaningful difference over time.

Kia Carnival S

7/10

The Carnival V6 claims approximately 9.6L/100km on the combined cycle. Its larger engine, heavier body and greater performance contribute to higher consumption than the Odyssey.
The trade-off is that the engine feels far less strained under load. The Carnival uses more fuel, but its additional power makes long-distance driving and fully loaded family travel noticeably easier.
Both vehicles use regular unleaded petrol, so the comparison comes down largely to litres consumed rather than fuel grade.
Verdict: The Odyssey is the more economical choice for regular family driving, while the Carnival accepts higher fuel use in return for much stronger performance and carrying capability.

Safety & Driver Assistance

Honda Odyssey Vi L7

6.5/10

The Odyssey was awarded a 5-star ANCAP safety rating in 2014, although that rating has since expired under ANCAP’s current validity rules.
Honda Sensing provides a useful suite of active safety technology, including:
Autonomous Emergency Braking
Forward Collision Warning
Adaptive Cruise Control
Lane Departure Warning
Lane Keeping Assistance
Blind Spot Monitoring
Rear Cross Traffic Alert
The equipment remains useful for everyday driving, but the Odyssey’s crash structure and original assessment belong to an older generation of testing.

Kia Carnival S

8.5/10

The Carnival carries a 5-star ANCAP safety rating from 2021, giving it a more current independent safety credential.
Standard safety technology includes:
Autonomous Emergency Braking
Junction Collision Assistance
Adaptive Cruise Control
Lane Keeping Assist
Lane Following Assist
Blind Spot Monitoring
Rear Cross Traffic Alert
Safe Exit Assist
Curtain Airbags Covering All Three Rows
The newer platform also provides more advanced protection for occupants seated throughout the cabin.
Verdict: Both people movers offer strong driver assistance technology, but the Carnival’s newer structure, current ANCAP rating and three-row occupant protection give it the clear advantage.

Value & Ownership

Honda Odyssey Vi L7

8.5/10

The Odyssey Vi L7 makes a strong case as a used purchase. Buyers receive leather-appointed seating, heated front seats, captain’s chairs and power sliding doors without needing to move into a newer premium-grade people mover.
Its lower fuel consumption also supports the ownership case. However, most examples will now have limited or no original factory warranty remaining, making service history, condition and dealer-backed coverage particularly important.
Because the Odyssey is no longer sold new in Australia, buyers should also consider long-term parts availability and ensure any example has been properly maintained.

Kia Carnival S

8/10

The Carnival S requires a larger initial investment, but it delivers considerably more space, stronger performance, newer technology and a current safety package.
New and near-new examples may also retain a substantial portion of Kia’s seven-year unlimited-kilometre warranty, providing greater ownership confidence. Kia’s broad Australian dealer network further supports servicing and parts availability.
Although the entry-grade S is less luxurious than the Odyssey Vi L7, its modern platform and greater capability may make it the stronger long-term family vehicle.
Verdict: The Odyssey delivers excellent used-car value and more premium equipment, while the Carnival offers stronger warranty support, newer engineering and greater long-term capability.

Our Verdict

Honda Odyssey 7.4/10

Kia Carnival 8.1/10

Final Verdict: Which Should You Choose?

Choose the 2021 Honda Odyssey Vi L7 if you want a comfortable seven-seat people mover with captain’s chairs, leather-appointed seating, lower fuel consumption and strong used-market value. It is particularly well suited to families who prioritise passenger comfort and do not need maximum luggage or towing capacity.

Choose the 2025 Kia Carnival S if your household needs eight seats, substantially more cargo space, stronger performance, greater towing capability and newer safety technology. It is the more complete option for large families and buyers planning to keep their people mover for several years.

The Odyssey is the more affordable and premium-feeling used choice. The Carnival is the more spacious, capable and future-ready family vehicle.

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