Compare the2025 GMC AcadiaVS 2025 Kia Carnival

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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The Acadia has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Carnival doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

With its standard Front Pedestrian Braking, the GMC Acadia is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Kia Carnival, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

	Acadia	Carnival
Overall Evaluation	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
	Crossing Child - DAY
12 MPH	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH	-20 MPH	-13 MPH
	Crossing Adult - NIGHT
12 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	-10 MPH
12 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	-6 MPH
25 MPH Brights	-17 MPH	-13 MPH
25 MPH Low beams	-22 MPH	-5 MPH
	Parallel Adult - NIGHT
Warning Issued-Brights	1.9 sec	1.7 sec

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the GMC Acadia achieved a “Good” rating - the highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Kia Carnival has not been tested.

The Acadia offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Carnival doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Acadia AT4’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The Carnival doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

The GMC Acadia’s rear backup camera has a standard washer for maintaining a clear view under various conditions. In contrast, the Kia Carnival does not offer a rear camera washer, meaning its effectiveness relies on manual cleaning by the user when necessary.

Both the Acadia and the Carnival have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available front parking sensors and driver alert monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the GMC Acadia is safer than the Kia Carnival:

	Acadia	Carnival
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	165	239
Neck Injury Risk	20.1%	23.1%
Neck Stress	178 lbs.	245 lbs.
Neck Compression	2 lbs.	12 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	32/13 lbs.	141/167 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	234	250
Chest Compression	.7 inches	.8 inches
Neck Injury Risk	35.9%	50.7%
Neck Stress	159 lbs.	174 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	160/266 lbs.	632/305 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the Acadia is safer than the Carnival:

	Acadia	Carnival
Overall Evaluation	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh/hip Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh Forces L/R	22/45 pounds	90/315 pounds
Leg/foot Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh Forces L/R	22/45 pounds	90/315 pounds
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	MARGINAL
Chest Rating	GOOD	MARGINAL
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the GMC Acadia is safer than the Carnival:

	Acadia	Carnival
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Shoulder Deflection	.47 in	.51 in
Shoulder Force	-156 lbs.	178 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	.79 in	1.14 in
Torso Deflection Rate	4 MPH	5 MPH
Pelvis	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	915 lbs.	1071 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Torso	GOOD	MARGINAL
Shoulder Deflection	.83 in	2.01 in
Shoulder Force	-312 lbs.	357 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.06 in	1.97 in
Torso Deflection Rate	8 MPH	13 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis Force	602 lbs.	892 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

The GMC Acadia achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2025 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated moderate overlap front crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The Carnival is not a “Top Safety Pick” for 2025.

Warranty

The Acadia’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Carnival’s (6/100,000 vs. 5/100,000).

There are over 2 times as many GMC dealers as there are Kia dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Acadia’s warranty.

Reliability

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Acadia has a standard 220-amp alternator. The Carnival’s 180-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

Engine

The Acadia’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 86 more horsepower (328 vs. 242) and 55 lbs.-ft. more torque (326 vs. 271) than the Carnival’s optional 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The Acadia’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 41 more horsepower (328 vs. 287) and 66 lbs.-ft. more torque (326 vs. 260) than the Carnival’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6.

As tested in Consumer Reports the GMC Acadia is faster than the Kia Carnival:

	Acadia	Carnival 4 cyl. hybrid gas	Carnival V6
Zero to 30 MPH	3.1 sec	3.3 sec	3.4 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	7.6 sec	8.5 sec	8.4 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	4.1 sec	4.5 sec	4.7 sec
Quarter Mile	15.8 sec	16.6 sec	16.5 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	93 MPH	87 MPH	90 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Acadia FWD gets better fuel mileage than the Carnival 3.5 DOHC V6 (20 city/27 hwy vs. 18 city/26 hwy).

The Acadia AWD’s standard fuel tank has 2.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the Carnival (21.7 vs. 19 gallons).

The Acadia has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Carnival doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Brakes and Stopping

The Acadia stops much shorter than the Carnival:

	Acadia	Carnival
60 to 0 MPH	113 feet	132 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	148 feet	153 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Acadia has larger standard tires than the Carnival (255/55R20 vs. 235/65R17). The Acadia Denali’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Carnival (275/45R22 vs. 235/65R17).

The Acadia Denali’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Carnival EX/SX/Prestige’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Acadia has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Carnival LX/LXS. The Acadia Denali’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels on the Carnival EX/SX/Prestige.

The GMC Acadia’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Kia Carnival only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The Acadia has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Carnival doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Chassis

The Acadia uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Carnival doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The Acadia has 1.7 inches more front headroom, 3.2 inches more front legroom, .5 inches more rear headroom and 1 inch more rear legroom than the Carnival.

Cargo Capacity

Pressing a switch automatically lowers the Acadia Denali’s second row seats and pressing a switch automatically lowers or raises the third row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Carnival doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Towing

The Acadia’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Carnival’s (5000 vs. 3500 pounds).

Servicing Ease

The Acadia uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Carnival uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

Ergonomics

The Acadia’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Carnival does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The Acadia’s front and rear power windows all lower with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Carnival’s standard power windows’ passenger windows don’t open automatically.

If the windows are left open on the Acadia the driver can close them all from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can also lower the windows the same way. The driver of the Carnival can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Acadia’s optional rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Carnival offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The Acadia has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel is only available on the Carnival Prestige.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the GMC Acadia has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the Carnival EX/SX/Prestige offers wireless charging.

The Acadia’s optional Enhanced Automatic Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Carnival doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the GMC Acadia and the Kia Carnival, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The GMC Acadia outsold the Kia Carnival by 925 units during 2024.

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