Compare the2026 Kia CarnivalVS 2025 Buick Enclave

The Kia Carnival has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Enclave doesn’t offer knee airbags.

Both the Carnival and the Enclave have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, front seat center airbag, side-impact head airbags, front and rear 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 and available around view monitors.

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

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

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Carnival is 3.4% to 4.5% less likely to roll over than the Enclave.

The Carnival comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire van and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Enclave’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Carnival 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Buick covers the Enclave. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Enclave ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Carnival’s reliability 13 points higher than the Enclave.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Carnival first among minivans in their 2024 Initial Quality Study. The Enclave isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Buick vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 1 more problems per 100 vehicles, Buick is ranked fifth.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Buick vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 2 places higher in reliability than Buick.

On the EPA test cycle the Carnival gets better mileage than the Enclave:

Regenerative brakes improve the Carnival Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Enclave doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

For better stopping power the Carnival’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Enclave:

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Carnival is 1.4 inches wider in the front and 1.6 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Enclave.

For better maneuverability, the Carnival’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the Enclave’s (37.7 feet vs. 39 feet). The Carnival’s turning circle is 3 feet tighter than the Enclave w/22” wheels’ (37.7 feet vs. 40.7 feet).

The Carnival is 4.6 inches shorter than the Enclave, making the Carnival easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Carnival offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the Enclave can only carry 7.

The Carnival has 1.1 inches more front hip room, 2 inches more front shoulder room, 7.9 inches more rear hip room, 1.1 inches more rear shoulder room, .3 inches more third row headroom, 3.5 inches more third row legroom, 1.9 inches more third row hip room and 1.7 inches more third row shoulder room than the Enclave.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Carnival’s middle and third row seats recline. The Enclave’s third row seats don’t recline.

The Carnival’s cargo area provides more volume than the Enclave.

The Carnival’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Enclave’s (3500 vs. 1500 pounds).

The Carnival EX/SX/Prestige’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches. The Enclave’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully.

The Carnival’s standard sliding doors can be opened with less than three inches side clearance. The Enclave’s standard rear swing-out doors are bulky and make loading in tight spots difficult.

The Carnival’s power side sliding doors make it much easier to load and unload kids and cargo. One touch opens the door, before you even get to the van. The Enclave doesn’t offer a power rear door.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Carnival to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Enclave doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Carnival SX/Prestige has standard front air conditioned seats and the Carnival Prestige offers them optionally in the second row. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The Enclave doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

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

The Kia Carnival outsold the Buick Enclave by 87% during 2024.