Kia Carnival vs Toyota Kluger

The Carnival S is $50,570 against the Kluger GX Hybrid's $62,410, an $11,840 saving for the Kia, and the Carnival gives you an extra seat and more cargo space for that lower price. On purchase price and outright practicality, nothing touches the Carnival.

But running costs swing hard to the Kluger. Its petrol hybrid sips 5.6L/100km (about $1,595 a year over 15,000km), while the Carnival's 3.5-litre V6 petrol drinks 9.6L/100km (around $2,735 a year), a $1,140 annual difference that erodes the Carnival's purchase saving over time. Note that the Carnival is also available as a diesel, which closes much of that fuel gap if economy matters to you. The Carnival's 7-year warranty (versus Toyota's 5) and lower entry price keep it ahead on total cost for high-seat-count buyers.

Both are 5-star ANCAP (2021) with the full active-safety suite, autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise and rear cross-traffic alert, standard. Both have ISOFIX points and the kind of all-round visibility and parking aids big-family vehicles need. There's nothing to separate them on everyday safety.

The Carnival is the practicality king. Its van-derived body delivers genuinely huge interior space, eight seats with room for adults in all three rows, dual sliding rear doors that are a godsend in tight car parks and for loading kids, and a cavernous boot even with all seats up. For big families, sports teams or anyone who regularly carries seven or eight people, nothing in this comparison comes close.

The Kluger is the more conventional, SUV-shaped choice. It seats seven with a usable (if tighter) third row, rides higher, and adds all-wheel drive for wet-weather and light-gravel security. It looks and feels like a family SUV rather than a people-mover, which matters to buyers who want the SUV image without the van shape. Both are well-equipped and easy to live with.

The Carnival's 3.5-litre V6 makes a strong 216kW and 355Nm, effortless for hauling a full load of passengers, but it's thirsty at 9.6L/100km. The Kluger's 2.5-litre hybrid makes 184kW and, crucially, just 5.6L/100km, transforming the running costs of a big family vehicle, and it's actually the quicker of the two to 100km/h thanks to its instant electric torque.

Both tow the same 2,000kg. The Carnival is front-wheel drive; the Kluger adds all-wheel drive for extra grip. If you do mostly city and suburban driving and want to slash your fuel bill, the Kluger hybrid is compelling. If you prioritise outright space, seats and a lower price, the Carnival's V6 (or its available diesel) does the job, just at a higher fuel cost in petrol form.