2020 Kia Telluride vs 2021 Dodge Durango

The 2020 Kia Telluride transformed Kia's reputation with its upscale design, which appeared more expensive than its price suggested. Despite the outdated Kia badge, the Telluride's clean, minimal design with boxy presence and fluid curves made it stand out. The front featured wide-spaced vertical headlights and a silver mesh grille, while the shoulder line resembled the Volvo XC90. Special details like amber LED running lights and large "TELLURIDE" badges added a touch of luxury. Inside, the Telluride's interior mimicked a Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class with its twin grab handles, wide air vents, and ultra-wide touchscreen. The fit, quality, and colors were tasteful, and the Nappa leather seats with mountain peak stitching in the SX trim added a premium feel.

In contrast, the 2021 Dodge Durango maintained its muscular stance and athletic styling, reminiscent of its Charger and Challenger siblings. The new SRT Hellcat model featured a cold-air scoop, twin-pipe exhaust, LED headlamps, rear spoiler, and a unique front end. The Durango offered six different 20-inch wheel varieties and one 18-inch version, along with 11 exterior colors and six interior color schemes. The cabin received a new instrument panel and either an 8.4-inch or 10.1-inch touchscreen with the Uconnect 5 infotainment system. The Durango's interior became increasingly premium with higher trims, offering leather, suede, Nappa leather, and Laguna leather options, along with contrast stitching and Demonic Red-colored seat belts.

The 2020 Kia Telluride came with a 3.8-liter V6 engine producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. It offered front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD) for an additional $2,000. The Telluride's acceleration was sometimes delayed, and the transmission's shifting felt rougher compared to competitors. However, the braking was strong, and the ride was smooth, aided by double-paned glass and acoustic insulation. The Telluride's towing capacity was 5,000 pounds with the $795 Towing package, and its fuel economy was EPA-estimated at 19 mpg city, 24 highway, and 21 combined.

The 2021 Dodge Durango offered four engine options: a 3.6-liter V6 with 293-295 horsepower, a 5.7-liter HEMI V8 with 360 horsepower, a 392 HEMI V8 with 475 horsepower, and a supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V8 with 710 horsepower. All engines were paired with eight-speed automatic transmissions, with rear-wheel drive (RWD) standard and all-wheel drive (AWD) optional. The Durango's steering was precise, but the chassis showed its age, with the suspension allowing bumps to be felt in the cabin. The Durango SRT models offered SRT Performance Pages for track days, and the R/T model with the Tow N Go Package had a towing capacity of 8,700 pounds.

The 2020 Kia Telluride could seat seven or eight passengers, depending on the trim. The second-tier S and top SX trims offered reclining captain's chairs in the second row, with heating and cooling options. The Telluride's cabin was spacious, with ample room in the second row and a tolerable third row for adults. Cargo capacity was 21 cubic feet with all seats raised and 87 cubic feet with them flat. The interior featured analog gauges, buttons, knobs, and a regular PRNDL shifter, complemented by two displays: a 3.5-inch for the instrument panel and an 8-inch screen for the dash. EX and SX models had a 10.3-inch screen and a larger 7-inch screen for the instrument panel.

The 2021 Dodge Durango offered seating for five in two rows, with an optional third row for up to seven passengers. The front and second-row seats were spacious, with enough room for taller passengers. The third row was more spacious than many competitors and easy to access. The Durango had 21 seat options, providing plenty of choices for buyers. Cargo space was average for its class, and the fit and finish had improved significantly since the early part of the last decade.

The 2020 Kia Telluride came standard with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Kia's UVO link, which allowed remote car location and unlocking via an app. Upper trims with navigation had fast and accurate voice inputs, live traffic and weather updates, and a proximity key. The SX trim featured a live feed of blind spots on the instrument cluster, Highway Driving Assist, a quiet mode, and an intercom for the third row. The SX also had bright LED headlights, dual moonroofs, and a Harman Kardon surround stereo.

The 2021 Dodge Durango featured an 8.4-inch touchscreen on the SXT and GT trims, with higher trims getting a 10.1-inch touchscreen running the new Uconnect 5 system. Uconnect 5 was five times faster than the previous system and offered user profiles, connected services, Amazon Alexa connectivity, TomTom navigation, SiriusXM with 360L, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and over-the-air updates. The Durango also offered a family entertainment system with a Blu-ray and DVD player and two 9-inch screens. The gauge cluster had a unique appearance for SRT models, and the TomTom navigation system was easy to use and responsive.

The 2020 Kia Telluride had not yet been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS, but it was expected to receive top scores. It came standard with forward-collision alert, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, driver-attention monitor, adaptive cruise control, and Safe Exit Assist. Optional features included surround-view cameras and front parking sensors. A driver's knee airbag was standard, but the front passenger did not have one.

The 2021 Dodge Durango fell short in safety compared to its rivals. It came standard with a rearview camera, airbags, and electronic stability control. Optional safety features included adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, automatic high beams, rear-cross traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors, and forward-collision warning. The NHTSA gave the Durango a five-star side crash-test rating and a four-star rollover rating, but front crash testing ratings were not yet available.