2022 Kia Telluride vs 2021 Kia Sportage

The 2021 Kia Sportage featured a distinctive design with its tiger-nose grille and bulbous headlights, which some might have described as frog-like. Kia, however, marketed the Sportage’s styling as “Euro-focused.” This two-row crossover SUV had a relatively short wheelbase and short overhangs, making it ideal for city driving. The headlights carried over from the 2020 model, and the Sportage could be equipped with 17-, 18-, or 19-inch wheels. Inside, an 8-inch touchscreen display served as a stylish centerpiece, flanked by air vents and physical buttons for tuning and volume. The interior, while not the most tech-forward, was still a pleasant place to sit.

In contrast, the 2022 Kia Telluride boasted a muscular design with balanced proportions and trendy blacked-out wheels and trim. For 2022, Kia made only minor changes to the grille pattern and added new badges. The Telluride continued in LX, S, EX, and SX trims, with pricing ranging from $32,790 to $44,590, plus a destination charge of $1,225. The interior of the Telluride was upscale and organized, with thoughtful details like overhead air vents, manual rear side window shades, and USB ports embedded into the front seatbacks. The SX Prestige package added premium Nappa leather upholstery and a simulated suede headliner, creating an interior that looked and felt more expensive than it was.

The 2021 Kia Sportage was available in LX, EX, or SX Turbo trims with either front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). The LX and EX trims were powered by a 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine producing 181 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque. The SX Turbo trim featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged GDI four-cylinder engine, delivering 240 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. All Sportage models had a six-speed automatic transmission. Fuel economy for the FWD Sportage with the 2.4-liter engine was 23 mpg city, 30 highway, and 26 combined, while AWD models saw slightly lower numbers. The Sportage’s suspension provided a smooth ride, though the steering and tire grip left something to be desired. The SX Turbo trim offered a sporty drive, making it a rewarding crossover to drive at a hustle.

The 2022 Kia Telluride, despite its size and taller center of gravity, was remarkably satisfying to drive. It featured a 3.8-liter V6 engine producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. AWD models included a Lock mode for even power distribution between the front and rear axles. The Telluride offered eight inches of ground clearance, though limited wheel articulation meant it was best suited for less challenging paths. The brake-based Torque Vectoring Cornering Control system and various driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Smart, and Sport, contributed to its good handling. The Telluride’s ride quality was supple, and it cruised effortlessly on the open road. During testing, the Telluride SX AWD returned 21.1 mpg, matching the EPA estimate of 21 mpg combined. The Telluride’s towing capacity topped out at 5,000 pounds.

The 2021 Kia Sportage, while on the smaller side of the compact crossover segment, offered good interior space for the driver and passengers. The SX Turbo trim included a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and 8-way power adjustment for the passenger, along with heated and ventilated seats. Rear legroom and headroom were adequate, but cargo space was limited. The Sportage provided 30.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row and 60.1 cubic feet with the rear seat folded, which was not competitive with other compact crossovers.

The 2022 Kia Telluride balanced form with function, featuring an upscale and organized interior with thoughtful details like overhead air vents, manual rear side window shades, and USB ports in the front seatbacks. Dual-zone automatic climate control served front-seat occupants, while a single-zone panel served the rear. The EX and SX trims featured real leather, with the SX Prestige package adding premium Nappa leather upholstery and a simulated suede headliner. The Telluride’s interior looked and felt more expensive than it was, with heated and ventilated front and second-row seats, dual sunroof panels, and a Smart Power Liftgate. All three rows of seats were comfortable for adults, though the third row was less preferred. The Telluride offered 21 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 46 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 87 cubic feet. The flat load floor made it easy to haul large items.

The 2021 Kia Sportage featured an 8-inch touchscreen interface with Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and USB ports as standard equipment. Most trims also included Kia’s UVO Link connected services. The SX Turbo trim added wireless charging and an eight-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system. The technology was easy to use, with logical menus, physical buttons, and handy knobs, though it was not the most cutting-edge.

For 2022, the Kia Telluride came standard with a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, including a navigation system with voice recognition technology. The Telluride lost the wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality provided by the old 8-inch display, requiring a wire for these features. USB charging ports were available in all three rows, with airline-style ports in the front seatbacks. A wireless smartphone charging pad was standard in all trims except the LX. Kia Connect, a connected services platform, included a free trial subscription for one year and offered features like 911 Connect, remote engine start, and home-to-car smart speaker integration. The Telluride also had standard Quiet Mode and Driver Talk functions, a 10-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system, a head-up display, and a surround-view monitoring system.

Safety was a strong selling point for the 2021 Kia Sportage. Standard advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, automatic high beams, and a driver-monitoring system. The SX Turbo trim added adaptive cruise control. The Sportage earned Top Safety Pick status from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and performed well in crash tests by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The 2022 Kia Telluride included numerous standard driver assistance and collision avoidance technologies under the Kia Drive Wise umbrella. These features included forward-collision warning with pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, and adaptive cruise control with curve speed reduction. The Telluride also had Highway Driving Assist, Smart Cruise Control-Curve, and Safe Exit Assist. The SX trim included Blind-Spot View Monitor technology. The Telluride earned a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a “Top Safety Pick” designation from the IIHS.