2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer vs 2021 Kia Telluride

The 2021 Kia Telluride was available in four trim levels in Canada, all equipped with standard all-wheel drive: EX, SX, SX Limited, and SX Limited Nightsky Edition. The base pricing ranged from MSRPs of $46,195 to $55,695, excluding destination charges of $1,895. The Telluride EX was noted for its value, but many opted for the SX Limited trim, which offered a luxurious feel with features like premium stitched Nappa leather, a simulated suede headliner, a head-up display, and heated and ventilated front- and second-row seats. The SX Limited Nightsky Edition introduced a blacked-out aesthetic with gloss black 20-inch aluminum wheels and a unique grille insert. The Telluride's design was praised for its contemporary styling and quality execution, with the transmission shifter positioned to preserve storage space. However, the interior colour options were limited to black unless one opted for the SX Limited trim.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer shared its frame and body shell with the standard Wagoneer, resulting in a similar traditional SUV styling with a tall hood, broad shoulders, and an upright profile. It was distinguished by a standard black roof and model-specific hood, front fascia, and grille. The Grand Wagoneer featured a new body-on-frame architecture with independent front and rear suspension, and weight-saving materials like an aluminum hood and doors. Inside, it shared styling features with the Wagoneer but offered more convenience features and higher-quality materials. The Grand Wagoneer included 24-way power front seats with memory, massage, lumbar support, and four-way power headrests, along with standard heated first- and second-row seats and a heated steering wheel. Nappa leather upholstery was standard, with higher-grade Palermo leather available, complemented by aluminum and American Walnut wood trim.

The 2021 Kia Telluride was powered by a 3.8-litre V6 engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, delivering 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. It featured Kia’s Drive Mode Select technology with Snow, Eco, Comfort, Sport, and Smart driving modes. The AWD system included a low-speed Lock function for maximum traction, and with 20.3 centimetres of ground clearance, it handled low-grip terrain effectively. The Telluride's suspension tuning minimized head-toss, providing a firm and connected sensation at slower speeds and a more compliant ride at higher velocities. It averaged 11.5 L/100 km in combined driving, slightly above the expected 11.3 L/100 km.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer was equipped with a 6.4-litre Hemi V8 engine, producing 471 horsepower and 455 lb-ft of torque, with cylinder deactivation for improved fuel efficiency. It accelerated from zero to 100 km/h in approximately six seconds. The Grand Wagoneer featured standard four-wheel drive with the Quadra-Drive II system, including a two-speed transfer case and electronic limited-slip differential. The Quadra-Lift air suspension system was standard, offering adjustable height for off-roading and improved aerodynamics. With a maximum ground clearance of 25.4 centimetres, it could ford up to 60 centimetres of water. Despite its power, the Grand Wagoneer was best driven at a stately pace due to its bouncy ride and imprecise steering at higher speeds.

The 2021 Kia Telluride excelled in comfort and utility, with a driver’s seat offering 12-way power adjustments and a standard heated tilt/telescopic steering wheel. The front seats featured heating and ventilation, and the second-row captain’s chairs added heating and ventilation on Limited grades. The third-row seat was accessible via a button that tilted and slid the second-row seat. The Telluride offered 601 litres of cargo space behind the third-row seats, expanding to 1,304 litres with the third row folded, and a maximum of 2,455 litres with all rear seats down. The smart hands-free power liftgate was a convenient feature for loading cargo.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer seated seven with standard second-row captain’s chairs or eight with an optional third-row bench seat. It offered more third-row headroom and second-row legroom than its competitors, but less first-row space. With 775 litres of cargo space with all seats in place and 2,007 litres with the third row stowed, it provided ample storage. The maximum cargo space was 2,667 litres. The Grand Wagoneer had a towing capacity of 4,472 kilograms, slightly less than the standard Wagoneer due to its extra weight. It featured a standard sunroof, four-zone automatic climate control, and large storage bins.

The 2021 Kia Telluride came with a 10.25-inch touchscreen display, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio. It supported simultaneous Bluetooth pairing for two smartphones and included wireless smartphone charging. The infotainment system was user-friendly, though the voice-recognition system needed improvement. The SX trim featured a 10-speaker Harman Kardon surround-sound system, and Limited grades added a head-up display with blind-spot notifications.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer boasted a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, dual touchscreens, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and a McIntosh audio system. It supported simultaneous Bluetooth pairing and included a 4G-LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. Second-row passengers had a 10.25-inch touchscreen for climate control, and an optional rear-seat entertainment system added two 10.1-inch screens. The Uconnect 5 infotainment system featured an Android-based operating system and over-the-air updates, though the screen response was slow, and the instrument cluster graphics were plain.

The 2021 Kia Telluride included eight standard safety features, such as blind-spot warning, lane-maintenance technology, forward-collision avoidance, and rear cross-traffic alert. It also had adaptive cruise control, Rear Occupant Alert, and Safe Exit Assist. SX trim added front parking sensors, a surround-view camera system, and a Blind-Spot View Monitor. It earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and a 5-star overall rating from the NHTSA, despite four-star frontal-impact results.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer had standard safety features like a 360-degree camera system, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Optional features included intersection collision assist, driver-attention monitor, night vision, and traffic-sign recognition. The Active Lane Management System combined adaptive cruise control with automated lane centring, with a hands-free version planned for future release.