2023 Kia Telluride vs 2022 Hyundai Tucson

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson was built on a new platform, offering North American buyers a long-wheelbase model with two rows of seating and an expanded cargo area. Its front design featured Hyundai's new vehicle face, with a parametric grille that cleverly concealed LED daytime running lights, Bi-LED headlights, and LED front turn signals. When lit, these lights formed a distinctive shape reminiscent of the Aztec Spirit Bird's wings. The Tucson's side profile borrowed design elements from the Hyundai Elantra, including a silver D-pillar that created a floating roof effect. At the rear, the Tucson sported toothy taillights illuminated by LEDs, adding a unique touch to its design. Depending on the trim level, the Tucson rode on either 17- or 19-inch alloy wheels, with high-end models featuring premium fascias, skid plates, gloss black pillars, and a panoramic sunroof. Inside, the Tucson's cabin was well-appointed, offering standard stain- and odour-resistant cloth seats, with options for sport combination and leather-trimmed seats. The dashboard's horizontal lines and uncluttered aesthetic contributed to a sense of spaciousness.

The 2023 Kia Telluride, particularly in its X-Line and X-Pro models, showcased fresh front and rear styling, updated headlights and taillights, and new wheel designs. It introduced new paint colours like Midnight Lake Blue, Dawning Red, and Jungle Green, along with interior colours such as Terracotta, Navy, and Sage Green. The X-Line replaced the Nightfall Edition, featuring a raised suspension, unique grille design, raised roof rails, body-colour door handles, and black 20-inch wheels. The X-Pro took it further with exclusive 18-inch wheels and all-terrain tires, enhancing its off-road appeal. Inside, the Telluride boasted a digital instrumentation panel and a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, housed under a curved 24-inch glass panel. Interior changes included new colours, minor trim updates, a redesigned steering wheel, and a more functional centre console. The Telluride was available in various trims, with prices starting at $50,195 for the EX and reaching $62,795 for the X-Pro, excluding destination charges.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson offered two powertrain options: a 2.5-litre direct-injected four-cylinder engine and a hybrid powertrain with a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor. The ICE engine produced 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, while the hybrid delivered a combined 226 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. The hybrid powertrain was notably more powerful than competitors like the Ford Escape Hybrid and Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. The Tucson's AWD system, standard on the hybrid and available on ICE models, performed admirably in off-road testing. Fuel efficiency varied, with the front-wheel-drive ICE model achieving 9.1 L/100 km in the city and 8.2 combined, while the hybrid was more efficient at 6.3 L/100 km in the city and 6.4 combined. The upcoming plug-in hybrid version promised even more power, with an estimated 261 horsepower and 224 lb-ft of torque.

The 2023 Kia Telluride retained its 3.8-litre V6 engine, producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. It offered various driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Smart, Sport, and Snow, with an AWD system featuring a low-speed Lock setting. The Telluride's V6 engine provided ample power, with the X-Line averaging 9.8 L/100 km and the X-Pro returning 11.5 L/100 km, including off-roading. The Telluride's suspension was raised by 10 mm, improving ground clearance and off-road performance. The X-Pro model featured 18-inch wheels, all-terrain tires, and an improved cooling system, increasing towing capacity to 2,495 kilograms. The Telluride excelled in off-road testing, showcasing its AWD Lock mode, ground clearance, and stability. On highways, it offered a smooth ride, though the off-road tires made it feel slightly squishier in turns.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson, a budget-friendly compact SUV, offered a well-appointed interior that rivalled its competitors like the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, and Nissan Rogue. It featured a six-way power-adjustable driver's seat, with an eight-way version available on higher trims. Heated front seats were standard, with options for ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and memory settings. The Tucson's new platform provided more passenger and cargo space, with rear seats offering 90 millimetres more legroom than the RAV4. Its 1,095-litre cargo space was comparable to the Forester, RAV4, and CR-V, and it featured a 60-40 split-folding rear bench seat.

The 2023 Kia Telluride accommodated seven or eight passengers, depending on the second-row seating configuration. Our test vehicles featured premium Nappa leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, and heated and ventilated front- and second-row captain's chairs. The second row offered manual side-window sunshades, USB ports, and storage pockets. A button on the second-row captain's chairs facilitated access to the third-row seating area, which was more comfortable than many competitors. The Telluride provided ample storage space, with a "smart" power tailgate and an automatic closing function. Cargo space was generous, with 601 litres behind the third row, 1,304 litres with the third row folded, and 2,455 litres with both rear rows down.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson came equipped with an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, a six-speaker audio system, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, HD Radio, Bluetooth, and two USB ports. Higher trims offered a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen with navigation, satellite radio, and Blue Link mobile app compatibility. The touchscreen interface was embedded within a larger black plastic head unit, which included climate control and media functionality. While responsive, the touchpoints lacked physical differentiation, making it challenging to operate while driving.

The 2023 Kia Telluride featured a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, navigation, and Kia Connect services. It supported over-the-air updates and Bluetooth pairing for two devices simultaneously. The Telluride included Driver Talk and Quiet Mode, allowing drivers to communicate with rear passengers and mute rear speakers. A wireless phone charger, a 10-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, and digital-key technology were standard in Canada. The Telluride also offered a Full Display rear-view mirror, a head-up display, and a Leading Vehicle Departure Alert system.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson had not been tested by the IIHS or NHTSA. It featured the Hyundai SmartSense Safety Feature suite, including forward collision-avoidance assist, lane-keeping assist, automatic high beams, and a driver attention monitor. Additional safety features included blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, and a surround-view camera system. Hyundai provided a 5-year/100,000-kilometre limited warranty.

The 2023 Kia Telluride offered an extensive list of standard safety features, including forward-collision warning, pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. It also featured adaptive cruise control, Highway Drive Assist, and a Rear Occupant Alert system. The Telluride received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS, though NHTSA ratings were unavailable.