2023 Kia Telluride vs 2022 Subaru Outback

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness presented a rugged and adventurous aesthetic, distinguishing itself from the standard Outback models. It featured a higher ride height with 23 centimetres of ground clearance, aggressive all-terrain tires, and restyled bumpers for improved approach and departure angles. The exterior was marked by a unique grille, black 17-inch wheels, and Anodized Copper accents, while the interior was dominated by dark grey and black tones with StarTex water-repellant upholstery. Despite its adventurous spirit, the Outback Wilderness maintained a station wagon identity, albeit with a more robust and purposeful design.

In contrast, the 2023 Kia Telluride X-Line and X-Pro models showcased fresh styling with updated headlights, taillights, and new wheel designs. The Telluride offered new paint colours and interior hues, enhancing its visual appeal. The X-Line featured a raised suspension, unique grille, and black 20-inch wheels, while the X-Pro added exclusive 18-inch wheels and all-terrain tires. Inside, the Telluride boasted a modern dashboard with a digital instrumentation panel and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, providing a futuristic feel. The interior updates, though subtle, contributed to a more refined and comfortable cabin experience.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness was powered by a turbocharged 2.4-litre 4-cylinder engine, delivering 260 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 277 lb-ft of torque between 2,000 and 4,800 rpm. This engine provided ample power for the midsize SUV, which weighed 3,896 pounds and had a towing capacity of 3,500 lbs. Fuel efficiency was rated at 10.9 L/100 km in the city and 8.9 on the highway, with an average of 11.0 L/100 km on a mountainous route. The Outback Wilderness featured a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with eight programmed ratios, though its performance was somewhat hindered by the CVT's characteristic droning. The vehicle's all-wheel drive system, combined with its lifted suspension and all-terrain tires, made it highly capable off-road, with improved approach, breakover, and departure angles.

The 2023 Kia Telluride retained its 3.8-litre V6 engine, producing 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. The Telluride offered multiple driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Smart, Sport, and Snow, with an AWD system featuring a low-speed Lock setting. Fuel efficiency was recorded at 9.8 L/100 km for the X-Line and 11.5 L/100 km for the X-Pro, with official ratings at 11.4 L/100 km combined. The Telluride's raised suspension, improved approach and departure angles, and traction control modifications enhanced its off-road performance. The X-Pro model, with its all-terrain tires and increased towing capacity of 5,500 pounds, was particularly suited for off-road adventures.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness featured dark grey StarTex upholstery, a water-repellant material that prevented moisture absorption. The front seats were heated, with the driver's seat offering 10-way power adjustment. Rear seat space was generous, with ample head and legroom for two adults or three children, and included rear air conditioning vents and USB charging ports. The cargo area provided 920 litres of space behind the rear seat and 2,144 litres with the seat folded flat. The Outback Wilderness also boasted a robust roof rack with a 700-pound static load rating, ideal for rooftop camping.

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 interior offered ample space, with a power lumbar stabilization system for the driver and comfortable second-row seating with manual sunshades and USB ports. The third-row seat was more comfortable than many competitors, though not as spacious as the Volkswagen Atlas. 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 Subaru Outback Wilderness came equipped with an 11.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system, integrating climate control and dominating the dashboard. While physical knobs and buttons were available for basic functions, most controls required touchscreen interaction. The voice recognition system was less intuitive, but Apple CarPlay and Android Auto offered superior functionality. Despite its target demographic, the Outback Wilderness lacked a premium audio system, which was available in other Outback trims.

In contrast, the 2023 Kia Telluride featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system as standard, including Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM, and navigation. The voice recognition system performed well, though climate control adjustments required manual input. Over-the-air updates kept the system current, and Bluetooth supported dual-device pairing. The Telluride also included Driver Talk and Quiet Mode, a wireless phone charger, and a 10-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. New digital-key technology and a Full Display rear-view mirror were also available, enhancing convenience and safety.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness was equipped with the EyeSight suite of safety features, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, and lane-centring assistance. The system was effective and unobtrusive, though the beeping could become excessive. The Outback Wilderness also featured steering-responsive LED headlights, a blind-spot warning system, and rear cross-traffic warning. While crash-test results for the 2022 model were unavailable, the 2021 Outback received a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS and a 5-star overall rating from the NHTSA.

The 2023 Kia Telluride offered an extensive list of standard safety features, including forward-collision warning, pedestrian and cyclist detection, and a new junction turning system. Additional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear parking sensors, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centring assist. The Telluride also featured adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, Highway Drive Assist, and a new Intelligent Speed Limit Assist. Advanced safety features were available on higher trims, including collision avoidance systems and a Blind-Spot View Monitor. The 2023 Telluride received a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS, though NHTSA ratings were unavailable.