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Buy this Ford vs Ferrari GT40 Movie CarHead-to-Head: Kia Telluride vs Chevrolet Traverse
These two SUVs have a lot of fans, but how do they come out head-to-head? It’s time for the comparison: Telluride vs Traverse.
Telluride vs Traverse
We’ve compared the 2021 Ford Explorer to the 2021 Buick Enclave, but let’s take a step forward with two other midsize SUVs this time around. How does the 2022 Kia Telluride compare to the 2022 Chevrolet Traverse?
These three-row crossovers are certainly on the list (if not near the top) of anyone looking for a new vehicle that fits the entire family.
Specs
2022 Kia Telluride
Every 2022 Kia Telluride is equipped with a 3.8-liter V6 that makes 291-horsepower with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive (FWD) is standard, but all-wheel drive (AWD) is available at every trim level. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) gave the Telluride 20 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway. If you add all-wheel drive to the configuration, it will drop to 19 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway.
It’s not a bad configuration. The responsive V6 engine carries up to 8 passengers calmly.
2022 Chevrolet Traverse
The 2022 Traverse has a standard 3.6-liter 310 horsepower V6 with a nine-speed automatic transition that isn’t intrusive. Just as the Telluride, the Traverse comes with FWD (except for the Traverse’s High Country), but AWD can be added.
You’ll get some good power out of the Traverse. The EPA estimates fuel economy for the 2022 Traverse (in FWD) as 18 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway. For AWD, they estimates are 17 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway.
Driving & Performance
Steering is crisp in the 2022 Kia Telluride, whether with FWD or AWD. With superb handling, it drives smaller than its size and there’s plenty of power to get up to freeway speeds or move ahead in the passing lane.
You think the Kia is pulling ahead? Maybe not. Steering is precise on the 2022 Chevrolet Traverse. When you pick up some speed in the Traverse, it also feels smaller than it actually is.
The Traverse has an impressively nimble ride quality. Strong, smooth acceleration and responsive shifts make it an easy drive.
The engine start/stop feature on the 2022 Kia Telluride works well enough. The 2022 Traverse has an engine idle start/stop feature, too. An update for this model, however, is that the start/stop feature can be disabled.
Comfort & Interior
The Kia may win this round. You get a sense of tasteful luxury just by sitting in the well-designed three-row Telluride. Captain’s chairs in the second row are optional in the 2022 Kia Telluride. It’s the same situation for the 2022 Chevrolet Traverse.
The styling in the Kia is generally lighter and feels fresh. The detailing on the seats looks more modern than in the Traverse. In most Traverse models, there’s more of a feel of plastic, not luxury. It’s hard to complain about the cushioned seats in either vehicle, though.
If you want leg room, the Traverse is better in back, but the Telluride has it beat up front. Leg room in the Traverse measures 41 inches up front, 38.4 inches in the second row, and 33.5 inches behind that. The 2022 Kia Telluride has 41.4 inches of leg room behind the first row, 42.4 inches behind the second, and 31.4 behind the third. It could use a little more space in the third row, but most SUVs could.
The Telluride and the Traverse both offer a second-row bench seat and a back row that folds flat, but the Traverse takes the victory in terms of cargo area. Storage space behind the third-row bench comes in at 23.0 cubic feet. With the third row folded down, you can get 57.8 cubic feet of storage. The 2022 Kia Telluride can’t compare with those numbers. Behind the second row, there’s just 46.0 cubic feet of cargo volume.
That’s still probably plenty of space for most peoples’ needs, but the extra room the Traverse provides is nice to have.
Trims & Features
2022 Kia Telluride
There are 4 basic trims to choose from.
LX ($32,790) – Every 2022 Telluride is equipped with automatic headlights, emergency braking, lane centering, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, parking sensors, and rear cross-traffic braking. You’ll also get dual-zone climate control with second and third row vents, a push button start, and remote start with a key fob. The instrument cluster is 3.5 inches, but the infotainment screen is 10.25 inches. Six speakers have Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility.
S ($35,290) – The S has second-row captain’s chairs, so you’ll lose a little bit of seating, only able to fit seven passengers in this trim. There are heated front seats, however. It also picks up a sunroof. Wireless device charging is standard starting with the S trim.
EX ($37,790) – A genuine leather interior is added to the EX. You’ll also notice a seventh USB port, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a power liftgate, and ventilated front seats. On the outside? There’s power-folding side mirrors and LED taillights.
SX ($42,690) – At the top end of the spectrum, AWD costs $1,900 in the SX as opposed to $2,000 in all the other trims. The SX also features second-row captain’s chairs, so you’ll only get 7 people into this one. Safety features include front parking sensors, a surround-view camera, and automatic high beams.
The optional SX Prestige Package gets you a head-up display, too. It doesn’t stop there. A 10-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, dual sunroofs, LED fog lights, and a 10-way power driver seat are all features you’ll get in the SX.
2022 Chevrolet Traverse
There are 5 trims for the Chevrolet Traverse and there’s a lot of improvement in all of them, but the added features really pick up with the LT.
LS ($34,895) – Chevy’s Safety Assist suite is now standard in all trims, which means automated emergency braking, pedestrian detection, automatic high-beams, and lane-keeping assist are some of the new driver assists in every 2022 Chevy Traverse. Multi-zone climate control, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and USB ports in all three rows make the inside environment an obliging one. A Northsky Blue Metallic color is an option that you won’t find in the higher trims.
LT ($37,395) – The Leather package is offered with the LT and it’s worth a look. It includes leather upholstery (hence the ‘Leather’ package), a power-adjustable passenger’s seat, heated front seats, heated exterior mirrors, adaptive cruise control, a power rear liftgate, and more. Midnight/Sport editions are also available with the LT. The Northsky Blue Metallic and Sage Metallic colors are both offered with the LT as well.
RS ($45,395) – The aluminum wheels upgrade from 18 inches to 20 inches on the RS, Premier, and High Country. The RS bumps up the speaker count to 10, adds a subwoofer, and throws in Bose speakers.
Premier ($47,795) – Added is the Safety Alert Seat, which alerts driver to potential traffic danger by using crash-alert systems to emit directional vibration pulses from the seat cushion.
High Country ($52,395) – All of the above comes standard with the High Country. Additional interior options include Jet Black leather, Jet Black Chai leather, Jet Black Maple Sugar leather. Other add-ons available are black roof rack cross rails and 20″ gloss black painted aluminum wheels. Rear head room also goes up to 40 inches, increasing just a bit.
They’re Competing for Your Loyalty
The competitive three-row SUV market, which includes the Ford Explorer, Toyota Highlander, and Honda Pilot, means the consumer ends up the winner. Both the 2022 Kia Telluride and 2022 Chevrolet Traverse have upped their games in terms of features offered, even at basic trim levels.
I’d lean towards a 2022 Kia Telluride (even at the base level) because they seem to have just a few more standard features than the 2022 Chevrolet Traverse and the Kia has a nicer interior, but either one of these will get you your money’s worth.
No matter which one you choose, enjoy being wooed as Kia and Chevrolet try to compete for your dollars.
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