2020 Kia Telluride vs 2020 Toyota Sienna

The 2020 Kia Telluride marked a significant departure from Kia's previous reputation for producing merely adequate vehicles. It presented a design that appeared far more expensive than its actual price, although the Kia badge somewhat detracted from its upscale look. The Telluride's exterior design was a blend of boxy and fluid elements, reminiscent of a big Chevy and a new Volvo, respectively. The front featured upright, rectilinear themes with wide-spaced vertical headlights and a silver mesh grille. The shoulder line along the vehicle's side gently protruded, similar to the XC90. The clean, minimal design was expected to age well, with special details like amber LED running lights and rectangular taillights adding to its appeal. Inside, the Telluride's interior was likened to a Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class, with features like twin grab handles, wide air vents, and an ultra-wide touchscreen. The fit, quality, and colors were tasteful and classy, with the SX-trim test vehicle featuring Nappa leather seats and a soft headliner. Despite some lower sections being hard plastic, the interior was inviting, and the fully loaded model cost $46,930, which was surprisingly affordable given its luxurious feel.

The 2020 Toyota Sienna, on the other hand, showed its age despite updates in 2018. The third-generation Sienna, introduced in 2011, felt dated, with a hollow "thud" when the front doors were slammed, indicating a lack of attention to fit and finish. The instrument panel looked like it came from Toyota's 2010 parts bin, although its simplicity made the controls easy to use. The Sienna offered various trims, with the base L trim featuring 17-inch alloy wheels, remote keyless entry, three-zone climate control, and a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay. The LE trim added dual power sliding doors and easy-clean upholstery, while the SE trim, recommended by CarGurus, included a power rear liftgate and sport instrumentation. The Limited trim added leather seats, a heated steering wheel, and a JBL premium audio system. The Sienna also offered a Nightshade Edition with dark accents for those who prioritized a "cool" look. Despite its dated feel, the Sienna provided a range of features across its trims, catering to different needs and preferences.

The 2020 Kia Telluride came equipped with a 3.8-liter V6 engine producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This power was routed through an 8-speed automatic transmission to either the front wheels or all four wheels, with AWD available as a $2,000 option on every trim. The Telluride lacked paddle shifters but allowed manual shifting via the gear selector and had a Sport mode for improved response. However, the transmission's response was sometimes delayed and inconsistent, and the shifting felt rougher compared to competitors. Despite this, the Telluride's power was sufficient to move its two-and-a-quarter-ton weight quickly. The braking was strong with a firm pedal feel, but the steering was slow, and there was noticeable body lean. The ride was smooth, aided by double-paned glass and acoustic insulation that reduced wind noise. The Telluride's towing capacity was 5,000 pounds with the $795 Towing package, and its fuel economy was EPA-estimated at 19 mpg city, 24 highway, and 21 combined for AWD models, with FWD models achieving slightly better figures.

The 2020 Toyota Sienna featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine generating 296 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. The Sienna's dash-mounted shifter had a Sport mode that enhanced throttle and shift response, providing stout acceleration in normal Drive mode and improved performance for overtaking in Sport mode. The Sienna also had a manual mode, which was rarely used, and a 3,500-pound towing capacity. The Sienna offered AWD on all trims except the base L, but choosing AWD meant sacrificing the 8-passenger seating option. The FWD Sienna returned the best fuel economy, with 19 mpg city, 26 highway, and 21 combined, while AWD versions achieved 18/24/20. The Sienna's low center of gravity and broad base contributed to surprisingly decent handling dynamics, providing a smooth ride and confidence in various driving scenarios. However, its twitchy steering response at higher speeds required constant attention to keep the van moving straight on the highway, which could be a concern for busy parents.

The 2020 Kia Telluride could seat seven or eight passengers, depending on the trim. The base LX and third-tier EX seated eight, while the second-tier S offered eight as a $100 option. The S and top SX seated seven, with reclining captain's chairs in the second row. The SX trim added heating and cooling for the second-row seats, manual side-window shades, and a third climate zone with ceiling-mounted controls. All trims had air vents on the ceiling, USB ports, and cupholders for passengers in the second and third rows. The Telluride's cabin was spacious, with ample room in the second row and a tolerable third row for adults. Cargo capacity was 21 cubic feet with all seats raised and 87 cubic feet with them all flat. The interior featured analog gauges, buttons, knobs, and a regular PRNDL shifter, complemented by two displays: a 3.5-inch for the instrument panel and an 8-inch screen for the dash. The EX and SX models had a 10.3-inch screen and a larger 7-inch screen for the instrument panel, offering a richer set of information.

The 2020 Toyota Sienna excelled in cargo space, providing 150 cubic feet, which was class-leading compared to competitors like the Chrysler Pacifica and Honda Odyssey. However, accessing this total figure required removing the second-row seats, which was easier with captain's chairs but more challenging with a bench seat. The third row folded seamlessly into the floor, but getting into the backseat could be awkward due to the second-row seats' design. Toyota also offered mobility access features, such as the Auto Access Seat, making the Sienna a practical choice for those needing mobility conversions. The Sienna's interior space and flexibility made it a strong contender in the minivan market, despite some challenges with seat removal and access.

The 2020 Kia Telluride came standard with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Kia's UVO link, which allowed remote location and unlocking via an app. A proximity key was also standard. Upper trims with navigation featured fast and accurate voice inputs for destinations and online search capabilities. However, the system's live traffic and weather updates were less frequent and precise compared to other cars, and the lack of onboard WiFi was a notable shortcoming. The SX trim offered a live feed of blind spots on the instrument cluster, Highway Driving Assist for limited autonomous driving, a quiet mode for the stereo, and an intercom for the third row. The SX also had bright LED headlights, dual moonroofs, and a Harman Kardon surround stereo. The standard 6-speaker stereo was less impressive for a car of this size.

The 2020 Toyota Sienna's base L trim featured a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Toyota's proprietary software, Amazon Alexa, and Apple CarPlay. Other standard tech included Bluetooth connectivity, five USB ports, and a WiFi hotspot with a 6-month trial. Unlike some competitors, the Sienna's screen size remained the same across all trims, but features varied. The Limited trim included navigation and a JBL 10-speaker premium audio system. The Sienna also had Driver Easy Speak, an intercom system that broadcasted the driver's voice to the rear speakers, making it easier to communicate with passengers in the back. This feature was particularly useful for parents.

The 2020 Kia Telluride had not yet been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS at the time of writing, but it was expected to receive top scores. The Telluride came standard with a comprehensive suite of active driver assists, including forward-collision alert with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert and automatic braking, lane-keep assist, a driver-attention monitor, and adaptive cruise control. Safe Exit Assist, which prevented passengers from opening the rear doors if an approaching vehicle or object was detected, was also standard. Optional features included surround-view cameras and front parking sensors. A driver's knee airbag was standard, but the front passenger did not have one.

The 2020 Toyota Sienna came standard with the Toyota Safety Sense (TSS-P) suite, which included lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning and avoidance with pedestrian detection, dynamic cruise control, and automatic high beams. Blind-spot monitoring was optional on lower trims but standard on the XLE and Limited trims. The Sienna earned five out of five stars in NHTSA crash testing and received the best score of Good in many areas from the IIHS. Its suite of standard driver-assistance features also earned a top rating of Superior from the IIHS.