2020 Kia Telluride vs 2021 BMW X5

The 2020 Kia Telluride was a significant departure from Kia's previous reputation for producing adequate but unremarkable vehicles. It presented a more upscale appearance, with a design that borrowed elements from luxury SUVs while maintaining its unique identity. The Telluride's exterior featured a boxy presence reminiscent of a big Chevy, combined with the fluid curves of a new Volvo. Its upright, rectilinear front, wide-spaced vertical headlights, and silver mesh grille gave it a distinctive look. The interior was equally impressive, with features like twin grab handles, wide air vents, and an ultra-wide touchscreen that mimicked the feel of a Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class. Despite some cost-cutting measures, such as faux wood and hard plastic in lower sections, the Telluride's cabin was inviting and well-crafted.

In contrast, the 2021 BMW X5 maintained the brand's signature design language, making it instantly recognizable as a BMW. The X5's exterior featured full adaptive LED headlights, matte aluminum grilles, and various trim options that enhanced its sporty appearance. The interior, while sharing many components with other BMW models, was well-executed with leather and soft-touch materials. The M Sport models added unique styling elements like an M sports steering wheel and model-exclusive trim strips. However, the abundance of black plastic and the sameness of the design across BMW's lineup were notable drawbacks.

The 2020 Kia Telluride was powered by a 3.8-liter V6 engine producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. It offered both front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) options, with AWD available for an additional $2,000. While the Telluride's power delivery was sufficient for its size, the transmission's response was sometimes delayed and inconsistent. The steering was slow, and there was noticeable body lean, but the ride quality was smooth, aided by double-paned glass and acoustic insulation. The Telluride's towing capacity was 5,000 pounds with the optional Towing package, and its fuel economy was EPA-estimated at 19 mpg city, 24 highway, and 21 combined for AWD models.

The 2021 BMW X5 offered a range of powertrain options, all paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The base X5 sDrive40i/xDrive40i featured a 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine with 335 horsepower and 330 pound-feet of torque. The X5 M50i came with a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 producing 523 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque, while the X5 M delivered 600 horsepower, or 617 with the Competition Package. The new X5 xDrive45e plug-in hybrid combined a 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine with a 24-kilowatt-hour battery, achieving 389 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque, and offering up to 30 miles of all-electric range. The X5's driving dynamics were less impressive, with steering issues at both low and high speeds, and a ride quality that felt more like a Lincoln than a BMW. Fuel economy varied, with the X5 M being the least efficient at 15 mpg combined, while the xDrive45e achieved 50 MPGe when using both electricity and gas.

The 2020 Kia Telluride could seat seven or eight passengers, depending on the trim. The base LX and EX trims seated eight, while the S and SX trims offered seven seats 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. 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 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 trims upgraded to a 10.3-inch screen and a 7-inch instrument panel display.

The 2021 BMW X5 made good use of space, with cupholders positioned at the front of the center console and a wireless phone charging pad. The seating was comfortable for short trips, but the front seats felt hard after a few hours. The rear seats were spacious enough for two adults, and an optional third row was available. The climate controls were easy to manage, and the split liftgate with full power functionality made loading cargo convenient. The X5's cargo area was spacious, though the xDrive45e offered slightly less space due to the battery. However, moving children and cargo in and out of the second row was challenging due to the narrow door openings.

The 2020 Kia Telluride came standard with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Kia's UVO link, which allowed remote access to the car via an app. Upper trims with navigation featured fast and accurate voice inputs, live traffic and weather updates, and a proximity key. The SX trim offered a live feed of blind spots on the instrument cluster, Highway Driving Assist, a quiet mode, and an intercom for the third row. The SX also had bright LED headlights, dual moonroofs, and a Harman Kardon surround stereo. However, the lack of onboard WiFi and the standard 6-speaker stereo were notable shortcomings.

The 2021 BMW X5 featured a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, a 10-speaker sound system, voice recognition, Bluetooth, five USB ports, navigation, HD Radio, satellite radio, automatic climate control, a proximity key, and a panoramic moonroof. Optional upgrades included remote start, a head-up display, quad-zone automatic climate control, a wireless smartphone charger, massaging seats, a Wi-Fi hot spot, a 16-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, a 20-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system, rear sunshades, and a dual-panel panoramic roof. The iDrive system required some acclimation but was user-friendly once mastered.

The 2020 Kia Telluride had not been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS at the time of writing, but it was expected to receive top scores. Standard safety features included 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, adaptive cruise control, and Safe Exit Assist. 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 2021 BMW X5 came with a comprehensive list of standard safety features, including blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, rain-sensing windshield wipers, fatigue and focus alert, lane departure warning, automatic high-beam headlights, and a rearview camera. However, the Driving Assistance Professional Package had issues with adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping systems, particularly in bright sunlight and light rain. The X5 received nearly all Good ratings from the IIHS and a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, despite being subject to seven recalls.