2020 Kia Telluride vs 2021 Jeep Cherokee

The 2020 Kia Telluride had a transformative design that aimed to erase Kia's past reputation for cheap adequacy. It appeared more expensive than it was, though the Kia badge somewhat detracted from its upscale look. The Telluride's design was a blend of boxy and fluid elements, reminiscent of a big Chevy and a new Volvo. Its clean, minimal design featured upright, rectilinear themes, wide-spaced vertical headlights, and a silver mesh grille. The interior was equally impressive, with a Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class-like feel, featuring twin grab handles, wide air vents, and an ultra-wide touchscreen. Despite some lower sections being hard plastic, the overall fit, quality, and colors were tasteful and classy.

In contrast, the 2021 Jeep Cherokee's styling had improved over time, though it still had a short grille opening and swept-back headlights. The exterior's appeal varied significantly with the trim level, with higher trims like the 80th Anniversary Edition looking more upscale. Jeep's expertise in roof design was evident with the Cherokee's optional panoramic sunroof. The Cherokee stood out in a crowded SUV market, bearing a resemblance to the larger Jeep Grand Cherokee from the front. The interior was simple and businesslike, with higher trims offering more upscale materials like suede seat inserts and perforated Nappa leather upholstery.

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 FWD and AWD options, with AWD available for an additional $2,000. The Telluride's acceleration was sometimes delayed, and the transmission's shifting could be rough. However, it had strong braking and a firm pedal feel. The steering was slow, and there was noticeable body lean, but the ride was smooth, aided by double-paned glass and acoustic insulation. The Telluride had a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds with the optional Towing package and an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 19 mpg city, 24 highway, and 21 combined.

The 2021 Jeep Cherokee offered three engine options: a 2.4-liter four-cylinder with 180 horsepower, a 3.2-liter V6 with 271 horsepower, and a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. The Cherokee's acceleration was modest, with the V6 and turbo-four engines achieving 0-60 mph times of around 7.2 and 7.4 seconds, respectively. All models came with a nine-speed automatic transmission, which had improved over time. The Cherokee Trailhawk model excelled off-road, thanks to features like Jeep Active Drive Lock and Selec-Speed Crawl Control. The Cherokee was available in both FWD and AWD, with the latter being more suitable for off-road enthusiasts.

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 2021 Jeep Cherokee filled a space between the smaller Renegade and the larger Grand Cherokee. It had 26 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 55 cubic feet with them folded, which was less than its competitors. The Cherokee offered about 102 cubic feet of passenger volume, making it competitive in its class. The interior was simple and businesslike, with higher trims offering more upscale materials. The Latitude trim featured rubberized black plastic, while the Trailhawk had suede seat inserts and contrasting stitching. The Latitude Lux trim offered perforated Nappa leather upholstery for a more upscale appearance.

The 2020 Kia Telluride came standard with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Kia's UVO link, which allowed remote car location and unlocking via an app. Upper trims with navigation had fast and accurate voice inputs and live traffic and weather updates. The SX trim featured 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 Telluride lacked onboard WiFi and a rear-seat entertainment option.

The 2021 Jeep Cherokee featured the Uconnect infotainment system, available with a 7-inch touchscreen on lower trims and an 8.4-inch touchscreen on higher trims. The system was user-friendly, with minimal latency issues. The Cherokee supported Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though only wired, and offered a 4G WiFi hotspot and Amazon Alexa integration. Remote start was available, a useful feature in extreme climates. The Uconnect system was consistent across Stellantis brands, providing a familiar experience for users.

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. It came standard with numerous active driver assists, including forward-collision alert, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, a driver-attention monitor, and adaptive cruise control. Safe Exit Assist was also standard, preventing passengers from opening the rear doors if an approaching vehicle was detected. Optional features included surround-view cameras and front parking sensors.

The 2021 Jeep Cherokee did not earn a Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS but received top "Good" scores in every crashworthiness category. The NHTSA gave it a four-star overall safety rating. The Cherokee came standard with lane departure warning, lane keep assist, full-speed forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, and blind-spot monitoring. However, adaptive cruise control with stop and go was only available on the Limited and Trailhawk trims as part of an option package.