2020 Kia Telluride vs 2021 Toyota Sienna

The 2020 Kia Telluride had a transformative design that aimed to erase Kia's reputation for cheap adequacy. It appeared more expensive than it was, but the Kia badge somewhat hurt its style. The Telluride's design was a blend of upscale elements, featuring a boxy presence reminiscent of a big Chevy and fluid curves akin to a new Volvo. The front was defined by 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. Inside, the Telluride's interior mimicked a Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class with twin grab handles, wide air vents, and an ultra-wide touchscreen. The fit, quality, and colors were tasteful and classy, with a solid feel to the doors. The SX-trim test vehicle with the Prestige Package added Nappa leather seats and a soft headliner, making it feel like a $60,000 to $70,000 vehicle, though it cost $46,930 fully loaded.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid aimed to change the perception of minivans with a more SUV-like appearance. It featured a wide grille and sleek LED headlamp arrays, giving it an assertive stance. The sliding side doors were reworked to be nicely sculpted, and alloy wheels in various sizes filled the arches. The rear had a big window but still managed to look wide and low. The fit and finish were superb, as expected from Toyota. Inside, the Sienna emphasized width with horizontal lines and a higher seating position than a sedan. The dashboard was simple and uncluttered, with controls clustered on the upper part of the center stack. The center console housed the gear selector lever, cupholders, and a big storage compartment. The second and third rows were comfortable for adults, with the second row sliding fore and aft for maximum utility and comfort.

The 2020 Kia Telluride came with a 3.8-liter V6 engine producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. An 8-speed automatic transmission routed power to either the front wheels or all four wheels, with AWD available as a $2,000 option. The transmission's response was sometimes delayed and inconsistent, and the shifting felt rougher compared to competitors. However, the power was sufficient to move the Telluride quickly, and the braking was strong with 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 $795 Towing package and an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 19 mpg city, 24 highway, and 21 combined for AWD models.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and two electric motors, producing a combined 243 horsepower. FWD was standard, with AWD available on all trim levels. The AWD system used a separate electric motor for the rear wheels, eliminating mechanical complications. The Sienna used an electronically controlled CVT, which delivered power smoothly but blunted throttle response. The Sienna Hybrid had four selectable drive modes: Normal, EV, Eco, and Sport. Handling was improved with new front suspension and independent rear trailing arm suspension, minimizing body roll. The big news was the EPA fuel economy ratings: 36 mpg city, 36 highway, and 36 combined for FWD models, and 35/36/35 mpg for AWD models.

The 2020 Kia Telluride could seat seven or eight passengers, depending on the trim. The base LX and EX seated eight, while the S and 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. All trims had air vents, USB ports, and cupholders for second and third-row passengers. The second row was spacious, and the third row was tolerable for a 6-foot adult. 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. EX and SX models had a 10.3-inch screen and a 7-inch screen for the instrument panel.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid was designed for convenience, with a third-row 60/40-split bench that stored away easily. The second row slid up to 25 inches, making it easy to access the third row. The cabin had 16 cupholders and plenty of storage cubby space. The Sienna could carry a full four-by-eight sheet of plywood with the tailgate closed. Cargo capacity was 33.5 cubic feet behind the third row, 75.2 cubic feet behind the second row, and 101.0 cubic feet behind the first row. The 288-volt Nickel Metal Hydride battery pack was tucked under the front seats, not impacting cargo space. Both side sliding doors and the rear tailgate were power-operated and responded to kick motions to open and close.

The 2020 Kia Telluride came standard with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Kia's UVO link, which could remotely locate and unlock the car via an app. A proximity key was standard, and upper trims with navigation had fast and accurate voice inputs. The system could search online like Google Maps, but live traffic and weather updates were less frequent and precise. The SX trim featured a live feed of the blind spot 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. The standard 6-speaker stereo was less impressive.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid featured a nine-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and SiriusXM. It came with a year's trial of Safety Connect and Remote Connect, a ten-year trial of Service Connect, and a three-month trial of AT&T WiFi Connect. Bluetooth hands-free and audio streaming were standard, with Qi-compatible charging available on higher trims. The audio system ranged from a six-speaker stereo to a Premium Audio + JBL package with 12 speakers. A rear-seat entertainment system was available, featuring an 11.6-inch display, remote, and wireless headphones. The driver had a color multi-information display and a 10-inch color Head-Up Display on Platinum models. Remote keyless entry was standard, upgraded to Smart Key System on higher trims.

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

The 2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid came with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, which included dynamic radar cruise control, lane-tracing assist, pre-collision system with pedestrian and bicyclist detection, lane-departure alert, automatic high beams, and road sign assist. The Star Safety System included enhanced vehicle stability control, traction control, anti-lock brakes, electronic brake-force distribution, brake assist, and smart stop technology. The Sienna had 10 airbags and LATCH connectors, with a rear-seat reminder system. A tire pressure monitoring system was standard, and an inflator kit was included. The 2020 Sienna received good ratings from IIHS and a five-star overall rating from NHTSA.