2022 Kia Telluride vs 2021 Honda Passport

The 2021 Honda Passport was essentially a two-row version of the larger Pilot, sharing many design elements with its sibling. Its exterior and interior styling closely mirrored that of the Pilot, leading some to refer to it as a "Pilot Sport." Inside, the Passport featured a spacious cabin with high-quality materials, though it shared the same awkward "button shifter" design as the Pilot. The trim levels ranged from Sport to Elite, each offering a variety of features, from leather upholstery and power moonroofs to advanced navigation systems and wireless charging.

In contrast, the 2022 Kia Telluride boasted a muscular design with balanced proportions, appealing to consumers with its trendy blacked-out wheels and trim. Kia made minimal changes to the Telluride's exterior for 2022, focusing instead on enhancing its interior. The cabin was upscale and organized, with thoughtful details like overhead air vents and USB ports in the front seatbacks. The Telluride offered a range of trims from LX to SX, with options for premium Nappa leather upholstery and a simulated suede headliner, creating an impression of luxury at a competitive price point.

The 2021 Honda Passport came equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. It offered both front-wheel drive and optional all-wheel drive, with the latter featuring Intelligent Traction Management for various terrains. The Passport provided a comfortable ride with refined handling, suitable for both commuting and light off-road adventures. It had a towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds with AWD.

The 2022 Kia Telluride featured a 3.8-liter V6 engine delivering 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. It offered a smooth and satisfying driving experience, with AWD models benefiting from a Lock mode for power distribution. The Telluride's ride quality was supple, with driving modes like Eco, Comfort, Smart, and Sport enhancing its versatility. It achieved an EPA-estimated 21 mpg in combined driving with AWD and had a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds.

The 2021 Honda Passport offered generous cargo space, with 100.8 cubic feet available with the rear seats folded and 50.5 cubic feet with them in use. It featured a power liftgate on higher trims and provided excellent visibility from its upright seating position. The interior was designed for practicality, with deep storage bins and accommodating rear seats that reclined and slid for added comfort.

The 2022 Kia Telluride balanced form and function with an upscale interior that included functional grab handles and thoughtful storage solutions. It offered comfortable seating for adults in all three rows, though the third row was less spacious. The Telluride provided 21 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 87 cubic feet with seats folded. Features like a Smart Power Liftgate and dual sunroof panels added to its appeal.

The 2021 Honda Passport came standard with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, including Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. While these features were a welcome addition, the system's graphics and menu layout were dated, and the audio interface lacked a tuning dial.

For 2022, the Kia Telluride included a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation as standard. While it lost wireless smartphone connectivity, it offered a range of features like Kia Connect, USB ports in all rows, and a wireless charging pad. The Telluride also included family-friendly features like Quiet Mode and Driver Talk, enhancing its appeal for families.

The 2021 Honda Passport was equipped with advanced safety features such as automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise control. It received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and "Good" scores in most IIHS crash tests, though it had some "Acceptable" ratings for headlights and child-seat anchor ease of use.

The 2022 Kia Telluride included a comprehensive suite of safety features under Kia Drive Wise, with technologies like forward-collision warning and adaptive cruise control. It earned a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and was designated a "Top Safety Pick" by the IIHS, though it missed the highest award due to headlight ratings.