2022 Kia Telluride vs 2021 Lexus GX

The 2021 Lexus GX 460’s styling was a testament to its longevity in the market. Retaining the same basic body shell from a decade ago, it had undergone several updates over the years, including the addition of Lexus’ spindle grille in 2014 and a textured insert in 2020. The 2021 model didn’t introduce any new styling changes but did make silver 18-inch wheels standard on the Premium trim level. Despite its age, the GX’s tough, aggressive look remained distinctive and appealing to SUV shoppers. However, the interior did not meet modern luxury standards, with wood trim that felt like molded plastic and an abundance of actual plastic, although it did offer standard leather upholstery.

In contrast, the 2022 Kia Telluride’s styling was a major draw for consumers. Its muscular design, balanced proportions, and trendy blacked-out wheels and trim made it a handsome midsize SUV. For 2022, Kia made only minor changes to the grille pattern and added new badges. The Telluride’s interior was upscale and organized, with thoughtful details like overhead air vents, manual rear side window shades, and USB ports embedded into the front seatbacks. The SX Prestige package added premium Nappa leather upholstery and a simulated suede headliner, making the interior feel more expensive than it was. The Telluride’s design successfully balanced form with function, providing a comfortable and practical space for all occupants.

The 2021 Lexus GX 460 kept things simple with a single powertrain option: a 4.6-liter V8 engine producing 301 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The GX 460’s performance was a throwback to an earlier era of SUVs, with a 0-60 mph time of 7.8 seconds. However, its 5,130-pound weight made higher-speed maneuvers and stopping more challenging. The body-on-frame construction resulted in a less refined ride quality, with noticeable body roll and low grip in corners. Despite these drawbacks, the GX excelled in off-road capability, featuring a Torsen center differential, a standard 4WD system with a low range, and several driver aids like hill-descent control and hill-start assist. The optional Off-Road Package added even more off-road features, making the GX a formidable off-road vehicle. It also had a respectable towing capacity of 6,500 pounds.

The 2022 Kia Telluride, on the other hand, offered a more modern driving experience. Its 3.8-liter V6 engine produced 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Telluride’s performance was satisfying, with good acceleration and a smooth ride quality. It featured a brake-based Torque Vectoring Cornering Control system and multiple driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Smart, and Sport. The Telluride’s ride was supple, and it handled well on both dry pavement and less-traveled paths, thanks to its AWD system with a Lock mode. The Telluride also performed well in fuel economy, matching the EPA estimate of 21 mpg in combined driving. Its towing capacity topped out at 5,000 pounds, making it a versatile option for various driving needs.

The 2021 Lexus GX’s interior ergonomics revealed its age, with an upright dashboard and high center console that limited legroom. The steering wheel’s odd angle and the tall seating position made it feel like driving a bus. However, the dashboard shape and boxy profile provided excellent outward visibility. The center-console storage bin, cupholders, and in-door bottle holders were small, but the array of buttons and knobs for climate control and seat heaters were user-friendly. The GX came standard with three rows of seating, but the third row was best reserved for children due to limited space and difficult access. Cargo space was also limited, with only 64.7 cubic feet available with the second and third rows folded.

The 2022 Kia Telluride excelled in balancing form and function. Its interior design was upscale and organized, with thoughtful details like functional grab handles, overhead air vents, and USB ports in all three rows. The Telluride offered dual-zone automatic climate control for front-seat occupants and single-zone for the rear. The SX Prestige package added premium Nappa leather upholstery and a simulated suede headliner, enhancing the interior’s luxurious feel. All three rows of seats were comfortable for adults, and the one-touch sliding and folding second-row seat mechanism made accessing the third row easier. The Telluride provided ample storage space, with 21 cubic feet of cargo room behind the third row, 46 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum volume of 87 cubic feet. Its folding seats and flat load floor made it practical for hauling large items.

The 2021 Lexus GX was light on tech features, reflecting its decade-old design. It offered Bluetooth, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant connectivity, but lacked Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. The standard infotainment system had outdated graphics and limited functionality, with a separate display for time and temperature using a seven-segment format. However, Lexus included analog controls for nearly everything, providing a user-friendly interface despite its primitive appearance.

In contrast, the 2022 Kia Telluride came with a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation as standard equipment. This system replaced the previously standard 8-inch display, but required a wire for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality. Kia provided USB charging ports in all three rows and a wireless smartphone charging pad in all trims except the LX. The Telluride also featured Kia Connect, a connected services platform with a free one-year trial subscription, offering services like 911 Connect, remote engine start, and home-to-car smart speaker integration. The Telluride included kid-friendly features like Quiet Mode and Driver Talk, as well as a 10-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system, a head-up display, and a surround-view monitoring system in the SX trim.

The 2021 Lexus GX 460 had not been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS. It came standard with the Lexus Safety System+ bundle, which included forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, automatic high beams, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were also standard. However, the GX lacked some advanced safety features available in other Lexus and Toyota models, such as traffic-sign recognition and Lane Tracing Assist.

The 2022 Kia Telluride prioritized safety with numerous standard driver assistance and collision avoidance technologies under the Kia Drive Wise umbrella. These included forward-collision warning with pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, and adaptive cruise control with curve speed reduction. The Telluride also featured Highway Driving Assist, Smart Cruise Control-Curve, and Safe Exit Assist. The SX trim added Blind-Spot View Monitor technology. The Telluride earned a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a “Top Safety Pick” designation from the IIHS, though it missed the highest award due to headlight ratings.