2021 Toyota Sienna vs 2022 Kia Telluride

The 2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid tried to redefine the traditional minivan look by adopting a more SUV-like appearance. Prominent features included a wide grille and horizontally arranged LED headlamp arrays, emphasizing the minivan's width and giving it a sleek appearance. The side profile showcased an assertive stance, thanks to the re-engineered sliding side doors and sculpted body lines that bulged over the rear wheels. The rear of the Sienna had a large rear window, contributing to the minivan's wide and low look. The fit and finish were superb, reflecting Toyota’s quality standards.

Inside, the Sienna emphasized width through horizontal lines on the dashboard. The seating position was higher than a sedan but not quite at the height of a full-size SUV, ensuring a comfortable ride. The dashboard's simplicity and the uncluttered center stack housed the majority of the controls, just below the infotainment screen. The vehicle featured a bridge-like center console with ample storage space, including undertray storage large enough for a handbag. Clad in high-quality materials, the interior also boasted a leather-wrapped, beefy steering wheel, enhancing the overall feel.

For the 2022 Kia Telluride, its muscular design and balanced proportions made it a striking midsize SUV. Kia kept the successful design largely unchanged, apart from a minor grille pattern update and new badges. The Telluride’s interior was equally appealing, organized, and designed with utility in mind. Despite some shiny plastic panels detracting from the look in lower trims, the higher trims like SX Prestige featured Nappa leather upholstery and a simulated suede headliner, creating a stark contrast with the glossy plastic.

Inside, the Telluride continued to impress with neatly arranged and logical controls. The cabin featured thoughtful details such as overhead air vents, manual rear side window shades, rear smartphone storage pouches, and abundant USB ports. Dual-zone automatic climate control was standard for front-seat occupants, while a single-zone served the rear. The feel of the materials and features like heated and ventilated seats, dual sunroof panels, and a smart power liftgate added a premium touch.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid marked Toyota's first entry in the hybrid minivan segment. Its powertrain combined a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors, delivering a total of 243 horsepower. Available in both FWD and AWD, the latter used a separate electric motor to drive its rear wheels, simplifying the mechanical layout. The Sienna employed an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission (CVT), which, despite optimizing fuel efficiency, dampened throttle response and impacted driving excitement.

Handling was significantly improved compared to its predecessors, thanks to the new TNGA suspension and steering system, which minimized body roll and ensured a comfortable ride. The most notable aspect was the fuel economy, with FWD models achieving 36 mpg combined and AWD models delivering 35 mpg combined.

The 2022 Kia Telluride delivered a satisfying driving experience, courtesy of its 3.8-liter V6 engine producing 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. Unlike the hybrid Sienna, the Telluride only offered this gasoline engine, which some may find limiting in today's market increasingly leaning towards electrification. Its eight-speed automatic transmission and available AWD featured a Lock mode, useful for tougher terrains, though the Telluride was better suited for less rugged paths.

Driving modes such as Eco, Comfort, Smart, and Sport allowed customization of the driving experience. The Telluride’s large 20-inch wheels and the Brake-based Torque Vectoring Cornering Control system enhanced its handling on dry pavement, offering a good balance between ride comfort and cornering stability. On open roads, the Telluride cruised effortlessly and its Highway Driving Assist tech further elevated long-distance driving comfort. Fuel economy was decent, with the AWD model returning 21.1 mpg and the FWD model rated at 23 mpg by the EPA.

For a minivan, versatility and convenience are key, and the 2021 Toyota Sienna excelled in this regard. It featured a standard third-row 60/40-split bench that could be easily stowed away, and a second row that slid up to 25 inches for easy third-row access. The cabin offered ample storage with multiple cubbies, 16 cupholders, and bottle holders in all doors. Cargo capacity was flexible, supporting configurations from 33.5 cubic feet behind the third row to 101 cubic feet behind the first row, accommodating even a standard four-by-eight sheet of plywood.

The Sienna’s battery placement under the front seats preserved cargo space, and features like power-operated sliding doors and a rear tailgate that responded to kick motions were great for families. The minivan also had a towing capacity of up to 3,500 pounds, adding to its functional appeal.

The 2022 Kia Telluride balanced form and function with an upscale yet highly practical interior. The cabin design included grab handles, overhead air vents, and multiple storage solutions like rear smartphone pouches and USB ports for all rows. The Telluride offered three rows of seating, all comfortable for adults, though the third row was less preferred among adults for long rides. The intuitive one-touch sliding second-row seats made accessing the third row easy.

Cargo capacity in the Telluride started at 21 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 46 cubic feet with the third row folded down, and maxing out at 87 cubic feet with the second row stowed. This provided ample space for family trips, including runs to Ikea. Additional features like the Smart Power Liftgate, which could sense the keyfob and automatically open, enhanced convenience.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna was packed with tech features, catering to both entertainment and practicality needs. It came with a nine-inch touchscreen that supported Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. Standard connectivity included a year's trial of Safety Connect and Remote Connect, a ten-year trial of Service Connect, and a three-month AT&T WiFi Connect trial. The audio system ranged from a six-speaker setup in base trims to a 12-speaker JBL audio system in higher trims.

An optional rear-seat entertainment system with an 11.6-inch 1080p display was available, enhancing family trips. The digital rearview mirror in the Limited and Platinum models was particularly useful when the view from the conventional mirror was obstructed.

For the 2022 Kia Telluride, the 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system became standard across all trims, inclusive of navigation with voice recognition. This upgraded system, however, required wired connections for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which might be a step back for some users. The Telluride also featured an array of USB charging ports in all rows and included Kia Connect, offering services like 911 Connect, remote start, and safe teen driving alerts.

Notable kid-friendly features included Quiet Mode, which restricted audio to the front speakers, and Driver Talk, which broadcasted the driver’s voice to the rear speakers. Higher trims offered premium features like a 10-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, a comprehensive head-up display, and a surround-view monitoring system.

Safety was a priority in the 2021 Toyota Sienna, equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0. This suite included dynamic radar cruise control, lane-tracing assist, pre-collision system with pedestrian and cyclist detection, and more. Other safety features included ten airbags, LATCH connectors, a rear-seat reminder system, and a tire pressure monitoring system. Although the crash-test ratings for the 2021 Sienna were not available, the 2020 model had received favorable ratings from both IIHS and NHTSA.

The 2022 Kia Telluride was designed with numerous standard safety and driver assistance features under the Kia Drive Wise umbrella. These included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control with curve speed reduction. The Telluride also included Highway Driving Assist, which combined adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assistance, and new for 2022, Smart Cruise Control-Curve. Additionally, Safe Exit Assist and Blind-Spot View Monitor enhanced safety and driver awareness.

The Telluride earned a five-star overall rating from NHTSA and was designated a “Top Safety Pick” by IIHS, though it fell short of the “Top Safety Pick+” due to its headlights.