2023 Kia Telluride vs 2022 Honda Passport

The 2022 Honda Passport's exterior styling bore a striking resemblance to the Honda Ridgeline pickup truck. Sharing the same platform as the Ridgeline, Odyssey minivan, and Pilot three-row SUV, the Passport might have looked familiar to many. Essentially, the Passport was a shorter variant of the Pilot, featuring distinct styling and a two-row seat configuration.

For 2022, the Passport received a revamped nose designed to exude a tougher appearance, a change that was applied uniformly across its three trim levels: EX-L, TrailSport, and Elite. The TrailSport, a new addition, aimed to attract outdoor enthusiasts, although its off-road capabilities leaned more toward aesthetics than functionality. Despite this, standard all-wheel drive, 8.1 inches of ground clearance, and driving modes for various terrains gave it moderate off-road potential. Sporting unique 18-inch wheels, a roof rack, simulated skid plates, and other minor modifications, the TrailSport trim had a more rugged appearance compared to typical crossovers.

The interior of the Passport stood out in the two-row midsize SUV segment due to its spaciousness and high-quality materials. TrailSport trim added orange contrast stitching, amber ambient lighting, and embroidered emblems on the headrests, enhancing its aesthetic appeal. Prices for the 2022 Passport ranged from $37,870 to $45,430, with the TrailSport trim sample priced at $44,095, including additional features such as Sonic Gray Pearl paint.

Meanwhile, the 2023 Kia Telluride showcased an array of updates. Fresh front and rear styling, updated headlights, and new wheel designs were among the notable changes. The new paint colors, including Midnight Lake Blue, Dawning Red, and Jungle Green, brought an element of freshness, while interior color updates introduced shades like Terracotta, Navy, and Sage Green.

Replacing the Nightfall Edition, the X-Line and X-Pro models introduced distinct design elements and raised suspensions. The X-Line featured a unique grille, raised roof rails, and black 20-inch wheels, while the X-Pro offered exclusive 18-inch wheels with all-terrain tires. Both trims exhibited an aggressive off-road demeanor, complemented by bumper modifications.

Interior changes included a new digital instrumentation panel, a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and various trim alterations to enhance functionality. The X-Line and X-Pro trims further added embosed trim names on the front seatbacks. The pricing spectrum for the 2023 Telluride ranged from $35,690 for the LX with FWD to $52,785 for the SX Prestige X-Pro with AWD. Test vehicles included an X-Line trim at $54,120 and an X-Pro trim at $55,120, each offering varied color options such as Wolf Gray and Midnight Lake Blue.

The 2022 Honda Passport featured 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 FWD and AWD options, with the EX-L being the only FWD model. The TrailSport and Elite trims came standard with the i-VTM4 AWD system, which had mechanical torque vectoring and could allocate up to 70% of the engine's power to a single rear wheel if needed.

The V6 engine provided strong performance, despite its modest power ratings. The firm, communicative ride and agile handling of the Passport made it a joy to drive on twisty roads, although it fell short in off-road wheel articulation. Fuel efficiency was commendable, with the TrailSport averaging 21.3 mpg, close to the EPA's combined estimate of 21 mpg for AWD models. The downside? Passport's brakes could overheat and vibrate on mountain descents, undermining confidence, especially when considering its 5,000-pound towing capacity.

On the other side, the 2023 Kia Telluride housed a 3.8-liter V6 engine that generated 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, coupled with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Telluride featured multiple driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Smart, Sport, and Snow, and a Lock setting in the AWD system for low-speed scenarios.

The V6 engine delivered robust performance, with the X-Line averaging 24.1 mpg across varied driving conditions, including highway and twisty roads. The X-Pro, with its more off-road-oriented configuration, averaged 20.4 mpg, attributed to half an hour of off-roading. Official EPA ratings indicated 21 mpg for AWD models.

Kia elevated the Telluride's off-road capabilities by raising the suspension, increasing ground clearance to 8.4 inches, and adjusting the traction control system for better off-road performance. The X-Pro trim, designed for off-roading, featured 18-inch all-terrain tires, an improved cooling system enhancing towing capacity to 5,500 pounds, and a self-leveling rear air suspension.

While the Telluride's off-road performance fell short of hardcore off-roaders like Jeep or Land Rover, its highway performance, smooth ride quality, and responsive steering made it a delightful companion for long drives.

The 2022 Honda Passport's interior facilitated easy entry and exit with its large doors and relatively low step-in height. Front seats were spacious and comfortable, featuring standard leather upholstery and heated seats. The Elite trim elevated comfort with ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and heated rear seats. Triple-zone automatic climate control was standard, although only Elite rear passengers had separate controls.

The Passport boasted generous storage options, from the massive center console bin to the various storage pockets and cupholders. Cargo space was equally impressive, offering 41.2 cubic feet behind the rear seat and up to 77.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. The Passport's utility and comfort made it an ideal choice for road trips, although the lack of a surround-view camera system was a drawback.

In contrast, the 2023 Kia Telluride provided seating for seven or eight passengers, depending on the second-row configuration. Premium Nappa leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, and heated and ventilated front- and second-row captain’s chairs enhanced interior comfort. A new power lumbar stabilization system aimed to keep drivers alert on long trips.

Second-row comforts included manual side-window sunshades, adjustable inboard armrests, conveniently located USB ports, and overhead climate controls. Access to the third-row seating was facilitated by a button on the second-row seats, which moved them forward. The third-row space was more accommodating than most in the midsize SUV segment, though it fell short of the Volkswagen Atlas in legroom.

The Telluride offered ample storage and a "smart" power tailgate with proximity sensing for easy cargo loading. Cargo space measurements showed 21 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 46 cubic feet with the third row folded, and up to 87 cubic feet with both rear rows down. These figures highlighted the Telluride's substantial cargo-carrying capacity, making it suitable for both daily use and road trips.

The 2022 Honda Passport came equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and satellite radio as standard. The TrailSport trim added a navigation system, while the Elite trim featured a 10-speaker premium sound system and HondaLink connected services, including a WiFi hotspot. Though the system met basic modern standards, it lacked a stereo tuning knob and had a clunky navigation system, making Apple CarPlay a preferable choice for many.

Convenience features included wireless smartphone charging, but overall, the Passport's technology suite was not cutting-edge and might have been considered a blessing in its simplicity.

Conversely, the 2023 Kia Telluride offered a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system across all models, complete with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and Kia Connect services, including a WiFi hotspot. The voice recognition system performed well, though it did not control the climate system. The Kia Access smartphone app enabled remote control of vehicle functions via Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, and over-the-air updates ensured system currency.

The Telluride included six USB charging ports, Driver Talk and Quiet Mode features for passenger communication, and optional upgrades like a 10-speaker Harman Kardon sound system and wireless smartphone charging. The digital-key technology transformed smartphones or smartwatches into vehicle keys. Additionally, a Full Display Mirror provided a rear video view, and a head-up display (HUD) with expanded information was available.

Notably, the Telluride featured a Leading Vehicle Departure Alert system to prompt drivers when traffic starts moving. This, coupled with the Rear Occupant Alert system, enhanced overall convenience and safety.

The 2022 Honda Passport featured the Honda Sensing suite of driver aids, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. Additional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic high-beam headlights, and a rear-seat reminder system.

However, Honda Sensing's lane-departure warning and lane-centering assist were less refined, often leading drivers to turn them off. The adaptive cruise control lacked smoothness in stop-and-go traffic, and the placement of the blind-spot monitoring warning light was far from ideal. Crash-test ratings showed the Passport excelled in most respects, with minor shortcomings in front passenger protection and rollover resistance.

In comparison, the 2023 Kia Telluride boasted an extensive list of standard safety features and expanded advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS). These included forward-collision warning, pedestrian and cyclist detection, new junction turning safety, and automatic emergency braking. Blind-spot monitoring, rear parking sensors, rear cross-traffic alert with automatic braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist were also included.

The Telluride added an adaptive cruise control system with stop-and-go capability, new Intelligent Speed Limit Assist, and Highway Drive Assist 1.5 for semi-autonomous driving. The SX trim introduced advanced collision avoidance features, front parking sensors, low-speed automatic braking, a surround-view camera, and a Blind-Spot View Monitor.

A comprehensive Rear Occupant Alert system with ultrasonic sensors guaranteed safety for rear passengers, while a Leading Vehicle Departure Alert prompted drivers when traffic moved. Highway Drive Assist 2.0 further enhanced semi-autonomous driving, making the Telluride's safety features top-notch.