2022 Chevrolet Traverse vs 2022 Kia Telluride

The 2022 Kia Telluride had a lot going for it in terms of styling and overall aesthetic appeal. The exterior boasted a muscular design and balanced proportions, which made the SUV stand out in the midsize segment. Kia didn't make significant changes for this model year, only altering the grille pattern slightly and adorning it with new Kia badges. The Telluride was available in four trims: LX, S, EX, and SX, with prices ranging from $32,790 to $44,590, plus a $1,225 destination fee. The standard driveline was front-wheel drive, but all-wheel drive could be added for an extra fee, making it even more versatile. Notably, the SX version we tested came equipped with all-wheel drive, the SX Prestige Package, and a few extra features for a total of $48,325.

Inside, the Telluride’s cabin was thoughtfully designed, featuring controls that were logically arranged. A drawback, however, was the glossy plastic covering the lower half of the cabin, which could make it appear somewhat cheap. This stood in stark contrast to the luxurious Nappa leather upholstery and simulated suede headliner of the SX Prestige trim. Nonetheless, the Telluride wasn’t positioned as a luxury vehicle, so the plastic trim could be forgiven to some extent. Kia compensated by loading the 2022 model with numerous standard features, including a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation, automatic climate control, and several modern driving aids. Wireless smartphone charging was also a new feature for the S trim.

Comparatively, the 2022 Chevrolet Traverse aimed to marry the practicality of a minivan with the rugged appeal of an SUV. It started at $33,700 plus a $1,195 destination fee for the base LS trim and went up to $53,400 for the High Country trim. AWD was available across all models, though it only offered 7.5 inches of ground clearance, making it ideal for light off-roading or snowy conditions rather than severe terrains.

For 2022, the Traverse received minor styling updates, including new headlights, taillights, and bumper designs, alongside options for unique appearance packages like Redline Edition, Midnight Edition, and Sport Edition. Our test vehicle came in the glossy RS trim, featuring 20-inch dark gray wheels, and a range of blacked-out elements that made it one of the more attractive options in its class. This trim level sat between the more basic LS and LT models and the upscale Premier and High Country models. With AWD and a Dual SkyScape Sunroof, the Traverse RS came in at $48,895, including destination charges.

Inside the Traverse RS, there were black leather seats with red and light gray contrast stitching, complemented by black carpets and a black headliner. The glossy black trim added a chic touch, though the various hard plastics throughout, including on the upper door panels, were less appealing. Despite this, the interior layout was practical and straightforward, featuring matte-finish black switchgear for reduced glare. The stereo and cabin temperature controls were user-friendly, and the Traverse’s stereo system required minimal effort to operate.

Driving the 2022 Kia Telluride was a surprisingly enjoyable experience, despite it being a seven-seat midsize SUV. Its 3.8-liter V6 engine produced 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, giving it ample power for daily driving and highway cruising. This was the only engine option, and while it performed well, some buyers might have preferred a hybrid alternative. The eight-speed automatic transmission provided smooth shifts, and the AWD system, equipped with a Lock mode for even power distribution, added a layer of capability when tackling less-paved routes.

On the road, the Telluride offered a well-balanced driving experience, partly due to its Torque Vectoring Cornering Control system. Drivers could select from Eco, Comfort, Smart, and Sport driving modes, allowing them to tailor the vehicle's dynamics to their preferences. The 20-inch wheels and 245/50 tires on the SX model ensured good road grip. The Telluride’s ride quality struck a nice balance between comfort and handling prowess, making it suitable for long trips. Its braking performance and its ability to maintain a comfortable cruising speed on highways were commendable.

The Telluride returned 21.1 mpg on our test loop, very close to its EPA rating of 21 mpg in combined driving. Its 5,000-pound towing capacity also provided decent utility for light to moderate towing needs.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse offered one engine choice as well—a 3.6-liter V6 producing 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. While it lacked the option of a smaller or more fuel-efficient engine, the Traverse's V6 was competent enough for most tasks, though it did emit a slight whine under heavy acceleration.

Tow rating for the Traverse was also 5,000 pounds, and it offered multiple driving modes, including Tow/Haul for heavy loads, Snow, and Off-Road. The fuel economy was slightly lower than that of the Telluride, with our test vehicle returning 20.9 mpg compared to the EPA estimate of 20 mpg combined for AWD models.

Driving the Traverse around town revealed a firm yet compliant ride quality, suitable for absorbing minor road imperfections but requiring caution over more significant bumps and dips to prevent bottoming out. On highways, the Traverse performed adequately but did produce more road and wind noise than some might prefer. Steering was responsive, and braking was consistent, with the vehicle maintaining a stable attitude in corners, though the all-season tires could have been more reassuring.

The 2022 Kia Telluride excelled in blending form with function. Its interior design was upscale and well-organized, featuring many thoughtful details, such as overhead air vents, manual rear side window shades, rear smartphone storage pouches, and USB ports embedded into the front seatbacks. The Telluride provided dual-zone automatic climate control for front-seat occupants and single-zone climate control for the rear. Seating surfaces varied by trim, with the SX Prestige package offering premium Nappa leather.

Space was another strong suit of the Telluride. All three rows of seats were comfortable enough for adults, though the third row was naturally less spacious. Kia’s clever one-touch sliding and folding mechanism for the second-row seats made accessing the third row easy. The Telluride offered ample storage, including 21 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seats. Folding the third row expanded the cargo capacity to 46 cubic feet, and with all seats folded down, the volume maxed out at 87 cubic feet.

In contrast, the 2022 Chevrolet Traverse offered substantial space but with some compromises depending on trim levels. Notably, RS, Premier, and High Country trims lacked the option for a second-row bench seat, reducing maximum passenger capacity to seven. Our RS test vehicle featured power-adjustable, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and triple-zone climate control, creating a comfortable environment.

The second-row seats included a Smart Slide function, facilitating easier access to the third row, and the large rear doors further eased entry and exit. The second-row captain’s chairs provided decent legroom, headroom, and foot room, but some adults found them lacking in leg support and a bit too reclined by default. The third row could accommodate adults as long as the second-row seats were adjusted accordingly, though the comfort here was not as notable as in competing models.

Storage solutions in the Traverse were ample, thanks to clever design features like hidden compartments behind the infotainment screen and under the cargo floor. The SUV offered 23 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seats, with a maximum capacity of 98.2 cubic feet when all seats were folded down. However, unlike the Telluride, the second-row captain’s chairs could obstruct the ability to fold down the third-row seats when in their rearmost position.

For 2022, Kia made the 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system standard across all Telluride trims, incorporating a navigation system with voice recognition. This move enhanced the technology offering but eliminated wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which now required a wired connection. Although the voice recognition system wasn’t conversational, it was functional enough for basic commands. USB charging ports were prevalent throughout the cabin, including airline-style ports in the front seatbacks. A wireless smartphone charging pad became standard on all trims except the base LX.

Kia Connect debuted as part of the standard package, providing connected services with a free one-year subscription. Features included emergency assistance, safe teen driving alerts, remote engine start, cabin climate pre-conditioning, and smart speaker integration with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. There were also practical features like Quiet Mode, which limited sound to the front speakers to avoid disturbing sleeping passengers, and Driver Talk, which allowed the driver to communicate with rear-seat occupants without raising their voice.

Our SX model featured a 10-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, a head-up display, and a surround-view monitoring system, adding to the high-tech appeal of the Telluride.

In comparison, the 2022 Chevrolet Traverse offered two different infotainment systems depending on the trim: a 7-inch display for the LS and LT Cloth models, and an 8-inch high-definition screen for other trims. Higher trims like the Premier and High Country also included an 8-inch digital instrumentation panel between traditional analog gauges. Both infotainment systems supported wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and Bluetooth connectivity for up to two smartphones at once.

Standard connected services featured a WiFi hotspot, and the Teen Driver technology allowed parents to monitor their child’s driving habits. The 8-inch screen could be paired with an optional navigation system, SiriusXM 360L, and additional in-vehicle apps, including Alexa Built-in. While a Bose premium sound system with seven speakers became standard starting with the RS trim, it didn’t earn high marks for audio quality.

Chevrolet’s voice recognition system proved to be highly effective and responsive, contributing to the ease of using the Traverse’s technology. However, the standard 8-inch touchscreen seemed small by modern standards. Still, visibility was generally good, and the digital rearview mirror helped when the normal view was obstructed by the rear liftgate. The RS trim also benefited from a surround-view camera and rear cross-traffic alert, making parking and maneuvering easier.

Safety was a significant focal point for the 2022 Kia Telluride. Kia’s Drive Wise suite of driver assistance and collision avoidance technologies came standard, including 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.

Highway Driving Assist, another standard feature, combined adaptive cruise control with lane-centering to aid long highway drives. While it wasn’t a full hands-free system, it subtly assisted in maintaining lane position and speed. Smart Cruise Control-Curve used GPS data to slow down for curves but could be turned off if found intrusive. Additionally, Safe Exit Assist warned occupants of approaching vehicles or cyclists when exiting the SUV.

Our SX test vehicle also had Kia’s Blind-Spot View Monitor, displaying live video feeds of the blind spots within the digital instrument cluster when using turn signals. In crash tests by the NHTSA, the Telluride earned a five-star overall rating but fell slightly short with four stars in driver and front passenger frontal-impact protection. The IIHS granted it a "Top Safety Pick" despite subpar headlight performance.

Chevrolet responded to increasing safety demands by standardizing the Chevy Safety Assist suite across all 2022 Traverse trims. This package included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic high-beam headlights, and a following-distance indicator.

The new Safety Package added features like rear parking assist sensors, blind-spot monitoring, lane-change assist, and rear cross-traffic alert to the LS trim, while these were standard on higher trims. Upgraded trims like the RS, Premier, and High Country came with adaptive cruise control, an enhanced automatic emergency braking system, rear pedestrian alert, and the Safety Alert Seat, which vibrated to notify the driver of imminent risks.

The IIHS rated the Traverse well in crash tests, though it fell to an "Acceptable" rating in the newer side-impact test. As of this writing, NHTSA had not yet released crash-test ratings for the 2022 model.