2022 Kia Telluride vs 2022 Ford Explorer

The 2022 Kia Telluride attracted consumers with its muscular design and balanced proportions, complemented by trendy blacked-out wheels and trim. For 2022, Kia made only minor changes to the grille pattern and added new badges. The Telluride was available in LX, S, EX, and SX trims, with prices ranging from $32,790 to $44,590, plus a $1,225 destination charge. The interior was well-organized and appealing, though the glossy plastic on the lower half of the cabin looked cheap, especially in the SX Prestige with its Nappa leather upholstery and simulated suede headliner. New standard features included a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation, automatic climate control, and Highway Driving Assist.

The 2022 Ford Explorer offered eight models, priced from $33,745 to $54,495, excluding a $1,495 destination charge. The lineup included the new ST-Line trim, adding a sporty look to the XLT version. Our test vehicle, the King Ranch, featured 4WD, Rapid Red paint, a Premium Technology package, and a twin-panel sunroof, bringing the MSRP to $59,880. The King Ranch's exclusive Del Rio leather seating and branding marks added a touch of luxury, though the cabin exhibited a mix of quality and questionable materials. The Explorer's rear-drive platform allowed for a long and tall hood, giving it a taut, athletic appearance, while blacked-out roof pillars created a "floating roof" effect.

The 2022 Kia Telluride, powered by a 291-horsepower 3.8-liter V6 engine with 262 pound-feet of torque, offered a satisfying driving experience. The eight-speed automatic transmission and available AWD with Lock mode provided good performance on various terrains, though limited wheel articulation suggested sticking to well-traveled paths. The Telluride's brake-based Torque Vectoring Cornering Control system and selectable driving modes (Eco, Comfort, Smart, and Sport) contributed to its good handling. The Telluride achieved an EPA fuel economy estimate of 21 mpg in combined driving, with our SX AWD test vehicle returning 21.1 mpg. The SUV's towing capacity topped out at 5,000 pounds.

The 2022 Ford Explorer offered three powertrains. The base, XLT, ST-Line, Limited, and Timberline trims came with a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine generating 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and RWD or 4WD. This engine provided up to 24 mpg in combined driving and a maximum towing capacity of 5,300 pounds. The hybrid drivetrain, available for the Limited and Platinum trims, combined a 3.3-liter V6 engine with an electric motor, producing 318 hp and 322 lb-ft of torque, and achieving up to 27 mpg in combined driving. The twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine, standard on the ST, Platinum, and King Ranch trims, generated 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque, with a towing capacity of 5,600 pounds and a combined fuel economy of 21 mpg. Our King Ranch 4WD test vehicle averaged 20.6 mpg. The Explorer's ride quality was robust, and it handled off-road terrain well, though the Timberline model was better equipped for such travel.

The 2022 Kia Telluride balanced form and function with an upscale, organized interior. Thoughtful details included overhead air vents, manual rear side window shades, rear smartphone storage pouches, USB ports in the front seatbacks, and accessible rear cupholders. Dual-zone automatic climate control served front-seat occupants, while a single-zone panel served the rear. The EX and SX trims featured real leather, with the SX Prestige package offering premium Nappa leather upholstery. The Telluride's three rows of seats were comfortable for adults, though the third row was less preferred. The SUV provided 21 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 46 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 87 cubic feet.

The 2022 Ford Explorer offered comfort for families of four, with the option to carry five people with a second-row bench seat. The King Ranch trim included triple-zone automatic climate control, a power-adjustable heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats, and heated second-row captain’s chairs. Massaging front seats were standard, with 14-way power adjustment for the driver and eight-way for the front passenger. The third-row seat was difficult for adults to access and lacked legroom. Practical storage space was limited, with missed opportunities for additional storage in the front door armrests and dashboard. The King Ranch had a hands-free power liftgate, revealing 18.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 47.9 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 87.8 cubic feet.

For 2022, the Kia Telluride featured a standard 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation, though it lost wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality. USB charging ports were available in all three rows, with a wireless smartphone charging pad standard in all trims except the LX. Kia Connect provided connected services, including 911 Connect, remote engine start, and home-to-car smart speaker integration. The Telluride also had standard Quiet Mode and Driver Talk functions. Our SX test vehicle included a 10-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system, a head-up display, and a surround-view monitoring system.

The 2022 Ford Explorer offered two versions of its Sync 3 infotainment system: an 8-inch touchscreen and a 10.1-inch touchscreen. The larger screen appeared as an afterthought, while the smaller screen was well integrated. Our test vehicle included FordPass Connect services, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, Ford+Alexa functionality, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, and a navigation system. The King Ranch trim featured wireless smartphone charging, a surround-view camera system, and a 14-speaker Bang and Olufsen premium sound system. The Explorer's voice recognition system struggled with accuracy, highlighting the need for an upgrade to Sync 4 technology.

The 2022 Kia Telluride included numerous standard driver assistance and collision avoidance technologies under Kia Drive Wise. These features included forward-collision warning, 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 had Highway Driving Assist, Smart Cruise Control-Curve, and Safe Exit Assist. In crash tests, the Telluride earned a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick" designation from the IIHS.

The 2022 Ford Explorer earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS. The NHTSA had not published complete crash-test ratings for the 2022 model, but the 2021 model earned five-star ratings except for rollover resistance. The Explorer came with Ford Co-Pilot360, which included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Co-Pilot360 Assist+ added adaptive cruise control, lane-centering assist, and evasive steering assist. The Explorer also had a post-collision braking system and MyKey programmable vehicle functions.