2022 Kia Telluride vs 2022 Toyota Sienna

The 2022 Kia Telluride was a striking midsize SUV, boasting a muscular design and balanced proportions. Its trendy blacked-out wheels and trim added to its handsome appeal. For 2022, Kia made only minor changes to the grille pattern and updated the badges. The Telluride came 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-designed, with logical control arrangements, though the glossy plastic on the lower half of the cabin detracted from its otherwise upscale feel. The SX Prestige trim featured Nappa leather upholstery and a simulated suede headliner, contrasting sharply with the shiny plastic panels.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna, continuing from its 2021 redesign, embraced its minivan identity while incorporating SUV-like styling cues. It featured a macho front end and re-engineered door hinges to conceal the slider channel, giving it a sleek profile. The interior was designed to avoid the typical minivan feel, offering ample storage and comfortable seating for all passengers. The second-row seats could slide up to 25 inches, making access to the third row easy. The Sienna's cargo space was impressive, with 33.5 cubic feet behind the third row, 75.2 cubic feet behind the second row, and 101 cubic feet behind the first row. It also had a 3,500-pound towing capacity.

The 2022 Kia Telluride was a pleasure to drive, powered by a 291-horsepower 3.8-liter V6 engine with 262 pound-feet of torque. It featured an eight-speed automatic transmission and offered AWD with a Lock mode for even power distribution. The Telluride's ride quality was smooth, with a brake-based Torque Vectoring Cornering Control system enhancing its handling. It offered Eco, Comfort, Smart, and Sport driving modes, and the SX trim came with 20-inch wheels and 245/50 tires. The Telluride achieved an EPA fuel economy estimate of 21 mpg combined, with our test vehicle returning 21.1 mpg. It had a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna, exclusively a hybrid, combined a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors, producing 243 horsepower. It offered FWD as standard, with AWD available on all trims. The AWD system used a separate electric motor for the rear wheels, simplifying the design. The Sienna featured an electronically controlled CVT, providing smooth and efficient power delivery. It had four selectable drive modes: Normal, EV, Eco, and Sport. The Sienna's handling was impressive for a minivan, thanks to its TNGA platform. It achieved an EPA fuel economy rating of 36 mpg combined for FWD models and 35 mpg combined for AWD models. The Sienna's battery pack came with a 10-year/150,000-mile warranty.

The 2022 Kia Telluride balanced form and function with an upscale, organized interior. It featured thoughtful details like overhead air vents, manual rear side window shades, and USB ports in all three rows. The Telluride offered dual-zone automatic climate control for the front seats and single-zone for the rear. The SX Prestige trim included Nappa leather upholstery and a simulated suede headliner. All three rows were comfortable for adults, with a one-touch sliding and folding second-row seat mechanism for easy access to the third row. The Telluride provided 21 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 46 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 87 cubic feet with both rear rows down.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna was designed to be a family workhorse, capable of carrying a full 4x8 sheet of plywood with the tailgate closed. The sliding second row added flexibility for loading cargo. It offered 33.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 75.2 cubic feet behind the second row, and 101 cubic feet behind the first row. The Sienna had a 3,500-pound towing capacity. The third-row bench easily stored away into the floor, and each row had ample storage cubbies and cupholders. The power-operated sliding doors and tailgate, with foot-motion triggers, added convenience for busy families.

The 2022 Kia Telluride came standard with a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, including navigation and voice recognition. However, it lost the wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality of the previous 8-inch system. The Telluride featured USB charging ports in all three rows and a wireless smartphone charging pad in all trims except the LX. Kia Connect provided a range of connected services, including emergency assistance, remote engine start, and smart speaker integration. The Telluride also had a Quiet Mode and Driver Talk function for managing in-car audio. The SX trim included a 10-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, a head-up display, and a surround-view monitoring system.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna featured a 9-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. It offered a one-year trial of Safety Connect and Remote Connect, a 10-year trial of Service Connect, and a three-month trial of AT&T WiFi Connect. Bluetooth hands-free and audio streaming were standard, with Qi wireless phone charging available on higher trims. The Sienna's audio system ranged from a six-speaker setup on the LE to a 12-speaker JBL system on higher trims. A rear-seat entertainment system was available, featuring an 11.6-inch display, remote, and wireless headphones. The Sienna also offered a digital rearview mirror and a head-up display on Platinum trims.

The 2022 Kia Telluride included numerous standard driver assistance and collision avoidance technologies under the Kia Drive Wise umbrella. These features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. The Telluride also had Highway Driving Assist, which combined adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assistance. New for 2022, the Smart Cruise Control-Curve system used GPS data to predict and slow for upcoming curves. The Telluride earned a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick" designation from the IIHS.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA. The standard Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 suite included adaptive cruise control, lane-centering, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, and traffic sign recognition. The Sienna also featured the Star Safety System, which included stability control, traction control, anti-lock brakes, and electronic brake-force distribution. It had 10 airbags and multiple LATCH child-seat connectors. A rear-seat reminder system and tire-pressure monitoring were standard, with an inflator kit or optional spare tire.