2022 Volkswagen Atlas vs 2022 Kia Telluride

The 2022 Kia Telluride was a standout in the midsize SUV segment, thanks to its muscular design and balanced proportions. With trendy blacked-out wheels and trim, it maintained a handsome appearance. 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-designed, with logical control arrangements, although the glossy plastic in the lower half of the cabin detracted from the overall upscale feel. New standard features for 2022 included a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation, automatic climate control, and advanced driving aids.

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas carried over with minor modifications after significant updates in 2021. The lineup was simplified to SE, SE with Technology, SEL, SEL R-Line, SEL R-Line Black, and SEL Premium R-Line trims. Prices ranged from $34,355 to $51,505, plus a $1,195 destination charge. The SEL Premium R-Line trim featured 21-inch wheels and R-Line design elements, giving the Atlas an upscale look. The interior was simple yet premium, but the use of hard, shiny plastics was disappointing for an SUV costing nearly $54,000. The Atlas offered a spacious and comfortable cabin, but the unlined storage areas created unwanted noise and vibration.

The 2022 Kia Telluride was remarkably satisfying to drive, despite its size and taller center of gravity. It featured a 291-horsepower 3.8-liter V6 engine with 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Telluride offered front-wheel drive as standard, with all-wheel drive available. It had a Lock mode for evenly splitting power delivery to the front and rear axles. The Telluride performed well in various conditions, including snow and muddy roads. It offered a smooth ride, thanks to its brake-based Torque Vectoring Cornering Control system and multiple driving modes. The Telluride achieved an EPA fuel economy estimate of 21 mpg in combined driving, with a towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds.

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas offered two engine options: a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, and a 3.6-liter V6 engine with 276 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and offered front-wheel drive or 4Motion all-wheel drive. The turbocharged engine had a towing capacity of 2,000 pounds, while the V6 could tow up to 5,000 pounds. The Atlas provided various driving modes, including Eco, Normal, Sport, and Individual, as well as Active Control calibrations for different conditions. The V6 engine lacked refinement and power, resulting in a less satisfying driving experience. The Atlas achieved an EPA fuel economy estimate of 19-20 mpg in combined driving.

The 2022 Kia Telluride balanced form and function with its upscale, organized, and appealing interior design. It featured thoughtful details such as overhead air vents, manual rear side window shades, rear smartphone storage pouches, and USB ports in all three rows. The Telluride offered dual-zone automatic climate control for front-seat occupants and single-zone automatic climate control for rear passengers. The SX Prestige package added premium Nappa leather upholstery and a simulated suede headliner. The Telluride provided comfortable seating for adults in all three rows, with a one-touch sliding and folding second-row seat mechanism for easy access to the third row. It offered 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 folded.

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas featured V-Tex leatherette seating as standard, with heated front seats and a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat. Higher trims added tri-zone automatic climate control, ambient cabin lighting, a panoramic sunroof, genuine leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, and heated second-row seats. The Atlas provided a roomy interior with comfortable seating for seven adults, including those in the third row. It offered numerous storage areas, although many were unlined, causing unwanted noise. The Atlas provided 20.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 55.5 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 96.8 cubic feet with both rear rows folded.

The 2022 Kia Telluride came standard with a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, including navigation and voice recognition technology. However, it lost the wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality provided by the previous 8-inch display. The Telluride featured USB charging ports in all three rows, a wireless smartphone charging pad (except in the LX trim), and Kia Connect, a connected services platform with a one-year free trial. Kia Connect included features such as 911 Connect, remote engine start, and home-to-car smart speaker integration. The Telluride also had standard Quiet Mode and Driver Talk functions, a 10-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system, a head-up display, and a surround-view monitoring system.

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas included the Volkswagen Digital Cockpit instrument cluster as standard, with an 8-inch display expanding to 10.25 inches in higher trims. The Atlas SE had a 6.5-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and two USB ports. Higher trims featured the MIB3 infotainment system with an 8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless charging, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, and Car-Net connected services. Car-Net offered three plans: Remote Access, Safe & Secure, and Hotspot. The Atlas also had a navigation system starting with SEL trim and a 12-speaker Fender premium sound system in the SEL Premium R-Line. However, the infotainment system had a slow startup, a cumbersome tuning process, and unreliable voice recognition.

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, 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 with curve speed reduction. The Telluride also had Highway Driving Assist, Smart Cruise Control-Curve, and Safe Exit Assist. The SX trim added Blind-Spot View Monitor technology. The Telluride earned a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a "Top Safety Pick" designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas offered an impressive list of safety features, including automatic post-collision braking, Front Assist, Side Assist, and Rear Traffic Alert. Higher trims added adaptive cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, Lane Assist, Travel Assist, Emergency Assist, and brighter LED headlights with an adaptive front lighting system. The SEL Premium R-Line trim included Area View and Park Assist technology. However, the Atlas had issues with parking sensors and Lane Assist misinterpreting road markings. The Atlas earned four-star ratings for frontal-impact protection from the NHTSA and did not receive a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS.