2022 Kia Telluride vs 2023 Acura MDX

Styling went a long way toward drawing consumers to the 2022 Kia Telluride. From its muscular design and balanced proportions to its available trendy blacked-out wheels and trim, the Telluride was a handsome midsize SUV. For 2022, Kia didn’t make any significant changes, merely tweaking the grille pattern and adding the company's new badges. The 2022 Telluride continued in LX, S, EX, and SX trims, with pricing ranging from $32,790 to $44,590, plus a destination charge of $1,225. Each version came with front-wheel drive (FWD), while all-wheel drive (AWD) added an extra $2,000 ($1,900 for SX trim). The Telluride SX test vehicle, equipped with AWD, the SX Prestige Package, and carpeted floor mats, totaled $48,325.

Regardless of the version chosen, the Telluride’s interior was impressive, with controls logically arranged. However, the plastic covering the lower half of the cabin displayed too much gloss, making it look cheap, especially in the SX Prestige. Although this version featured attractively stitched Nappa leather upholstery and a simulated suede headliner, the shiny plastic panels contrasted sharply. This wasn't a deal-breaker considering the SUV's comparatively low price tag.

Moreover, Kia added numerous standard features for 2022. Every Telluride now included a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation, although this eliminated the wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto that came with the formerly standard 8-inch display. Automatic climate control, Highway Driving Assist, and navigation-based Smart Cruise Control-Curve became standard. The S trim gained a wireless smartphone charger.

Shopping for a 2023 Acura MDX, consumers found standard and Type S versions, each offered with trim packages that increased the amount of equipment. The standard MDX came in a base level and was available with Technology, A-Spec, and Advance packages. The MDX Type S was offered in standard spec or with an Advance package. Prices ranged from $49,550 to $73,200, plus a destination charge of $1,195. Our test vehicle arrived in Type S Advance trim with extra-cost Apex Blue Pearl paint and an Orchid (white) interior. The MSRP totaled $74,995.

The fourth-generation MDX was the first Acura SUV to wear the Type S badge, characterized by subtlety in design. Like other MDX models, the Type S featured chicane-design LED running lights and taillights, LED headlights with automatic high-beam operation, minor front styling modifications, muted badges, and 21-inch wheels. Quad exhaust outlets framed a rear diffuser panel. A panoramic sunroof was standard for all MDX models, and most featured Iconic Drive ambient lighting themes, with the Type S boasting perforated Milano leather, aluminum interior trim, a Sport Appearance package, and stainless steel pedal covers. The Type S Advance added open-pore wood and a leather-wrapped dashboard.

While the MDX Type S was appealing inside and out, the body tapering at the doors sometimes made it appear to have a massive dent on its side. Additionally, the gloss black plastic on the dashboard often made it challenging to find and use some controls. Acura's electronic transmission switchgear, in place since 2017, still left us confused on occasion. These were minor drawbacks in what was otherwise a fundamentally attractive luxury SUV.

Though sized to seat seven and with the high center of gravity typical of SUVs, the 2022 Kia Telluride was remarkably satisfying to drive. The 291-horsepower 3.8-liter V6 engine, offering 262 lb-ft of torque, provided ample power, although it was the only available engine. An eight-speed automatic transmission powered the wheels, with AWD offering a Lock mode for even power distribution between the front and rear axles. Despite eight inches of ground clearance, limited wheel articulation restricted the Telluride to well-traveled paths, but it still performed well in snow and muddy conditions.

On dry pavement, its brake-based Torque Vectoring Cornering Control system and selectable driving modes—Eco, Comfort, Smart, and Sport—contributed to a balanced ride. The SX trim's 20-inch wheels and 245/50 tires ensured good grip. Though allowing more roll in corners than some might prefer, the Telluride's suppleness provided a smoother ride without sacrificing handling capability. On the open road, it effortlessly maintained high speeds, aided by the Highway Driving Assist technology. The official EPA fuel economy estimate for the AWD Telluride was 21 mpg in combined driving, and the SX AWD returned 21.1 mpg during testing. The FWD version was rated at 23 mpg.

If towing was a consideration, the Telluride could pull up to 5,000 pounds.

The 2023 Acura MDX Type S stood out for its turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine, generating 355 horsepower and 354 lb-ft of torque—65 hp and 87 lb-ft more than the standard 3.5-liter V6. Despite being 285 pounds heavier than the lightest standard MDX with AWD, the Type S used a 10-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters and Acura's Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD). This torque-vectoring system could channel up to 70% of engine output to a single rear wheel, evident when accelerating hard out of corners. Acura’s Agile Handling Assist further tightened cornering.

An Integrated Dynamics System offered driving modes: Snow, Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Sport+. A separate Lift mode increased ground clearance from the standard 7.3 inches to 9.4 inches using the adaptive air suspension. Despite 21-inch wheels and 275/40 all-season performance tires, the MDX Type S aimed for performance, with a solid front suspension stabilizer bar, Electro-Servo brake system, and larger 14.3-inch front brake rotors with Brembo calipers.

While the performance upgrades were commendable, they fell short of harmonizing into a cohesive driving experience. The Type S’s transmission was often indecisive, lacking ride compliance, tire squealing, and poor brake pedal modulation. Its fuel economy, averaging 16.9 mpg and dropping to 14.1 mpg in Sport+ mode, was disappointing. On top of this, the turbocharged V6, while powerful, didn’t justify its poor fuel economy, delivering only quick acceleration but guzzling fuel.

The Type S's unique brakes were problematic, releasing the brakes sooner than intended, making spirited driving less predictable. The Continental self-sealing performance all-season tires squealed early, signaling drivers to ease off. The lack of suspension compliance and unexpected body roll further eroded trust in the Type S as a driver’s vehicle, recommending a standard MDX with the A-Spec package for a better experience.

The 2022 Kia Telluride excelled in balancing form and function, featuring an upscale and organized interior with many thoughtful details such as overhead air vents, rear side window shades, smartphone storage pouches, USB ports in the front seatbacks, and accessible rear cupholders. The dual-zone automatic climate control served front-seat occupants, while a single-zone system managed the rear. Nappa leather upholstery adorned the SX Prestige package, adding to the luxurious feel. Heated and ventilated front and second-row seats, dual sunroof panels, and a Smart Power Liftgate further enhanced the premium experience.

All three rows were comfortable for adults, although the third row was relatively less preferred. The Telluride’s one-touch sliding and folding second-row seat mechanism facilitated easy third-row access. Storage space was ample, with the hands-free power liftgate revealing 21 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expandable to 46 cubic feet with the third row folded and a maximum of 87 cubic feet with both rear rows folded flat. The Telluride proved highly versatile with its flat load floor.

The 2023 Acura MDX emphasized functionality with three rows of seats and a configurable second row for either two or three seating positions. Our fully equipped test vehicle featured triple-zone automatic climate control, 16-way power-adjustable front seats with heating, ventilation, and massage, and quilted leather upholstery. The seating provided adjustments for thigh and side bolsters, though it lacked the hold a performance seat should offer when driving with vigor.

Seven-passenger seating was standard, with the option to create a pass-through by removing the second-row center section. The second row’s sliding feature allowed more space for third-row passengers. However, the MDX's most rearward position didn't supply as much legroom as expected. The third row, accessible via power-operated release buttons, was tight and best suited for children.

Acura's focus on stylish interiors resulted in less practical storage space. The center console, dominated by the Integrated Dynamics Control knob and transmission buttons, suffered from limited storage options. The underfloor storage bin in the cargo area offered significant utility, complemented by hooks for grocery bags. The Type S Advance package included a hands-free liftgate with a Walk Away Close function. Cargo space measured 18.1 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 39.1 cubic feet with the third row folded and maximum storage of 71.4 cubic feet with the second row down.

In 2022, Kia made a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system standard in the Telluride, including a navigation system with voice recognition technology. While this was a positive update, it did come at the expense of wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, now requiring a wire. The voice recognition technology wasn’t conversational, sometimes leading to frustration.

The Telluride provided USB charging ports in all three rows, with airline-style ports embedded into the front seatbacks for rear-seat passengers. A wireless smartphone charging pad was standard in all trims except for the LX.

Standard equipment included Kia Connect, the connected services platform featuring a free trial subscription for one year. Services included 911 Connect, safe teen driving alerts, remote engine start, Find My Car, and smart speaker integration with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Kia Connect also featured rear occupant sensors that sent alerts for movement in the back seat, ensuring child safety.

The Telluride had several family-friendly features, such as Quiet Mode to play music only through the front speakers and Driver Talk for broadcasting the driver’s voice to rear-seat occupants via the stereo. The SX test vehicle boasted a 10-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system, a head-up display, and a surround-view monitoring system.

Acura's Digital Precision Cockpit in the 2023 MDX included a configurable 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 12.3-inch infotainment display. However, the display wasn’t touch-sensitive and required the True Touchpad Interface (TTI) on the center console. Accompanied by return and home buttons, a volume knob, and a tuning switch, the TTI touchpad was meant to provide a better interaction experience but had flaws.

People were accustomed to touchscreens, and learning a new system that still required hand-eye coordination was not necessarily user-friendly. Additionally, the TTI design reduced console storage space and partially blocked the wireless charging pad.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto facilitated the use of familiar voice assistants, and Amazon Alexa Built-In was also available, activated via the steering wheel button. Other infotainment features included SiriusXM satellite radio, native navigation, and AcuraLink connected services. Post-2023 models had a complimentary three-year AcuraLink subscription, covering remote engine starting, automatic collision notification, and a car-finding function, though some services were extra.

The MDX offered several sound systems, with our test vehicle flaunting the Signature Edition ELS Studio 3D audio system with 25 speakers. While uncompressed music files played perfectly, satellite radio tracks were less impressive. The Advance package added a 10.5-inch head-up display, although the traffic sign recognition system occasionally misinterpreted signs.

Kia knew the 2022 Telluride would attract families, so it integrated numerous standard safety technologies under the Kia Drive Wise umbrella. These included 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 with curve speed reduction.

The Telluride also featured Highway Driving Assist, combining adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assistance, though it required drivers to keep their hands on the wheel. The technology worked subtly, encouraging its continued use, though it deactivated without bringing the vehicle to a full stop if the driver didn’t maintain contact with the wheel. New for 2022, Smart Cruise Control-Curve adjusted speed for upcoming curves based on GPS data, though this was often irritating. Safe Exit Assist warned passengers about approaching vehicles or cyclists when opening doors, helpful during parallel parking. Blind-Spot View Monitor technology displayed camera-based imagery within the instrumentation display when using turn signals.

In crash tests, the Telluride earned a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), though frontal-impact protection for the driver and front passenger rated four stars. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded it the “Top Safety Pick” designation, albeit falling short of the “Top Safety Pick+” due to lower headlight ratings.

Acura’s MDX also boasted an extensive array of safety features under Acura Watch. These included forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, adaptive cruise control with low-speed following, and Traffic Jam Assist. A blind-spot monitoring system and rear cross-traffic alert were standard in all 2023 MDX trims, with higher trims adding front and rear parking sensors, low-speed automatic braking, and a surround-view camera system.

While more accurate and refined, Acura Watch had some issues. The steering wheel wobble for lane departure warnings was less preferable than a vibration. The MDX occasionally issued false lane-departure warnings, and the adaptive cruise control sometimes resumed speed too slowly after lane changes. A momentary braking incident due to mistaking an overhead sign was concerning, though it didn't cause an accident.

The 2023 MDX boasted excellent crash-test ratings. The IIHS awarded it a Top Safety Pick+ in 2022, and the NHTSA rated it five stars overall, despite four-star protection for the driver and front passenger in frontal impacts.