2022 Kia Telluride vs 2023 Honda Pilot

The 2022 Kia Telluride stood out with its muscular design and balanced proportions, which successfully attracted consumers looking for a handsome midsize SUV. The available trendy blacked-out wheels and trim added to its allure. For the 2022 model year, Kia made minimal changes, opting only to tweak the grille pattern and add new badges. The Telluride continued to offer various trims, including LX, S, EX, and SX, with prices ranging from $32,790 to $44,590, plus a $1,225 destination charge. The starting versions featured FWD, while AWD remained an extra $2,000, except for the SX trim where it was an additional $1,900. The Telluride SX test vehicle, fully equipped with AWD, the SX Prestige Package, and carpeted floor mats, totaled $48,325. Inside, the Telluride's layout was logical and visually pleasing, although the glossy plastic panels in the lower half of the cabin somewhat cheapened the SX Prestige's otherwise luxurious feel. Meanwhile, the 2023 Honda Pilot saw a complete redesign, giving it a more rugged and substantial appearance. Its upright grille and boxier design contributed to a new, larger look—3.4 inches longer, up to 1.5 inches wider, and 0.8 inches taller than its predecessor. These changes complemented the all-terrain-capable TrailSport model, which included off-road upgrades like a one-inch taller ride, unique 18-inch wheels, all-terrain tires, and underbody skid plates. This redesign made the 2023 Pilot more competitive in both aesthetics and functionality. The interior of the Pilot leaned towards conventional styling, maintaining a focus on practicality and versatility, unlike its predecessor. Overall, the new Pilot's design skewed towards a more utilitarian and tidy aesthetic, emphasizing functionality without sacrificing appeal.

The 2022 Kia Telluride, despite its size, delivered surprising driving satisfaction. Its 291-horsepower 3.8-liter V6 engine, paired with 262 pound-feet of torque, provided ample power for most driving situations. The engine only had one configuration, which might have been a drawback for those looking for hybrid options. The power was routed through an eight-speed automatic transmission, and the AWD model featured a Lock mode for equal power distribution to front and rear axles. With eight inches of ground clearance, the Telluride handled snow and muddy roads adequately but was best suited for less rugged terrains due to limited wheel articulation. On dry roads, it performed admirably, aided by the brake-based Torque Vectoring Cornering Control system. Drivers could choose between Eco, Comfort, Smart, and Sport driving modes. Despite some body roll, the Telluride balanced ride comfort with handling capability. It excelled on highways with smooth cruising capabilities, particularly with the useful Highway Driving Assist. Fuel economy was decent, with the AWD model achieving 21.1 mpg in combined driving, close to the EPA estimate. Maximum towing capacity was up to 5,000 pounds. The 2023 Honda Pilot introduced a new 3.5-liter V6 engine generating 285 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. Coupled with a new 10-speed automatic transmission, FWD was standard, while AWD was available across all trims and standard on the Elite and TrailSport. Initial acceleration was prompt, suitable for a family SUV, although not particularly remarkable in terms of performance. The brake pedal was easy to modulate for smooth stops. The Pilot handled conservatively in corners, with noticeable body roll but good overall stability. It was more focused on comfort than sporty driving. The steering felt light, beneficial for maneuvering in tight spots but somewhat vague on highways. The TrailSport model increased ground clearance by an inch and featured all-terrain tires, adding slight vibrations on pavement but providing impressive off-road capabilities. The Pilot managed to balance moderate off-road competence without compromising on-road comfort, making it ideal for both daily use and outdoor adventures.

The 2022 Kia Telluride adeptly balanced form and function, with an upscale and organized interior design, emphasizing utility through thoughtful details like overhead air vents, manual rear side window shades, rear smartphone storage pouches, and USB ports in the front seatbacks. It included features like dual-zone automatic climate control for the front, a single-zone for the rear, SynTex simulated leather in LX and S trims, and real leather in EX and SX. The SX Prestige featured Nappa leather upholstery and a simulated suede headliner. The Telluride's interior, particularly in the SX Prestige trim, radiated a premium feel. All three rows offered adult-friendly seating, although the third row was less comfortable for grown-ups. The Telluride provided 21 cubic feet of cargo room behind the third row, expanding to 46 cubic feet with the third row folded, and maxing out at 87 cubic feet. Our use case, like an Ikea run, demonstrated the vehicle's versatile and flat load floor, accommodating large items effortlessly. In contrast, the 2023 Honda Pilot's interior, though more conventional, offered practical benefits like a dash shelf for the front passenger, as opposed to the visually impactful designs of other new Honda models. The LX and Sport trims featured a seven-inch infotainment touchscreen, while higher trims boasted a nine-inch display. Despite seeming small, the Elite trim's touchscreen sufficed. Primary controls were logically placed, with a large rubberized shelf below the climate controls for phones, and a wireless charging pad for one. A variety of storage features included front door pockets, large cupholders, and a wide center console bin capable of holding a full-sized tablet. The standout feature was the stowable second-row center seat, providing a center pass-through for third-row access when removed. Space in the second row was ample for tall adults, although the third row had lower seat cushions, making it less comfortable. Cargo space was impressive, with 22.4 cubic feet behind the third row, expandable by lowering the floor section. Maximum cargo capacity reached 114.3 cubic feet, offering 30% more space than the Telluride's maximum of 87 cubic feet.

For 2022, Kia made the 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system standard, incorporating a navigation system with voice recognition—previously reserved for higher trims. While this was a positive change, it meant losing the wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality of the old 8-inch display, now limited to wired connections. The voice recognition system occasionally frustrated users by not being conversational. Kia included USB charging ports throughout all three rows, with front seatback ports for rear passengers. A wireless smartphone charging pad was standard in all but the LX trim. Kia Connect, a connected services platform, was standard, offering features like 911 Connect, safe teen driving alerts, remote engine start, cabin climate pre-conditioning, and integration with smart speakers. Kia Connect also provided back seat movement alerts through ultrasonic sensors. Other kid-friendly features included Quiet Mode and Driver Talk. The Telluride SX came with a 10-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, a head-up display, and a surround-view monitoring system. The 2023 Honda Pilot, especially in the EX-L trim and above, featured a nine-inch infotainment touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wireless phone charger, and USB ports in every row. Higher trims offered a multi-view camera system, while the Elite trim added a head-up display and a fully digital instrument panel. The touchscreen's logical layout and responsiveness compensated for less modern graphics. Honda's CabinTalk interior PA system and features like navigation, Bose premium audio, remote monitoring via a smartphone app, and a Wi-Fi hotspot were present in the higher trims. TrailSport and Elite trims also included the multi-view TrailWatch camera system for enhanced off-road awareness.

The 2022 Kia Telluride, tailored for families, came with extensive standard safety features under Kia Drive Wise. This 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. Highway Driving Assist technology combined adaptive cruise control with lane-centering, although it didn’t bring the vehicle to a safe stop in case of emergencies. The new Smart Cruise Control-Curve system used GPS data to slow the vehicle on upcoming curves, but it was often irritating. Safe Exit Assist prevented doors from opening if vehicles or cyclists were approaching. The Telluride SX also featured Kia’s Blind-Spot View Monitor technology. NHTSA crash tests awarded the Telluride a five-star overall rating, while IIHS designated it as a "Top Safety Pick". The 2023 Honda Pilot, awaiting NHTSA scores, earned a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS. Standard Honda Sensing safety features included forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, traffic-jam assist, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign reader, automatic high beams, and a driver attention monitor. EX-L trims and above added low-speed automatic braking and front/rear parking sensors. TrailSport and Elite trims had surround-view and multi-view camera systems. All advanced safety features performed reliably, with adaptive cruise control maintaining smooth and consistent gaps in traffic. Off-road driving required disabling certain proximity warnings and low-speed automatic braking to prevent unnecessary alerts.