2022 Kia Telluride vs 2023 Lexus GX

The 2022 Kia Telluride was a visual treat with its muscular design and balanced proportions. It featured trendy blacked-out wheels and trim, making it a handsome midsize SUV. For 2022, Kia made only minor changes to the grille pattern and added new badges, maintaining its successful design. 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-organized and attractive, though the glossy plastic in the lower half of the cabin detracted from its overall appeal. The SX Prestige trim, with its Nappa leather upholstery and simulated suede headliner, contrasted sharply with the shiny plastic panels.

The 2023 Lexus GX had a commanding presence with its huge spindle grille, 8.1 inches of ground clearance, and a total height of 74.2 inches. The GX Black Line Special Edition returned for 2023, limited to 3,000 units and available in three paint colors. Despite its luxury badge, the GX's design leaned towards a sleeker aesthetic compared to Toyota's blocky designs. The interior, however, was marred by an excessive amount of plastic, which undermined its luxury status. The GX's low sales volume meant Lexus had to keep manufacturing costs low, resulting in a less refined interior. Nevertheless, it offered luxury touches like heated and cooled front seats and impressive leather upholstery.

The 2022 Kia Telluride was a joy to drive, thanks to its 291-horsepower 3.8-liter V6 engine and 262 pound-feet of torque. The eight-speed automatic transmission and available AWD with Lock mode provided a balanced power delivery. Despite its 8 inches of ground clearance, the Telluride was best suited for well-traveled paths due to limited wheel articulation. It performed well in various conditions, including snow and muddy roads. The Telluride offered a smooth ride with its brake-based Torque Vectoring Cornering Control system and multiple driving modes. It achieved an EPA fuel economy estimate of 21 mpg combined, with our test vehicle returning 21.1 mpg. The Telluride's towing capacity was 5,000 pounds.

The 2023 Lexus GX was defined by its 4.6-liter V8 engine, producing 301 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque. The six-speed automatic transmission and 4WD system with a Torsen torque-sensing limited-slip differential provided a 40:60 front:rear split. The GX's V8 engine offered a satisfying linear power delivery, but its fuel economy was a drawback, with EPA estimates of 15 mpg city, 19 highway, and 16 combined. The GX's weight and outdated design resulted in predictable but controllable body roll. The brakes were strong and reliable, essential for stopping the heavy SUV. The GX's off-road capabilities were enhanced by features like downhill assist, hill-start assist, and the Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS).

The 2022 Kia Telluride balanced form and function with its upscale, organized interior. Thoughtful details included overhead air vents, manual rear side window shades, rear smartphone storage pouches, and USB ports in the front seatbacks. The Telluride offered dual-zone automatic climate control for the front seats and single-zone for the rear. The SX Prestige package added premium Nappa leather upholstery and a simulated suede headliner. All three rows of seats were comfortable for adults, though the third row was less preferred. The Telluride provided ample storage space, with 21 cubic feet of cargo room behind the third row, expanding to 87 cubic feet with all seats folded.

The 2023 Lexus GX offered plenty of cubby space for small items, with a deep center console bin and a handy space ahead of the shifter. The GX retained physical controls, which were a blessing for those who preferred hard buttons over touchscreens. The center console lid had sliding mechanisms for adjustable armrests, and the second row was comfortable with captain's chairs or a three-across bench seat. However, the third row was too tight for regular use, even for children. The GX's cargo space was limited, with only 11.6 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 64.7 cubic feet with both the second and third rows folded.

For 2022, the Kia Telluride featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation as standard equipment. The system included wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 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 standard Quiet Mode and Driver Talk functions, a 10-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, a head-up display, and a surround-view monitoring system.

The 2023 Lexus GX's infotainment system, updated in 2022, already felt dated. The 10.3-inch touchscreen included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. The Lexus Remote Touch Interface was still present but unnecessary due to the improved touchscreen. The GX came with three years of Lexus Enform Remote and a 17-speaker Mark Levinson stereo. However, the touchscreen lagged, and the graphics were not as crisp as those in competing models. The GX excelled in off-road capability, with a real 4WD system, downhill assist, hill-start assist, traction control, and KDSS. The Off-Road Package added features like a multi-terrain monitor and crawl control.

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. The SX trim added Blind-Spot View Monitor technology. The Telluride earned a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick" designation from the IIHS.

The 2023 Lexus GX had not been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS. Despite its older design, the GX included advanced driver assistance systems like automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert, adaptive cruise control, parking assist, and automatic high beams. While it lacked some top-end features, the GX's safety technology was commendable for a vehicle originally engineered for the 2010 model year.