2023 Lexus RX Hybrid vs 2022 Kia Telluride

The 2022 Kia Telluride boasted a muscular design with balanced proportions, complemented by trendy blacked-out wheels and trim. 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-organized and attractive, though the glossy plastic on the lower half of the cabin detracted from the overall premium feel, especially in the SX Prestige trim with its Nappa leather upholstery and simulated suede headliner.

In contrast, the 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid featured a redesigned look that was not drastically different from the standard RX 350, except for the badge on the liftgate. The RX 500h F Sport Performance model stood out with its blacked-out grille, matte-black 21-inch wheels, and aggressive bumper designs. Inside, the RX adopted a cleaner, more minimalistic appearance with contemporary textures and backlit ambient lighting. The RX 350h Luxury trim featured Macadamia semi-aniline leather and Ash Bamboo wood trim, while the RX 500h F Sport Performance had artificial suede and dark gray aluminum trim. Lexus had not announced prices, but estimates suggested the RX 350h Luxury would be just over $60,000, and the RX 500h F Sport Performance would be close to $70,000.

The 2022 Kia Telluride was powered by a 291-horsepower 3.8-liter V6 engine, producing 262 lb-ft of torque. It featured an eight-speed automatic transmission and offered AWD with a Lock mode for even power distribution. The Telluride had a ground clearance of eight inches and performed well in snow and muddy conditions. It offered Eco, Comfort, Smart, and Sport driving modes, with the SX trim featuring 20-inch wheels and 245/50 tires. The Telluride returned an EPA-estimated 21 mpg in combined driving with AWD and 23 mpg with FWD. It had a towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid offered two hybrid powertrains. The RX 350h featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 246 hp and 233 lb-ft of torque, with an estimated 36 mpg in combined driving. It accelerated to 60 mph in 7.4 seconds. The RX 500h F Sport Performance had a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with a total output of 366 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque, achieving 60 mph in 5.9 seconds. It featured an adaptive damping suspension, upgraded brakes, and rear-wheel steering. The RX 500h was expected to get 27 mpg in combined driving but averaged 20.9 mpg during testing. The RX 350h averaged 32 mpg, short of the estimated 36 mpg.

The 2022 Kia Telluride balanced form and function with an upscale, organized interior. It featured thoughtful details like overhead air vents, rear smartphone storage pouches, and USB ports in all three rows. The SX Prestige trim included Nappa leather upholstery, a simulated suede headliner, heated and ventilated front and second-row seats, dual sunroof panels, and a Smart Power Liftgate. The Telluride offered 21 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 46 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 87 cubic feet.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid provided comfort with ten-way power-adjustable front seats, premium leather, and three-zone automatic climate control in the RX 350h Luxury trim. The RX 500h F Sport Performance had eight-way power-adjustable front seats with larger side bolsters and standard heated and ventilated front seats. The hybrids' battery packs were placed under the back seat, resulting in excellent leg support but tight rear headroom. The RX offered 29.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat and 46.2 cubic feet with the back seat folded, an improvement over the previous model but still short compared to some rivals.

The 2022 Kia Telluride came standard with a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, including navigation and voice recognition. It lost wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality, requiring a wire for these features. Kia Connect provided connected services like 911 Connect, remote engine start, and home-to-car smart speaker integration. The Telluride also featured Quiet Mode, Driver Talk, a 10-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, a head-up display, and a surround-view monitoring system.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid introduced a new infotainment system with connected services plans. The Lexus Interface offered Drive Connect with a cloud-based navigation system and an Intelligent Assistant digital voice assistant. The system had some drawbacks, such as reflections on the screen, lack of a tuning knob, and difficulty navigating menus. The RX also featured a head-up display with dual-function touch-sensing control pads on the steering wheel, which could be problematic for drivers wearing polarized sunglasses.

The 2022 Kia Telluride included Kia Drive Wise, a suite of driver assistance and collision avoidance technologies. It featured forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, and adaptive cruise control with curve speed reduction. The Telluride earned a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick" designation from the IIHS.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid came with Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, which included motorcycle detection, evasive steering assistance, intersection turn assistance, and curve-speed reduction for adaptive cruise control. It also featured Proactive Driving Assist, front cross-traffic alert, and a driver monitoring system. The RX offered Traffic Jam Assist for low-speed, hands-free driving and Advanced Park for semi-autonomous parking.