2022 Kia Telluride vs 2023 Volvo XC90

Styling went a long way toward drawing consumers to the 2022 Kia Telluride. Sporting a muscular design with balanced proportions, its appearance was further elevated by trendy blacked-out wheels and trim. For 2022, Kia stuck with their winning formula, making minor changes to the grille pattern and adding the new Kia badges. Available in LX, S, EX, and SX trims, prices ranged from $32,790 to $44,590, plus a $1,225 destination charge. Each version came with front-wheel drive as standard, while all-wheel drive was an option for an extra $2,000 ($1,900 for the SX trim).

The Telluride’s interior was praised for its great looks and logically arranged controls. The lower half of the cabin, however, was covered in glossy plastic, which detracted from its otherwise premium feel, especially noticeable in the SX Prestige's Nappa leather upholstery and simulated suede headliner. The standard 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, now a fixture for all trims, did come at the cost of losing the wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionalities. Other standard features included automatic climate control, Highway Driving Assist, and navigation-based Smart Cruise Control-Curve, with the S trim gaining a wireless smartphone charger.

Volvo had come a long way from its boxy design days with the 2023 XC90. This model projected a purposeful yet not boastful look. The front end appeared stout and solid, featuring an assertive grille and modern “Thor’s Hammer” designed headlights, giving it an updated flair. The test vehicle's big 21-inch wheels with low-profile Pirelli Scorpion all-season tires lent a bit of drama to its otherwise stoic demeanor. The Platinum Gray paint added richness, although the color palette remained somewhat muted, featuring largely neutral tones.

Inside, the XC90 excelled in elegance. The steering wheel was adorned with two-tone leather and a three-spoke design, complemented by metal Bowers and Wilkins speaker covers, an Orrefors crystal shift knob, and luxurious Nappa leather upholstery. Available in either “charcoal” or “blond” leather, the interior exuded a clean and beautiful look, highlighted by wood deco inlays across the dash and the center console’s hidden cupholders. However, the minimalist approach did result in limited physical controls, which could be frustrating for some users.

The 2022 Kia Telluride was remarkably enjoyable to drive, considering its size and taller center of gravity. The excitement started when you pressed the accelerator to rouse the 291-horsepower 3.8-liter V6 engine, producing 262 pound-feet of torque. However, the Telluride only offered this one engine choice, which could be limiting for some buyers in a market increasingly adopting hybrid alternatives.

The eight-speed automatic transmission worked seamlessly, and with AWD, the Lock mode could evenly split power between front and rear axles. The Telluride featured a braking-based Torque Vectoring Cornering Control system and had four driving modes: Eco, Comfort, Smart, and Sport. Its 20-inch wheels provided a good grip, and despite a slight roll in corners, the ride quality remained supple and smooth, making it a great option for long-distance driving. The Telluride matched its EPA fuel economy estimate of 21 mpg in combined driving during testing.

The SUV's towing capacity reached up to 5,000 pounds, offering good utility for its class.

For 2023, Volvo introduced mild-hybrid technology in the XC90 with the new B5 and B6 engines. These retained the 2.0-liter four-cylinder engines but added a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, aiming to enhance fuel efficiency and smoother operation. The B5 produced 247 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, while the B6 churned out 295 horsepower and 310 pound-feet. Although fuel economy improvements were minimal, this pivot furthered Volvo's path toward electrification.

The XC90 delivered an enjoyable driving experience with its quick acceleration and smooth eight-speed automatic transmission. It rolled less than expected through corners, thanks to its big wheels and thin tires. The vehicle was impressively insulated, minimizing road and wind noise. The braking system was robust, inspiring confidence with a solid pedal feel.

The XC90's AWD performed admirably in a New Hampshire snowstorm, although dedicated winter tires would have provided additional confidence. Unlike more off-road-focused SUVs, the XC90 emphasized simplicity in driving dynamics with fewer customizable modes.

The 2022 Kia Telluride balanced form with function effortlessly. Its upscale and organized interior design was filled with utility-oriented elements such as functional grab handles and overhead air vents. Thoughtful details like manual rear side window shades, rear smartphone storage pouches, and USB ports embedded into the front seatbacks added to its family-friendly appeal.

The interior offered standard Kia SynTex simulated leather on the LX and S trims, while the EX and SX trims featured real leather. The SX Prestige package added premium Nappa leather upholstery and a simulated suede headliner, enhancing the vehicle’s luxurious feel. Comfortable seating extended across all three rows, although adults would find the rearmost seats less preferable over longer journeys.

The Telluride provided 21 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row. Folding the third-row seats expanded this to 46 cubic feet, and with all rear seats down, a maximum volume of 87 cubic feet was available. This proved useful during practical applications, such as an Ikea run where the flat load floor facilitated loading larger items.

Sitting in the front seats of the 2023 Volvo XC90 was a peaceful experience, thanks to its Scandinavian minimalist design. However, this design choice led to some storage frustrations, such as the lack of a dedicated cell phone space and limited cubby spaces for smaller items.

The second row was comfortable but posed challenges in adjusting the seats, especially in configurations with three seats. Removing the middle second-row seat could alleviate this, but it cost $500 and required an upgrade to the B6 engine. The third row offered limited space and was difficult to access.

With the third seat in position, the XC90 offered 12.5 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to 41.8 cubic feet with the third-row seats folded down and maxing out at 65.5 cubic feet. These figures fell short of competitors like the Audi Q7, Infiniti QX60, Genesis GV80, and Acura MDX.

Despite its smaller cargo space, the XC90 drove more like a smaller car, which could be appealing for those not in need of vast storage.

For 2022, Kia made its 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system standard, including a navigation system with voice recognition technology. This update meant that wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto now required a wired connection, a minor drawback. Kia equipped the Telluride with USB charging ports across all three rows and a standard wireless smartphone charging pad, except in the LX trim.

Kia Connect, included as standard, provided a variety of connected services like emergency assistance, safe teen driving alerts, remote engine start, and smart speaker integration. The system could also send alerts if movement was detected in the back seat, ensuring no children or pets were left behind.

The Telluride also featured a Quiet Mode to play audio only through front speakers and a Driver Talk function to broadcast the driver’s voice to rear-seat occupants. Our SX test vehicle boasted a 10-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system, a head-up display, and a helpful surround-view monitoring system.

The 2023 Volvo XC90 featured a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment display running on Google OS, the first in the industry to offer this as standard. Integrating key features of Android Auto, it included Google Maps, Spotify, NPR, and Google Assistant, enhancing its tech prowess. Google OS's natural-language recognition added significant value, allowing owners to issue commands via Google Home devices.

However, the infotainment system's reliance on touchscreen controls for essential functions, such as adjusting seat positions or engaging the heated steering wheel, could be frustrating. While the minimalist design contributed to the vehicle’s elegant interior, the reduction of physical buttons was a trade-off some users might find impractical.

Recognizing that families would be a primary user group, Kia equipped the Telluride with numerous safety features 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, and adaptive cruise control. New for 2022 was the Smart Cruise Control-Curve system, which used GPS data to predict and adjust for upcoming curves.

The Telluride also benefited from Kia’s Highway Driving Assist and Safe Exit Assist technologies. The former combined adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assistance, while the latter warned occupants of approaching vehicles or cyclists before opening doors. The SX trim added Blind-Spot View Monitor technology, which displayed camera-based images in the instrumentation display.

In crash tests, the Telluride earned a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and was designated a “Top Safety Pick” by the IIHS, falling short of the highest award due to its headlight ratings.

Volvo had a well-earned reputation for safety, and the 2023 XC90 upheld it. The XC90 earned a five-star rating from the NHTSA and was named a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS. Standard advanced driver safety technologies included adaptive cruise control and excellent lane-keeping assist, which contributed to the Pilot Assist system, maintaining distance and lane position at varying speeds.

These safety features made the XC90 particularly suitable for urban environments like Boston, ensuring both peace of mind and practicality for families.