2022 Porsche Macan vs 2023 Kia Telluride

Porsche’s introduction of the Macan in 2015 allowed the brand to expand its market with a compact SUV positioned below the Cayenne. Even after eight years, the 2022 Macan remained true to its original design with subtle updates. This model year featured a refreshed styling, larger standard wheels, seven new wheel designs, and a revised center console with haptic touch controls for better usability. The three-model lineup included the base Macan, Macan S, and Macan GTS.

Our evaluation vehicle was the Macan S, priced at $87,670 with destination charges, showcasing nearly $20,000 in extras including advanced paint, wheel options, and performance upgrades. The test vehicle flaunted Volcano Gray paint and 21-inch RS Spyder Design wheels, presenting a lean, athletic demeanor with its sloping hood, muscular haunches, and sleek roofline.

Inside, the Macan drew inspiration from other Porsches with an ignition switch on the left side, a central tachometer, and a wide dashboard. The cabin exuded a sporty and upscale aura with red leather, gloss black trim, and silver metallic accents.

In contrast, the 2023 Kia Telluride presented an updated exterior with fresh styling for the front and rear, enhanced headlights and taillights, and new wheel designs. New paint choices included Midnight Lake Blue, Dawning Red, and Jungle Green, with interior color upgrades such as Terracotta, Navy, and Sage Green. The Telluride X-Line replaced the Nightfall Edition, featuring a unique grille design, raised roof rails, body-color door handles, and black 20-inch wheels. The X-Pro gained exclusive 18-inch wheels with all-terrain tires.

The 2023 Telluride’s interior updates were more subtle but included a prominent digital instrumentation panel and a 12.3-inch touchscreen under a curved 24-inch glass, giving it a modern edge. Other improvements included new interior colors, trim changes, a redesigned steering wheel, and more functional center console modifications, with trim names embossed into the front seatbacks.

The 2022 Porsche Macan delivered varied performance based on the model. The base Macan had a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 261 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, which was an improvement over the 2021 model. The Macan GTS inherited the 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 from the previous Macan Turbo, boasting 434 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque.

Our Macan S test car featured a new engine for 2022—the twin-turbo 2.9-liter V6 from the previous Macan GTS, offering 375 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque. With the optional Sport Chrono Package and launch control, it could accelerate to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds. All Macans were equipped with Porsche’s seven-speed PDK dual-clutch automatic transmission and an advanced AWD system that favored rear-wheel power distribution.

Driving the Macan S proved exhilarating. The vehicle showcased remarkable grip and stability thanks to its 21-inch wheels, performance tires, and adaptive damping suspension. The twin-turbo V6 provided robust and seemingly endless power, while the Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus system ensured sharp handling. Our test vehicle returned an as-tested fuel economy of 18.1 mpg, close to the EPA rating of 19 mpg.

On the other hand, the 2023 Kia Telluride maintained a consistent mechanical setup with its 3.8-liter V6 engine producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Drivers could choose from various driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Smart, Sport, and Snow, with AWD featuring a low-speed Lock setting.

During our tests, the Telluride X-Line averaged 24.1 mpg, showcasing a balanced combination of highway and twisty road driving. The X-Pro variant, although less efficient at 20.4 mpg, handled half an hour of off-road driving in Lock mode. Despite the challenging terrain, the Telluride excelled with its 18-inch wheels, all-terrain tires, enhanced cooling system, and self-leveling rear air suspension, which increased its towing capacity to 5,500 pounds.

The Telluride’s highway performance was commendable, with a smooth ride and minimal noise intrusion. It demonstrated excellent stability on various terrains and felt robust, although the all-terrain tires made it slightly squishy in turns. The SUV’s driving dynamics, coupled with its user-friendly controls, made it a delightful vehicle for long trips.

The 2022 Porsche Macan catered to both comfort and sportiness for its front-seat occupants. Our test vehicle came with the Premium Package, which included 14-way power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation. For those who intended to exploit the Macan S’s full potential, optional Adaptive Sports Seats Plus would be essential.

Rear seating in the Macan was limited, with cramped legroom that required rear passengers to accommodate taller front-seat occupants. Despite this, ingress and egress were surprisingly easy, and the seats were supportive.

The 2022 Macan featured new steering wheels inspired by the 911, though the design felt uncomfortable during extended drives. The redesigned center console with haptic touch controls looked advanced but required the driver to divert attention from the road to operate, limiting practicality. The console did offer more storage, though it remained insufficient for tasks like holding multiple large items. Cargo capacity was rated at 17.2 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 53 cubic feet with the seats folded down.

Conversely, the 2023 Kia Telluride offered generous space and luxury for up to eight passengers. The test models were equipped with premium Nappa leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, and heated and ventilated front- and second-row captain’s chairs, the latter being exclusive to SX Prestige trim. The Telluride featured numerous comfort-enhancing elements including a heated steering wheel and a new power lumbar stabilization system for front occupants.

The second-row seats were equally accommodating, with manual side-window sunshades, USB ports, and climate controls to enhance passenger comfort. Access to the third row was facilitated by a one-touch button on the captain’s chairs, offering adults sufficient ease and space.

When it came to cargo space, the Telluride excelled. It offered 21 cubic feet behind the third-row seat, expanding to 46 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 87 cubic feet with both rear rows down. Additionally, Kia provided a smart power tailgate, simplifying loading and unloading.

The 2022 Porsche Macan was equipped with a sophisticated 10.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system known as Porsche Communication Management (PCM). This system included wireless Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM satellite radio, navigation, and connected services like Wi-Fi hotspot access. Standard audio was a 10-speaker system, which could be upgraded to either a Bose premium surround-sound system or a high-end Burmester audio system.

The PCM relied on a combination of touchscreen controls and physical buttons for frequently used functions. However, the voice recognition system was only moderately responsive, lagging behind those found in brands like BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Owners of Android devices faced further limitations as Android Auto was not supported.

On the 2023 Kia Telluride, a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system came standard, comprising Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM, navigation, and new Kia Connect services, which featured a Wi-Fi hotspot. The voice recognition system performed admirably, though climate control adjustments had to be made manually.

Added tech benefits in the Telluride included Kia Access smartphone app features, over-the-air updates, dual Bluetooth pairing, and six USB charging ports. Kia also offered Driver Talk and Quiet Mode for enhanced in-car communication and convenience. Optional upgrades spanned a Harman Kardon sound system, wireless charging, digital-key technology, and a Full Display Mirror for improved rear visibility.

New for 2023, the Telluride’s head-up display (HUD) provided an extensive 10-inch view with advanced driving info, while a Leading Vehicle Departure Alert system proved invaluable in moving traffic scenarios.

The 2022 Porsche Macan came fitted with basic safety features such as adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and a reversing camera. Blind-spot monitoring and Park Assist were optional inclusions. While these features functioned effectively during evaluation, the Macan lacked advanced driving assistance technologies available in other luxury vehicles.

Conversely, the 2023 Kia Telluride offered an expansive suite of standard safety features and ADAS, including forward-collision warning, pedestrian and cyclist detection, a new junction turning system, and automatic emergency braking. Additional inclusions comprised blind-spot monitoring, rear parking sensors, rear cross-traffic alert with automatic braking, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist.

The 2023 Telluride stood out with its innovative Highway Drive Assist 1.5 and 2.0 systems, the latter featuring Lane Change Assist. The model also provided highly advanced collision avoidance features, surround-view cameras, ultrasonic rear occupant alert, and Intelligent Speed Limit Assist. These comprehensive safety systems made the Telluride a standout in its segment.