2022 Subaru Forester vs 2023 Kia Telluride

The 2022 Subaru Forester came in various trims, including base, Premium, Sport, Wilderness, Limited, and Touring, with prices starting at $25,195 and topping out at $35,295 for the Touring model. All-wheel drive was standard across the lineup. The Forester Wilderness, tested in Bend, Oregon, featured a white exterior, dark gray interior with water-repellant StarTex simulated leather, and a base price of $33,945. With additional options like a navigation system, Harman Kardon premium sound system, and power rear liftgate, the total cost reached $36,014. The Wilderness trim added rugged features like a suspension lift, higher ride height, and extensive protective cladding, though its appearance was polarizing.

Inside, the Forester emphasized functionality over aesthetics, with a mix of hard plastic and soft surfaces. The 8-inch Starlink infotainment system was user-friendly, featuring physical knobs and buttons for easy navigation. Despite its somewhat dated look, the Forester's interior was well-constructed and practical. The Wilderness trim's unique copper-colored stitching and accents added a touch of flair, but the overall design remained focused on utility.

The 2023 Kia Telluride, tested in Texas, featured new X-Line and X-Pro models with updated front and rear styling, new headlights and taillights, and fresh wheel designs. New paint colors included Midnight Lake Blue, Dawning Red, and Jungle Green, while interior options expanded to Terracotta, Navy, and Sage Green. The X-Line replaced the Nightfall Edition, adding a raised suspension, unique grille, raised roof rails, body-color door handles, and black 20-inch wheels. The X-Pro went further with exclusive 18-inch wheels and all-terrain tires, enhancing its off-road appearance.

Inside, the Telluride received a significant update with a new digital instrumentation panel and a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, housed under a curved 24-inch piece of glass. Other interior changes included new colors, minor trim updates, a redesigned steering wheel, and a more functional center console. The X-Line and X-Pro trims featured embossed trim names on the front seatbacks. The Telluride's pricing started at $35,690 for the LX with front-wheel drive and went up to $52,785 for the SX Prestige X-Pro with all-wheel drive. The test vehicles included an SX Prestige X-Line at $54,120 and an SX Prestige X-Pro at $55,120.

The 2022 Subaru Forester continued with its 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 182 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 176 pound-feet of torque at 4,400 rpm. All models featured a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and all-wheel drive. The Wilderness model's CVT provided a 25% increase in initial torque supply, doubling its towing capacity to 3,000 pounds. The EPA estimated the Forester Wilderness's fuel economy at 26 mpg combined, with real-world testing averaging 25.9 mpg.

The Forester's driving dynamics were pleasing, though it lacked outright acceleration. The CVT's eight programmed ratios and SI-Drive's Sport mode improved responsiveness, but a turbocharger would have been beneficial, especially at higher altitudes. The dual-function X-Mode system offered various settings for different terrains, enhancing off-road capability. The Wilderness trim's re-tuned suspension, longer springs, and shocks increased ground clearance to 9.2 inches, improving approach, breakover, and departure angles. Yokohama Geolandar all-terrain tires and a standard aluminum front skid plate further enhanced its off-road prowess.

The 2023 Kia Telluride retained its 3.8-liter V6 engine, delivering 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Drivers could choose from Eco, Comfort, Smart, Sport, and Snow driving modes, with the available all-wheel drive system featuring a low-speed Lock setting. The V6 provided ample power, with the X-Line averaging 24.1 mpg and the X-Pro 20.4 mpg, including off-roading. The EPA rated the AWD Telluride at 21 mpg combined.

Kia raised the suspension by 10mm, increasing ground clearance to 8.4 inches and improving approach and departure angles. The new Downhill Brake Control system worked well, though it required some adjustment. The X-Pro trim, with 18-inch wheels, all-terrain tires, and an improved cooling system, increased towing capacity to 5,500 pounds. The Telluride excelled in off-road conditions, showcasing its AWD Lock mode, ground clearance, and stability. On highways, it offered a smooth, quiet ride, though the all-terrain tires made it feel slightly squishier in turns.

The 2022 Subaru Forester prioritized functionality, with easy entry and exit due to tall seating hip points. The Wilderness trim featured water-resistant StarTex upholstery, all-weather floor mats, a rubber cargo mat, and washable rear seatbacks. The upgraded roof rails accommodated a dynamic load of 220 pounds and a static load of 800 pounds, suitable for a three-person roof tent. Comfort levels were high, with excellent visibility and rear air conditioning vents. Cargo space measured 28.9 cubic feet without the panoramic sunroof and 26.9 cubic feet with it, expanding to 74.2 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down.

The 2023 Kia Telluride offered seating for seven or eight passengers, with premium Nappa leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, and heated and ventilated front- and second-row captain’s chairs in the SX Prestige trim. The second row featured manual side-window sunshades, adjustable armrests, USB ports, and storage pockets. The third-row seat was more comfortable than many competitors, though not as spacious as the Volkswagen Atlas. Storage space was plentiful, with a "smart" power tailgate and generous cargo volume. The Telluride provided 21 cubic feet behind the third row, 46 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 87 cubic feet with both rear rows down.

The 2022 Subaru Forester included a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, HD Radio, and Starlink connected services. Premium trim added a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. Higher trims featured an 8-inch screen, navigation system, Harman Kardon premium sound system, and a 180-degree forward-view camera. The PIN Code Access feature allowed keyless entry for outdoor activities.

The 2023 Kia Telluride came standard with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, including Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, navigation, and Kia Connect services with a Wi-Fi hotspot. The voice recognition system performed well, though it did not control the climate system. The Kia Access app enabled remote control via Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. The Telluride also offered a 10-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, wireless smartphone charging, digital-key technology, a Full Display Mirror, and a head-up display. The Leading Vehicle Departure Alert system notified drivers when traffic ahead started moving.

The 2022 Subaru Forester introduced the next-generation EyeSight 4.0 safety system, with a wider field of vision and improved accuracy. It included automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. The new Automatic Emergency Steering system operated at speeds under 50 mph. Additional safety features included a rear-seat reminder system, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear automatic braking. The Forester earned a 5-star overall crash-test rating from the NHTSA and was expected to retain its IIHS "Top Safety Pick+" rating.

The 2023 Kia Telluride offered a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including forward-collision warning, pedestrian and cyclist detection, junction turning system, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear parking sensors, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, Safe Exit Assist, and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability. Highway Drive Assist 1.5 and 2.0 provided semi-autonomous driving assistance. The Telluride also featured front parking sensors, low-speed automatic braking, a surround-view camera, Blind-Spot View Monitor, automatic high-beam headlights, driver attention warning, and Rear Occupant Alert with ultrasonic sensors. Crash-test ratings were unavailable at the time of review.