2023 Kia Telluride vs 2022 Volvo XC90

Volvo had come a long way from its boxy cars and wagons of the past decades, maintaining its family-friendly, safety-oriented image while moving upscale. After Ford sold Volvo to China's Zhejiang Geely Holding in 2010, the brand underwent a significant transformation, developing new vehicle platforms from scratch. The original XC90, launched in 2003, received updates until 2015, and the current model, introduced in 2016, became Volvo's flagship SUV, riding on the Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform.

The 2022 XC90 had a striking stance and sleek profile, with a body seemingly tilted forward, ready to launch. Its long roofline and pronounced wheel arches emphasized athleticism, while the snub nose recalled the classic 245 wagon's upright grille. The interior, described as "Scandinavian Modern" and "Swedish Luxury," featured natural wood and metal trim, with exquisite details like a sliding wood tambor cover and a clear crystal gear selector handle. Volvo offered both Nappa leather and a tailored wool blend upholstery, with our test car featuring leather seats, which proved comfortable during a week of high temperatures and humidity.

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

Kia's interior updates were subtle, with the most significant change being the available digital instrumentation panel and standard 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. These resided side-by-side on the dashboard under a curved 24-inch piece of glass, giving the Telluride a modern feel. Other interior changes included new colors, minor trim updates, a new steering-wheel design, and a more functional center console. Both the X-Line and X-Pro had their trim names embossed into the front seatbacks.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 offered three powertrains: the T5 with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, the T6 with a supercharged and turbocharged version of that engine, and the T8 plug-in hybrid with a supercharged/turbocharged gasoline engine and an electric motor. The T5 produced 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, while the T6 delivered 316 hp and 295 lb-ft. The T8 combined gasoline and electric sources to generate 455 hp and 523 lb-ft of torque. The T5 models were front-wheel drive (FWD) with available all-wheel drive (AWD), while the T6 and T8 were AWD only. All XC90 models used an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The XC90 engines required Premium (91-octane) gasoline. The EPA estimated the T5 FWD models to achieve 21 mpg city/30 mpg highway/25 mpg combined, and T5 AWD models at 20 mpg city/28 mpg highway/23 mpg combined. The T6 AWD models were rated at 19 mpg city/27 mpg highway/22 mpg combined. The T8 had a 27 mpg combined rating on gas and 55 MPGe with an 18-mile EV range. The extended range variant achieved a 26 mpg combined gasoline rating, a 66 MPGe rating, and an EV range of up to 36 miles. Charging the battery from empty to full took about five hours at 240 volts (Level 2).

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

Kia raised the suspension 10mm, increased ground clearance to 8.4 inches, improved approach and departure angles, and modified the traction control system for better off-road performance. The Telluride also featured a new Downhill Brake Control system. The X-Pro, designed for off-roading, had 18-inch wheels, all-terrain tires, an improved cooling system, and a self-leveling rear air suspension. During our off-roading test, the Telluride showcased its AWD Lock mode, ground clearance, wheel articulation, and stability.

On highways, the Telluride offered a smooth ride, with minimal wind noise and a comfortable interior. The 245/60 all-terrain tires made the SUV feel slightly squishier in turns, but this was expected with off-road tires. In Sport mode, the steering firmed up too much, and an Individual mode would have been beneficial. Overall, the 2023 Telluride was delightful to drive.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 came in six-passenger and seven-passenger configurations, with captain's chairs or three-across seating in the second row. The third row was suitable for kids but lacked legroom and thigh support for adults. The XC90 offered 15.9 cubic feet of luggage space behind the third row, 41.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 85.7 cubic feet with both rear rows folded. It could tow between 4,000 and 5,000 pounds, depending on the configuration. The interior featured ample storage, comfortable seating, and a standard laminated panoramic moonroof. The air-conditioning system performed well during a heat wave, providing a cool sanctuary.

The 2023 Kia Telluride accommodated seven or eight passengers, depending on the second-row seating configuration. Our test vehicles had premium Nappa leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, and heated and ventilated front- and second-row captain’s chairs. The second row featured manual side-window sunshades, adjustable inboard armrests, USB ports, and storage pockets. A button on the second-row captain’s chairs moved the seat forward for easier access to the third row, which was more comfortable than many competitors. The Telluride offered 21 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 46 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 87 cubic feet with both rear rows folded. Storage space was plentiful, and the SUV featured a “smart” power tailgate with proximity-sensing and an automatic closing function.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 featured the Sensus infotainment system with a nine-inch touchscreen interface, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel. The $1,650 Advanced package included a head-up display, a 360-degree surround view camera system, and an advanced air cleaner. The standard Harman Kardon Premium Sound system could be upgraded to a $3,200 Bowers & Wilkins system. The XC90 had two front USB-A ports, two rear USB-C ports, a WiFi hotspot, and the Volvo Care smartphone app.

The 2023 Kia Telluride came with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, a navigation system, and Kia Connect services. The voice recognition system performed well, but climate control adjustments had to be done manually. The Kia Access smartphone app allowed remote control of some vehicle functions, and OTA updates kept the system up to date. The Telluride had six USB charging ports, Driver Talk, Quiet Mode, a 10-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, wireless smartphone charging, digital-key technology, and a Full Display Mirror. The optional head-up display had a larger, full-color 10-inch viewing area, and the Leading Vehicle Departure Alert system was a standout feature.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 had a long list of safety features, including blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, parking assist, rain-sensing wipers, slippery road alert, lane-keeping aid, adaptive cruise control, oncoming lane mitigation, and road-sign recognition. The Pilot Assist system combined several safety features for highway driving. The XC90 received the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ designation and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.

The 2023 Kia Telluride offered a comprehensive list 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, adaptive cruise control, Intelligent Speed Limit Assist, and Highway Drive Assist 1.5. The SX trim added more collision avoidance features, front parking sensors, low-speed automatic braking, a surround-view camera, and a Blind-Spot View Monitor. The Telluride also had automatic high-beam headlights, a driver attention warning system, and a Rear Occupant Alert system. Crash-test ratings for the 2023 Telluride were unavailable at the time of review.