2021 Ford Explorer vs 2022 Kia Telluride

The 2021 Ford Explorer presented a classic approach to SUV design, reminiscent of Ford's historical branding strategy. Its exterior was appealing, with a sporty and distinctive look that was hard to differentiate from the Edge at a quick glance. The Explorer offered a variety of trims, each with unique grille designs and features, ranging from the base model to the luxurious Platinum. Inside, the Explorer provided three rows of seating as standard, with a clean dashboard and an 8-inch touchscreen. The XLT trim was particularly popular, offering enhanced features like a power front passenger seat and a 6.5-inch instrument panel screen.

The 2022 Kia Telluride was a standout in terms of styling, with a muscular design and balanced proportions. Kia made minimal changes to the exterior for 2022, focusing on the grille pattern and new badges. The Telluride's interior was well-organized and upscale, with thoughtful details like overhead air vents and USB ports in the front seatbacks. The SX Prestige package added premium touches like Nappa leather upholstery and a simulated suede headliner. The Telluride's interior was spacious and comfortable, with a Smart Power Liftgate and a one-touch sliding and folding second-row seat mechanism for easy access to the third row.

The 2021 Ford Explorer, at its lightest, weighed 4,345 pounds and featured a base 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. This powertrain outperformed the Kia Telluride's 291-horsepower 3.8-liter V6 engine, although the Telluride was lighter. The Explorer's higher trims offered a 3.0-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V6 engine, with the sport-oriented ST trim delivering 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. The Explorer excelled in towing capacity, capable of towing between 5,000 and 5,600 pounds, depending on the configuration.

The 2022 Kia Telluride, powered by a 291-horsepower 3.8-liter V6 engine, provided a satisfying driving experience. It featured an eight-speed automatic transmission and offered AWD with a Lock mode for power distribution. The Telluride's ride quality was smooth, with a brake-based Torque Vectoring Cornering Control system and multiple driving modes. It performed well on various terrains, including snow and muddy roads. The Telluride's fuel economy was commendable, with an EPA estimate of 21 mpg in combined driving for the AWD version. Its towing capacity was 5,000 pounds.

The 2021 Ford Explorer offered seating for seven in the base model, with captain's chairs in higher trims reducing capacity to six. It provided 39 inches of second-row legroom, which was competitive but not class-leading. The Explorer's cargo space was notable, with 21 cubic feet behind the third row and 81 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The 2022 Kia Telluride balanced form and function with an upscale interior and practical features. It offered dual-zone automatic climate control, SynTex simulated leather in lower trims, and real leather in higher trims. The SX Prestige package added Nappa leather and a simulated suede headliner. The Telluride's interior was spacious, with comfortable seating for adults in all three rows. It provided 21 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 87 cubic feet with the seats folded.

The 2021 Ford Explorer came with an 8-inch touchscreen, offering Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 4G WiFi hotspot. Higher trims featured a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system and a 10.1-inch touchscreen. The Explorer included multiple USB ports and power points, with a wireless charging pad available from the Limited trim.

The 2022 Kia Telluride featured a standard 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation. It included Kia Connect, offering services like 911 Connect, remote engine start, and smart speaker integration. The Telluride had USB ports in all rows and a wireless charging pad in most trims. It also offered Quiet Mode and Driver Talk functions for convenience. The SX trim included a 10-speaker Harman Kardon sound system and a head-up display.

The 2021 Ford Explorer was rated as a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS, with top scores in crash tests. It included the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite with features like blind-spot monitoring and automatic emergency braking. Higher trims offered additional safety features like adaptive cruise control and evasive steering assist.

The 2022 Kia Telluride included Kia Drive Wise, with features like forward-collision warning and lane-keeping assist. It also had Highway Driving Assist and Smart Cruise Control-Curve. The Telluride earned a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS.