2021 Genesis GV80 vs 2022 Kia Telluride

The 2021 Genesis GV80, as a new entrant in the luxury SUV market, offered a fresh design perspective unburdened by a long legacy. This allowed Genesis to innovate and establish its signature look, characterized by a massive trapezoidal grille, Quad Lamp LED headlights, and elegant two-box design. The GV80's exterior was marked by its long hood, short front overhang, and distinctive wheel arches, which housed 19-inch to 22-inch wheels. The rear design mirrored the front with Quad Lamp taillights and twin trapezoidal tailpipes. Inside, the GV80 boasted a sleek, uncluttered dashboard with a 14.5-inch widescreen display, real wood, metal, and leather materials, and a bridge-like center console with minimal controls, creating a luxurious and spacious feel.

In contrast, the 2022 Kia Telluride maintained its muscular and balanced design, with only minor updates to the grille and new badges. The Telluride's interior was both upscale and functional, featuring thoughtful details like overhead air vents, rear smartphone storage, and USB ports in all rows. The SX Prestige package added premium Nappa leather and a simulated suede headliner, enhancing the luxury feel. The Telluride's interior was designed for practicality, with comfortable seating for adults in all three rows and ample cargo space, making it a versatile choice for families.

The 2021 Genesis GV80 offered two engine options: a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 300 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque, and a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 producing 375 hp and 391 lb-ft of torque. The V6 models came standard with all-wheel drive, while the four-cylinder models had rear-wheel drive with optional AWD. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The GV80's suspension system included independent multi-link suspension and, on 3.5T models, an electronically-controlled suspension with road preview. The 2.5T models had a curb weight between 4,506 and 4,850 lbs, while the 3.5T models weighed between 4,907 and 5,104 lbs. Fuel economy for the 2.5T was 21 mpg city/25 mpg highway/23 mpg combined with RWD, and 21/25/22 with AWD. The 3.5T AWD was rated at 18 mpg city/23 mpg highway/20 mpg combined.

The 2022 Kia Telluride was powered by a 3.8-liter V6 engine producing 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Telluride offered AWD with a Lock mode for even power distribution. It featured a brake-based Torque Vectoring Cornering Control system and selectable driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Smart, and Sport. The Telluride's ride quality was smooth, with a bit of body roll in corners, but it excelled in long-distance driving with its Highway Driving Assist technology. The Telluride's fuel economy was 21 mpg combined for AWD models, with our test vehicle achieving 21.1 mpg. The front-wheel-drive version was rated at 23 mpg combined. The Telluride's towing capacity was 5,000 pounds.

The 2021 Genesis GV80 featured a sophisticated interior with a focus on technology and design. The center console housed a rotary gear selector and a circular multimedia controller with a concave design and knurled metal finish. The HVAC control panel used capacitive touch buttons with intelligent masking to prevent accidental misuse. The GV80's second row was spacious, with power seats and window shades available. The third row was standard on 3.5T AWD Advanced+ models, offering a power-fold function and a 50/50 split.

The 2022 Kia Telluride balanced form and function with an upscale interior and practical features. The center console included functional grab handles, and the interior offered dual-zone automatic climate control for the front and single-zone for the rear. The Telluride's seating was comfortable for adults in all three rows, with a one-touch sliding and folding second-row seat mechanism for easy access to the third row. The Telluride provided ample storage space, with 21 cubic feet of cargo room behind the third row, expanding to 87 cubic feet with all seats folded. The hands-free power liftgate and flat load floor made it easy to transport large items.

The 2021 Genesis GV80 featured a sixth-generation Genesis UX infotainment system with a 14.5-inch HD screen, supporting Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system offered user-configurable split-screen displays and over-the-air updates. Android users could use a digital key function, and the GV80 came with three years of complimentary Genesis Connected Services. A head-up display and a 12.3-inch 3D digital instrument cluster were available on higher trims. The audio system included a 12-speaker setup, with an optional Lexicon Quantum Logic Surround system with 21 speakers.

The 2022 Kia Telluride came standard with a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, including navigation and voice recognition. However, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto required a wired connection. Kia Connect provided connected services with a one-year free trial, offering features like 911 Connect, remote engine start, and smart speaker integration. The Telluride included USB ports in all rows, a wireless smartphone charging pad, and a Quiet Mode for the stereo. The SX trim featured a 10-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, a head-up display, and a surround-view monitoring system.

The 2021 Genesis GV80 had not been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA at the time, but Genesis aimed for top safety ratings. The GV80 included 10 airbags, a vehicle stability management system, and a suite of driver assistance features like blind-spot collision avoidance, lane-keeping assist, and forward collision-avoidance assist. Adaptive cruise control with machine learning and Highway Driving Assist were also available, along with Remote Smart Parking Assist.

The 2022 Kia Telluride included Kia Drive Wise, a suite of standard safety features like forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control. Highway Driving Assist combined adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assistance. The Telluride also featured Safe Exit Assist and Blind-Spot View Monitor technology. The NHTSA awarded the Telluride a five-star overall rating, while the IIHS gave it a "Top Safety Pick" designation.