2023 Kia Telluride vs 2022 Lexus GX

The 2022 Lexus GX 460, particularly the Black Line Special Edition, epitomized a gothic elegance, especially in its Black Onyx hue. This edition targeted those who revel in the challenge of maintaining black vehicles. With minimal chrome on the exterior, the GX aimed for an almost stealthy presence. But despite this modern effort, it retained a somewhat drab and dated aesthetic. Its traditional boxy design traced back to the first-generation version, making it hard to distinguish from its 2002 counterpart. The intervening years didn't alter its classic look much, apart from signature design elements like the spindle grille, running lights, and triple-beam LED headlights.

Inside, the GX flaunted high-quality craftsmanship and the silky refinement that Lexus is known for. It offered a serene cabin experience, with minimal noise intrusion from the V8 engine. The Black Line Special Edition featured NuLuxe upholstery, black ash wood trim, and a distinctive black headliner to match its exterior. Despite the luxurious materials and meticulous attention to detail, the overall theme remained unexpectedly old-school.

Meanwhile, the 2023 Kia Telluride brought a more contemporary and adventurous spirit with its refreshed design. Testers experienced the X-Line and X-Pro models, which offered fresh styling cues, new paint colors like Midnight Lake Blue and Dawning Red, and interior color options including Terracotta and Sage Green. The X-Line replaced the Nightfall Edition, boasting a unique grille design, raised roof rails, body-color door handles, and 20-inch black wheels. The X-Pro went further, with 18-inch wheels and all-terrain tires for an aggressive off-road look. Inside, the Telluride saw subtler changes, such as new colors and a redesigned steering wheel.

The Telluride’s cabin updates, particularly the digital instrumentation panel and a 12.3-inch touchscreen, showcased a strong pivot toward the future. These displays, capped with a curved glass cover, provided a modern and technologically advanced aesthetic that complemented the SUV’s exterior.

The 2022 Lexus GX hosted a 4.6-liter V8 engine that delivered 301 horsepower, paired to a six-speed automatic transmission. Despite the powertrain's specifications, this was not a particularly sprightly SUV. Weighing a heavy 5,126 pounds, the engine’s 329 lb-ft of torque at 3,500 rpm played a crucial role in ensuring the GX reached 60 mph in a sluggish 7.8 seconds. Its full-time 4WD system, which distributed power 40/60 between the front and rear wheels, facilitated a respectable 6,500-pound towing capacity. However, the GX was not particularly fuel-efficient, offering just 16 mpg in combined driving, which might inconvenience owners who preferred fewer stops at gas stations.

Helping manage its heft was the Kinetic Dynamics Suspension System (KDSS), which made the vehicle more stable and minimized excessive body motions. Despite its size and dated underpinnings, the GX was refined for both on-road and off-road adventures, provided you equipped it with the Off-Road Package. Yet, parking remained a chore due to its slow, heavy steering, and the brake pedal was touchy, making smooth driving in traffic a challenge.

In contrast, the 2023 Kia Telluride retained its 3.8-liter V6 engine, producing 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, linked to an eight-speed automatic transmission. With 0-60 figures not specified, the V6 proved smooth and sufficient for the Telluride's driving dynamics. Multiple driving modes—Eco, Comfort, Smart, Sport, and Snow—along with an AWD system featuring a low-speed Lock setting, allowed for various driving conditions and styles.

During testing, the X-Line averaged an admirable 24.1 mpg, while the more rugged X-Pro returned 20.4 mpg given the all-terrain tires and off-road antics. Kia’s tweaks for the X-Line and X-Pro versions included a raised suspension and increased ground clearance to 8.4 inches, which, alongside improved approach and departure angles and traction control adjustments, made the Telluride a competent player off-road.

The X-Pro also upped the towing capacity to 5,500 pounds owing to its improved cooling system. The inclusion of the Downhill Brake Control system was a notable feature for tackling steep descents with better control.

On highways, the Telluride offered a delightful driving experience with a smooth ride quality and a notable sense of connection to the road, despite some wind noise at higher speeds. Sport mode made the steering slightly too firm, perhaps necessitating the customization of an Individual mode for optimal comfort.

The Lexus GX’s cabin provided an elevated driving position with a 10-way power-adjustable seat and excellent visibility. Despite its stature, the GX felt manageable in various driving scenarios, though its slow steering required effort during tight maneuvers. Inside, comfort was evident, with sufficient interior padding and traditional switchgear, such as clearly labeled physical controls.

However, the steering column housed too-similar control knobs adjacent to each other, leading to confusion. The third-row seat was largely impractical, difficult to access, and severely compromised cargo space. Moreover, the side-swinging tailgate posed challenges when loading in tight spots, making the convenience of a power tailgate sorely missed.

With the third-row seats in place, Lexus claimed 11.6 cubic feet of cargo space, which was hardly usable. Flattening the rear seats offered 46.7 cubic feet, and with the second row folded, total capacity capped at 64.7 cubic feet.

In stark contrast, the 2023 Kia Telluride’s interior focused on spaciousness and versatility. Accommodating seven or eight passengers depending on seating configuration, the Telluride excelled in providing comfort across all three rows. Premium Nappa leather, power-adjustable front seats, and even ventilated second-row seats elevated the luxury experience in the SX Prestige trim. Ample storage, including well-thought-out pockets for smartphones and USB ports on the seatbacks, added to the practicality.

Cargo space was generous: 21 cubic feet behind the third row, which folded down to provide 46 cubic feet, matching both vehicles. With all seats down, the Telluride offered a maximum of 87 cubic feet, significantly more than the GX’s capacity. The proximity-sensing power tailgate added further convenience, making the Telluride more adaptable to daily needs.

Lexus introduced a long-overdue 10.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system in the 2022 GX 460, significantly improving the user experience. This system bettered the outdated Remote Touch Interface, though the latter remained, wasting potential storage space. The standard infotainment highlights included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and navigation. The GX even retained a CD player, appealing to nostalgic users. Disappointingly, the stereo controls were poorly placed and hard to use, especially when trying to adjust settings on the move.

Yet, the new dual-screen view in the infotainment system allowed for better multitasking, and voice recognition performed superbly, adding to the overall usability.

Kia took another leap forward with a 12.3-inch touchscreen in the 2023 Telluride, encompassing Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, navigation, and Kia Connect services, inclusive of a Wi-Fi hotspot. The voice recognition system worked seamlessly, though climate control commands remained manual. With the Kia Access app, remote control features through Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant provided added convenience. Over-the-air updates ensured the system remained current, and six USB charging ports kept all passengers' devices powered.

Features like Driver Talk and Quiet Mode enhanced communication and comfort within the cabin. An optional Harman Kardon sound system, wireless charging, and digital-key technology which turns your smartphone into a vehicle key rounded out the tech-savvy interior. The Full Display Mirror, offering a clear rearview even with a packed cargo area, and a larger head-up display added to the driver’s ease and safety.

The 2022 Lexus GX, despite its age, offered essential safety features under the Lexus Safety System+. This suite included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and automatic high beams. Additional safety tech standard on the GX included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safety Connect services with a three-year complimentary period.

However, it lacked several advanced driving aids found in modern vehicles. The absence of lane-keeping and lane-centering assists, semi-autonomous driving systems, and active blind-spot intervention could be a deal-breaker for those seeking the latest safety tech in their SUV.

Kia’s 2023 Telluride, on the other hand, came loaded with an extensive list of standard safety features alongside expanded advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS). These included forward-collision warning, pedestrian and cyclist detection, and a new junction turning system to prevent left-turn collisions. The automatic emergency braking system, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert with automatic braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and Safe Exit Assist rounded out the standard safety package.

The adaptive cruise control system now featured navigation-based curve speed reduction, and Intelligent Speed Limit Assist was added for 2023. The Highway Drive Assist 1.5 system offered semi-autonomous highway driving assistance on all trims, with the upgraded Highway Drive Assist 2.0 available on higher trims, including lane change assistance.

Further enhancements with SX trim or higher included additional collision avoidance features, parking sensors, a surround-view camera system, and the Blind-Spot View Monitor. A Rear Occupant Alert system with ultrasonic sensors ensured no child was left behind inadvertently, making the Telluride one of the safest options for families.