2022 Chevrolet Traverse vs Kia Telluride

The three-row SUVs are appealing to many buyers. Not only do they contain customer-desired interiors, but they also possess excellent capabilities. The Chevrolet Traverse and Kia Telluride are good options if anyone is looking for a three-row vehicle, having so much in common, though there are several areas in which they differ.

The Powertrain

Boasting an impressive 3.6-liter V6 engine, the Traverse offers exceptional power and performance to take you wherever your journey takes you - with a maximum towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds! Enjoy control in any conditions with its nine-speed automatic transmission that is easily adjustable through four Driver Mode Selector settings; Sport mode for spirited acceleration when desired or Snow/Ice modes if weather gets tricky. And those needing greater traction won't be disappointed – available all wheel drive plus Off Road mode ensure optimal grip regardless of challenging terrain.

The Traverse offers two different drivetrain options. All-wheel drive gives drivers more traction, however it comes at the cost of lower fuel efficiency; 17 mpg in cities and 20 mpg on highways. Front wheel drives provide slightly better mileage - 18/21 respectively - but may not be suitable for tougher terrains. Despite this improved economy, neither option provides optimal gas savings per gallon travelled.

With front-wheel drive, the 2022 Kia Telluride is proving to be more fuel efficient than its rival Chevy. Traveling within city limits can fetch an estimated 20 miles per gallon and 26 for highway driving—respectively dropping down to 19 and 24 with all-wheel drive capabilities.

The Telluride packs a powerful punch with its capable 3.8-liter V6 engine providing an impressive towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds and 291 horsepower along with 262 pound-feet of torque – slightly lower than what the Traverse can produce but still very formidable.

The Kia's engine works in conjunction with an electronically controlled eight-speed automatic transmission having a manual option with the model as well as different drive modes. The modes that come with the Telluride entail Comfort, Eco, Sport, and Smart. If the Telluride has all-wheel drive, it would have AWD Lock and Snow mode which has the capacity of going a long way in enhancing traction when the conditions would otherwise prove challenging.

Both SUVs possess MacPherson struts in the front and multi-link rear suspension systems. The self-leveling rear suspension is a feature that is exclusive to the Telluride where it can even out the vehicle when it's loaded down with heavy cargo, and by doing so, it can enhance ride quality and handling.

Torque Vectoring Cornering Control is standard with the Telluride that constantly monitors yaw rate and steering input in order to figure out the adjustment needs. If it seems like there's an issue when the SUV is taking a turn, Telluride can make the right adjustments in order to maintain stability.

Chevrolet has provided the Traverse with a similar design. This model is equipped with StabiliTrak, which improves stability and traction. In case the vehicle is facing issues with grip or steering, the system engages itself by making adjustments to braking and engine torque to help the driver maintain full control.

Drivability

The two companies have certainly worked thoughtfully to design the Traverse and Telluride as practical vehicles, featuring many appealing amenities that are designed to make tasks much more convenient.

They can both come with navigation and a corresponding program that accounts for traffic when figuring out the best route to take. One of the major differences between the two is that the Telluride comes standard with navigation, whereas only the higher trims of the Traverse automatically come with navigation. Some mid-level Traverse trims provide navigation as an option for an additional fee.

In addition to navigation, the Telluride features a 10.25-inch touchscreen on all of its models which is a pretty sizable touchscreen and does the cabin a much more modern feel. In comparison, the touchscreen on the Traverse either measures seven or eight inches, depending on the exact trim which is still a good-sized screen, however, people will undoubtedly notice the difference between the Traverse and the Telluride edition which is especially true since bigger often means better these days, at least in terms of high-tech displays.

In both vehicles, there are several standard components including Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth. Most Tellurides have six speakers, and the SX trim gets to have a ten-speaker Harman Kardon sound system with an external amplifier and subwoofer which is almost the same as the Traverse. Many of its trims have six speakers, and the higher ones can have ten Bose speakers.

Given that these cabins will presumably be full of passengers at some point, it can be convenient to provide multiple USB plugs for their use. The Traverse has six total USB ports, with two in each row along with wireless charging. Similarly, the Telluride is available with wireless charging and comes standard with six USB ports with additional extra ports at its higher trims.

Interior space is another major factor that plays contributes significantly when choosing between the Traverse and Telluride. These two cars can accommodate up to eight passengers if the center row is outfitted with a bench seat on the other hand if there are two captain's chairs in the center row, the total number of seats is reduced to seven.

Those looking for space to spread out will love the legroom in both the first and second rows of Hyundai Telluride. An impressive 41.4 inches and 42.4 inches respectively should be enough room even for larger occupants like adults with longer legs! The Chevy Traverse offers a comparable amount of front row legroom but has slightly less wiggle room on its second row - 38.4" which is still suitable though not quite as generous as what's available from Hyundai's Telluride.

Both the Traverse and Telluride offer a third row, but those taller passengers should consider upgrading to the Traverse for ample legroom. With 33.5 inches of space in its backseat versus 31.4 inches on the Telluride, adults can ride comfortably while ensuring children have plenty of room as well.

Having the seats in their upright position, the cargo provides adequate space. The rear cargo area of the Telluride measures 21 cubic feet and the Traverse offers 2 additional cubic feet of storage space. Lowering the back seat can increase cargo capacity to 57.8 cubic feet in the Traverse and 46 cubic feet in the Telluride. If storage opportunities need to be maximized, both the second and third rows can be folded down which would result in a total cargo capacity of 98.2 cubic feet for the Traverse and 87 cubic feet for the Telluride.

Given that the Telluride possesses more interior space, justifies the fact that it has larger exterior dimensions. While the Telluride is not small by any means, the Traverse is even bigger being nearly ten inches long, which is why it can boast so much more cargo capacity. It is also slightly wider and taller but has a slightly lower ground clearance. The Traverse has a ground clearance of 7.5 inches, whereas the Telluride has an eight-inch clearance.

The Kia SUV guarantees a luxurious experience with its wide selection of comfort features. Enjoy convenience on the go thanks to the Smart Key feature and push-button start, eliminating the need for traditional ignition keys! Plus, you won't have to worry about nasty weather disrupting your ride as heated and ventilated front seats keep passengers comfortable all year long - not to mention rear automatic climate control options and an optional heated steering wheel too.

The Traverse may lack the advanced features of its Kia counterparts, such as a heated steering wheel and ventilated seats, but it more than makes up for these by boasting cutting-edge additions. From two-panel sunroofs to power folding backseats, you'll enjoy every drive in this SUV. Its higher trims even offer a rear camera mirror with an unobstructed view while also providing standard remote start and trizone climate control - luxury amenities that make driving easy.

Safety

Fortunately, Chevrolet and Kia have chosen to pair these models with certain standard driver-assist features, both having the ability to warn drivers when they're approaching other vehicles or pedestrians, as well as possess the feature of sending out alerts when drivers seem to be accidentally veering out of their lanes. In these situations, if it seems like a driver cannot react in time; the SUVs can actually take corrective measures on their own by hitting the brakes and/or making adjustments to steering.

The Traverse has blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert on the base trim and standard on all of the rest which is true for rear parking assist as well. All vehicles in the Traverse lineup have a rear vision camera, while some of them can be upgraded with a 360-degree monitoring system providing a greater perspective when drivers are making maneuvers at slower speeds.

Another useful component found in the Traverse is a Teen Driver program which can limit certain features and can keep specific safety mechanisms turned on. It's also inclusive of a report card so that new drivers can recognize ways in which they can improve. Moreover, it comes with a mechanism that prevents the vehicle from shifting out of the park if the driver's seat belt hasn't been fastened properly.

The Telluride and Traverse both provide a safe ride, but the Kia takes it one step further. Boasting an extensive safety package with blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert systems to help you stay aware of your surroundings while on the road - plus optional Teen Driver programming for added peace of mind - this vehicle is designed to reduce risk without sacrificing style or performance.

The Kia Telluride can keep you alert and your passengers safe with its impressive array of driver-focused technologies. Its Driver Attention Warning monitors the road to make sure that concentration levels remain high, while Safe Exit Assist and Rear Occupant Alert offer extra protection for those traveling with little ones in tow - a reassuring security measure that removes all worry from each journey.

It must be taken into account that adaptive cruise control is standard on the Telluride while for Traverse; this option is standard on higher-end models and accessible on others. The program found on the Telluride can take navigation data into account where if the vehicle knows that a curve is coming up, it can preemptively slow down so that it doesn't take a turn at a high speed.

Which Has the Best Value?

The Telluride lineup consists of the LX, which costs $33,390, and three other trims, the most expensive of which is the SX, which costs $42,290.

The Traverse and Telluride both come in a variety of trims, ranging from the affordable base model to more expensive higher-end options. While each Chevy trim is priced slightly higher than that of Kia's counterpart, it may not be worth the extra cost as their differences are small compared to those between other models on offer. Taking this into account, buyers should consider thoroughly exploring all available choices before investing top dollar in any particular vehicle - especially given Kia's impressive combination of high-tech features and elegant interior details.

Which is Better?

Whether searching for a car to transport the family or one designed to take on tricky terrains, both the Chevrolet Traverse and Kia Telluride offer capable performance. Although it remains even in terms of capability and safety, buyers looking for good value are likely swayed by Telluride's stylish design that is supported with advanced technology. And while offering an attractive package overall, those seeking maximum interior room should opt for practicality - cue up the Traverse.