The 2022 Kia Telluride is one of the best midsize SUVs on the market right now, and it has plenty of worthy competition. For example, Ford recently redesigned the Explorer. It is now a capable and popular competitor in the midsize SUV segment. However, there are many differences between the two SUVs. Here’s a look at three advantages the 2022 Kia Telluride has over the Ford Explorer.
Where the 2022 Kia Telluride is similar to the Ford Explorer
One area where the two midsize SUVs are similar is in their price tags. According to Kelley’s Blue Book, the Telluride starts at around $33,400, while the Explorer starts at around $34,000. The Telluride is $600 cheaper, but it’s not a huge difference. Also, the two SUVs are similar in terms of the number of seats they offer.
Not all midsize SUVs have three rows of seats, but both the Telluride and Explorer come standard with three rows of seats. On top of that, both automakers have offered front-wheel drive to popular midsize SUVs as standard, and all-wheel drive is also offered as an option on both. Lastly, both SUVs are going to be very safe. This is mainly due to the fact that both automakers gave their vehicles a long list of standard smart safety features.
The three advantages that the Kia SUV has over the Ford
That said, while both SUVs have three rows of seats, the Kia has more seating capacity. The Explorer seats a maximum of seven people, while the Telluride seats a maximum of eight people. The seats aren’t cramped either, and there’s plenty of cargo capacity as a result. With the seats folded down, the Kia SUV tops out at approximately 87 cubic feet of cargo space.
And while both automakers gave their SUVs plenty of smart safety features, the Telluride is better equipped overall. Kia made Driver Talk a standard feature, and Driver Talk will allow parents to easily talk to their children sitting in the back. The South Korean automaker also gave the Telluride a 10.25-inch touchscreen, which is larger than the 8-inch that’s standard on the Explorer.
The last advantage the Telluride has over the Explorer is styling. As Kelley Blue Book wrote, the Telluride gets a new grille and “solid, attractive proportions and tasteful details.” Kia also offers some fancy options, like the Nightfall Edition, that can make the SUV look even cooler.
The specifications of these excellent SUVs
The South Korean automaker only gave the Telluride one engine option, and it’s a 3.8-liter V6 that makes 291 hp and 262 pound-feet of torque. This engine is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, allowing the Kia SUV to get 20 mpg city and 26 mpg highway, for a combined 23 mpg. Meanwhile, Ford gave car buyers a few powertrain options.
The Explorer starts with a 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, making 300 hp and 310 pound-feet of torque. It’s paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, allowing the Ford to get 21 mpg city and 28 mpg highway for 24 mpg combined. While the standard engine is good enough for most people, Ford also offers a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 that makes 400 hp and a hybrid powertrain option. The Explorer Hybrid gets around 27 mpg city and 28 mpg highway, for 27 mpg combined.
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