2022 Kia Telluride vs 2021 Ford Bronco Sport

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport was introduced as a smaller sibling to the anticipated Bronco, capturing the rugged spirit of its predecessor while adapting to a more urban lifestyle. It featured a modern retro design reminiscent of a Land Rover, with short front and rear overhangs ideal for off-road adventures. The vehicle's exterior was marked by bold "BRONCO" lettering on the grille and tailgate, with a modest Ford badge on the rear. The Bronco Sport offered a range of wheel options, from 17-inch Sparkle Silver wheels on the Base model to 18-inch Ebony Black-painted wheels on the Outer Banks and Badlands models. Inside, the Bronco Sport boasted a rugged yet tasteful interior, with a unique design for the HVAC vents and an 8-inch infotainment screen. The interior trim varied across models, offering options from cloth to leather-trimmed seats, with practical features like a rubberized cargo floor.

The 2022 Kia Telluride maintained its handsome midsize SUV appeal with a muscular design and balanced proportions. For 2022, Kia made minor updates to the grille pattern and introduced new badges. The Telluride was available in LX, S, EX, and SX trims, with pricing starting at $32,790. The interior was praised for its logical arrangement of controls, though the glossy plastic in the lower cabin detracted from its upscale feel. The SX Prestige trim featured Nappa leather upholstery and a simulated suede headliner, contrasting with the shiny plastic panels. Kia added new standard features for 2022, including a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation, automatic climate control, and advanced driving aids like Highway Driving Assist.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport offered two engine options, both paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. The Base, Big Bend, and Outer Banks trims featured a 1.5-liter EcoBoost turbocharged three-cylinder engine, producing 181 horsepower and 190 pound-feet of torque. The Badlands and First Edition models were equipped with a more powerful 2.0-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine, delivering 245 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque. The Bronco Sport excelled off-road, thanks to its short wheelbase, independent suspension, and generous ground clearance. It also offered a terrain management system with up to seven G.O.A.T. modes, enhancing its off-road capabilities. On-road, the Bronco Sport was a competent commuter, though the 1.5-liter engine could feel strained under pressure.

The 2022 Kia Telluride was powered by a 3.8-liter V6 engine, producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, and all-wheel drive was available. The Telluride offered a smooth and satisfying driving experience, with a brake-based Torque Vectoring Cornering Control system and multiple driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Smart, and Sport. The SUV's ride quality was supple, providing a comfortable experience on long drives. The Telluride's fuel economy was commendable, with an EPA estimate of 21 mpg in combined driving for the AWD model. The Telluride also had a towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds, making it a versatile choice for families.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport catered to active buyers with its clever features and ample cargo space. It could accommodate two 27.5-inch-wheel mountain bikes in the cargo area, and Ford offered a catalog of over 100 accessories for outdoor enthusiasts. The roof could support up to 150 pounds, and the vehicle's towing capacity ranged from 2,000 to 2,200 pounds, depending on the engine. The cargo area featured a flip-up rear glass and an optional cargo management package with a slide-out work table and liftgate floodlamps. The front cabin offered ample storage compartments, though taller drivers might find visibility challenging due to the roof overhang and hood bulges.

The 2022 Kia Telluride balanced form and function with its upscale interior and practical features. The cabin included thoughtful details like overhead air vents, rear smartphone storage pouches, and USB ports in all three rows. The Telluride offered dual-zone automatic climate control for front-seat occupants and a single-zone system for the rear. The SX Prestige trim featured premium Nappa leather upholstery and a simulated suede headliner. The Telluride's three rows of seats were comfortable for adults, with a one-touch sliding and folding second-row seat mechanism for easy access to the third row. The SUV provided ample cargo space, with 21 cubic feet behind the third row and a maximum of 87 cubic feet with the seats folded.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport was equipped with an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen featuring SYNC 3, compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also offered Ford+Alexa and SiriusXM capability, along with a standard FordConnect 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The base audio system included six speakers, while a Bang & Olufsen sound system was available on higher trims. The Bronco Sport's terrain management system offered multiple drive modes, and trail control technology provided cruise-control-like assistance for off-roading. Intelligent access with push-button start was standard on all trims except the Base model, and higher trims featured a 6.5-inch digital instrument panel.

The 2022 Kia Telluride came standard with a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, including navigation and voice recognition technology. While the new system required a wired connection for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, it offered a range of connected services through Kia Connect. This platform included features like 911 Connect, remote engine start, and home-to-car smart speaker integration. The Telluride also featured a Quiet Mode for playing music only through the front speakers and a Driver Talk function for communicating with rear-seat passengers. The SX trim included a 10-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, a head-up display, and a surround-view monitoring system.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport came standard with the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite of safety features, including pre-collision assist, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, and a reversing camera. The Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package added adaptive cruise control, evasive steering assist, and a voice-activated navigation system. All Bronco Sport models featured all-wheel drive and a terrain management system with G.O.A.T. modes. However, crash-worthiness ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time.

The 2022 Kia Telluride was equipped with Kia Drive Wise, a suite of driver assistance and collision avoidance technologies. Standard features included forward-collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. The Telluride also featured Highway Driving Assist, which combined adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assistance. The SUV earned a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick" designation from the IIHS, though it missed the highest award due to headlight ratings.