The 2022 Kia Telluride and the 2022 Honda Pilot offer two different approaches to the 3-row SUV. Here’s how they compare.
Kia Sorento 2022
2022 Kia Telluride starting price: $33,090 | Price yours Where See listings near you
Above average: Many places; V6 power as standard; all-wheel drive available; well equipped; seats for seven or eight passengers; long warranty.
Below average: No hybrid option.
Consensus: Spacious, affordable, well-equipped and well-mannered, the 2022 Kia Telluride has a lot to offer.
2022 Honda Pilot
2022 Honda Pilot starting price: $37,580 | Price yours Where See listings near you
Above average: Seats up to eight; standard V6 engine; high resale value.
Below average: A single powertrain; the design is starting to age.
Consensus: The 2022 Honda Pilot continues to be a spacious and comfortable 3-row SUV from a trusted brand and has been a segment favorite for three generations. For 2022, it adds a new entry-level model to replace the discontinued EX and LX trims, and a new off-road-oriented TrailSport model.
Telluride vs. Pilot: Three-Row Showdown
Kia Telluride
Seating up to eight passengers (or seven in higher trims), the 2022 Kia Telluride offers plenty of room for passengers and cargo. It is the sister vehicle of the Hyundai Palisade and shares the same platform. While the Palisade may be slightly more expensive than the Telluride, the Kia offers everything from mainstream chic to value-added luxury.
The Telluride is so good it won our 2021 Best Buy and Best 3-Row Midsize SUV awards for the past year. For 2022 it gets a larger infotainment screen and additional standard features to go along with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Ride quality is comfortable and nimble for a large SUV, and standard adaptive cruise control with Highway Driving Assist makes it easy to manage long drives. The system reads road signs and adjusts the speed if necessary. If you need to do a bit of off-roading, the Telluride can handle it thanks to its 8-inch ground clearance and optional all-wheel-drive (AWD).
Inside there is enough space for adults, even in the third row. Seating is easy to get to whether you have the captain’s chair or the standard bench seat, and the seats are stacked stadium-style so everyone in the back can see the road ahead.
The Telluride has an impressive level of standard safety systems. These features include forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist and adaptive cruise control with stop and go. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, driver attention warning, rear occupant alert and safe exit assist are also included.
Honda driver
The Honda Pilot seats seven or eight people in its three rows, with second-row captain’s seats limited to the top trims. Passenger accommodations are spacious, and cargo space ranges from 16.5 cubic feet behind the third row to 82.1 to 83.9 cubic feet with all seats folded down.
A 3.5-liter V6 developing 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission. Smooth and sufficiently powerful, this V6 tows up to 5,000 pounds with all-wheel drive (AWD). Fuel economy is quite good, with combined EPA estimates of 23 mpg (FWD) and 22 mpg (AWD).
The Pilot is capable and comfortable, while handling is secured in part thanks to the torque-vectoring technology of the available all-wheel-drive (AWD) system. Forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist and adaptive cruise control are standard.
This year Honda also added the TrailSport trim, which is just a trim level for now but could become a more off-road oriented sub-brand for Honda. The 2022 Pilot EX-L version, which is a higher version than the base model, is well equipped with features such as leather seats, power sunroof, hands-free power tailgate, 8-inch screen audio system , Apple CarPlay/Android Auto integration, and LED headlights.
While Honda dropped the EX and LX for 2022, it added a new, cheaper model, the Sport. The new base model comes with heated and power-adjustable front seats, 3-zone climate control, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, among other amenities. At the top of the range, the Black Edition is available in black or white pearlescent paint to go with black rims and exterior trim.
Similarities
A choice of engine; 3 row seats; available all-wheel drive; NHTSA 5 star safety ratings.
Advantages of the 2022 Kia Telluride
Long warranty; V6 power as standard; more interior space; lower base price.
Advantages of the 2022 Honda Pilot
Solid resale and reliability; standard V6 engine; lower starting price; can accommodate up to eight passengers.
Which is good for me?
The 2022 Kia Telluride offers plenty of space, bold styling and solid fuel economy at an affordable price.
The 2022 Honda Pilot offers seating for up to eight, plenty of power from its standard V6 engine, and smooth gear changes from its 9-speed automatic transmission. Honda also has a proven track record of quality and high resale value.
Ready to buy a Kia Telluride or a Honda Pilot? Buy one on sale now near you
| Kia Sorento 2022 | 2022 Honda Pilot | |
| Popular powertrains | ||
| Motor | 3.8 liter V6 | 3.5 liter V6 |
| Powerful | 291 hp at 6,000 rpm | 280 hp at 6000 rpm |
| Couple | 262 lb-ft at 5,200 | 262 lb-ft at 4,700 rpm |
| Transmission | 8-speed automatic | 9-speed automatic |
| fuel economy | 23 mpg (20 city/26 highway) | 23 mpg (20 city/27 highway) |
| Also available | all-wheel drive | all-wheel drive |
| Specifications | ||
| Basic warranty | 5 years/60,000 miles | 3 years/36,000 miles |
| Powertrain Warranty | 10 years/100,000 miles | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| NHTSA Global Safety | 5 stars | 5 stars |
| Maximum seating capacity | 8 | 8 |
| Wheelbase | 114.2 inches | 111.0 inches |
| Total length | 196.9 inches | 196.5 inches |
| Width | 78.3 inches | 78.6 inches |
| Height | 68.9 inches | 70.6 inches |
| Turning diameter | 38.8 feet | 39.4 feet |
| Headroom, front | 40.9 inches | 40.1 inches |
| Headroom, rear | 40.2 inches | 40.2 inches |
| Head room, 3rd row | 38.1 inches | 38.9 inches |
| Leg room, front | 41.4 inches | 40.9 inches |
| Leg room, rear | 42.4 inches | 38.4 inches |
| 3rd Row Leg Room | 31.4 inches | 31.9 inches |
| Shoulder room, front | 61.6 inches | 62.0 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Rear | 61.2 inches | 62.0 inches |
| Shoulder room, 3rd row | 55.3 inches | 57.6 inches |
| EPA passenger volume | 178.1 cubic feet | 152.9 cubic feet |
| EPA cargo volume | 87.0 cubic feet | 83.9 cubic feet |