2024 Kia Telluride vs 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan maintained its design from the previous year, with the most notable update being the addition of a complimentary five-year Car-Net Safe & Secure connected services plan. Available in S, SE, SE R-Line Black, and SEL R-Line trims, the Tiguan's price ranged from $26,950 to $37,680, excluding a $1,295 destination charge. The SEL R-Line trim, priced at $38,975, featured sporty styling and 20-inch machined-finish wheels. Despite offering a variety of exterior and interior colors, wheel designs, and upholstery options, the Tiguan's choices were limited by trim level, restricting customization. The Atlantic Blue paint and Storm Gray leather interior of the test vehicle were appealing, though some combinations, like pairing Atlantic Blue with Noisette leather, were unavailable. The Tiguan's design was conservative yet gracefully aging, with features like adaptive front lighting and a light bar across the grille enhancing its appearance.

Inside, the Tiguan's cabin was upscale, with quality leather upholstery, artificial wood trim, and soft-touch materials. The SEL R-Line trim included digital instrumentation, a panoramic sunroof, and a robust construction that felt solidly assembled. However, some materials reminded occupants of the Tiguan's base price. The interior was equipped with modern amenities, but the touch-sensing controls were a drawback, as they were less intuitive than traditional physical controls. Despite this, the Tiguan offered a spacious and comfortable environment for passengers.

The 2024 Kia Telluride was available in five core trim levels: LX, S, EX, SX, and SX Prestige, with the option to add the rugged X-Line and X-Pro packages. The X-Line package included standard all-wheel drive, increased ground clearance, and unique styling elements, while the X-Pro package added all-terrain tires and enhanced towing capacity. Prices ranged from $35,990 for the LX to $53,185 for the SX Prestige with the X-Pro package, excluding a $1,365 destination charge. The SX Prestige with the X-Line package, priced at $54,270, featured Wolf Gray paint and floor mats. The Telluride's design was attractive, with the Wolf Gray paint complementing the blacked-out X-Line styling. The interior of the test vehicle featured premium Nappa leather seats, a dual sunroof, and a range of color options that complemented the simulated open-pore wood trim.

The Telluride's cabin was thoughtfully designed, with horizontal control orientation and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. While the metallic finish buttons were hard to read in bright sunlight, the physical controls were generally user-friendly. The Telluride offered generous storage space, including a covered cubby and a smartphone tray. The hands-free power liftgate was convenient, though it could be undesirable in certain situations. The Telluride provided ample cargo space, with 21 cubic feet behind the third row and a maximum volume of 87 cubic feet. The X-Line and X-Pro packages added useful roof rails for additional storage.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan was equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive was standard, with the option for VW's 4Motion all-wheel-drive system. The SEL R-Line trim included AWD as standard, offering various driving modes such as Eco, Normal, Sport, and Individual. The 4Motion system provided additional settings for different terrains, with the ability to send up to 50% of power to the rear wheels. The Tiguan's fuel efficiency was rated at 24 mpg in combined driving by the EPA, though the test vehicle achieved 22.6 mpg. The turbo-four engine offered adequate power, but higher engine revs lacked motive force, and the automatic transmission occasionally stumbled with delayed downshifts. The Tiguan's dynamic qualities were rewarding, with light and lively steering, excellent tire grip, and a stable feel in curves and corners. The ride was compliant, providing a good balance between road feel and comfort. However, road noise was noticeable, and an odd resonance was experienced on certain freeways. The Tiguan's visibility was excellent, aided by thin windshield pillars and variable-assist steering, making it easy to park and maneuver.

The 2024 Kia Telluride featured a 3.8-liter V6 engine producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, with power transferred through an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Telluride's towing capacity was 5,000 pounds, with the X-Pro package increasing it to 5,500 pounds. AWD models included a locking center differential and various driving modes, including Snow, Comfort, Sport, and Smart. The Telluride's ground clearance was 8.0 inches, increasing to 8.4 inches with the X-Line and X-Pro packages. The SUV offered good acceleration and passing power, though fuel efficiency was a drawback, with an EPA rating of 20 mpg in combined driving and an observed average of 17.5 mpg during city driving. The Telluride's driving experience was refined, with brake-induced Torque Vectoring Cornering Control and responsive steering. The ride was firm at lower speeds but compliant at higher velocities, absorbing road undulations effectively. The Telluride was capable off-road, handling various terrains with ease, though it was not as rugged as a Jeep.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan offered a spacious and comfortable interior, with FWD models featuring a standard third-row seat. However, the third row reduced cargo space, making AWD models with larger cargo areas more appealing. The SEL R-Line trim had comfortable front seats with eight-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation, along with a heated steering wheel. Storage space was generous, though the center armrest bin was small. The dashboard's touch-sensing controls were a drawback, with reflective gloss black plastic hampering usability. The Tiguan excelled in passenger and cargo space, with large rear door openings and a roomy back seat. The hands-free power liftgate revealed a cavernous cargo area, with adjustable load floor height and handy features for convenience. AWD models offered 37.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row and 73.4 cubic feet behind the front seats, while FWD models had slightly less capacity.

The 2024 Kia Telluride provided a comfortable and well-appointed interior, especially in higher trim levels. The SX Prestige X-Line test vehicle featured premium Nappa leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats with lumbar massage, and a dual sunroof. The controls were oriented horizontally, with a user-friendly 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. While the metallic finish buttons were hard to read in bright sunlight, the physical controls were generally easy to use. The Telluride offered generous storage space, including a covered cubby and a smartphone tray. The hands-free power liftgate was convenient, though it could be undesirable in certain situations. The Telluride provided ample cargo space, with 21 cubic feet behind the third row and a maximum volume of 87 cubic feet. The X-Line and X-Pro packages added useful roof rails for additional storage.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan featured digital instrumentation, with most trims using an 8-inch display and the SEL R-Line getting a larger 10.25-inch display. The larger display offered a sophisticated appearance and a full-panel navigation map. The infotainment system included a touchscreen display, with the base S trim having a 6.5-inch screen and other trims featuring an 8-inch touchscreen. The SEL R-Line trim included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless smartphone charging, and a nine-speaker Fender premium sound system. However, the system's user interface was complex, with sub-menus creating multi-step processes for simple tasks. The voice-recognition system did not perform well, likely due to an inactive Car-Net Hotspot subscription. The Tiguan's technology introduced unnecessary complexity and distraction, though it offered a range of features and functions.

The 2024 Kia Telluride came equipped with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, though Apple CarPlay and Android Auto required a cable connection. The system was easy to use, with Bluetooth pairing and internet radio streaming available. The test vehicle's Kia Connect subscription was inactive, preventing a voice recognition test, but past experiences indicated good performance. Kia Connect offered various plans, with features like remote engine starting, climate pre-conditioning, and over-the-air updates. The Telluride included satellite radio, wireless smartphone charging, and a 10-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. Thoughtful features included a blue-light filter, Quiet Mode, and a digital key function. The Telluride also offered a camera-based rearview mirror, a 10-inch head-up display, and a 360-degree camera system. The Leading Vehicle Departure Alert system was a useful addition for traffic situations.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan excelled in safety features, offering tech often found in luxury models. Standard features included Front Assist and Side Assist, with forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, and automatic emergency braking. The Automatic Post Collision Braking System helped avoid secondary impacts. The IQ.Drive package added adaptive cruise control, active blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, and semi-autonomous driving assist. The Tiguan's safety technology worked well, with minimal false alerts and smooth adaptive cruise control performance. However, the Tiguan's crash-test ratings were incomplete, with concerns about the driver's door unlatching during a side-impact test. The IIHS gave the 2023 Tiguan a Top Safety Pick+ rating for 2022, but this did not apply for 2023.

The 2024 Kia Telluride impressed with its standard Kia Drive Wise collection of driver assistance features, including collision avoidance, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring. Highway Driving Assist provided semi-autonomous driving with adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist. Safety feature upgrades included front parking sensors, cross-traffic alert, and a Blind-Spot View Monitor system. Highway Driving Assist 2.0 added automatic lane changing, though it performed best in specific conditions. The lane-change assist system worked well, but the lane-keeping system was intrusive. The Telluride received a five-star overall crash test rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.