2023 Volkswagen Taos vs 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos was a compact SUV designed to appeal to a broad audience with its stylish and sporty appearance. Despite its higher price point in the small SUV segment, the Taos SEL trim offered a premium look with bold 19-inch alloy wheels and a striking Cornflower Blue paint. Inside, the Taos SEL resembled a more affordable Audi, featuring light gray accents, gloss black trim, and leather seats. Volkswagen claimed the Taos was nearly as spacious as the larger Tiguan, making it one of the roomiest small crossover SUVs available.

In contrast, the 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid presented a bold and potentially polarizing design, particularly with its flat, wide grille. The vehicle's personality shifted with different color and trim options, with the X-Line and X-Pro models offering distinctive grille styles and amber accent lights. The Telluride's interior was less controversial, featuring a simple horizontal dashboard and a luxurious two-tone palette in the Hybrid SX Prestige trim. The seats, covered in synthetic leather and suede, provided comfort, though the cushions were somewhat firm. The Telluride's interior materials were of high quality, with various trim options available, including engineered wood and carbon fiber.

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos was equipped with a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 158 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. The engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission for front-wheel drive models, while all-wheel drive versions came with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. The Taos offered up to five driving modes and additional settings for the 4Motion AWD system. However, the powertrain response was unpredictable, with occasional surges of torque and delays in response. The Taos averaged 26.8 mpg during testing, slightly below the EPA rating of 28 mpg. Despite its Germanic driving character and nimble handling, the Taos lacked power compared to competitors like the Mazda CX-30 and Hyundai Kona N.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid featured a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 274 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. The Hybrid model added electric motors, increasing output to 329 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque. The Telluride Hybrid was paired with a six-speed transmission and was not available in the off-road-capable X-Pro trims. The Hybrid provided ample power and a quiet ride, with seamless transitions between electric and gas modes. The Telluride's ride was tuned for comfort, with the X-Pro Prestige trim offering a surprisingly smooth ride despite its off-road suspension. The Hybrid SX Prestige had a stiffer ride due to its 20-inch wheels, but the suspension effectively absorbed bumps. The Telluride's handling was composed, and the brake response was immediate during panic stops.

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos offered a range of interior features, with S trim having cloth seats, SE trim featuring CloudTex artificial leather, and SEL trim boasting real leather. The SE and SEL trims included cold-weather equipment, such as heated side mirrors and front seats. The SEL test vehicle also had rain-sensing wipers, dual-zone automatic climate control, and a heated steering wheel. The Taos provided ample rear-seat room and comfort, with a panoramic sunroof in the SEL trim. Cargo space was generous, with 27.9 cubic feet behind the back seat and 65.9 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid offered ample space for adults in all three rows, though the rearmost row was better suited for smaller passengers. The Hybrid SX Prestige test vehicle featured power-adjustable second-row seats with heating and ventilation, providing comfort comparable to business-class airline seats. The middle-row seats offered significant travel fore and aft, allowing for more cargo or third-row legroom. The Telluride could hold up to 22.3 cubic feet of cargo behind the third row, with a maximum capacity of 89.3 cubic feet with the seats folded. The Hybrid models lost only about one cubic foot of cargo space. The Telluride could tow up to 5,000 pounds, or 4,500 for the Hybrid.

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos came with standard digital instrumentation, with the SEL trim featuring a 10.25-inch display. Infotainment systems ranged from basic to fully featured, with the SEL offering an 8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and an eight-speaker Beats Audio system. However, the user experience was marred by hidden virtual controls, a cumbersome radio tuning process, and ineffective voice-recognition technology. The recommendation was to pair a smartphone and use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto instead of the native system.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, and a 5-inch touchscreen for climate controls. The infotainment system was user-friendly, though it occasionally required a hard tap to register inputs. The middle climate control screen was difficult to use while driving, but physical temperature control buttons were available. The Telluride offered customization options for the infotainment screen, including themes from various brand collaborations. The SX trim and above came with a 14-speaker Meridian premium audio system, delivering powerful and clear sound.

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos improved its standard safety features, with the Taos S including Front Assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Taos SE added VW’s IQ.Drive collection of ADAS, which included Lane Assist, Travel Assist, Emergency Assist, and an active version of blind-spot monitoring. The Taos also featured a post-collision automatic braking system, automatic high-beam headlights, parking sensors with automatic braking, and a road-sign recognition system. Travel Assist performed well during testing, providing smooth and accurate assistance.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid had not yet been rated by the NHTSA or IIHS at the time of writing. Standard safety features included frontal collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and parking proximity sensors. Higher trims offered additional features like a surround-view camera system and automatic reverse braking. The Telluride's highway driving assist was particularly helpful, maintaining lane centering and a consistent gap to vehicles ahead. However, the driver attention monitor occasionally triggered false alerts, and the blind-spot cameras were more distracting than helpful.