Compare the2022 Kia TellurideVS 2022 Volvo XC90

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Telluride are reminded to check the back seat when a sensor determines the back seat is occupied. The XC90 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Both the Telluride and the XC90 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH, results indicate that the Kia Telluride is safer than the Volvo XC90:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Telluride is .4% to 4.8% less likely to roll over than the XC90.

The Telluride comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The XC90’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Telluride 6 years and 50,000 miles longer than Volvo covers the XC90. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the XC90 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 3 times as many Kia dealers as there are Volvo dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Telluride’s warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Telluride’s reliability 57 points higher than the XC90.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Telluride first among upper midsize suvs in their 2021 Initial Quality Study. The XC90 isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia 6th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 63 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volvo is ranked 29th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia third in reliability, above the industry average. With 46 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volvo is ranked 25th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 3 places higher in reliability than Volvo.

The Telluride’s 3.8 DOHC V6 produces 41 more horsepower (291 vs. 250) and 4 lbs.-ft. more torque (262 vs. 258) than the XC90 T5’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Kia Telluride is faster than the XC90 T6 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Kia Telluride uses regular unleaded gasoline. The XC90 requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Telluride stops much shorter than the XC90:

For better traction, the Telluride has larger tires than the XC90 (245/60R18 vs. 235/55R19).

The Telluride has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The XC90’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The front and rear suspension of the Telluride uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the XC90, which uses transverse leafs springs in the rear. Coil springs compress more progressively and offer more suspension travel for a smoother ride with less bottoming out.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Telluride is 1.4 inches wider in the front and 1.8 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the XC90.

The Telluride SX 4x4 handles at .81 G’s, while the XC90 T6 AWD pulls only .77 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Kia Telluride may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 to 650 pounds less than the Volvo XC90.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Telluride SX 4x4 is quieter than the XC90 T6 AWD:

The Telluride has standard seating for 8 passengers; the XC90 can only carry 7.

The Telluride has 2 inches more front headroom, .5 inches more front legroom, 2.9 inches more front hip room, 3.9 inches more front shoulder room, 1.7 inches more rear headroom, 5.4 inches more rear legroom, 1.5 inches more rear hip room, 4.6 inches more rear shoulder room, 1.8 inches more third row headroom and 8.4 inches more third row shoulder room than the XC90.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Telluride’s middle and third row seats recline. The XC90’s third row seats don’t recline.

The Telluride’s cargo area provides more volume than the XC90.

The Telluride’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the XC90’s (5000 vs. 4000 pounds).

The Telluride has a much higher standard payload capacity than the XC90 (1662 vs. 1210 lbs.).

The Telluride has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the XC90 (1664 vs. 1210 lbs.).

A maintenance reminder system is standard on the Telluride to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals based on odometer mileage. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer. Volvo doesn’t offer a maintenance reminder on the XC90.

The Telluride’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The XC90’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

The Telluride has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The XC90 doesn’t offer a locking fuel/charge port door.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Telluride has standard extendable sun visors. The XC90 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The Telluride EX/SX has standard front air conditioned seats and the Telluride SX offers them optionally in the second row. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The XC90 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

Insurance will cost less for the Telluride owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Telluride will cost $370 less than the XC90 over a five-year period.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Telluride is less expensive to operate than the XC90 because typical repairs cost much less on the Telluride than the XC90, including $484 less for a water pump, $218 less for a starter, $33 less for fuel injection, $131 less for a fuel pump and $45 less for front struts.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Kia Telluride will be $10602 to $15301 less than for the Volvo XC90.

Consumer Reports® chose the Kia Telluride as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Volvo XC90 isn't recommended.

The Telluride was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2 of the last 2 years. The XC90 has never been a Car and Driver “Top Ten” pick.

Motor Trend selected the Telluride as their 2020 Sport Utility of the Year. The XC90 was Sport Utility of the Year in 2016.

The Kia Telluride outsold the Volvo XC90 by over two to one during the 2021 model year.