The three-row midsize SUV continues to rise in fame. The Kia and Volkswagen brand offer one of the most exceptional options in this class—the 2022 Kia Telluride and the 2022 VW Atlas. While this particular segment is swarming with lots of incredible options offering a decent amount of passenger and cargo space, the Telluride and the Atlas bring exceptional capabilities, astonishing values, and loads of unique appeal to this competitive segment.
If you’re in the market hoping to lease a well-rounded three-row midsize SUV that easily stands out in all rounds, the 2022 Kia Telluride lease deal and the 2022 Volkswagen Atlas lease deal are some of the most compelling options. They have exemplary personalities, attractive styling, and spacious and comfortable cabin with family-friendly features. Pitting these two against each other, which of them is the most exceptional midsize family SUV to lease?
What’s New?
Kia has been hitting the goldmine with the Telluride for years now. Seating up to eight, this three-row midsize SUV is the largest in the 2022 Kia lineup. Most shoppers looking to lease a family-friendly SUV always consider leasing this Kia’s SUV, thanks to its near-luxury interior, comfortable third row, pleasant ride quality, and a swath of standard features.
For 2022, Telluride gets minor changes from Kia, including the new Kia logo. The brand’s new badging is now visible on the grille, steering wheel, and rear liftgate. Although the Telluride was first introduced in 2020, the 2022 model year witnesses a Telluride with a restyled grille and updated infotainment system. All 2022 Telluride now affords a 10.25-inch center screen, navigation, and automatic climate control as standard. Kia also stacked the new Telluride with a new semi-autonomous adaptive cruise control that helps get the Telluride in and out of tight spots. Higher trim levels gain a wireless charger and more advanced driver-assist and safety tech.
Like the Telluride, the Volkswagen Atlas is the largest model in the 2022 Volkswagen lineup. This midsize three-row crossover SUV offers nearly all the desirable traits that shoppers want to see in a family-oriented midsize crossover—ample passenger and cargo space, easy-to-use tech features, and a blend of composed handling and comfortable ride.
Since its debut in 2018, the Atlas has seen many updates throughout its lifetime, including revised styling, upgraded standard features, and more contemporary amenities. For 2022, Atlas drops its base S model, making the SE model the new base model. The new 2022 Atlas entry level also packs more standard features, including an 8.0-inch digital gauge cluster. Adding this base model with the Technology package will give you more convenience features like a standard third-row USB-C port, a standard trailer hitch with the V6, and an optional black 20-inch wheel package. Moving up the trim level, the SEL model now affords standard 20-inch wheels as well as standard all-wheel drive. Finally, the top of the trim level, Atlas SEL Premium, receives a standard R-Line package.
Powertrain & Transmission
While the 2022 Telluride now offers a sole engine, the 2022 Atlas offers a choice of two powertrains. If you need more horsepower and torque, you’re better off with the 2022 Kia Telluride lease deal, as the new Telluride, with its 3.8-liter V6, delivers 56 more horsepower (291 against the Atlas 235) and 4 lbs.-ft. more torque than the Atlas.
Powering all 2022 Kia Telluride is a 3.8-liter naturally aspirated V6 that churns out 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This 3.8-liter V6 sends power through an eight-speed automatic transmission to the front wheels, but an all-wheel-drive system is also available.
The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas comes standard with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that generates 235 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. There’s also a more powerful 3.6-liter V6 engine that pumps out 276 hp and 266 lb-ft of torque. Both engine pairs with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Handling & Performance
When it comes to handling and performance, neither of these two options delivers a composed handling and thrilling performance that you can get from more athletic options. Still, both SUVs surely deliver a decent performance.
If you want to lease a midsize three-row with zippier engine performance, leasing the 2022 Volkswagen Atlas will serve you better than the 2022 Kia Telluride lease deal.
The 2022 Telluride offers impressive handling. It is easier to maneuver this three-row crossover SUV in and out of tight spaces. Although the new Telluride offers a comfortable and quiet ride, the ride quality still needs an improvement as the suspension doesn’t do a decent job absorbing bumps.
On the other hand, the Atlas is not easy to maneuver over tight spots as the Telluride. Still, it affords near-athletic characteristics, delivering impressive driving dynamics. Its steering is very firm and responsive, with the brakes delivering confident stopping power. The Atlas never feels underwhelmed, whether on the highway or in the city. Its suspension does a better job of absorbing road imperfections than the 2022 Telluride.
Fuel Economy
Fuel economy numbers are not great with either of these SUVs. The 2022 Kia Telluride earns an EPA estimated 20 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway with the standard FWD, while the 2022 Atlas, with the base engine configuration, gets an EPA estimated 21 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway.
Interior, Cargo
Although the Volkswagen Atlas prioritizes interior room over everything inside, while it nearly succeeds in this, offering a cavernous cargo and passenger space, it still falls behind the 2022 Telluride when it comes to passenger space and cargo hold.
The 2022 Telluride seats up to eight passengers, while the 2022 Atlas seats seven. Also, you get up to 21 cubic feet of space behind the third-row seats when you lease the 2022 Kia Telluride against the 2022 Atlas’ 20.6 cubic feet of cargo space.
Against the simple interior of the Atlas with a straightforward layout, few cheap materials but still decent, the 2022 Telluride comes with a near upscale interior, stacked to the brim with quality materials and loads of desirable tech features.
The 2022 Kia Telluride and the 2022 Volkswagen Atlas stands out in the three-row midsize SUV segment, thanks to their unmatched blend of value and capability. To get any of these family-friendly SUVs at the best possible bargain, contact VIP Auto Lease Of Long Island 164 Northern Blvd, Great Neck, NY 11021 516-487-2886 https://www.vipautoli.com/.
