We’ve got a battle of the family haulers for you today. Do you really need the 2022 Nissan Armada with its luxury bells and whistles, or will the 2021 Kia Telluride suffice? Is saving thousands with the Kia Telluride instead of the Nissan Armada worth it? 

The 2021 Kia Telluride vs. 2022 Nissan Armada 

The pricing for the 2022 Nissan Armada was just released. It starts at about $50,395. This price includes a $500 increase from the previous model year. But the 2021 Kia Telluride comes in as much cheaper, with an MSRP of about $32,190. 

But because the Telluride is about $18,000 less than the Armada, it may include less comfort, power, and convenience features. So, let’s see which one of these three-row SUVs suits your individual needs. 

Does the Telluride or Armada have more power? 

The 2021 Kia Telluride comes with a 3.8-liter V6 engine with 291 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque. It can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 7.5 seconds, which is average for its class. But it’s not exactly sporty. 

With the 2022 Nissan Armada, you get a 5.6-liter V8 engine with 400 hp and 413 lb-ft of torque. It can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 6.7 seconds. Despite having more power, it’s only about one second faster. 

You can equip the Telluride with all-wheel drive and the Armada with four-wheel drive. The Telluride can tow up to 5,000 lbs and carry a payload of up to 1,565 lbs. The Armada can tow up to 8,500 lbs and carry a payload of up to 1,723 lbs. If you plan on towing larger trailers and campers, then go with the Armada. 

Both the Nissan Armada and Kia Telluride have smooth brakes with limited body roll. The Telluride may have a quieter interior. Also, the Armada has larger tires, meaning it can be a bit bumpier over rough roads. 

The Telluride offers an abundance of space in each row, but the front passenger seat is slightly limited on leg space. The Armada has a smaller third-row seat, and the captain’s chairs in the second row are fixed in place. 

Does the Armada or Telluride have better features? 

The 2022 Nissan Armada has 16.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats with up to 95.4 cubic feet total. With the 2021 Kia Telluride, you get 21 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats with up to 87 cubic feet total. 

Both SUVs offer plenty of luxury touches such as heated and ventilated seats, open-pore wood trim, leather upholstery, and optional captain’s chairs. The power-folding third row in the Armada could be faster. 

The Armada comes with a 12.3-inch touchscreen in the front, and dual 8.0-inch screens in the rear are optional. The Telluride has a standard 8.0-inch screen that can be upgraded to a 10.3-inch display. Both offer Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but the Armada can connect wirelessly. 

Both the Armada and Telluride offer standard automated emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane departure warning. The Telluride also features standard forward-collision warning. 

The Nissan Armada may have a few extra luxury touches and offers a lot more muscle for towing. But the Kia Telluride provides plenty of power, space, and comfort. If you don’t need the extra bells and whistles, you can save thousands.