More Competition on the way!

[Alan]

Hi all,
My wife and I are looking to upgrade from our 2013 Mazda CX-5. It's been very reliable, reasonably fun to drive and easy to live with over the years. It's now time to upgrade and the Kia Telluride is top of our shopping list. We have test driven the highly praised and seemingly unstoppable Telluride and we came away impressed. We want more space (Passenger and cargo), the latest in safety and driver tech as well as well as more comfort and available power. The better than average warranty is a nice plus too. The Telluride appears to cover all our wishes. We are waiting to hear official news on the 2022 model. We are hoping for more color choices, particularly for the exterior. On the website are listed two blacks, two whites and three grays! A couple of different shades of blue would be a nice addition and another light interior option (non-gray) maybe a light cream color. I think for the 2022 model Wireless Apple Carplay should be available especially at the price point of the higher trims. All in all there's not much to complain about except it's availability and excessive mark-ups in many cases in the SX-P (NF) trim in particular.

More Competition: 2022 PATHFINDER

Enter the all new (except the 3.5L Engine) 2022 NISSAN PATHFINDER. I've been waiting patiently on the reviews to hit the net and yesterday the driving impressions and pricing embargo were lifted. I think competition among manufacturers is a good thing all and it's nice to see another new offering in the 3-row SUV market. It's geared more for the outdoor enthusiast (light duty) and it kind of has a Land Rover Discovery look about it especially with the available two tone exterior color choices with the black roof and pillars. I've watched many of the released reviews on Youtube yesterday from Redline Reviews, Alex on Autos, Driven Car Reviews with Tom Voelk, Raiti's Rides and read Car and Driver and The Car Connection's reviews. It's priced competitively with the Telluride and does appear to offer a nice bang for your buck!

Overall it seems to get favorable reviews (no vehicle is perfect) and is a big step up in driving dynamics, exterior and interior style, comfort, standard and available safety tech, modern tech (infotainment and available digital dash), noise isolation and passenger/cargo management. In my humble opinion and as a car enthusiast it does look packaged well and may ironically offer better value for your money compared to the "value brand" and it's Kia Telluride. This is especially the case since considering the ongoing overwhelming demand for the Telluride as mentioned above has pushed many dealers to way over inflate top trim Tellurides. The Kia Telluride in SX-P (NF) trim is still a great vehicle at $55,000 or above but the value proposition now becomes an issue. When it was first released just two years ago it was $46,000ish for an SX-P.

The 2022 Pathfinder is priced competitively with other 3 row SUV'S and as mentioned appears to have a strong value proposition among it's peers. Nissan were quick to point out its advantages over it's competitors and in regard to the Telluride it states the following are available on the 2022 Pathfinder and not available at any price point on the Telluride.

-6,000 Lb. max towing capacity
-Around view monitor with moving object detection
-9-speed transmission
-Wireless Apple Carplay
-Fully digital dashboard
-Hill decent control
-Wi-fi hotspot
-Type C USB ports
-Rear Automatic Braking
-Full LED lights front and rear on all trims (not on turn signals or back up lights)

For me personally I'd appreciate the Wireless Apple Carplay, the fully digital dash and the rear auto braking. You can also get darkened chrome if you don't like the "shiny chrome" that comes as standard for the U shape grill accent and exterior PAHFINDER lettering.

It doesn't quite offer the same passenger or cargo volume as the Telluride, landing right between the new Sorento and the Telluride but this may not be an issue depending on your needs. The Telluride definitely has the bigger third row but for those with middle row car seats for kids they don't need to be removed to access that third row. With just the touch of a button on the second row seats the car seat in place slides forward allowing easy access to the third row (obviously not with your child in the seat while doing this!) From the reviews I think the Telluride is a little more refined overall and has the better engine. The Pathfinder has ditched the CVT transmission for a 9 speed auto which many will appreciate and appears to offer a much better driving experience than the previous generation but overall it sounds like the Tellurides 3.8L is the more responsive unit especially in higher gears. I like the available two tone color options along with the full body color options. I've noticed some Telluride owners are vinyl wrapping their roofs to achieve this two tone look so it's nice that Nissan are offering this as an option and apparently surveyed people for feedback for design input. The interior color options look great too in my opinion. Among them a light caramel and off-white. They offer an exterior color similar to wolf gray but Nissan's can be had with a light off-white/cream color unlike the Telluride.

With it's good looks (subjective) available digital dash, wireless Carplay among other available features the new Pathfinder looks like a solid choice for those wanting a family hauler and should give the Telluride a run for it's money!

I'll be interested to test drive it when available and see how it stacks up against the Telluride in person. For now on paper at least it's between these two for us. We're generally not impulse buyers especially for large purchases like a new vehicle and can wait to see what makes the most sense for us.

Is this new 2022 Pathfinder enough to persuade potential Telluride owners to cross-shop at Nissan dealerships?

 

[rockadile]

I am not a fan of the looks of the 2022 Pathfinder...or any Nissan for that matter. Although I will be happy if it diverts buyers from the Telluride. Hopefully then I will move up in line for my order.

 

[wtuckermoore]

That's unfair to compare prices between '20 SX-P and '22 SX-P (NF), as NF is 1.4k extra.

And either way, your numbers are off. A '20 SX-P MSRP was 45.5k, and '22 SX-P MSRP is only 47k, far less than your stated 55k.

 

[LosMaryland070]

Wow great analysis. I am in the same boat. Watched a lot 2022 pathfinder reviews yesterday and was perplexed for a moment. I love it’s digital cluster, gear shifter, pass through under gear shifter, cubby above glove box, cargo compartments under trunk floor, full panoramic sunroof and wireless CarPlay. Despite all that telluride exterior is just so better looking and the blind spot monitor view is awesome. But this could be a tough one. I wish telluride would add digital cluster and wireless CarPlay and it would be even greater.

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[Familyman20]

Alan do you work for KIA or Nissan?

 

[SC300ES]

This Pathfinder is def much more improved than the last one. It looks promising with potentially a lower price at comparable levels.

 

[Alan]

That's unfair to compare prices between '20 SX-P and '22 SX-P (NF), as NF is 1.4k extra.

And either way, your numbers are off. A '20 SX-P MSRP was 45.5k, and '22 SX-P MSRP is only 47k, far less than your stated 55k.

I never said it was 55k, I'm talking about the value at that price which many have said dealers are looking for with a fully loaded model. Not too many it appears are getting the SX trim's with packages at or below MSRP.

 

[Alan]

Alan do you work for KIA or Nissan?

Independent, haha! I follow the car market and I find it interesting to compare competing models. The Telluride is worthy of all it's praise. I've been following it since it was a pre-production model. No vehicle is perfect but Kia is definitely on an upswing putting out great looking vehicles and giving customers what they want for the most part. The Kia is missing a few things the new Pathfinder offers and vise versa. Kia did a great job with the Telluride. It certainly has presence and substance to bout. Nissan are making a rebound and I think the Pathfinder will do well too. Looks aren't everything but I think after the Telluride the Pathfinder is the next best looking 3 row SUV. For example the Pilot is getting long in the tooth and the Highlander won't turn many heads just my humble opinion!

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[vinylhaircut]

I don't think value prop is an issue at all for Telluride. When I was shopping, I was comparing against vehicles costing $20K more and above, and preferred Telluride. The fact that people are willing to pay over MSRP for an SX-P demonstrates that the value prop is still very strong. Will the same be true for Pathfinder? I doubt it, but time will tell.

 

[zhelder]

The Telluride and Palisade have nothing to worry about. The 2022 Pathfinder is a big improvement over the previous generation, no doubt. But the Telluride (and I think the Palisade) still looks better inside and out, is a pinch smaller outside and larger inside (large outside and small inside are not a desirable combo), and the tech in the Kyundai cars still has the edge (although Nissan did a nice job with the digital dash).

 

[Alan]

I don't think value prop is an issue at all for Telluride. When I was shopping, I was comparing against vehicles costing $20K more and above, and preferred Telluride. The fact that people are willing to pay over MSRP for an SX-P demonstrates that the value prop is still very strong. Will the same be true for Pathfinder? I doubt it, but time will tell.

To each his own but here's my take on the value proposition. The Telluride as you know was a brand new vehicle to the market a couple of years ago along with it's twin (non-identical!) the Palisade. A three row family SUV designed to take on the Highlander, Pilot, Atlas, Accent, Pathfinder etc. They all fall in that low 30k's to upper 40k's price range without upgraded packages. That's what it's supposed to be cross-shopped with and given how good and successful it has become it is a tremendous value in it's price range relative to it's competition. Outside of it's price range in the 50k-60k range it's value has to be diluted somewhat. It's not meant to compete with much more expensive brand models such as BMW X7, Mercedes GLS, Audi Q7, Land Rover Discovery etc. It's flattering for Kia and highly profitable but The Telluride is not a luxury performance SUV and as good as it is it doesn't offer the level of luxury materials, power or performance that 60K plus luxury vehicles typically have. The Kia has become a bit of a status symbol for some I think, some owners are doing cosmetic changes to their Tellurides like black vinyl roofs and swapping out wheels for fancier rims etc. to personalize it and add to it's looks and that's fine but It still has the same engine and underpinnings regardless if you buy the 32K version or spring for the loaded SX-P NF addition inflated by many dealers into the mid 50k's. Again it's a fantastic vehicle in it's class and no question is a looker but personally I can't imagine cross-shopping a vehicle priced 20K more than an SX Telluride for example and going with the Kia. If I needed more room than an Audi Q7 or BMW X7 then your into minivans or large SUV"S like the Suburban, Navigator etc.

 

[vinylhaircut]

"If I needed more room than an Audi Q7 or BMW X7 then your into minivans or large SUV"S like the Suburban, Navigator etc."

Or a Telluride.

There have been lots of people on this forum who made the same comparisons that I did. I'm certainly not saying that Telluride will *often* be compared with those vehicles, but it has certainly found a spot in the market that was lacking ... something nicer than the Highlander class, roomier than the Q7 class, and less expensive (and not as giant) than the Navigator class.

Regardless, the proof is in the pudding. People - lots of them - are willing to wait a long time just to pay over MSRP for it, and that shows the value prop right there. Pathfinder might end up being a fine car, but it likely will be quite awhile before Telluride supply catches up with demand.

______________________________

 

[Zipp]

Hi all,
My wife and I are looking to upgrade from our 2013 Mazda CX-5. It's been very reliable, reasonably fun to drive and easy to live with over the years. It's now time to upgrade and the Kia Telluride is top of our shopping list. We have test driven the highly praised and seemingly unstoppable Telluride and we came away impressed. We want more space (Passenger and cargo), the latest in safety and driver tech as well as well as more comfort and available power. The better than average warranty is a nice plus too. The Telluride appears to cover all our wishes. We are waiting to hear official news on the 2022 model. We are hoping for more color choices, particularly for the exterior. On the website are listed two blacks, two whites and three grays! A couple of different shades of blue would be a nice addition and another light interior option (non-gray) maybe a light cream color. I think for the 2022 model Wireless Apple Carplay should be available especially at the price point of the higher trims. All in all there's not much to complain about except it's availability and excessive mark-ups in many cases in the SX-P (NF) trim in particular.

More Competition: 2022 PATHFINDER

Enter the all new (except the 3.5L Engine) 2022 NISSAN PATHFINDER. I've been waiting patiently on the reviews to hit the net and yesterday the driving impressions and pricing embargo were lifted. I think competition among manufacturers is a good thing all and it's nice to see another new offering in the 3-row SUV market. It's geared more for the outdoor enthusiast (light duty) and it kind of has a Land Rover Discovery look about it especially with the available two tone exterior color choices with the black roof and pillars. I've watched many of the released reviews on Youtube yesterday from Redline Reviews, Alex on Autos, Driven Car Reviews with Tom Voelk, Raiti's Rides and read Car and Driver and The Car Connection's reviews. It's priced competitively with the Telluride and does appear to offer a nice bang for your buck!

Overall it seems to get favorable reviews (no vehicle is perfect) and is a big step up in driving dynamics, exterior and interior style, comfort, standard and available safety tech, modern tech (infotainment and available digital dash), noise isolation and passenger/cargo management. In my humble opinion and as a car enthusiast it does look packaged well and may ironically offer better value for your money compared to the "value brand" and it's Kia Telluride. This is especially the case since considering the ongoing overwhelming demand for the Telluride as mentioned above has pushed many dealers to way over inflate top trim Tellurides. The Kia Telluride in SX-P (NF) trim is still a great vehicle at $55,000 or above but the value proposition now becomes an issue. When it was first released just two years ago it was $46,000ish for an SX-P.

The 2022 Pathfinder is priced competitively with other 3 row SUV'S and as mentioned appears to have a strong value proposition among it's peers. Nissan were quick to point out its advantages over it's competitors and in regard to the Telluride it states the following are available on the 2022 Pathfinder and not available at any price point on the Telluride.

-6,000 Lb. max towing capacity
-Around view monitor with moving object detection
-9-speed transmission
-Wireless Apple Carplay
-Fully digital dashboard
-Hill decent control
-Wi-fi hotspot
-Type C USB ports
-Rear Automatic Braking
-Full LED lights front and rear on all trims (not on turn signals or back up lights)

For me personally I'd appreciate the Wireless Apple Carplay, the fully digital dash and the rear auto braking. You can also get darkened chrome if you don't like the "shiny chrome" that comes as standard for the U shape grill accent and exterior PAHFINDER lettering.

It doesn't quite offer the same passenger or cargo volume as the Telluride, landing right between the new Sorento and the Telluride but this may not be an issue depending on your needs. The Telluride definitely has the bigger third row but for those with middle row car seats for kids they don't need to be removed to access that third row. With just the touch of a button on the second row seats the car seat in place slides forward allowing easy access to the third row (obviously not with your child in the seat while doing this!) From the reviews I think the Telluride is a little more refined overall and has the better engine. The Pathfinder has ditched the CVT transmission for a 9 speed auto which many will appreciate and appears to offer a much better driving experience than the previous generation but overall it sounds like the Tellurides 3.8L is the more responsive unit especially in higher gears. I like the available two tone color options along with the full body color options. I've noticed some Telluride owners are vinyl wrapping their roofs to achieve this two tone look so it's nice that Nissan are offering this as an option and apparently surveyed people for feedback for design input. The interior color options look great too in my opinion. Among them a light caramel and off-white. They offer an exterior color similar to wolf gray but Nissan's can be had with a light off-white/cream color unlike the Telluride.

With it's good looks (subjective) available digital dash, wireless Carplay among other available features the new Pathfinder looks like a solid choice for those wanting a family hauler and should give the Telluride a run for it's money!

I'll be interested to test drive it when available and see how it stacks up against the Telluride in person. For now on paper at least it's between these two for us. We're generally not impulse buyers especially for large purchases like a new vehicle and can wait to see what makes the most sense for us.

Is this new 2022 Pathfinder enough to persuade potential Telluride owners to cross-shop at Nissan dealerships?

I just got my Telluride last weekend, and LOVE it! That being said, this is really interesting comparison and analysis ot the two.
I mentioned the new Pathfinder coming this summer to my husband... Do we wait and check it out? I was driving a 2014 Xterra Pro 4x...
we went for the Telluride and ordered in April.
I'm so happy we did, the Telluride lives up to the hype.
But, I'm totally interested in this thread, and curious of opinions on the new Pathfinder. Would love to hear feedback if anyone gets to test drive and compare the two!

 

[Pcarfan]

Forget the Pathfinder, the new Jeep
Grand Cherokee L will be a solid competitor even if it’s more expensive for the top trim.

 

[Alan]

View attachment 19485
Forget the Pathfinder, the new Jeep
Grand Cherokee L will be a solid competitor even if it’s more expensive for the top trim.

Yea, I've following the news and videos on this new model. It's looks like a nice addition for Jeep with their first 3 row. You can certainly venture further into the wilderness with this than a Pathfinder although given it's wheelbase length obviously the shorter Grand Cherokee will be even more capable off-road. With the available air suspension and all the off-road goodies it should be a great seller for families looking for that outdoor capability. Interior looks great especially in higher trims. It get's pricey in the higher trims, high 50k's and up to get all the good stuff. I don't think the fuel economy will be a strong point especially with the 5.7 V8 but I'm sure it will have plenty of get up and go! Pity Jeep don't have a more efficient turbo V6 like BMW X5 or Genesis GV80 to power it. I've never owned a Jeep but from what I've read reliability isn't its strong suit much like Land Rover. Looks great though and I'm sure will be a big seller for Jeep!

 

[Point37]

pathfinder got rid of their atrocious CVT finally...i will not own another nissan...nor another CVT

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[gcw07]

I've been waiting to see what this new Pathfinder ends up being. So far, it looks interesting. It is definitely on my list for a test drive and compare to the Telluride. I'm a little hesitant on the Telluride and not because of the car itself at all. The car itself it great, but all my local Kia dealerships are shady as can be and seem stuck in the old cheap Kia of 20-30 years ago. So servicing the vehicle is a concern. My local Nissan dealer seems good. Still haven't decided until I can test drive the Pathfinder and find a Kia dealership that will let me test drive a Telluride again (previously test drove a used one on a Toyota lot).

 

[YEH]

? is, will the increased competition sap some of the demand for the still white-hot Telluride?

11 days supply for the Telluride.

In comparison, the Palisade is at 24 days.

The Carnival is at 20 days and doing really well fir Kia.

 

[FutureBuyer]

The new pathfinder ....first take...meh styling, IMO..however....it warrants further research...thanks.
Pathfinder 7” of ground clearance....ugh.

The new trim of the explorer looks promising (but I’ve never liked the explorer).

The telluride is too popular.....I wish they would add a wilderness trim, but when the things are selling so fast...why bother?

 

[LosMaryland070]

Grand Cherokee L is amazing. But so expensive.