When you want a family-friendly SUV that can make driving right for your group, you might want to put the Honda Pilot vs the Kia Telluride.
The 2025 Honda Pilot and Kia Telluride are two of the top choices in the three-row SUV segment—but which one deserves your driveway? We compare powertrains, fuel economy, interior space, tech, towing, and pricing to help you decide whether the practical Pilot or stylish Telluride is the better family hauler for your needs.
The battle you want to fight
There aren’t any losers in this battle; it’s just the right choice for you, between two midsize three-row SUVs. Both models provide versatile transportation that makes them great choices for families to have seating for up to eight people. Once you choose the SUV that makes the most sense, you’ll have a vehicle that you can depend on to give your family a great drive for many years.
Which SUV is more reliable?
Both of these SUVs have been rated by JD Power to provide predicted reliability scores. The Kia Telluride scored 83 out of 100 while the Pilot scored 80 out of 100. These scores allow both SUVs to fit in the Great category, which is jus below the top scoring category of Best.
Honda gives you a three-year/36,000-mile limited warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain coverage. The Telluride bests the Pilot with a five-year/60,000-mile limited warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.
This means the Kia Telluride is ahead in terms of predicted reliability and has a much better warranty.
Which SUV has more comfortable seats?
When you put the Honda Pilot vs Kia Telluride up against each other for seating comfort, one of them stands out above the other. Both models have seating for up to eight people and the choice of captain’s chairs in the center row. These two models also have enough room in the third row for adults to enjoy the ride from these locations.
The Pilot stands out against the Telluride because it comes with heated and power-adjustable front seats, which are optional features in the Kia SUV. Leather upholstery and heated second-row seats are also available in both models.
The Honda Pilot is ahead in terms of seating comfort.
Which SUV has more cargo space?
The Telluride and Pilot are class leaders in terms of cargo capacity, ensuring neither SUV leaves you wanting more from them. Both models have up to 87 cubic feet of space when you fold down the second and third-row seats. The Pilot has more storage behind the second row, measuring 48.5 cubic feet compared to 46 cubes for the Telluride. This flips when you measure the space behind the third row. This space is 21 cubic feet in the Telluride and 18.6 cubic feet in the Pilot.
The Telluride only receives an edge here because it has more cargo capacity when all seats are upright and in use.
Does one SUV stand out for interior quality?
If you’re putting the Honda Pilot vs. Kia Telluride together as a comparison, you’ll want to learn about the cabin quality. The Pilot is contemporary and attractive, with a solid build quality. The top trim doesn’t have many upgrades compared to the lower trims in the range. On the other hand, the Kia Telluride could easily be placed in the luxury SUV class for its interior quality. Every trim has a well-built cabin with superior materials. The top trims are plush, decked in wood, microsuede, and smooth Nappa leather.
The Kia Telluride has a substantial advantage in terms of interior quality.
Which SUV has better interior tech features?
Both SUVs have impressive features. The Pilot gives you a standard 7-inch touchscreen that is responsive and easy to use, but it’s not a large display in the class and doesn’t have the most modern graphics. The Pilot also has the desired level of connectivity. Turning to the Telluride, we see standard satellite radio, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and navigation. It also comes with a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen that is much larger than the Pilot’s screen.
The Telluride has better tech features that make it more enjoyable to drive when you want to stay connected.
The clear winner
In the contest of the Honda Pilot vs. Kia Telluride, the Telluride is the clear winner. It has the tech you want, better interior quality, and is more reliable. It also leads the way in terms of towing, safety, and acceleration, making it a much more advanced and enjoyable SUV to drive.
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