3-Row SUV Showdown · All-New Kia Telluride
Kia Telluride vsChevy Traverse
More warranty. A hybrid the Traverse can’t match. A lower starting price.
Two of America’s most cross-shopped three-row SUVs, head to head. The redesigned Kia Telluride counters the Chevy Traverse with nearly double the powertrain warranty, a 329-hp Hybrid the Traverse doesn’t offer, and a lower starting price — while the Traverse answers with a stronger standard engine, a bigger standard screen, and Super Cruise. Here’s an honest look at how they stack up at Dean McCrary Kia in Mobile, AL.
10yr/100kKia powertrain warranty
329 hpTelluride Hybrid — Traverse has no hybrid at all
$39,190Starting MSRP*
8Seats standard
5,000 lbMax towing, properly equipped
6×KBB Best Buy winner
The Quick Verdict
Four Reasons the Telluride Wins
Put the all-new Kia Telluride next to the Chevy Traverse and it leads on coverage, hybrid choice, and value — while the Traverse holds real advantages of its own. The honest short version before the deep dive.
Warranty Leader
2×the coverage
10yr/100k vs Traverse’s 5yr/60k
Kia’s powertrain warranty runs nearly double Chevrolet’s — and every new Telluride here adds Warranty Forever on top.
Hybrid Power
329hp hybrid
Traverse offers no hybrid — at all
The first-ever Telluride Hybrid makes 329 hp combined at an EPA-estimated 35 MPG. The Traverse is gas-only, single-engine.
Value Leader
~$1,610lower start
$39,190 vs ~$40,800 Traverse LT
The Telluride starts lower and includes the full driver-assist suite standard from the base LX — plus a hybrid option Chevrolet doesn’t offer.
Award Leader
6×KBB Best Buy
Plus World Car of the Year
World Car of the Year, MotorTrend SUV of the Year, and #1 J.D. Power Initial Quality — a trophy case the Traverse is still chasing.
Pricing & Configuration
Trim Range & Starting MSRP
Both open near the $40K mark. The Telluride starts lower and reaches further — with X-Line, X-Pro, and a Hybrid the Traverse can’t counter. The Traverse answers with a bigger standard screen and Super Cruise.
Configuration
Kia TellurideAll-New
Chevy Traverse2026
Starting MSRP*
$39,190Lower Start
~$40,800
Trim Range
LX → X-Pro SX Prestige + HybridWider Range + Hybrid
LT → RS (4 trims, gas only)
Powertrains
Gas + HybridHybrid Option
Gas turbo I4 only
Standard Touchscreen
12.3″ (dual 12.3″ available)
17.7″ — largest standard screen in the class
Off-Road Trim
X-Line, X-Pro (9.1″ clearance, e-LSD)More Clearance
Z71 (~7.8″ clearance⚠, Twin-Clutch AWD)
Drivetrain
FWD standard, AWD available
FWD standard, AWD available
Engines & Efficiency
A Stronger Standard Engine vs a Hybrid Option That Doesn’t Exist.
The Traverse’s only engine genuinely out-powers the Telluride’s standard turbo. But it’s the only engine Chevy offers — no hybrid, and roughly 40% worse fuel economy than the available Telluride Hybrid.
Kia Telluride
2 Powertrain Options
- 2.5L Turbo I4 — 274 hp / 311 lb-ft
- 1.6L Turbo Hybrid — 329 hp combined, ~35 MPG
- 8-speed automatic (gas), 6-speed automatic (hybrid)
- Standard FWD, available AWD (standard on X-Line / X-Pro)
Chevy Traverse
1 Powertrain Option
- 2.5L Turbo I4 — 328 hp / 326 lb-ft
- 8-speed automatic
- Standard FWD, available AWD
- No hybrid powertrain available
Powertrain Spec
Kia Telluride
Chevy Traverse
Base Gas Horsepower
274 hp (turbo)
328 hp (turbo) — Traverse leads
Base Gas Torque
311 lb-ft
326 lb-ft — Traverse leads
Hybrid Available
Yes — 329 hpExclusive
Not offered
Combined Fuel Economy
~35 MPG (Hybrid)Best Efficiency
21 MPG (gas only, all trims)
Max Towing
5,000 lb
5,000 lb
Room, Efficiency & Peace of Mind
The Differences You Live With Daily
Both seat up to eight and tow up to 5,000 lb. Where the Telluride pulls ahead is coverage and fuel choice; the Traverse’s single engine hits harder off the line.
Peace of Mind
100kmile warranty
vs Traverse’s 60k-mile powertrain
Ten years or 100,000 miles of Kia powertrain coverage, plus Warranty Forever at Dean McCrary — years of extra protection.
Efficiency
~35mpg hybrid
Traverse has no hybrid answer
The Telluride Hybrid’s EPA-estimated 35 MPG combined saves real money at the pump — the Traverse’s single gas engine tops out at 21 MPG combined.
Standard Power
Traversewins this one
328 hp / 326 lb-ft vs Telluride’s 274 hp / 311 lb-ft
Credit where it’s due: the Traverse’s standard turbo four genuinely out-powers the Telluride’s standard engine. If you never plan to consider the Hybrid, it’s a real Traverse strength.
Technology & Safety
A Bigger Screen. Two Hands-Free Systems.
The Traverse’s 17.7-inch display is genuinely the biggest in the class, and Super Cruise is a well-regarded hands-free system. The Telluride answers with more technology standard across the lineup, not just the top trim.
Kia Telluride
12.3″ touchscreen standard — available dual 12.3″ panoramic displays
Available Highway Driving Assist 2 hands-free-ready highway driving
Available 14-speaker Meridian premium audio
Full driver-assist suite standard from base LX
Standard wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto
Available 360° camera & Blind-Spot View Monitor
10-year / 100,000-mile powertrain warranty + Warranty Forever
Chevy Traverse
17.7″ touchscreen standard — largest in the class
Available Super Cruise hands-free highway driving — MotorTrend’s best hands-free tech, 2025
Google built-in with Google Maps & Google Gemini
Chevy Safety Assist driver-assist suite standard
Standard wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto
No hybrid powertrain — gas turbo four only
5-year / 60,000-mile powertrain warranty; 3-year / 36,000-mile basic
Independent Recognition
The Awards Don’t Lie
Analysts have measured both for years. The Telluride keeps collecting the hardware the segment gets judged against.
World Car Awards
World Car of the Year
The Telluride’s crown — alongside MotorTrend SUV of the Year and North American Utility of the Year. No Traverse has matched that trio.
Kelley Blue Book
Best Buy, 6 Straight Years
KBB’s midsize SUV Best Buy every year it was eligible — a near-luxury feel at an honest price.
J.D. Power · 2025 IQS
#1 in Initial Quality
Fewest reported problems in the first 90 days — top of the upper-midsize SUV segment.
NHTSA
5-Star Safety — Both
Both the Traverse and the outgoing Telluride earned a 5-star overall NHTSA rating. Neither the 2026 Traverse nor the redesigned, not-yet-tested 2027 Telluride currently holds an IIHS Top Safety Pick award — the Traverse lost that distinction under IIHS’s tightened 2026 criteria. Call it even on safety until fresh testing is in.
Cross-Shopping the Traverse? Drive the Telluride First.
See every Telluride and Telluride Hybrid in stock, get a real number on your current SUV, and feel the difference yourself — all in one stop in Mobile.
Telluride vs Traverse — Common Questions
Is the Kia Telluride better than the Chevy Traverse?⌄
For most three-row SUV buyers, yes. The Telluride leads on warranty (Kia’s 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain coverage vs Chevy’s 5-year/60,000-mile), offers a 329-hp Telluride Hybrid the Traverse has no answer for, and starts about $1,610 lower. The Traverse counters with a stronger standard gas engine, a genuinely bigger 17.7-inch standard touchscreen, and Super Cruise hands-free driving. See live Telluride inventory.
Which has more power — Telluride or Traverse?⌄
On gas, the Traverse’s 2.5L turbo four makes 328 hp and 326 lb-ft — genuinely more than the Telluride’s standard 274-hp, 311-lb-ft turbo. But the Traverse offers no hybrid at all, while the available Telluride Hybrid produces 329 hp combined at an EPA-estimated 35 MPG — power the Traverse’s single gas-only powertrain can’t match on efficiency.
Does the Chevy Traverse offer a hybrid?⌄
No. The 2026 Traverse is gas-only, powered solely by a 2.5L turbocharged four-cylinder rated at 21 MPG combined. The Kia Telluride offers a first-ever Telluride Hybrid rated at 329 hp combined with an EPA-estimated 35 MPG combined — a powertrain option the Traverse simply doesn’t have.
Is the Kia Telluride cheaper than the Chevy Traverse?⌄
Yes. The Telluride LX starts at $39,190 MSRP versus roughly $40,800 for a Traverse LT with front-wheel drive (both before destination) — the Telluride starts about $1,610 lower and adds a hybrid option the Traverse doesn’t offer.
What’s the warranty difference between Kia and Chevrolet?⌄
Kia’s is significantly longer: 10 years / 100,000 miles powertrain and 5 years / 60,000 miles limited, vs Chevrolet’s 5 years / 60,000 miles powertrain and 3 years / 36,000 miles limited. Every new Telluride at Dean McCrary Kia also includes Warranty Forever.
What does the Chevy Traverse do better?⌄
The Traverse has real strengths: its 328-hp turbo four genuinely out-powers the Telluride’s standard engine, its 17.7-inch standard touchscreen is the largest in the class, and its available Super Cruise hands-free driving system was named the best hands-free tech by MotorTrend in 2025. If outright standard-engine power or the biggest screen in the segment matters most, it’s worth a look. For warranty, hybrid availability, and starting price, the Telluride leads.
Where can I compare them near Mobile, AL?⌄
Dean McCrary Kia at 1733 E I-65 Service Rd S in Mobile stocks the full Telluride and Telluride Hybrid lineup — convenient to Daphne, Spanish Fort, Saraland, Fairhope, and the Gulf Coast. Come drive one and see the difference in person.
Telluride vs Traverse · Gulf Coast
Shopping a 3-Row SUV Near Mobile?
Dean McCrary Kia serves Gulf Coast families from Mobile to the Eastern Shore with the area’s deepest Telluride selection. If you’re cross-shopping the Chevy Traverse, here’s why to start here.
- Live inventory of every Telluride trim — LX through X-Pro SX Prestige, plus Hybrid
- A fair number on your trade — value your current SUV in minutes
- Upfront pricing and Warranty Forever on every new Telluride
- Kia-certified service, factory maintenance, and genuine parts
Dean McCrary Kia
Address1733 E I-65 Service Rd S, Mobile, AL 36606
Sales(251) 471-3326
Sales HoursMon–Sat 8:30 AM–6:00 PM
Sources & Verification
Comparison reflects the all-new Kia Telluride against the 2026 Chevrolet Traverse. Specifications and pricing compiled from manufacturer materials (kia.com, chevrolet.com, media.chevrolet.com), Kelley Blue Book, and Edmunds, and are current as of publication. MSRP shown is base, excluding destination, taxes, title, and dealer fees; AWD and higher trims add cost. Figures marked ⚠ reflect dealer-aggregator or secondary-source estimates that were not confirmed against a GM primary source at time of publication and should be verified before this page is used publicly. Horsepower, torque, towing, and payload are independent attributes and may not be achieved simultaneously. EPA-estimated fuel economy is for comparison only; your mileage will vary.
Chevrolet, Traverse, Super Cruise, and Z71 are trademarks of General Motors LLC. Kia, Telluride, and Meridian references are used for descriptive comparison. Awards include prior- and current-generation Telluride honors. This comparison reflects the dealer’s perspective and is intended for informational purposes only. Pricing and offers subject to change — contact Dean McCrary Kia for current pricing.
Kia Telluride vs Chevy Traverse Comparison — Dean McCrary Kia, Mobile AL
The all-new Kia Telluride compares favorably to the Chevy Traverse on warranty (10-year/100,000-mile powertrain vs 5-year/60,000-mile), hybrid availability (329-hp Telluride Hybrid vs no Traverse hybrid), and starting price (about $39,190 vs $40,800). The Traverse answers with a stronger standard 328-hp turbo engine, a class-leading 17.7-inch standard touchscreen, and available Super Cruise hands-free driving. Both seat up to eight and tow up to 5,000 pounds. Dean McCrary Kia in Mobile, Alabama stocks the full Telluride and Telluride Hybrid lineup, serving Daphne, Spanish Fort, Saraland, and Fairhope.