3-Row SUV Showdown · All-New Kia Telluride
Kia Telluride vsHonda Pilot
More warranty. A hybrid Honda can’t match. More tech for the money.
Two of America’s most cross-shopped three-row SUVs, head to head. The redesigned Kia Telluride counters the Honda Pilot with nearly double the powertrain warranty, a 329-hp Hybrid the Pilot doesn’t offer, and more standard technology — from a lower starting price. Here’s how they stack up at Dean McCrary Kia in Mobile, AL.
10yr/100kKia powertrain warranty
329 hpTelluride Hybrid — Pilot has none
$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 Honda Pilot and it leads on the things families actually feel — coverage, efficiency, technology, and value. The short version before the deep dive.
Warranty Leader
2×the coverage
10yr/100k vs Pilot’s 5yr/60k
Kia’s powertrain warranty runs nearly double the Honda’s — and every new Telluride here adds Warranty Forever on top.
Hybrid Power
329hp hybrid
Pilot offers no hybrid — at all
The first-ever Telluride Hybrid makes 329 hp combined at an EPA-estimated 35 MPG. The Pilot is gas-only.
Value Leader
$1klower start
$39,190 vs ~$40,200 Pilot Sport
The Telluride starts lower and includes more standard tech — a 12.3″ touchscreen and the full driver-assist suite from the base LX.
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 Pilot is still chasing.
Pricing & Configuration
Trim Range & Starting MSRP
Both open near the $40K mark. But the Telluride starts lower, includes more standard tech, and reaches further — with X-Line and X-Pro variants and a Hybrid the Pilot can’t counter.
Configuration
Kia TellurideAll-New
Honda Pilot2026
Starting MSRP*
$39,190Lower Start
~$40,200
Trim Range
LX → X-Pro SX Prestige + HybridWider Range
Sport → Elite + Black Edition
Powertrains
Gas + HybridHybrid Option
Gas V6 only
Standard Touchscreen
12.3″Bigger Std
7″ base / 9″ upper
Off-Road Trim
X-Line, X-Pro (9.1″ clearance, e-LSD)
TrailSport (8.3″ clearance)
Drivetrain
FWD standard, AWD available
FWD standard, AWD available
Engines & Efficiency
Two Powertrains vs One. Including a Hybrid.
The Telluride offers a torquey standard turbo and a 329-hp Hybrid. The Pilot gives you one engine — a smooth V6 with a slight peak-horsepower edge, but no electrification and less torque.
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
- Standard FWD, available AWD (standard on X-Line / X-Pro)
Honda Pilot
1 Powertrain Option
- 3.5L V6 — 285 hp / 262 lb-ft
- 10-speed automatic
- Standard FWD, available AWD
- No hybrid powertrain available
Powertrain Spec
Kia Telluride
Honda Pilot
Base Gas Horsepower
274 hp (turbo)
285 hp (V6)
Base Gas Torque
311 lb-ft+49 lb-ft
262 lb-ft
Hybrid Available
Yes — 329 hpExclusive
Not offered
Hybrid Fuel Economy
~35 MPG combinedBest Efficiency
N/A — gas only
Max Towing
5,000 lb
5,000 lb
Room, Efficiency & Peace of Mind
The Differences You Live With Daily
Seating and cargo run close — both seat up to eight with roughly 87 cubic feet of max cargo. Where the Telluride pulls ahead is the stuff that shapes years of ownership.
Peace of Mind
100kmile warranty
vs Pilot’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
Pilot has no hybrid answer
The Telluride Hybrid’s EPA-estimated 35 MPG combined saves real money at the pump on every family road trip.
Capability
9.1″clearance
X-Pro vs TrailSport’s 8.3″
Telluride X-Pro adds real hardware — all-terrain tires, an electronic limited-slip differential, and Terrain Modes.
Technology & Safety
More Screen. More Assist. Standard.
Both earn top safety marks and include the essential driver aids. But the Telluride puts more technology in front of you — and more of it standard, not paywalled to 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
Honda Pilot
7″ base touchscreen; 9″ on upper trims — no dual displays
No hands-free highway driving system offered
Available 12-speaker Bose premium audio (Elite)
Honda Sensing driver-assist suite standard
Standard wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto
No hybrid powertrain — gas V6 only
5-year / 60,000-mile powertrain warranty
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 Pilot 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 & IIHS
Top Safety Marks — Both
Both the Telluride and Pilot earn strong federal and insurance-industry safety scores. On crash protection, these two are genuine equals.
Cross-Shopping the Pilot? 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 Pilot — Common Questions
Is the Kia Telluride better than the Honda Pilot?⌄
For most three-row buyers, yes. The all-new Telluride leads on warranty (10yr/100k powertrain vs Honda’s 5yr/60k), offers a 329-hp Hybrid the Pilot has no answer for, includes a larger standard 12.3″ touchscreen with available dual panoramic displays, and starts about $1,000 lower. The Pilot is still a strong, reliable pick — but the Telluride wins the value equation. See live Telluride inventory.
Which has more power — Telluride or Pilot?⌄
It depends on the engine. The Pilot’s 3.5L V6 makes 285 hp — a slight peak-horsepower edge over the Telluride’s 274-hp 2.5L turbo. But the Telluride turbo makes more torque (311 vs 262 lb-ft) for stronger everyday pull, and the available Telluride Hybrid produces 329 hp combined — more than any Pilot. The Pilot offers no hybrid.
Does the Honda Pilot offer a hybrid?⌄
No — the Pilot is gas-only for 2026. The Kia Telluride offers a first-ever Telluride Hybrid rated at 329 hp combined with an EPA-estimated 35 MPG combined, a powertrain the Pilot simply doesn’t have.
Is the Kia Telluride cheaper than the Honda Pilot?⌄
It starts a bit lower — about $39,190 for the Telluride LX vs roughly $40,200 for a Pilot Sport (both before destination) — and includes more standard technology. Comparably equipped, the Telluride generally delivers more content per dollar.
What’s the warranty difference between Kia and Honda?⌄
Kia’s is significantly longer: 10 years / 100,000 miles powertrain and 5 years / 60,000 miles limited, vs Honda’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 Honda Pilot do better?⌄
The Pilot has real strengths: a naturally aspirated V6 some buyers prefer for its smooth simplicity, a genuinely capable TrailSport off-road trim, Honda’s reliability reputation, and comparable seating and cargo. If a non-turbo V6 is your priority, it’s worth a look. For warranty, hybrid availability, standard tech, and 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 Pilot · 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 Honda Pilot, 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 Honda Pilot. Specifications and pricing compiled from manufacturer materials (kia.com, hondanews.com), Kelley Blue Book, Edmunds, and Car and Driver, and are current as of publication. MSRP shown is base, excluding destination, taxes, title, and dealer fees; AWD, hybrid, and higher trims add cost. 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.
Honda, Pilot, TrailSport, and Honda Sensing are trademarks of Honda Motor Co. 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 Honda Pilot Comparison — Dean McCrary Kia, Mobile AL
The all-new Kia Telluride compares favorably to the Honda Pilot on warranty (10-year/100,000-mile powertrain vs 5-year/60,000-mile), hybrid availability (329-hp Telluride Hybrid vs no Pilot hybrid), standard technology (12.3-inch touchscreen vs 7-to-9-inch), and starting price (about $39,190 vs $40,200). Both seat up to eight, tow up to 5,000 pounds, and earn top safety ratings. Dean McCrary Kia in Mobile, Alabama stocks the full Telluride and Telluride Hybrid lineup, serving Daphne, Spanish Fort, Saraland, and Fairhope.