3-Row SUV Showdown · All-New Kia Telluride
Kia Telluride vsSubaru Ascent
More warranty. A hybrid the Ascent can’t match. Standard AWD is Subaru’s answer.
Two of the Gulf Coast’s most cross-shopped three-row SUVs, head to head. The redesigned Kia Telluride counters the Subaru Ascent with nearly double the powertrain warranty, a 329-hp Hybrid the Ascent doesn’t offer, and a lower starting price — while the Ascent answers with standard AWD on every trim, real off-pavement hardware, and a fresh 2026 IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award. Here’s an honest look at how they stack up at Dean McCrary Kia in Mobile, AL.
10yr/100kKia powertrain warranty
329 hpTelluride Hybrid — Ascent 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 Subaru Ascent and it leads on coverage, hybrid choice, and starting value — while the Ascent holds real advantages of its own, standard AWD chief among them. The honest short version before the deep dive.
Warranty Leader
2×the coverage
10yr/100k vs Ascent’s 5yr/60k
Kia’s powertrain warranty runs exactly double Subaru’s on both years and miles — and every new Telluride here adds Warranty Forever on top.
Hybrid Power
329hp hybrid
Ascent offers no hybrid — at all
The first-ever Telluride Hybrid makes 329 hp combined at an EPA-estimated 35 MPG. The Ascent runs a single turbo engine, gas-only, in every trim.
Value Leader
~$1,605lower start
$39,190 vs $40,795 Ascent Premium
The Telluride starts lower and includes the full driver-assist suite standard from the base LX — though the Ascent’s starting price does bundle standard AWD, a genuine value angle worth weighing.
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 — though the Ascent counters with its own fresh 2026 IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award.
Pricing & Configuration
Trim Range & Starting MSRP
Both open just north of $40K. The Telluride starts lower and reaches further — with X-Line, X-Pro, and a Hybrid the Ascent can’t counter. The Ascent answers with standard AWD baked into every trim, from the base Premium up.
Configuration
Kia TellurideAll-New
Subaru Ascent2026
Starting MSRP*
$39,190Lower Start
$40,795
Trim Range
LX → X-Pro SX Prestige + HybridWider Range + Hybrid
Premium → Onyx Edition Touring (5 trims, gas only)
Powertrains
Gas + HybridHybrid Option
2.4L turbo Boxer only
Standard Touchscreen
12.3″ (dual 12.3″ available)Slightly Larger
11.6″, every trim
Drivetrain
FWD standard, AWD available (standard on X-Line/X-Pro)
Standard AWD — every trim, with X-MODEStandard AWD
Ground Clearance
Up to 9.1″ (X-Pro)More on Top Trim
8.7″, every trim
Engines & Efficiency
More Power, Plus a Hybrid the Ascent Doesn’t Have.
The Telluride’s standard turbo out-powers the Ascent’s only engine on paper. The Ascent’s single turbo Boxer four is efficient and comes standard with AWD in every trim — it even edges the Telluride’s base gas engine slightly on EPA combined MPG. Add the Telluride Hybrid to the equation, though, and neither the Ascent nor the base Telluride keeps up.
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)
Subaru Ascent
1 Powertrain Option
- 2.4L Turbo Boxer H4 — 260 hp / 277 lb-ft
- Lineartronic CVT w/ 8-speed manual mode
- Standard Symmetrical AWD — every trim
- No hybrid powertrain available
Powertrain Spec
Kia Telluride
Subaru Ascent
Base Gas Horsepower
274 hp (turbo)More Power
260 hp (turbo)
Base Gas Torque
311 lb-ftMore Torque
277 lb-ft
Hybrid Available
Yes — 329 hpExclusive
Not offered
Combined Fuel Economy
~35 MPG (Hybrid) — 20 MPG (gas)Best Efficiency (Hybrid)
22 MPG (gas only, all trims)Edges Telluride’s Gas Engine
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, hybrid choice, and cargo room; the Ascent’s standard AWD is a genuine daily-driver advantage of its own.
Peace of Mind
100kmile warranty
vs Ascent’s 60k-mile powertrain
Ten years or 100,000 miles of Kia powertrain coverage, plus Warranty Forever at Dean McCrary — years of extra protection over Subaru’s 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain term.
Cargo Room
89.3cu ft, seats folded
vs Ascent’s 75.6 cu ft max
The Telluride out-hauls the Ascent at every measuring point: 22.3 cu ft behind the third row (vs 17.8) and 48.7 cu ft behind the second row (vs 43.5).
Standard AWD
Ascentwins this one
Standard on every trim vs Telluride’s FWD-standard base
Credit where it’s due: every Ascent comes standard with Subaru’s Symmetrical AWD and X-MODE off-pavement traction — a genuine strength if all-weather grip matters most. The Telluride offers AWD too, but it’s standard only on X-Line and X-Pro trims.
Technology & Safety
More Tech Standard. Real Off-Pavement Hardware.
The Ascent’s standard AWD and X-MODE are genuinely useful on wet roads and light trails. The Telluride answers with more technology standard across the lineup — dual displays, hands-free highway driving, and premium audio — not just on 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
Subaru Ascent
Standard Symmetrical AWD with X-MODE & Hill Descent Control, every trim
Standard EyeSight driver-assist suite; available DriverFocus distraction alert
11.6″ touchscreen standard with Subaru Multimedia System
Standard wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto
8.7″ ground clearance, every trim
No dual-panoramic display or hands-free highway system to match HDA2
No hybrid powertrain; 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 — and the Ascent has real, fresh hardware of its own.
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 Ascent 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.
IIHS · 2026
Ascent Earns Top Safety Pick+
Credit due: the 2026 Ascent earned IIHS Top Safety Pick+ under IIHS’s newly tightened 2026 criteria — a genuine, current credential. The redesigned 2027 Telluride hasn’t completed IIHS testing yet; the outgoing generation held a 5-star NHTSA rating. We’ll update this page once fresh Telluride crash data publishes.
Cross-Shopping the Ascent? 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 Ascent — Common Questions
Is the Kia Telluride better than the Subaru Ascent?⌄
For most three-row SUV buyers, yes. The Telluride leads on warranty (Kia’s 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain coverage vs Subaru’s 5-year/60,000-mile), offers a 329-hp Telluride Hybrid the Ascent has no answer for, and starts about $1,605 lower than the Ascent Premium. The Ascent counters with standard AWD on every trim, genuine off-pavement capability (X-MODE, 8.7-inch ground clearance), and a 2026 IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award earned under IIHS’s tightened criteria. For warranty, hybrid availability, and price, the Telluride wins. See live Telluride inventory.
Which has more power — Telluride or Ascent?⌄
On gas, the Telluride’s standard 2.5L turbo makes 274 hp and 311 lb-ft — genuinely more than the Ascent’s only engine, a 2.4L turbocharged Boxer four rated at 260 hp and 277 lb-ft, the sole powertrain Subaru offers. The available Telluride Hybrid pushes further to 329 hp combined at up to 35 MPG — a powertrain option the Ascent doesn’t have at any price.
Does the Subaru Ascent offer a hybrid?⌄
No. Every 2026 Ascent runs the same 2.4L turbocharged Boxer four rated at an EPA-estimated 22 MPG combined — there’s no hybrid or electrified option in the lineup. 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 Ascent simply doesn’t have.
Is the Kia Telluride cheaper than the Subaru Ascent?⌄
Yes, at the entry trim. The Telluride LX starts at $39,190 MSRP versus $40,795 for an Ascent Premium (both before destination) — about $1,605 lower. Worth noting: the Ascent’s starting price includes standard AWD, while the Telluride LX is FWD; adding AWD to a comparable Telluride trim narrows the gap.
What’s the warranty difference between Kia and Subaru?⌄
Kia’s is meaningfully longer: 10 years / 100,000 miles powertrain and 5 years / 60,000 miles limited, vs Subaru’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 Subaru Ascent do better?⌄
The Ascent has real strengths: standard Symmetrical AWD and X-MODE on every trim (the Telluride’s base trims are FWD), 8.7 inches of ground clearance for genuine off-pavement confidence, and a 2026 IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award earned under IIHS’s newly tightened criteria — the redesigned 2027 Telluride hasn’t completed that testing yet. Its lone turbo engine also edges the Telluride’s base gas engine slightly on EPA combined MPG (22 vs 20). If standard AWD or fresh crash-test data 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 Ascent · 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 Subaru Ascent, 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 Subaru Ascent. Specifications and pricing compiled from manufacturer materials (kia.com, subaru.com), Kelley Blue Book, Edmunds, and IIHS.org, and are current as of publication. MSRP shown is base, excluding destination, taxes, title, and dealer fees; higher trims add cost. Horsepower, torque, towing, and cargo figures are independent attributes measured under manufacturer or EPA test conditions and may not be achieved simultaneously. EPA-estimated fuel economy is for comparison only; your mileage will vary.
Subaru, Ascent, Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, EyeSight, X-MODE, and Lineartronic are trademarks of Subaru of America, Inc. 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 Subaru Ascent Comparison — Dean McCrary Kia, Mobile AL
The all-new Kia Telluride compares favorably to the Subaru Ascent on warranty (10-year/100,000-mile powertrain vs 5-year/60,000-mile), hybrid availability (329-hp Telluride Hybrid vs no Ascent hybrid), starting price (about $39,190 vs $40,795), and cargo room (89.3 cu ft max vs 75.6 cu ft). The Ascent answers with standard Symmetrical AWD and X-MODE off-pavement traction on every trim, 8.7 inches of ground clearance, and a 2026 IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award earned under tightened criteria — the redesigned 2027 Telluride has not yet completed IIHS testing. 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.