2025 KIA Telluride vs. 2025 Honda Pilot: Mid-Size SUV Showdown

• The 2025 KIA Telluride start at $36,190 and is in stock here at Safford KIA of Fredericksburg, VA.
• Highly praised and widely popular, how does the 2025 KIA Telluride compare to the 2025 Honda Pilot?
• Read on and give us a call for more details!

The 2025 Kia Telluride and 2025 Honda Pilot are two top contenders in the three-row SUV category, delivering spacious interiors, advanced tech, and family-friendly features. But which one comes out on top for families in Fredericksburg, VA? Let’s compare the two and find out.

1. Performance and Fuel Economy

Telluride:

The 2025 Kia Telluride comes with a 3.8-liter V6 engine producing 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. This slight horsepower advantage, combined with a smooth eight-speed automatic transmission, gives the Telluride an edge in acceleration. The Telluride’s real-world fuel economy is 20 mpg city and 26 mpg highway for front-wheel drive (FWD), and 18 mpg city/23 mpg highway for all-wheel drive (AWD).

Honda Pilot:

The 2025 Honda Pilot is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 with 285 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic. The Pilot’s fuel economy is very similar, achieving 19 mpg city and 27 mpg highway in FWD. It’s close in numbers, but doesn’t quite outshine the Telluride.

Winner: Kia Telluride—Although fuel economy numbers are nearly the same, the extra horsepower of the Telluride gives it extra oomph. 

2. Interior Comfort and Features

Telluride:

The 2025 Telluride impresses with an upscale, near-luxury interior. From premium Nappa leather seats to high-end wood and microsuede accents in top trims, the Telluride feels far more luxurious than its price tag suggests. It offers a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and navigation, as well as features like a Wi-Fi hotspot that come standard, unlike the Pilot.

Honda Pilot:

The 2025 Pilot’s interior, while practical, doesn’t match the refinement of the Telluride. Its cabin has more hard plastics, and its tech feels a step behind, with a smaller 7.0-inch touchscreen on lower trims and less available luxury. The Pilot also lacks the premium interior details that the Telluride offers in its higher trims.

Winner: Kia Telluride—Luxurious materials, immaculate attention to detail, and tech features give the Telluride a significant edge.

3. Cargo Space

Telluride:

The 2025 Telluride offers 21 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, giving it an edge when all seats are in use. Fold down the second and third rows, and you get a maximum of 87 cubic feet of space. Whether you’re packing for a road trip or simply running errands, the Telluride’s ample storage is a standout feature.

Honda Pilot:

The 2025 Pilot offers slightly less cargo space behind the third row at 18.6 cubic feet but gains an advantage with 48.5 cubic feet behind the second row, compared to the Telluride’s 46 cubic feet. With all seats down, the Honda Pilot offers the same 87 cubic feet of space as the KIA Telluride.

Winner: Kia Telluride—even though the maximum cargo space for both vehicle is the same, the Telluride offers more space with all seats in place by default. It’s more convenient, and you won’t be needing to fold down your seats all the time to eke out more cargo space.

4. Towing Capacity

Telluride:

The 2025 Kia Telluride can tow up to 5,500 pounds in the EX X-Pro and SX Prestige X-Pro trim, making it an excellent choice for families who plan to tow boats, campers, or trailers on their weekend getaways. Even base models can tow 5,000 pounds, ensuring that capability isn’t limited to top trims.

Honda Pilot:

The 2025 Honda Pilot maxes out at 5,000 pounds of towing capacity with AWD models, but it’s only capable of towing 3,500 pounds in FWD versions, which limits its versatility.

Winner: Kia Telluride—With its higher towing capacity, the Telluride is a more capable towing machine.

5. Warranty

Telluride:

Kia’s industry-leading warranty coverage includes a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile limited warranty, making it a standout in terms of long-term value and peace of mind. Its J.D. Power reliability score of 85 out of 100 further adds to its advantage.

Honda Pilot:

Honda offers a more standard 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty and a 3-year/36,000-mile limited warranty. Its J.D. Power reliability score of 82 out of 100 is still respectable but falls short of the Telluride’s.

Winner: Kia Telluride—With better warranty coverage and a higher reliability score, the Telluride outlasts the competition.

The Winner

While the 2025 Honda Pilot is a strong contender with solid features and practicality, it falls short when matched against the 2025 Kia Telluride. The Telluride wins in crucial areas like performance, interior quality, tech, cargo space, and towing capacity. If you’re interested, you’re in luck. We have plenty of 2025 Kia Telluride in stock here at Safford KIA of Fredericksburg, VA. Give us a call or visit us at 10663 Patriot Hwy, Fredericksburg, VA 22408 for more details!