2025 Kia Telluride vs 2026 Chevrolet Traverse

$36,390 · Crossover

$40,800 · Crossover

Comparison Overview

Deciding between the new 2026 Chevrolet Traverse and the proven 2025 Kia Telluride can be tough, especially when balancing initial cost versus newer technology. The Telluride offers a compelling entry point at an MSRP of $36,390, significantly undercutting the Traverse's $40,800 price tag—a difference of $4,410 right off the bat. While the Traverse boasts a bump in performance, putting out 328 hp compared to the Telluride’s 291 hp, the difference in efficiency is negligible, both hovering around 22-23 MPG combined. The newer Traverse is also noticeably larger, measuring 204.5 inches long versus the Telluride's 196.9 inches, which translates to slightly more available cargo space at 22.9 cu ft compared to the Telluride's 21 cu ft. Ultimately, both vehicles serve families well, but the financial advantage leans toward the more accessible Kia.

Size Comparison

Performance

Fuel Efficiency

Full Specifications

Our Verdicts

🚗 Best for Commuters

2025 Kia Telluride

The Kia Telluride wins for commuters due to its lower initial MSRP of $36,390, requiring less investment for daily driving.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for Families

2026 Chevrolet Traverse

The 2026 Traverse is slightly better for families as it offers a larger cargo capacity of 22.9 cu ft, providing more room for gear.

🏎️ Best for Enthusiasts

2026 Chevrolet Traverse

The Chevrolet Traverse appeals more to driving enthusiasts because it packs an extra 37 horsepower, delivering 328 hp total.

💰 Best Value

2025 Kia Telluride

The Kia Telluride provides superior value by offering adequate power and size for $4,410 less than the competing model.

Choose the Kia Telluride if...

You need to keep the purchase price low, as the Telluride starts at $36,390.
You prefer a slightly more compact exterior footprint, measuring 196.9 inches in length.
You don't need the absolute highest horsepower rating and are satisfied with 291 hp.

Choose the Chevrolet Traverse if...

You prioritize raw power and want the increased output of 328 hp and 326 lb-ft of torque.
You need every available cubic foot of space, as the Traverse offers 22.9 cu ft of cargo room.
You don't mind paying the extra $4,410 for the newer platform and slight performance edge.

Key Dimensions

Dimension	Kia Telluride	Chevrolet Traverse
Length	196.9"	204.5"
Width	78.3"	79.6"
Height	68.9"	69.6"
Wheelbase	114.2"	121.0"

Features Comparison

Safety

Feature	Kia	Chevrolet
Blind Spot Monitor	✓	✓
Lane Departure Warning	✓	✓
Lane Keeping Assist System	✓	✓
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	✓	✓
Driver Attention Alert	✓	—
Pre-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Post-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Dual Front Side-Mounted Airbags	✓	✓
Dual Rear Side-Mounted Airbags	✓	—
Front Head Airbags	✓	✓
Rear Head Airbags	✓	✓
Third Row Head Airbags	✓	✓
Passenger Airbag Occupant Sensing Deactivation	✓	✓
Electronic Stability Control	✓	✓
Traction Control System	✓	✓
LATCH System	✓	✓
Rear Door Child Safety Locks	✓	✓
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)	4-Wheel	4-Wheel
Front Ventilated Disc Brakes	✓	✓
Rear Solid Disc Brakes	✓	—
Brake Assist	✓	✓
Tire Pressure Monitoring System	✓	✓
Automatic Headlights	✓	✓
Headlight Delay-Off	✓	✓
LED Headlights	✓	✓
Daytime Running Lights	✓	✓
Integrated Turn Signal Mirrors	✓	✓
Front Headrests	2	2
Front Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	✓
Rear Headrests	3	2
Rear Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	✓
Rear Center 3-Point Seatbelt	✓	—
Anti-Theft Alarm System (Remote)	✓	✓
Engine Immobilizer	✓	✓
Front Cross Traffic Alert	—	✓
Rear Ventilated Disc Brakes	—	✓

Engine

Feature	Kia	Chevrolet
Base Engine Displacement	3.8 L	2.5 L
Number of Cylinders	V6	inline 4
Base Engine Type	gas	gas
Horsepower	291 hp @ 6000 rpm	328 hp @ 5500 rpm
Torque	262 lb-ft @ 5200 rpm	326 lb-ft @ 3500 rpm
Number of Valves	24	16
Camshaft Type	Double overhead cam (DOHC)	Double overhead cam (DOHC)
Variable Valve Timing	Variable	Variable
Fuel Injection Type	✓	✓

Drive Train

Feature	Kia	Chevrolet
Transmission Type	8-speed automatic	8-speed shiftable automatic
Drivetrain Type	front wheel drive	front wheel drive
Hill Descent Control	✓	—

Fuel

Feature	Kia	Chevrolet
Fuel Type	regular unleaded	regular unleaded
EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway)	20/26 MPG	20/27 MPG
EPA Fuel Economy (Combined)	22 MPG	23 MPG
EPA Driving Range (City/Highway)	376.0/488.8 mi.	388.0/523.8 mi.
Fuel Tank Capacity	18.8 gal.	19.4 gal.

Comfort & Convenience

Feature	Kia	Chevrolet
Push Button Start	✓	✓
Tilt and Telescopic Steering Wheel	✓	—
Audio Controls on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Cruise Control on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Electric Power Steering	✓	✓
Rear View Camera	✓	✓
Rear Parking Sensors	✓	✓
Adaptive Cruise Control	✓	✓
Front Cupholders	✓	✓
Rear Cupholders	✓	✓
3rd Row Cupholders	✓	✓
Front Door Pockets	✓	✓
Rear Door Pockets	✓	✓
Overhead Console with Storage	✓	—
Front Seatback Storage	✓	✓
Manual Rear Seat Easy Entry	✓	—
Leather Steering Wheel	✓	—
Three Zone Climate Control	✓	✓
Rear Ventilation Ducts with Fan Control	✓	✓
Extended Cabin Heating/Cooling	✓	—
Dual Vanity Mirrors	✓	✓
Turn Signal Indicators in Mirrors	✓	✓
Tilt Steering Wheel	—	✓
Wireless Charging Pad	—	✓
Leatherette Steering Wheel	—	✓
Heated Steering Wheel	—	✓
Interior Air Filtration	—	✓
Sun Sensor	—	✓

In Car Entertainment

Feature	Kia	Chevrolet
Infotainment Display	12.3 in	17.7 in
AM/FM Stereo	✓	✓
Speaker System	6	6
Android Auto (Wired)	✓	—
Apple CarPlay (Wired)	✓	—
USB Port	✓	✓
USB Port with External Media Control	✓	✓
Satellite Radio	✓	✓
Satellite Radio Trial Period	3 months	3 months
Android Auto (Wireless)	—	✓
Apple CarPlay (Wireless)	—	✓
Auxiliary Audio Input	—	✓
Speed Sensitive Volume Control	—	✓

Power Feature

Feature	Kia	Chevrolet
One-Touch Power Windows	4	4
Keyless Entry	✓	✓
Heated Mirrors	✓	✓

Frontseats

Feature	Kia	Chevrolet
Front Head Room	40.9 in.	42.6 in.
Front Leg Room	41.4 in.	44.3 in.
Front Shoulder Room	61.6 in.	62.3 in.
Front Hip Room	58.9 in.	58.7 in.
Seat Material: Leatherette	✓	—
Front Seat Type: Bucket	✓	✓
Driver Seat Manual Adjustments	6-way	—
Driver Seat Height Adjustment	✓	✓
Passenger Seat Manual Adjustments	6-way	4-way
Passenger Seat Height Adjustment	✓	—
Seat Material: Premium Cloth	—	✓
Driver Seat Power Adjustments	—	8-way
Driver Seat Lumbar Support	—	Power
Driver Seat Heating	—	Multi-level
Passenger Seat Heating	—	Multi-level

Rearseats

Feature	Kia	Chevrolet
Rear Head Room	40.2 in.	40.0 in.
Rear Leg Room	42.4 in.	41.5 in.
Rear Shoulder Room	61.2 in.	62.2 in.
Rear Hip Room	58.0 in.	58.6 in.
Split-Folding Rear Seatback	✓	—
Folding Center Armrest	✓	✓
Manual Folding Third Row Seat	✓	✓
Folding Rear Seatback	—	✓
Reclining Rear Seats	—	✓

Tires and Wheels

Feature	Kia	Chevrolet
Wheel Material	Alloy	—
Wheel Size	18 x 7.5 in	—
Tire Type	All Season	All Season
Tire Size	P245/60R18	255/65R18
Spare Tire Type	Temporary	Temporary
Spare Tire Location	Inside Mounted	Underbody Mounted
Wheel Finish	—	Painted Alloy
Wheel Diameter	—	18 in

Suspension

Feature	Kia	Chevrolet
Four-Wheel Independent Suspension	✓	✓
Front Stabilizer Bar	✓	✓
Rear Stabilizer Bar	✓	✓

Warranty

Feature	Kia	Chevrolet
Basic Warranty	5 yr./ 60000 mi.	3 yr./ 36000 mi.
Drivetrain Warranty	10 yr./ 100000 mi.	5 yr./ 60000 mi.
Corrosion/Rust Warranty	5 yr./ 100000 mi.	6 yr./ 100000 mi.
Roadside Assistance	5 yr./ 60000 mi.	5 yr./ 60000 mi.
Complimentary Scheduled Maintenance	—	1 yr./ unlimited mi.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about comparing the 2025 Kia Telluride and 2026 Chevrolet Traverse.

Is the power difference between the 2025 Telluride and 2026 Traverse significant for daily driving?

While the Traverse has 328 hp compared to the Telluride's 291 hp, both vehicles use regular unleaded fuel and offer similar combined fuel economy (22 MPG vs 23 MPG). For typical city or highway commuting, the 37 hp difference is unlikely to feel dramatic.

How much larger is the 2026 Traverse really?

The Traverse is noticeably bigger; it's over 7 inches longer in overall length (204.5 inches vs. 196.9 inches). This physical difference translates directly to 1.9 cu ft more cargo space behind the third row, offering 22.9 cu ft versus the Telluride's 21 cu ft.

Which vehicle saves me more money upfront?

The 2025 Kia Telluride offers a substantial upfront saving, with an MSRP starting at $36,390. This is $4,410 less expensive than the 2026 Chevrolet Traverse, which starts at $40,800.

Do these crossovers offer different fuel efficiency ratings?

The efficiency ratings are extremely close; both vehicles offer a 20 MPG city rating and utilize an 8-speed automatic transmission. The Traverse ekes out a slight highway lead at 27 MPG versus the Telluride's 26 MPG.

Are either of these models more performance-oriented?

The 2026 Traverse is engineered for higher output, delivering 326 lb-ft of torque compared to the Telluride's 262 lb-ft. If maximum acceleration is a priority, the Traverse holds the edge.

Are both models primarily front-wheel drive?

Yes, based on the standard specifications provided, both the 2025 Kia Telluride and the 2026 Chevrolet Traverse are listed with a front-wheel drive layout as standard.