2025 Kia Telluride vs 2026 Honda Ridgeline

$36,390 · Crossover

$40,595 · Crossover

Comparison Overview

The most significant initial divergence between the 2025 Kia Telluride and the 2026 Honda Ridgeline is the $4,205 MSRP gap, with the Telluride starting at $36,390 compared to the Ridgeline's $40,595. Performance metrics show the Telluride generating a higher 291 hp versus the Ridgeline's 280 hp, although both vehicles achieve an identical 262 lb-ft of torque. Fuel efficiency slightly favors the Kia, posting a 22 MPG combined rating compared to the Ridgeline's 21 MPG combined. In terms of utility, the Telluride offers substantial space advantages, boasting 21 cubic feet of cargo capacity compared to the Ridgeline's meager 7.3 cubic feet, despite the Ridgeline being 13.3 inches longer overall at 210.2 inches. The Ridgeline counters with standard All-Wheel Drive (AWD), whereas the baseline Telluride utilizes Front-Wheel Drive (FWD).

Size Comparison

Performance

Fuel Efficiency

Full Specifications

Our Verdicts

🚗 Best for Commuters

2025 Kia Telluride

The 2025 Kia Telluride wins for commuters due to its superior combined fuel economy of 22 MPG versus the Ridgeline's 21 MPG.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for Families

2025 Kia Telluride

The Telluride offers substantially more practicality for families, providing 21 cubic feet of cargo space compared to the Ridgeline's 7.3 cubic feet.

🏎️ Best for Enthusiasts

2025 Kia Telluride

The Telluride offers a slight edge in acceleration potential with its 291 horsepower output compared to the Ridgeline's 280 horsepower.

💰 Best Value

2025 Kia Telluride

The Telluride provides better fundamental utility and power for $4,205 less than the starting price of the Ridgeline.

Choose the Kia Telluride if...

You prioritize a lower initial investment, as the Telluride starts at $36,390.
Maximum interior storage is crucial, given the Telluride's 21 cu ft of cargo capacity.
You need slightly better fuel efficiency, with the Telluride achieving 22 combined MPG.

Choose the Honda Ridgeline if...

Standard All-Wheel Drive is a non-negotiable feature for your driving conditions.
You require the vehicle's longest overall dimension, as the Ridgeline measures 210.2 inches.
A 9-speed automatic transmission is preferred over the Telluride's 8-speed unit.

Key Dimensions

Dimension	Kia Telluride	Honda Ridgeline
Length	196.9"	210.2"
Width	78.3"	78.6"
Height	68.9"	70.8"
Wheelbase	114.2"	125.2"

Features Comparison

Safety

Feature	Kia	Honda
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	3
Rear Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	✓
Rear Center 3-Point Seatbelt	✓	✓
Anti-Theft Alarm System (Remote)	✓	✓
Engine Immobilizer	✓	✓
Front Fog Lights	—	✓

Engine

Feature	Kia	Honda
Base Engine Displacement	3.8 L	3.5 L
Number of Cylinders	V6	V6
Base Engine Type	gas	gas
Horsepower	291 hp @ 6000 rpm	280 hp @ 6000 rpm
Torque	262 lb-ft @ 5200 rpm	262 lb-ft @ 4700 rpm
Number of Valves	24	24
Camshaft Type	Double overhead cam (DOHC)	Single overhead cam (SOHC)
Variable Valve Timing	Variable	Variable
Fuel Injection Type	✓	✓
Cylinder Deactivation	—	✓

Drive Train

Feature	Kia	Honda
Transmission Type	8-speed automatic	9-speed shiftable automatic
Drivetrain Type	front wheel drive	all wheel drive
Hill Descent Control	✓	—
[object Object]	—	✓
[object Object]	—	✓

Fuel

Feature	Kia	Honda
Fuel Type	regular unleaded	regular unleaded
EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway)	20/26 MPG	18/24 MPG
EPA Fuel Economy (Combined)	22 MPG	21 MPG
EPA Driving Range (City/Highway)	376.0/488.8 mi.	351.0/468.0 mi.
Fuel Tank Capacity	18.8 gal.	19.5 gal.

Comfort & Convenience

Feature	Kia	Honda
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	✓	—
Transmission Controls on Steering Wheel	—	✓
Wireless Charging Pad	—	✓
Rear Ventilation Ducts	—	✓
Interior Air Filtration	—	✓

In Car Entertainment

Feature	Kia	Honda
Infotainment Display	12.3 in	9.0 in
AM/FM Stereo	✓	✓
Speaker System	6	7
Android Auto (Wired)	✓	—
Apple CarPlay (Wired)	✓	—
USB Port	✓	✓
USB Port with External Media Control	✓	✓
Satellite Radio	✓	—
Satellite Radio Trial Period	3 months	—
Stereo Power	—	215W
Subwoofer Count	—	1
Android Auto (Wireless)	—	✓
Apple CarPlay (Wireless)	—	✓
Speed Sensitive Volume Control	—	✓

Power Feature

Feature	Kia	Honda
One-Touch Power Windows	4	2
Keyless Entry	✓	✓
Heated Mirrors	✓	✓

Frontseats

Feature	Kia	Honda
Front Head Room	40.9 in.	40.1 in.
Front Leg Room	41.4 in.	40.9 in.
Front Shoulder Room	61.6 in.	62.0 in.
Front Hip Room	58.9 in.	59.1 in.
Seat Material: Leatherette	✓	—
Front Seat Type: Bucket	✓	✓
Driver Seat Manual Adjustments	6-way	8-way
Driver Seat Height Adjustment	✓	✓
Passenger Seat Manual Adjustments	6-way	4-way
Passenger Seat Height Adjustment	✓	—
Seat Material: Cloth	—	✓

Rearseats

Feature	Kia	Honda
Rear Head Room	40.2 in.	38.8 in.
Rear Leg Room	42.4 in.	36.7 in.
Rear Shoulder Room	61.2 in.	61.5 in.
Rear Hip Room	58.0 in.	56.6 in.
Split-Folding Rear Seatback	✓	✓
Folding Center Armrest	✓	✓
Manual Folding Third Row Seat	✓	—

Tires and Wheels

Feature	Kia	Honda
Wheel Material	Alloy	—
Wheel Size	18 x 7.5 in	—
Tire Type	All Season	All Season
Tire Size	P245/60R18	245/60R
Spare Tire Type	Temporary	Temporary
Spare Tire Location	Inside Mounted	Inside Mounted
Wheel Finish	—	Painted Alloy
Wheel Diameter	—	18 in

Suspension

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

Warranty

Feature	Kia	Honda
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.	5 yr./ unlimited mi.
Roadside Assistance	5 yr./ 60000 mi.	3 yr./ 36000 mi.
Complimentary Scheduled Maintenance	—	1 yr./ 12000 mi.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about comparing the 2025 Kia Telluride and 2026 Honda Ridgeline.

Why does the Honda Ridgeline have a lower MPG despite being a crossover?

The 2026 Honda Ridgeline achieves 21 combined MPG (18 city/24 highway), slightly lower than the Telluride's 22 combined MPG (20 city/26 highway). This difference is partially attributable to the Ridgeline's standard All-Wheel Drive system and potentially different powertrain tuning for its 9-speed transmission.

What is the major functional difference between the cargo capacities?

The difference is significant: the 2025 Kia Telluride provides 21 cubic feet of standard cargo volume, whereas the 2026 Honda Ridgeline only offers 7.3 cubic feet. This suggests the Telluride is optimized for enclosed passenger and gear storage, while the Ridgeline's capacity likely refers specifically to its open bed area.

Is the $4,205 price difference justified by the Ridgeline's features?

The Ridgeline is $4,205 more expensive, primarily due to including All-Wheel Drive (AWD) as standard equipment, compared to the Telluride's FWD base configuration. Additionally, the Ridgeline features a 9-speed transmission against the Telluride's 8-speed unit.

How do the engines compare in terms of raw power?

The Kia Telluride leads marginally with 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque from its engine. The Honda Ridgeline is slightly less potent, generating 280 horsepower, though both achieve an identical 262 lb-ft of torque.

Which vehicle is physically larger?

The 2026 Honda Ridgeline is the longer vehicle, measuring 210.2 inches in length compared to the Telluride's 196.9 inches. However, the Telluride is slightly less wide (78.3 in vs 78.6 in) and significantly shorter in height (68.9 in vs 70.8 in).