2025 Kia Telluride vs 2026 Subaru Outback

$36,390 · Crossover

$34,995 · Crossover

Comparison Overview

Deciding between the roomy 2025 Kia Telluride and the efficient 2026 Subaru Outback often boils down to power versus practicality. If hauling people and projecting road presence is key, the Telluride is ready; its 291 hp provides a significant advantage over the Outback’s 180 hp. However, the financial realities of ownership swing toward the Subaru, which boasts a 27 combined MPG rating compared to the Telluride’s 22 combined MPG, translating to fewer stops at the pump. While the Kia is longer at 196.9 inches versus the Outback’s 191.7 inches, the Outback wins on pure hauling potential, offering a massive 34.6 cu ft of cargo space versus the Telluride's 21 cu ft. Starting at $36,390, the Telluride is pricier than the Outback's $34,995 MSRP, making efficiency and capacity the central battlegrounds in this comparison.

Size Comparison

Performance

Fuel Efficiency

Full Specifications

Our Verdicts

🚗 Best for Commuters

2026 Subaru Outback

The 2026 Subaru Outback is the clear winner for daily commuting due to its superior 27 combined MPG efficiency.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for Families

2025 Kia Telluride

The 2025 Kia Telluride wins for families needing passenger comfort, offering greater overall interior volume reflected in its larger dimensions (78.3 inches wide).

🏎️ Best for Enthusiasts

2025 Kia Telluride

Enthusiasts will prefer the 2025 Kia Telluride for its substantially higher output of 291 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque.

💰 Best Value

2026 Subaru Outback

The 2026 Subaru Outback provides better fundamental value by offering better fuel economy and significantly more cargo capacity for a lower starting MSRP of $34,995.

Choose the Kia Telluride if...

You prioritize acceleration and effortless merging, leveraging the 291 hp engine.
You need the extra interior volume and presence afforded by the larger 196.9-inch length and 78.3-inch width.
Your driving involves frequent highway trips where the 26 MPG highway rating is sufficient, and you prefer the responsive 8-speed automatic transmission.

Choose the Subaru Outback if...

Saving money on gas is critical, as the 27 combined MPG beats the Kia by 5 MPG.
You need maximum storage, capitalizing on the Outback's segment-leading 34.6 cu ft of cargo capacity.
You value standard all-wheel drive capability right from the base model MSRP of $34,995.

Key Dimensions

Dimension	Kia Telluride	Subaru Outback
Length	196.9"	191.7"
Width	78.3"	74.0"
Height	68.9"	67.5"
Wheelbase	114.2"	108.1"

Features Comparison

Safety

Feature	Kia	Subaru
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	✓	✓
Rear Ventilated Disc Brakes	—	✓
Adaptive Headlights	—	✓
Self-Leveling Headlights	—	✓
Front Fog Lights	—	✓
Front Multi-Adjustable Headrests	—	✓

Engine

Feature	Kia	Subaru
Base Engine Displacement	3.8 L	2.5 L
Number of Cylinders	V6	flat 4
Base Engine Type	gas	gas
Horsepower	291 hp @ 6000 rpm	180 hp @ 5800 rpm
Torque	262 lb-ft @ 5200 rpm	178 lb-ft @ 4800 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	Subaru
Transmission Type	8-speed automatic	continuously variable-speed automatic
Drivetrain Type	front wheel drive	all wheel drive
Hill Descent Control	✓	✓
Center Differential Type	—	Limited Slip

Fuel

Feature	Kia	Subaru
Fuel Type	regular unleaded	regular unleaded
EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway)	20/26 MPG	25/31 MPG
EPA Fuel Economy (Combined)	22 MPG	27 MPG
EPA Driving Range (City/Highway)	376.0/488.8 mi.	450.0/558.0 mi.
Fuel Tank Capacity	18.8 gal.	18.0 gal.

Comfort & Convenience

Feature	Kia	Subaru
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	—	✓
Front Parking Sensors	—	✓
Dual Zone Climate Control	—	✓
Rear Ventilation Ducts	—	✓
Interior Air Filtration	—	✓
Cargo Floor Mats	—	✓

In Car Entertainment

Feature	Kia	Subaru
Infotainment Display	12.3 in	12.1 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	—
Android Auto (Wireless)	—	✓
Apple CarPlay (Wireless)	—	✓
Satellite Radio Trial Length	—	4 months

Power Feature

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

Frontseats

Feature	Kia	Subaru
Front Head Room	40.9 in.	40.2 in.
Front Leg Room	41.4 in.	43.0 in.
Front Shoulder Room	61.6 in.	57.9 in.
Front Hip Room	58.9 in.	55.5 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: 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	Subaru
Rear Head Room	40.2 in.	40.5 in.
Rear Leg Room	42.4 in.	39.5 in.
Rear Shoulder Room	61.2 in.	57.4 in.
Rear Hip Room	58.0 in.	55.1 in.
Split-Folding Rear Seatback	✓	✓
Folding Center Armrest	✓	✓
Manual Folding Third Row Seat	✓	—
Reclining Rear Seats	—	✓

Tires and Wheels

Feature	Kia	Subaru
Wheel Material	Alloy	—
Wheel Size	18 x 7.5 in	18 x 7.0 in
Tire Type	All Season	All Season
Tire Size	P245/60R18	225/60R H
Spare Tire Type	Temporary	Temporary
Spare Tire Location	Inside Mounted	Inside Mounted
Wheel Finish	—	Painted Alloy

Suspension

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

Warranty

Feature	Kia	Subaru
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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about comparing the 2025 Kia Telluride and 2026 Subaru Outback.

Which vehicle is better for driving in snowy or slippery conditions?

The 2026 Subaru Outback is inherently better equipped as its standard drivetrain is all-wheel drive, whereas the base 2025 Kia Telluride uses front-wheel drive.

How much more cargo space does the Subaru actually offer over the Kia?

The Subaru Outback offers significantly more room, providing 34.6 cu ft of cargo capacity compared to the Kia Telluride’s 21 cu ft when the rear seats are occupied.

Is the Kia Telluride’s extra horsepower worth the lower fuel economy?

That depends on your driving habits; the Telluride offers 111 more horsepower (291 hp vs 180 hp), but the Outback saves you fuel consistently with its 27 combined MPG rating versus the Telluride's 22 combined MPG.

What is the primary difference in running costs between these two vehicles?

The primary difference is fuel consumption; the Outback gets 31 MPG highway on regular unleaded, whereas the Telluride only manages 26 MPG highway, leading to noticeable annual savings for the Outback owner.

Are both models equipped with a traditional geared automatic transmission?

No, the 2025 Kia Telluride uses a standard 8-speed automatic transmission, while the 2026 Subaru Outback utilizes a continuously variable-speed automatic transmission (CVT).

How large is the size difference between the two crossovers?

The Kia Telluride is noticeably larger, measuring 196.9 inches long and 78.3 inches wide, compared to the Outback's 191.7 inches in length and 74.0 inches in width.