2019 Honda Pilot vs 2020 Kia Telluride

Visually, the 2019 Honda Pilot received subtle but noticeable updates that an observant Honda enthusiast would immediately recognize. The headlights looked more futuristic, and the lower front valence adopted a cleaner design, mirroring the front grille of the freshly updated Honda CR-V but scaled up to the Pilot's dimensions. This included a larger Honda emblem. At the rear, Honda applied meticulous detailing around the lower bumper, and the taillights featured increased white and amber portions, lending the Pilot a slightly more refined rear profile. Inside, cabin changes were minimal but deliberate. The Pilot boasted an updated steering wheel, Honda’s new proprietary shifter, and a new infotainment system. Minor tweaks to the climate-control vents rounded out the interior updates. The Pilot came in several trims: LX, EX, EX-L, Touring, and the top-tier Elite. The base LX trim was well-equipped with 18-inch alloy wheels, push-button start, USB ports in the front row, Bluetooth connectivity, and a 5-inch color display for the standard 7-speaker stereo system. It also featured 60/40 split-folding second-row and fold-flat third-row seats. The EX trim, a recommended pick, introduced passive entry, auto-locking as you walked away, and LED fog lights, alongside a conversation mirror integrated into the sunglasses holder. One-touch folding second-row seats, a 12-way power driver's seat, and an 8-inch Display Audio infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto enhanced its appeal. The EX-L added leather upholstery, a power tailgate, a moonroof, an acoustic glass windshield, and additional convenience features. The Touring trim packed even more with navigation, a wall-style power outlet, and an advanced entertainment system featuring a 10.2-inch screen, BluRay player, and built-in streaming apps. The Elite model, which I tested, added a panoramic moonroof, heated steering wheel, front and second-row captain’s chairs, a wireless charging pad, and remote start—a boon in cold climates. For the 2020 Kia Telluride, the company's design ethos changed dramatically. Kia’s chief U.S. designer even acknowledged how the old Kia badge on the Telluride's massive grille seemed out of step with its high design quality. The Telluride projected a premium presence, blending the boxy demeanor of a Chevrolet with the sleekness of a Volvo. Upfront, vertical headlights, wide air intakes, and a silver mesh grille characterized the design. Special touches included upper trims with amber rectangular LED running lights integrated with the turn signals, and tail lights that echoed hockey sticks. Inside, the Telluride mimicked a luxury SUV like the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class. Twin grab handles on the center console, wide air vents, an ultra-wide touchscreen, and high-quality materials lent an opulent feel. Lower trims simplified these features, while the SX trim offered Nappa leather seats and additional comfort-oriented touches. The fit and finish felt cohesive, with robust door closures.

The 2019 Honda Pilot, irrespective of trim, came with a robust 3.5-liter V6 engine generating 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This gave it a notable performance edge over some rivals like the Toyota Highlander. The Pilot featured cylinder deactivation and auto stop/start functionality for fuel savings, although the latter could be somewhat abrupt. Most trims utilized a 6-speed automatic transmission, while the Touring and Elite trims featured a 9-speed automatic designed for better power distribution and fuel efficiency. The 9-speed came with paddle shifters for manual control and a Sport mode for added responsiveness when overtaking. However, the driving experience could feel somewhat disconnected due to vague pedal response and noticeable body roll, though it managed rough roads comfortably. Depending on the trim, power was routed to either the front wheels or Honda’s AWD system, with various drive modes available. Fuel economy varied, with the FWD Touring trim being the most efficient, achieving an EPA-estimated 20 mpg city, 27 highway, and 23 combined, mirroring our observed 23.1 mpg. In contrast, the 2020 Kia Telluride featured a singular 3.8-liter V6 engine, delivering 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, coupled with an 8-speed automatic transmission. While manual shifting via the gear selector and Sport mode were options, the Telluride’s response could sometimes lag, especially when flooring the gas to overtake. Its handling wasn't as crisp, with slow steering and noticeable body lean. However, the Telluride's ride quality was plush, aided by double-paned glass and acoustic insulation. Torque vectoring was subtle, and off-road settings like an axle-lock feature and snow mode added versatility. The Telluride matched the Pilot’s towing capacity at 5,000 pounds when equipped with the Towing package. Fuel economy for the FWD model stood at 20 mpg city, 26 highway, and 23 combined, aligning with our observed 21 mpg.

The 2019 Honda Pilot belonged to the competitive midsize 3-row SUV segment, distinguishable for its adult-friendly third-row seating. It was one of the few vehicles that could comfortably accommodate adults in the third row for extended drives, alongside the Volkswagen Atlas and Chevrolet Traverse. Most of the time, though, the Pilot would seat children, with plenty of storage options. Standard features included 15 cupholders distributed across three rows. Cargo capacity varied by trim. Behind the rear seats, there was 16.5 cubic feet (16.0 cubic feet for the Elite). With the third row folded, the Pilot offered up to 46.8 cubic feet (46.0 for the Elite), and with all seats folded, it provided up to 83.9 cubic feet. Compared to rivals, it held its own, with the Volkswagen Atlas offering 96 cubic feet and the Chevrolet Traverse at 98 cubic feet. The 2020 Kia Telluride seated seven or eight passengers depending on the trim. The base LX and EX seated eight, while the S and SX typically seated seven with reclining captain's chairs in the second row. Second-row passengers in the SX enjoyed heated and cooled seats, manual side-window shades, and a separate climate zone. Even third-row seating could accommodate a 6-foot adult for more than just a short drive. Cargo space with all seats raised was 21 cubic feet and expanded to 87 cubic feet with all seats flat. The Telluride's cabin felt roomy, with thoughtful features like air vents, USB ports, and cupholders in all rows. Analog controls and two displays enhanced functionality, with upper trims featuring a larger 10.3-inch screen and an elaborate 7-inch instrument panel display.

The 2019 Honda Pilot introduced an updated infotainment system, addressing a long-standing criticism with the return of the Volume knob. The new touchscreen system, standard on trims above the base LX, improved interaction with crisp graphics and intuitive menus. The Touring and Elite trims featured a rear entertainment system, including a flip-down screen and headphones. Additional backseat-friendly features included rear USB ports and a mobile hotspot in higher trims. The Pilot also offered parent-friendly tools like a wide-angle cabin mirror and the CabinTalk PA system, which allowed the driver to communicate with rear passengers through speakers or headphones. The Elite trim supplemented this with a comprehensive system that utilized all the rear speakers. The 2020 Kia Telluride came standard with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Kia’s UVO link, which allowed remote car location and unlocking via an app. Proximity key entry was also standard. Upper trims with navigation offered efficient voice input for destinations and searched online much like Google Maps. The presence of live traffic and weather updates, although reliant on HD Radio rather than SiriusXM, was a nice touch. Upper trims provided innovative features like live blind-spot feeds displayed in the instrument cluster, Highway Driving Assist for semi-autonomous driving, a stereo quiet mode, and an intercom to communicate with rear passengers. The SX trim also boasted high-grade features such as LED headlights, dual moonroofs, and an exceptional Harman Kardon surround stereo.

The 2019 Honda Pilot came with a comprehensive suite of safety features including front- and side-impact airbags, vehicle stability control, a reversing camera, and a tire pressure monitoring system with fill assist. For 2019, Honda Sensing suite was made standard across all trims, providing forward-collision warning and avoidance, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and automatic high beams. Higher trims also offered blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. For the 2020 Kia Telluride, while official crash-test ratings were pending, the car was anticipated to achieve top scores. Active safety systems were comprehensive, including forward-collision alert with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, a driver-attention monitor, adaptive cruise control, and Safe Exit Assist. Optional features included surround-view cameras and front parking sensors. Notably, while a driver's knee airbag was standard, the front passenger did not have one.