2024 Kia Telluride vs 2025 Buick Enclave

The 2024 Kia Telluride was offered in five core trim levels: LX, S, EX, SX, and SX Prestige. The rugged X-Line treatment was available for all but the LX and S trims, while the X-Pro package was reserved for the top two trims. The X-Line package added standard all-wheel drive (AWD) with a center locking differential, increased ground clearance to 8.4 inches, improved approach and departure angles, unique grille and 20-inch wheel designs, and roof rails. The X-Pro package further enhanced the Telluride with 18-inch matte-black wheels, all-terrain tires, and heavy-duty engine cooling, increasing the maximum towing capacity to 5,500 pounds. Prices ranged from $35,990 for the LX to $53,185 for the SX Prestige with the X-Pro package, excluding the destination charge. The SX Prestige with the X-Line package, featuring Wolf Gray paint and floor mats, had an MSRP of $54,270, including the $1,365 destination charge.

The Telluride's design updates from the previous year maintained its fundamentally attractive forms and proportions, appealing to many buyers. The Wolf Gray paint complemented the blacked-out X-Line styling, including the grille surround and bumper details. Inside, the test car featured a black interior with premium Nappa leather seats, though other color options like Mahogany brown, Terracotta brown, light gray over black or dark blue, and Sage Green were available, each complementing the simulated open-pore wood trim. Despite the luxurious feel of the SX Prestige, the presence of shiny plastic in the interior's lower portions was a downside. However, the soft leather, artificial suede headliner, 24-inch dual-screen digital display panel, metallic accents, and thoughtful details nearly met luxury SUV standards.

The 2025 Buick Enclave presented a bold and modern design, reminiscent of a scaled-up version of the Envista, Buick's new compact crossover. The Enclave featured slim DRLs, a large angular grille, and a high beltline, giving it a sharp appearance. While the side profile was somewhat generic, the overall design was bolder and more refined than its predecessor. The Enclave had fewer creases along the side, a flatter roof, and a more upright profile, with slightly sharpened wheel arches. The base Preferred trim and Sport Touring came with 20-inch wheels, with the latter featuring unique High Gloss Black touches. The top-tier Avenir trim boasted 22-inch wheels in a special "Avenir Pearl Nickel" finish.

Inside, the Enclave offered a modern and premium feel, with a floating center console and a large curved display that mimicked the airy, futuristic vibe often seen in electric vehicles. The Sport Touring test car had seats trimmed in perforated leatherette with contrast piping, adding a touch of elegance. However, the limited sunroof availability was a drawback, as the panoramic power sunroof was only available on the middle trim and standard on the top trim. The Enclave's interior was spacious, with a focus on comfort and convenience, though it fell short of the near-luxury expectations set by Buick's positioning.

The 2024 Kia Telluride was powered by a 3.8-liter V6 engine, delivering 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This power was transferred to either the front or all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. Most Tellurides could tow up to 5,000 pounds, but the X-Pro package increased this capacity to 5,500 pounds with heavy-duty engine cooling. The AWD version included a locking center differential, offering a Snow driving mode alongside the standard Comfort, Sport, and Smart modes. The Telluride had a ground clearance of 8.0 inches, which increased to 8.4 inches with the X-Line and X-Pro packages, and featured a self-leveling rear suspension.

The Telluride provided ample power for freeway acceleration and passing, though it wasn't very fuel-efficient. The EPA estimated 20 mpg in combined driving for AWD versions, but real-world testing showed an average of 19 mpg on a mountainous evaluation loop and 17.5 mpg during city driving. Despite the lack of a hybrid drivetrain, the Telluride's driving experience was quick and refined, with standard brake-induced Torque Vectoring Cornering Control enhancing its athleticism in curves. The steering was responsive, and the brakes resisted rumble and fade. The ride was firm at lower speeds but soft and compliant at higher velocities, absorbing road undulations effectively.

The 2025 Buick Enclave featured a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 328 horsepower and 326 pound-feet of torque. Power was routed through an eight-speed automatic transmission to either the front or all four wheels, with AWD available for an additional $2,000. The Enclave's fuel economy was slightly affected by AWD, dropping from 23 to 21 mpg combined. It could tow up to 5,000 pounds when properly equipped. Buick offered two versions of Active Noise Cancellation, with the road noise-targeting iteration standard across all trims. However, the engine noise cancellation was standard only on the top trim, and the turbo engine was noted for being loud and revving more than expected.

The Enclave was classified as a mid-size crossover but drove like a full-size vehicle, with a noticeable bulk from behind the wheel. The steering was loose at slower speeds, with a good deal of play, but this wasn't a significant issue for most shoppers in this class. The Enclave's driving dynamics were comparable to competitors like the Mazda CX-90, focusing more on comfort and space than sporty handling.

The 2024 Kia Telluride offered a comfortable interior, especially in higher trim levels. The SX Prestige X-Line test vehicle featured premium Nappa leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats with a range of adjustments, including periodic lumbar massage, and heated and ventilated second-row captain's chairs. The third-row seat was capable of accommodating adults, and a dual sunroof panel added light to the interior. The Telluride's controls were oriented horizontally, with a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system that was user-friendly. However, the metallic finish buttons on the dashboard and steering wheel were hard to read in bright sunlight.

Kia included numerous thoughtful details in the Telluride, such as a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel with a scenic landscape view that changed with the time of day. Storage space was generous, with a covered cubby forward of the shifter, a tray for smartphones, and ample room in the door panel bins. The hands-free power liftgate with automatic closing was a convenient feature, though it could be undesirable in certain situations. The Telluride offered 21 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 46 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum volume of 87 cubic feet. The X-Line and X-Pro trims also provided useful roof rails for additional storage.

The 2025 Buick Enclave provided eight-way power adjustability for the driver's seat and six-way for the front passenger's seat. Captain's chairs were standard for the second row, allowing for a seven-person maximum capacity. The steering wheel and front seats were heated by default, with the Avenir trim adding heated second-row seats and front-row ventilation. A two-position memory feature was available for families sharing the vehicle. Tri-zone climate control was standard, with middle-row passengers able to manage their own temperature.

The Enclave offered a one-touch power feature for folding and sliding the second-row seats on the top trim, with power-folding third-row seats also available. The AutoSense liftgate was standard, opening when the key fob was detected within 3 feet of the rear end for at least three seconds. The liftgate revealed 22.9 cubic feet of cargo space with all seats in place, expanding to 57.1 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 97.5 cubic feet with both rear rows folded.

The 2024 Kia Telluride came equipped with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, though Apple CarPlay and Android Auto required a cable connection. A Kia Connect subscription was necessary for a conversational voice recognition system. The test vehicle's Kia Connect subscription was inactive, but past experiences showed it worked well. Four Kia Connect plans were available, with the Ultimate plan offering the most features for $199 annually. The Telluride also included satellite radio, wireless smartphone charging, and a 10-speaker Harman Kardon audio system.

Kia incorporated thoughtful features like a blue-light filter for the infotainment display, Quiet Mode for playing music only through the front speakers, and a function that delivered the driver's voice to rear-seat occupants through the stereo speakers. A digital key function allowed smartphones to act as the vehicle's key, and a camera-based rearview mirror offered a clear view of what was behind the SUV. A 10-inch head-up display and a 360-degree camera system were also available, along with a Leading Vehicle Departure Alert system.

The 2025 Buick Enclave showcased its premium positioning with a large curved display standard across all trims. This 30-inch ultrawide touchscreen integrated the infotainment display and digital gauge cluster, though smartphone projection interrupted the seamless appearance. A 12-speaker Bose Premium audio system was standard, with the Avenir trim featuring a 16-speaker Bose Performance system. Wireless charging, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto were standard, along with Google Built-In for native apps like Google Maps and Google Assistant. Wi-Fi hotspot capability and wired charging for all rows were also included.

The 2024 Kia Telluride impressed with its standard Kia Drive Wise collection of driver assistance features, including collision avoidance, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear occupant protection. Highway Driving Assist provided a hands-on semi-autonomous driving system with adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist. Safety feature upgrades varied by trim level, with options like front parking sensors, cross-traffic alert, evasive steering assist, lane-change assist, and automatic rear braking. The Telluride earned a five-star overall crash test rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.

The 2025 Buick Enclave came packed with safety and advanced driver-assistance tech, including blind-zone steering assist, intersection automatic emergency braking, traffic-sign recognition, lane-keep assist, and lane-departure warning. HD Surround Vision with seven selectable camera views was standard, with the option to increase to nine views. Adaptive cruise control was standard, while a head-up display was optional for all but the top trim. The Enclave featured GM's Teen Driver technology and was the first Buick to offer Super Cruise, GM's highway hands-free driving technology. The 2025 Enclave had not yet been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but the 2024 model scored well in most tests.