2025 Kia Telluride vs 2025 Honda Pilot

The 2025 Honda Pilot was available in several trims, including the Sport, EX-L, TrailSport, Touring, Elite, and Black Edition. The Sport trim was the most affordable, but it lacked many appealing amenities, making the leather-lined EX-L a recommended upgrade. Prices ranged from $40,200 to $54,580, plus a $1,395 destination charge. The Black Edition, based on the Pilot Elite, featured black wheels, blacked-out exterior trim, and black badges. Inside, it had black leather seats with red perforation accents, red contrast stitching, and red ambient lighting. The Black Edition's custom look was more suited for suburban environments, and while the interior was thoughtfully designed with quality materials, the digital driver display and infotainment system appeared dated.

The 2025 Kia Telluride lineup included five core trims: LX, S, EX, SX, and SX Prestige, with base prices from $36,390 to $51,390, excluding a $1,415 destination charge. The X-Line package, available on all but the LX and S trims, added AWD, a locking center differential, increased ground clearance, and a blacked-out look. The X-Pro trim further enhanced the Telluride's capabilities with all-terrain tires and increased towing capacity. The SX Prestige X-Pro package included comprehensive standard equipment and off-roading capability. The Telluride's design was distinctive and upscale, though the blacked-out treatment diminished some of its personality. Inside, the black-over-Terracotta interior contrasted with the blue exterior, featuring luxurious materials like Nappa leather and an artificial suede headliner. However, the lower cabin plastics revealed cost-cutting measures.

The 2025 Honda Pilot was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, producing 285 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This setup allowed most Pilot models to tow up to 5,000 pounds. The Pilot offered various driving modes, including Normal, Econ, Snow, Tow, Sport, Trail, and Sand. Models equipped with Honda's i-VTM4 AWD system featured hill descent control and up to 7.3 inches of ground clearance (8.3 inches for the TrailSport). The AWD system's torque vectoring allowed up to 70 percent of engine output to flow to a single rear wheel. While the V6 provided good acceleration, the transmission sometimes felt slow to downshift. Fuel economy was unimpressive, with an average of 20 mpg, falling short of the EPA rating. The Pilot's handling was predictable and secure, though an adaptive-damping suspension system would have improved ride quality.

The 2025 Kia Telluride featured a 3.8-liter V6 engine generating 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. FWD was standard for LX, S, EX, and SX trims, while AWD was standard on other versions. The Telluride offered Eco, Comfort, Sport, and Smart driving modes, with Smart mode adjusting to driver behavior. The V6 provided smooth and refined power, with a fuel economy of 20.2 mpg over nearly 1,200 miles, aligning with the EPA rating. The X-Pro package's all-terrain tires offered enhanced off-pavement traction but sacrificed some on-pavement grip. The Telluride's compliant suspension absorbed impacts well, and the Continental tires added confidence on trails. However, the brake pedal behavior was occasionally sticky in thick traffic.

The 2025 Honda Pilot excelled in form and function, with three rows of comfortable seats and thoughtful storage solutions. The Black Edition's front row featured a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat but only a four-way adjustable front passenger seat, which was a drawback for long trips. The second-row seats were roomy, with a removable center section for captain's chairs. The third row was habitable for adults if the second row slid forward. The Pilot offered 18.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expandable to 86.5 cubic feet with both rear rows folded.

The 2025 Kia Telluride SX Prestige model's interior featured heated and ventilated front and second-row seats, with thoughtful storage solutions and USB-C charging ports. The driver's seat included a lumbar massage function, enhancing long drives. The second row offered reclining captain's chairs, ample legroom, and a rear climate control zone. The third row was reasonably comfortable for adults. The Telluride provided 21 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expandable to 87 cubic feet with both rear rows folded. However, the carpeted cargo mat made accessing the hidden compartment under the load floor a hassle.

The 2025 Honda Pilot's technology appeared dated, with smaller display screens compared to rivals. The Black Edition featured a 10.2-inch digital gauge panel and a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a 12-speaker Bose audio system. However, the wireless CarPlay function was problematic, and the voice recognition system was hit-and-miss. The CabinTalk feature allowed the driver to communicate with passengers over the stereo speakers, and a small four-inch head-up display was included.

The 2025 Kia Telluride SX and SX Prestige trims featured a 12.3-inch digital driver display and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system under a single piece of glass. A 10-inch head-up display complemented them in the SX Prestige. The Telluride lacked wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the data port was a USB-A. The voice recognition system was rudimentary, but the SiriusXM satellite radio and 10-speaker Harman Kardon audio system delivered impressive sound quality.

The 2025 Honda Pilot came equipped with Honda Sensing safety features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control. The Black Edition also had parking sensors and a multi-view camera system with TrailWatch technology. However, the adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist systems had issues, and the road sign recognition system was inaccurate. The Pilot earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA.

The 2025 Kia Telluride featured Drive Wise safety features, including forward collision warning, pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. The SX Prestige X-Pro had additional features like a Blind Spot View Monitor, evasive steering assist, and a surround-view camera. The lane-centering assist system was problematic on curves, but the head-up display effectively communicated blind-spot warnings. The Telluride earned a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.