2025 Kia Telluride vs 2026 Lexus GX

Family-friendly, midsize three-row SUVs are a favorite of Americans, and nearly every mainstream car company offers one. Kia has three, and the Telluride is the largest of its gas-powered models (the electric-only EV9 is slightly larger). The Telluride debuted in 2020 to critical acclaim and commercial success, and since then has received several updates but not a redesign. We took a 2025 Kia Telluride on a 1,200-mile family road trip to Northern California and Yosemite, and remain impressed with this stylish and capable Kia.

Verdict: Aging technology caused some irritation during a five-day road trip in the 2025 Kia Telluride. Otherwise, the Telluride was perfectly suited to long-distance travel–whether rolling down an Interstate, roaming a major city, or romping down trails near a national park.

The Lexus GX midsize SUV seats up to seven people, tows just over 9,000 pounds when properly equipped, can hold more than 90 cubic feet of cargo, and easily travels where few vehicles dare to tread. The 2026 GX 550 comes in Premium, Premium+, Overtrail, Overtrail+, Luxury, and Luxury+ trim levels, each equipped with a twin-turbocharged V6 engine and standard four-wheel drive (4WD). Lexus reported no changes to this SUV for the 2026 model year.

Verdict: Poor fuel economy aside, the GX is a good luxury SUV designed for serious off-roading and towing. For those who require neither, the Lexus RX is a better pick.