2025 Kia Telluride vs 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport was designed to project a sportier image within the Range Rover family. Its tall stance was complemented by a shorter wheelbase and a chopped top, giving it an athletic appearance. Large front air intakes and faux vents on the hood and fenders added to its sporty look, though from certain angles, it appeared a bit too tall and narrow, lacking the wide, planted look of some luxury SUVs. The lineup included SE, Dynamic SE, Autobiography, and SV Edition Two trims, with the Dynamic SE offering a Stealth appearance package. Our test car, the SV Edition 2, featured 23-inch carbon-fiber wheels and a carbon-fiber hood, presenting a subtle exterior that belied its high-performance capabilities. Inside, the SV Edition 2 boasted red leather upholstery, sport seats with illuminated inserts, and a minimalist dashboard design, though the high console and dash created a somewhat cramped front-seat experience.

The 2025 Kia Telluride was a well-proportioned SUV with distinctive design elements and upscale details. The SX Prestige X-Pro package added a blacked-out look, which somewhat diminished the SUV's personality against the Midnight Lake Blue paint. Inside, the Telluride featured a black-over-Terracotta interior with simulated wood trim, metallic accents, and chevron-pattern Nappa leather, creating a luxurious feel. The dual-screen display dominated the dashboard, offering a technologically advanced appearance. Despite some lower-quality plastics in the cabin, the Telluride's interior was thoughtfully designed, with features like heated and ventilated second-row seats, USB-C charging ports, and smartphone storage sleeves. The Telluride managed to stand out in a crowded SUV market with its original design and thoughtful interior features.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport offered multiple powertrain options, all paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive. The base SE model featured a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six engine producing 355 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. The Dynamic SE offered a higher output of 395 hp and 406 lb-ft, along with a plug-in hybrid powertrain rated at 454 hp and 487 lb-ft. The Autobiography trim could be equipped with a plug-in hybrid producing 543 hp and 590 lb-ft or a BMW-sourced twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 with 523 hp and 553 lb-ft. The SV Edition Two used the same V8 but with 626 hp, making it the most powerful Range Rover model. It could accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds and had a top speed of 180 mph. The Range Rover Sport excelled in both on-road performance and off-road capability, with features like Terrain Response, hill descent control, and air suspension providing a luxurious ride and impressive agility.

The 2025 Kia Telluride was powered by a 3.8-liter V6 engine generating 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive was standard for most trims, while all-wheel drive was available for others. The Telluride offered Eco, Comfort, Sport, and Smart driving modes, with Smart mode adjusting to driver behavior. The V6 engine provided smooth and ample power, though it occasionally struggled at high elevations. The Telluride returned a fuel economy of 20.2 mpg over a long road trip, aligning with its EPA rating. The X-Pro package added off-road capability with all-terrain tires and increased towing capacity, though it sacrificed some on-road grip. The Telluride's suspension and tires handled rough roads and trails with ease, providing a comfortable and confident driving experience.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport was positioned between the Range Rover Velar and the full-size Range Rover, offering a midsize two-row, five-seater configuration. Front-seat occupants found adequate headroom, though competitors like the Acura MDX and Audi Q7 offered more legroom. The sloping roof did not significantly impact rear-seat headroom, and reclining rear seats were standard. The Range Rover Sport provided 31.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row and 53 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. It lacked a split tailgate but featured power operation and an "access height" setting for easier loading. The Sport's towing capacity was 7,716 pounds for turbo-six and V8 models, with plug-in hybrids rated at 6,614 pounds.

The 2025 Kia Telluride SX Prestige model offered a thoughtfully designed interior with features like heated and ventilated second-row seats, USB-C charging ports, and smartphone storage sleeves. The driver's seat included a lumbar massage function, enhancing long-distance comfort. The second row featured reclining captain's chairs, a rear climate control zone, and ample legroom. The third-row seat, while folded flat for luggage during the test, was found to be reasonably comfortable for adults. The Telluride provided 21 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, with a hidden compartment under the load floor. Folding the third-row seats expanded cargo space to 46 cubic feet, and flattening the second-row seats increased it to 87 cubic feet, offering ample storage for most needs.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport featured a 13.7-inch digital instrument cluster and a 13.1-inch touchscreen for infotainment, with wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integration. The screens were visually appealing, but the minimalist design limited physical controls, making some functions less intuitive. The Pivi Pro infotainment system was responsive, with natural-language voice recognition. The SV Edition 2 test car included "Body and Soul Seats" with embedded transducers for a unique audio experience, though it felt somewhat gimmicky.

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 glass panel, complemented by a 10-inch head-up display. The head-up display provided blind-spot alerts, and the Blind Spot View Monitor showed live video feeds. However, the Telluride lacked wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the data port was USB-A. The native voice recognition system was basic, but the SiriusXM satellite radio and Bluetooth connectivity provided entertainment options. The 10-speaker Harman Kardon audio system delivered impressive sound quality.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport included standard driver-assist features like automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and blind-spot monitoring. A 360-degree camera system and digital rearview mirror aided parking, though parking sensors were overly sensitive. Safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time of publication.

The 2025 Kia Telluride featured a comprehensive suite of safety features under the Drive Wise branding, including forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control. Highway Driving Assist provided semi-autonomous highway driving, and higher trims added features like evasive steering assist and a surround-view camera. The Telluride earned a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.