To the shock of no one, the Kia Telluride is enjoying another successful year in terms of new car sales. Roughly 55,000 units have sold so far this year, putting the Kia Telluride on track for small annual sales growth. However, there are some surprising new cars that beat the Telluride’s sales by large margins. Here are some Telluride alternatives to consider, along with a few reasons why they’re so popular. 

Honda Pilot: 55,783 sold

GoodCarBadCar shows that the Honda Pilot is ahead of the Telluride by a mere 500 units. It’s also currently experiencing a higher annual growth rate, possibly because of its redesign for the 2023 model year. In addition to updated styling, the Honda Pilot is now approximately three inches longer than the Telluride. 

The Pilot is still similar to the Telluride in many ways, though it’s slightly superior in some areas. While the Telluride still offers more second-row legroom, the Pilot’s third-row legroom capacity is 32 in (one more than the Telluride). Both SUVs have identical cargo capacities, but the Pilot gives you more room with the third row folded. 

Both SUVs also have special off-roading trims for low-stakes adventures away from civilized pavement. Each comes a unique suspension option, but the Kia Telluride’s ground clearance is slightly below the Pilot’s. 

Chevy Traverse: 68,681 sold

The Chevy Traverse, another midsize SUV, has already sold about 69,000 units so far for 2023. Its V6 engine has 310 hp on tap, which is approximately 19 ponies more than the Kia Telluride’s V6. The Chevy Traverse also has a nine-speed automatic transmission, and even the front-wheel-drive models have a drive mode selector for different road conditions. 

Like the Telluride, the Traverse has a spacious interior for a maximum of eight riders. It offers more third-row legroom than both the Telluride or Honda Pilot, though it falls short in terms of second-row legroom. 

The Traverse’s cabin utilizes a lot of plastic parts, though it beats the Telluride in terms of overall cargo capacity. Not including its underfloor compartment, the Telluride has 87 cu-ft of storage space. The Chevy Traverse has 11 extra cu-ft of cargo area. 

Chrysler Pacifica: 73,845 sold

Nearly 74,000 Chrysler Pacifica units have been sold in 2023, and this minivan is just under $1,400 less than the Kia Telluride. The Pacifica has seating for seven riders, with third-row passengers enjoying over 36 inches of legroom.

Most models can also be optioned with the Stow ‘n Go system, which lets you store the seats in underfloor compartments. You can also easily tilt the second-row seats downward to get access to the last row, or simply free up some more legroom back there. 

Each trim is powered by a 287-hp engine paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. Unlike some other minivans, the Pacifica can be optioned with all-wheel drive. Its driving manners skew toward the conservative side, but it offers a plush ride quality and advanced sound insulation. 

Jeep Grand Cherokee: 124,957 sold

The Grand Cherokee has proven to be one of this year’s most popular midsize SUV per GoodCarBadCar data, with nearly 125,000 units sold. A 293-hp engine is standard, but you can also get a 357-hp V8. That engine is only standard on the range-topping Summit Reserve trim. The V8 can also be had on the Overland and Summit trims as long as you have AWD added.

All of these trims are either optional or standard with several great off-roading features. Despite its rugged nature, the Jeep Grand Cherokee has an upscale interior and the latest Uconnect infotainment software. However, it can only seat five riders and has less total cargo capacity compared to the Kia Telluride.