The Honda Pilot is an old favorite, while the Kia Telluride SUV has recently joined the midsize SUV club. Even though the Honda sport utility vehicle has had a few more years to get things right, owners and critics seem to agree that the Kia SUV got it right right away.

Is the Honda Pilot a reliable SUV?

When it comes to the Honda Pilot, Consumer Reports calls it a “good, family-friendly SUV.” The Pilot has three rows and all of the eight seats are easy to get in and out of. The cargo area still has plenty of room for whatever needs to go in the back. Consumer Reports says the visibility is good for how big the Honda SUV is, but the cabin is quiet.

Honda added all kinds of features to make the Pilot comfortable and easy to use. A single button allows the second seat to slide forward, making getting in the back easy for kids. The suspension makes the ride smooth and the V6 is powerful enough to get the job done. It returned 20 mpg overall during testing which is pretty average for midsize SUVs of its size.

The automaker equipped the sport utility vehicle with plenty advanced safety systems such as forward collision warning (FCW) and automatic emergency braking (AEB). Blind spot warning (BSW), lane departure warning (LDW), and lane keeping assist (LKA) are also included standard.

The Kia Telluride has more to offer than the Honda Pilot

The Kia Telluride is thoughtfully put together for potential customers. That’s probably why it has been popular since it hit the market. The Telluride has some of the best scores in Consumer Reports history and buyers have had a hard time getting ahold of the Kia SUV over the last few years.

The 2023 version will get an upgrade, but will mostly remain the same sport utility vehicle experts and buyers enjoy. Like the Pilot, its V6 engine is powerful enough and returned 21 mpg during testing. Consumer Reports says the Telluride performed better during acceleration and braking evaluations.

The Kia Telluride also performed better during the avoidance maneuver testing, which involves a quick swerve to avoid an object. The Kia SUV did this at 53.5 mph, while the Honda Pilot could only eke out 50 mph. While the Pilot does well, the Telluride performs a bit better at most of the tests.

Look for the Pilot or Hyundai Palisade if you don’t want to chase the Telluride

The Kia Telluride performed better on the road test, predicted reliability, and owner satisfaction categories. It also had better fuel economy by one mpg, and came in at the front of the midsize three-row SUV list. The Honda Pilot trailed behind as a solid contender but not actual competition. The one place where the Honda sport utility vehicle might come in first is the fact that you will have an easier time finding one in this tumultuous market.

The Hyundai Palisade is another options, as the twin to the Telluride. It shares the same engine, transmission, frame and suspension. The good news is that all three of these midsize SUVs are good choices. Finding one might offer a new set of problems.