The Kia Telluride made the already robust midsize SUV class even more competitive and it’s no wonder why. This all-new SUV made a splash in the car market with its upscale and spacious interior along with its impressive safety features. But how does this new SUV compare to older favorites like the Dodge Durango?

Interior finishings 

Both the 2020 Kia Telluride and the 2020 Dodge Durango are available as three-row SUVs. What makes three-SUVs so appealing is that they are generally large and accommodating, family-friendly alternatives to minivans. The Telluride can seat up to eight while the Durango seats up to seven.

As far as interior finishes go, the Durango looks pretty handsome, especially for a non-luxury SUV. But, Durango’s interior has garnered mixed reviews from critics because of its plain detailing and ill-fitted plastic panels. The higher trim levels offer genuine leather or suede fittings but these options don’t look as modern as they should. It’s worth mentioning that the Durango hasn’t been redesigned for almost 10 years.

Oppositely, the Telluride makes a much grander statement on the inside compared to the Durango. The Telluride’s synthetic leather offering is attractive and there’s also the option to upgrade to high-quality, genuine leather. Faux wood and satin-trimmings make the Telluride feel even more upscale.

Infotainment 

Infotainment features have become increasingly more important and both the Telluride and Durango do well in this category. The Durango actually offers one of the most user-friendly infotainment systems in its class, that is if you opt for the higher trim levels with the 8.4-inch touchscreen. You can also opt for a rear-seat entertainment display for the kiddos. 

Apple Car Play and Android Auto come standard on the Durango, as well as on the Telluride. The Telluride comes standard with an 8-inch touchscreen and numerous UBS ports. All of the higher Telluride trims come with a 10.25-inch touchscreen and there’s also wireless charging. 

Performance

The Durango offers a variety of performance options, especially compared to the Telluride. For 2020, the Durango comes standard with a V6 engine that makes a 295 horsepower. If you want more muscle, there’s a 360 hp V8 engine as well as a stronger 475 hp V8 option.  On the contrary, the Telluride is a gentler ride and the only engine option is a V6 engine with a 291 hp.

Safety

When it comes to safety, the Telluride has earned higher ratings than the Durango. The Telluride was named as a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety and comes standard with advanced safety features including automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. 

The Durango’s safety ratings are only satisfactory. Not many advanced safety features come standard on the Durango but adaptive cruise control, automated emergency braking, and lane-keep assist are available. 

The final verdict

So the Durango has more thrilling performance options, but the Telluride is the more well-rounded option. With the Telluride, you get a more upscale experience, better safety features, as well as a decent performance. It’s also important to note that the Telluride comes with more appealing standard features and starts at $31,890 and the Durango starts at $30,795.