The Honda Pilot is a highly sought-after vehicle in the midsize SUV segment. The Kia Telluride, on the other hand, was only introduced for the 2020 model year. Despite being more established, the Telluride is giving the Pilot a run for its money. Here are just a few ways in which Kia’s SUV comes out on top, according to U.S. News.

Comparing reliability

Reliability is a major consideration when buying any vehicle. So consumers will naturally be impressed that J.D. Power & Associates has given the Kia Telluride an above-average score for predicted reliability. At the same time, the Honda Pilot has a poor predicted reliability rating, earning just two out of five stars.

Interior quality

Critics have given both vehicles high marks for their comfortable, well-designed interiors. Even so, many believe that the Kia Telluride offers a slight advantage. Kia has included many premium materials in its interior design, giving the Telluride a more luxurious appearance than the Honda Pilot.

The Telluride also has an edge when it comes to features. For example, the Telluride’s infotainment system consists of an 8-inch touchscreen as opposed to only a 5-inch touchscreen in the Pilot. Honda does make an 8-inch screen available, but only as an optional upgrade. In addition, features like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are not standard features on the Honda either, despite being standard on most of their competition.

The Kia Telluride has better seat comfort

Seat comfort is another area in which the Kia Telluride has the advantage. Both vehicles come with three rows of seating and room for up to eight passengers. Either will provide you with plenty of leg- and headroom in all three rows as well as an optional upgrade to captain’s chairs in the second row.

With the Honda Pilot, you can add heated front seats, but second-row heating is restricted to captain’s chairs only. The Telluride offers heated seats in the first or second row, regardless of configuration. Other upgrades available on the Kia include power-adjustable front seats and ventilated first and second-row seats.

Ride and handling

Both of these SUVs will provide you with a smooth driving experience. However, in independent testing, the Kia Telluride showed itself to have more responsive steering and easier maneuvering than the Honda Pilot.

The standard engine on the Telluride is a 3.8-liter V6, which provides 291 hp and up to 262 lb-ft of torque. The Pilot has a slightly smaller 3.5-liter V6 engine that produces 280 hp and 262 lb.-ft. of torque. Thanks to the slightly bigger engine, you’ll notice better acceleration and smoother shifting on the Telluride as well.

The Honda Pilot is surprisingly more expensive

The starting price of a Honda Pilot is somewhere in the neighborhood of $32,250. In comparison, a base-model Kia Telluride will set you back around $31,990. That’s only a slight difference in price; however, when you consider that the Telluride offers quite a few advantages over the Pilot, the lower price makes it an even better value for the money.

Despite its lower price tag, the Telluride offers a better manufacturer’s warranty. With the Kia, you’ll get a 5-year/60,000-mile limited warranty as well as a best-in-class 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. Honda offers only an average warranty, which includes a 3-year/36,000-mile limited warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.

The Kia Telluride offers many advantages

Thus far, the Kia Telluride appears to be giving the Honda Pilot a run for its money. Its numerous advantages coupled with a lower starting price makes the Telluride hard to resist. If you are shopping for a midsize SUV, you may want to give this one a look, particularly if you are also considering a 2021 Honda Pilot.