Kia Telluride vs GMC Acadia
We compare SUVs to see which one is the better pick: the Telluride or the GMC Acadia. Discover which SUV we recommend in our head-to-head comparison.
3-row SUVs Made for Your Family
The Kia Telluride stormed onto the three-row crossover stage back in 2020, quickly garnering critical praise and consumer sales. But that was 5 years ago and since then, the competition has heated up. Take the 2025 GMC Acadia for example. Fully redesigned just last year, it’s fresh-faced, packed with modern technology, and running a turbocharged 2.5L four-cylinder engine in place of a long-running V6.
The Telluride isn’t exactly sitting on its laurels with a mid-cycle refresh in 2023 ushering in Kia’s take on the latest and greatest in crossover content. Both of these SUVs offer seating for up to 8 and all manner of creature comforts that lean toward luxury. But we’ll have to do a careful Kia Telluride vs. GMC Acadia comparison to determine which crossover does it best.
Specs
Kia fits the 2025 Telluride with a naturally aspirated 3.8L V6 making 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. It pairs with an 8-speed automatic to spin the front wheels. All-wheel drive is a $2,000 option on most models though it does come standard on X variants. In the 2025 GMC Acadia, motivation comes from a 2.5L turbocharged inline-4 rated for 328 hp and 326 lb-ft of twist.
It too features an 8-speed transmission, standard FWD, and the option to add AWD for $2,000. Notably more powerful than the Kia, the GMC still manages to edge it on fuel economy with combined cycle ratings of 23 mpg for FWD Acadia’s and 21 mpg for AWD models. With the Kia, those figures come in at 22 and 20 mpg, respectively.
Driving and Performance
Aimed at families, both the 2025 Kia Telluride and GMC Acadia promise a comfortable ride and competent handling. For those interested in a bit of off-roading, the Telluride has better on-paper specs like 8.4 inches of ground clearance for the X models that also feature all-terrain tires. Over at GMC, the AT4 offers 7.7 inches of clearance, also comes with knobby tires as well as a front skid plate and an off-road-tuned suspension.
On the towing front, the Acadia and Telluride are rated for 5,000 pounds, though the Telluride X-Pro bumps that figure up to 5,500. Both earn 5 stars for overall safety from the NHTSA, but only the Kia takes home a Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS. As for advanced driver aids, forward collision mitigation, a lane-keeping system, and adaptive cruise control come standard on these two SUVs. GMC offers its lauded Super Cruise hands-free driving tech as an option on the Acadia, while Kia fits every 2025 with Highway Driving Assist (HDA) 1.5.
Comfort and Interior
Like most three-row crossovers, the latest Telluride and Acadia can seat up to 8 passengers with a middle-row bench or 7 when captain’s chairs are swapped in. Second- and third-row legroom is virtually the same at 42 and 31 inches, respectively, for the Kia versus 41 and 32 inches in the GMC. However, one area in this Kia Telluride vs. GMC Acadia matchup with a notable difference is cargo space. The Acadia delivers 97 cubic feet of space behind the first row and 23 behind the third, while the Telluride comes in at just 87 cubes max and 21 in the back.
The usual hierarchy of cloth upholstery on base models and Nappa leather on top models is present with the Telluride and Acadia. GMC makes heated front seats and triple-zone automatic climate control lineup standard, while Kia requires at least an S trim line for heated front seats. That said, the base Acadia is some $5,000 pricier than the Telluride S.
Trims and Features
On this pricing note, the 2025 Kia Telluride starts around $36,000 for the base LX model that comes with 18” wheels, LED exterior lighting, a 12.3” central touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 6-speaker stereo. Stepping up to the roughly $39,000 S trim line brings 20” rims, a sunroof and hands-free liftgate, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, and a wireless phone charging pad. The nearly $42,000 Telluride EX boasts leather, climatized front seats, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror.
Next up is the $45,890 SX model that features dual sunroofs, digital key technology, a 12.3” digital instrument panel, a Harman Kardon audio system, a surround-view monitor, and HDA 2.0. The range-topping Telluride SX Prestige starts around $51,000 and comes with rain-sensing wipers, a digital rearview mirror, climatized second-row seats, and a head-up display. Kia also sells a variety of X-Line and X-Pro Tellurides that build off lower-rung models, while adding off-road-themed features.
The entry-level 2025 GMC Acadia Elevation starts at $44,295 and features 18” wheels, a hands-free liftgate, a heated steering wheel, a fully digital gauge cluster, and surround-view monitoring, and a Bose audio system. It’s also in the running for one of the best infotainment systems on the market with a 15” touchscreen interface, wireless smartphone mirroring, and Google built-in. In AT4 guise, the price jumps to around $53,000 for which you get off-road goodies like all-terrain tires, red recovery hooks, a skid plate, a lifted suspension, and a special Forest Storm cabin theme.
Atop the 2025 Acadia lineup is the $55,295 Denali with its 20” rims, rain-sensing wipers, climatized front and heated second-row seats, leather upholstery, power-adjustable steering column, and heads-up display. Tack on the Denali Reserve package for $3,130 to enjoy a panoramic moonroof, 22” wheels, and a 16-speaker Bose stereo system.
The Verdict
The 2025 GMC Acadia’s base MSRP puts it at an immediate disadvantage against the 2025 Kia Telluride. An $8,105 disadvantage to be specific. In fairness, the entry-level Acadia has quite a bit more content than the base Telluride, a higher overall cargo capacity, and a more potent powertrain. But this is a price-conscious segment. A more apples-to-apples comparison would be the Acadia Elevation versus the Telluride SX, and at this level, the Kia is more or less on par with the GMC.
If off-roading is your thing, the Telluride boasts better specs than the Acadia and they both tow at least 5,000 pounds with a bit more on tap for certain Tellurides. Then there’s the matter of warranty coverage. GMC does include a single free oil change versus zero complimentary maintenance from Kia. But the Telluride’s 5 years or 100,000 miles of powertrain coverage is more impressive than the 60,000 miles of coverage GMC provides for the Acadia over the same timeframe. The latest GMC Acadia is a good-looking crossover with a lot to like, but ultimately, the Kia Telluride is the better option.
