The Ford Explorer is perennially among America’s top-selling midsize SUVs. It’s been a fan favorite in its class for decades, but a relative newcomer has been climbing the sales charts. Now in its second generation, the all-new 2027 Kia Telluride poses a challenge to the stalwart Ford Explorer with tons of space, a striking design, and a new hybrid option.
There’s a lot to like about both of these 3-row SUVs, so let’s see which is better for you and your family.
2027 Kia Telluride
If you’ve seen this SUV pop up in traffic and wondered what it was, it’s the redesigned 2027 Kia Telluride. A boxy profile and interesting light signature highlight its new look, and its redesigned interior has the space, quality, and technology families crave.
Kia Telluride Highlights
Bigger interior: Third-row legroom is about the same between these two SUVs, but the Kia Telluride boasts more second-row legroom and more cargo room than the Ford Explorer. The Kia has about 37% more cargo space behind the third row, which means there’s cargo room you can actually use when all three rows of seats are in use.
Hybrid option: The redesigned 2027 Telluride gets a first-ever hybrid option that nets up to 34 city/36 highway/35 combined mpg. Meanwhile, the most fuel-efficient version of the Ford Explorer gets up to 20 city/29 highway/24 combined mpg. The Explorer is reasonably efficient for its class, but the Telluride Hybrid has significantly lower fuel costs.
Outstanding warranty: The best reason to buy any Kia remains its industry-leading warranty. Coverage includes a 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty — and roadside assistance for the same term — plus a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. Your Telluride won’t surprise you with expensive drivetrain repairs for an entire decade.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Telluride models for sale near you.
2027 Ford Explorer
The Ford Explorer is a legend in suburban America. It’s long been a trusted tool for families who just need a versatile and practical midsize SUV with enough space for the kids and their gear. Its diverse lineup includes something for just about anyone shopping in this class.
Ford Explorer Highlights
Gutsy base engine: One of our favorite things about the Ford Explorer is its surprisingly quick standard engine. Even in the base trim with no options, you get a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine making a healthy 300 horsepower, an extra 26 hp over the non-hybrid engine in the Telluride. The Explorer also comes with either rear-wheel drive (RWD) or a rear-biased all-wheel drive (AWD) system, giving it a sporty driving character for a family SUV.
Twin-turbo V6: If you want more power than the base model offers, Ford offers a twin-turbo V6, making up to 400 hp. It’s optional on the Tremor and Platinum trims and standard on the ST, which also throws in brake and suspension upgrades. There’s no version of the Telluride that’s quite as fun on back roads as the Ford Explorer ST.
Hands-free driving: Ford’s BlueCruise hands-free highway driving system is either optional or standard across all Explorer trims. It allows for eyes-on-the-road, hands-off-the-wheel driving on more than 130,000 miles of North American highways. The Kia Telluride offers no such hands-free system.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Explorer models for sale near you.
Pricing
New 2027 Kia Telluride Prices
|
Retail Price
|
Fair Purchase Price (92620)
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
$40,735 |
$40,800 |
|||
$43,635 |
$42,800 |
|||
$45,335 |
$44,900 |
|||
$48,835 |
$48,100 |
|||
$50,335 |
$49,900 |
|||
$53,335 |
$52,600 |
|||
$55,235 |
$54,200 |
|||
$55,435 |
$54,800 |
|||
$56,435 |
$55,400 |
|||
$58,335 |
$57,700 |
The Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price for any individual used vehicle can vary greatly according to mileage, condition, location, and other factors. The prices here reflect what buyers are currently paying for New 2027 Kia Telluride vehicles and New 2027 Ford Explorer vehicles in typical condition when purchasing from a dealership. These prices are updated weekly. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) quoted includes the destination fee, but does not include tax, license, document fees, and options.
Specifications
| 2027 Kia Telluride | 2027 Ford Explorer | |
| Popular Powertrains | ||
| Engine | 2.5-liter turbo 4-cylinder | 2.3-liter turbo 4-cylinder |
| Towing Capacity | 5,000 pounds | 5,000 pounds |
| Horsepower | N/A | 300 hp |
| Torque | N/A | 310 lb-ft |
| Transmission | automatic, 8-speed | automatic, 10-speed |
| Fuel Economy | 20 city/26 highway/22 combined mpg | N/A |
| Specs | ||
| Basic Warranty | 5 years/60,000 miles | 3 years/36,000 miles |
| Powertrain Warranty | 10 years/100,000 miles | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| NHTSA Overall Safety | Not rated | Not rated |
| Max Seating Capacity | 8 | 7 |
| Wheelbase | 116.9 inches | 119.1 inches |
| Overall Length | 199.2 inches | 198.7 inches |
| Width | 78.3 inches | 89.3 inches |
| Height | 69.5 inches | 69.6 inches |
| Turning Diameter | N/A | N/A |
| Headroom, Front | 41.2 inches | 40.7 inches |
| Headroom, 2nd Row | 40.6 inches | 40.5 inches |
| Headroom, 3rd Row | 37.4 inches | 38.9 inches |
| Legroom, Front | 41.4 inches | 43.0 inches |
| Legroom, 2nd Row | 43.0 inches | 37.5 inches |
| Legroom, 3rd Row | 32.1 inches | 31.8 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Front | 61.6 inches | 62.1 inches |
| Shoulder Room, 2nd Row | 61.2 inches | 61.9 inches |
| Shoulder Room, 3rd Row | 55.3 inches | 54.6 inches |
| Cargo Behind Last Seat | 22.3 feet | 16.3 feet |
| Cargo Behind Second Seat | 48.7 feet | 46.0 feet |
| Cargo With All Seats Down | 89.3 feet | 85.8 feet |
Specification table reflects the typical configuration of vehicles shown.
Conclusion
The redesigned 2027 Kia Telluride has the upper hand in many categories: space, warranty, efficiency, and, arguably, style. However, the Ford Explorer is the driver’s choice, with a more potent base engine and the genuinely exciting ST model. Ford also has hands-free driving. Unless you really want hands-free driving or hotter performance from your midsize SUV, the Kia Telluride checks more boxes that matter to most families.
