2025 Ford Explorer vs. 2025 Kia Telluride: Which SUV Is Right for You?

The 2025 Ford Explorer and 2025 Kia Telluride are top contenders in the midsize, three-row SUV market. Both offer a good blend of performance, style, and features designed with families in mind. However, the Explorer takes the lead if you’re looking for better performance, towing power, and advanced technology.

Key Features and Updates for 2025 Models

The Explorer saw significant updates for the 2025 model year, including a streamlined trim lineup with a new Tremor variant, subtle exterior design tweaks, and BlueCruise hands-free driving technology available for the first time. In contrast, the Kia Telluride remains unchanged for the 2025 model year.

Design and Exterior

The Ford Explorer has a bold exterior design, while the Telluride has a chunky yet appealing look.

2025 Ford Explorer Design Features

The entry-level Ford Explorer Active starts the lineup with LED exterior lighting, 18-inch wheels, and a power liftgate. It comes standard with a Class III trailer hitch. Stepping up to the ST-Line gets you a black grille, black lower-body cladding, and darkened headlights and taillights.

The Platinum has a two-panel sunroof and adaptive headlights that swivel when you turn the steering wheel to give you more light when driving at night.

2025 Kia Telluride Design Features

The Telluride lineup starts with 18-inch wheels, LED headlights, and keyless entry. A step up to the S adds 20-inch wheels, a sunroof, and roof rails. Another bump to the EX gets you power-folding exterior mirrors and a hands-free liftgate.

The higher-end trims offer self-leveling rear suspension, higher roof rails, and gloss black exterior trim.

Performance and Capability

The Explorer and Telluride are capable SUVs, but the Explorer has more power and can tow heavier loads.

Ford Explorer Engine Details

Power for the Explorer comes from a 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine that develops 300 horsepower. A 3.0-liter turbo V-6 producing 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque is available for the Platinum and comes standard with the ST. Both engines work with a 10-speed automatic transmission.

Kia Telluride Engine Details

The Telluride offers just one engine. The 3.8-liter V-6 gets 291 horsepower and works with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive comes standard with all-wheel drive available for all trim levels except the ST Prestige, which comes standard with all-wheel drive.

Towing Capacity

The Explorer and Telluride have similar towing capacities. All Explorer trims come with a Class III tow package, which allows it to pull up to 5,000 pounds. Most Telluride trims, except the X-Pro, can also tow up to 5,000 pounds. The X-Pro can tow up to 5,500 pounds.

Fuel Efficiency

The most fuel-efficient Explorer is equipped with rear-wheel drive and a four-cylinder engine. These will get up to 21 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. The twin-turbo V-6 will get you up to 18 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway.

Since the Telluride is only offered with a V-6 engine, its fuel efficiency isn’t as good as the Explorer. Front-wheel-drive models will get up to 20 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway, and all-wheel-drive models will get up to 18 mpg in the city and have an EPA rating of 24 mpg on the highway.

Interior Comfort and Technology

Both the Ford Explorer and Kia Telluride have comfortable, well-equipped cabins.

Seating Capacity and Seat Comfort

There’s room for up to seven people in the Explorer, and all three rows have comfortable seats. The Telluride also has three rows and room for seven. Opting for captains’ chairs in either vehicle reduces seating to six.

Cargo Space and Storage Solutions

The Explorer has a 16.3 cubic foot cargo area behind the third row, expanding to 85.8 cubic feet with both back rows folded down. The Telluride has 21 cubic feet of space behind the third row while folding down the back two rows opens up 87 cubic feet of storage.

Infotainment and Connectivity Features

Both vehicles have a long list of standard and available tech features.

Ford Explorer Technology Features

A 13.2-inch touchscreen stretches across the front of the Explorer, with a digital instrument cluster in front of the driver. The infotainment system comes loaded with Google built-in, wireless Apple CarPlay, and wireless Android Auto, and a 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen stereo system is available.

Kia Telluride Technology Features

The Telluride has a 12.3-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a standard six-speaker stereo. A 12.3-inch instrument cluster comes in the higher-end SX trim and above, offering a 10-speaker stereo system.

Safety and Reliability

Both vehicles have advanced driver aids to keep you safe on the road.

Ford Explorer Safety Technologies

Every Explorer comes with Ford Co-Pilot360 Assist+. This bundle includes:

• Forward collision warning
• Automatic emergency braking
• Adaptive cruise control
• Lane centering assist
• Intersection collision assist
• Evasive steering assist
• Blind-spot warning
• Rear parking sensors

Kia Telluride Safety Technologies

The Telluride has adaptive cruise control, blind-spot warning, automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, and lane-keep assist. To get more advanced driver aids, you need to step up to the SX trim or above.

Price Comparison By Trim Level

The Ford Explorer starts at $38,855 for the entry-level Active trim. From there, you can get the ST-Line for $44,615. Up next, the Platinum starts at $52,250, and then the performance-based ST starts at $54,260.

The Kia Telluride’s base LX trim starts at $36,390. The mid-range for this SUV is the EX X-Line for $46,486, and the top-level SX Prestige X-Pro starts at $53,685.

Experience the 2025 Ford Explorer at Jim Bass Ford

Now that you have more information about the Ford Explorer vs. Kia Telluride, we hope you can see why the Ford Explorer is the best SUV for you. Come to Jim Bass Ford in San Angelo, Texas, for a closer look at this impressive SUV, and take one for a test drive. Our team is here to answer any questions and ensure you know about all the standard and available features so you can configure your new Ford Explorer to fit your every need.