The Kia Telluride has long been one of our favorite and most highly recommended midsize 3-row SUVs. Ruggedly handsome and with loads of passenger space, the Telluride is a multiple Kelley Blue Book Best Buy Award winner and scores good marks for resale value.
Taking the fight to the Telluride, the Nissan Pathfinder has been around in various generations and guises since the mid-1980s. This fifth-generation model arrived for the 2022 model year with room for eight, more standard safety features, improved fuel economy, and class-leading towing capacity.
On paper, these two versatile SUVs are very evenly matched. To learn more about each one, let’s explore the highlights of the Kia Telluride and Nissan Pathfinder.
2025 Kia Telluride
The 2025 Kia Telluride is available in 10 trims, starting with the entry-level LX at $37,805 (including destination fees) and stretching to the opulent SX Prestige X-Pro that comes in at $55,100. All versions come with a 291-horsepower 3.8-liter V6 paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive (FWD) is standard and all-wheel drive (AWD) is optional.
Kia Telluride Highlights
Outstanding warranty: Other than its mechanical sibling, the Hyundai Palisade, the Kia Telluride outshines all other midsize 3-row SUVs when it comes to its warranty. A 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty is complemented by 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain coverage. You also get two years of roadside assistance.
Broad-shouldered exterior: Kia got it right when giving the Telluride a shape that’s both memorable and practical. Its upright and rectangular design is not only attractive, but it’s also a boon for creating lots of headroom and cargo space.
X-Pro models: The off-road-themed X-Pro trims were added for 2023 and include a small increase in ride height, a self-leveling rear suspension, all-terrain tires, a stouter cooling system, and a 500-pound bump in towing capacity to 5,500 pounds.
Interior space, standard features: The Telluride excels when it comes to passenger space and its long lineup of standard features. The base LX comes with niceties like a user-friendly 12.3-inch infotainment screen, smartphone connectivity, multiple USB ports, navigation, and synthetic leather seat upholstery. For 2025, Highway Driving Assist 1.5 becomes standard across the lineup.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Telluride models for sale near you.
2025 Nissan Pathfinder
The Nissan Pathfinder can be had in one of five trims: S, SV, SL, Rock Creek, and Platinum. Similar to the Telluride, the Pathfinder comes with numerous standard features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite radio, four USB ports, tri-zone climate control, and keyless entry. Pricing starts at $38,460 for a front-wheel-drive Pathfinder S. All-wheel drive is optional across the trims or standard on the Rock Creek edition.
Nissan Pathfinder Highlights
Towing capability: When properly equipped, the Pathfinder has a maximum towing capacity of 6,000 pounds. This is 500 pounds more than the Telluride’s best.
Rock Creek model: To counter the go-anywhere Telluride X-Pro models, the Pathfinder Rock Creek comes with outdoorsy hardware like standard AWD, heavy-duty suspension, off-road tires, and a front-mounted camera system that displays potential obstacles lurking ahead. The Rock Creek also has 295 hp, versus the standard Pathfinder’s 284 ponies.
Removable second-row console: Nissan cleverly developed a removable second-row console for Pathfinder models fitted with dual captain’s chairs. It’s a handy storage spot when in use. Once removed and stored behind the third row, the resulting gap allows for easier access to the rear-most seats.
ProPilot Assist: Using the adaptive cruise control system as its base, ProPilot Assist maintains driving inputs like lane centering, acceleration, and braking to maintain a safe distance from vehicles directly ahead. It helps take some of the stress and fatigue out of long-distance highway drives.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Pathfinder models for sale near you.
Similarities
They’re roomy, and each comes with all the modern conveniences SUV shoppers want in a family-friendly SUV with three rows of seating. Towing capacity and cargo space are also strong suits of both the Telluride and Pathfinder. Both SUVs also boast a standard V6 engine and similar pricing.
Pricing
New 2025 Kia Telluride Prices
|
Retail Price
|
Fair Purchase Price (92620)
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
$37,805 |
$36,126 |
|||
$40,805 |
$39,123 |
|||
$43,505 |
$42,012 |
|||
$47,605 |
$45,805 |
|||
$47,900 |
$46,252 |
|||
$48,800 |
$46,442 |
|||
$51,300 |
$49,263 |
|||
$52,805 |
$50,666 |
|||
$54,200 |
$51,994 |
|||
$55,100 |
$52,945 |
New 2025 Nissan Pathfinder Prices
|
Retail Price
|
Fair Purchase Price (92620)
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
$37,790 |
$35,639 |
|||
$40,780 |
$38,459 |
|||
$43,480 |
$41,005 |
|||
$45,880 |
$43,269 |
|||
$50,030 |
$47,183 |
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 2025 Kia Telluride vehicles and New 2025 Nissan Pathfinder 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
| 2025 Kia Telluride | 2025 Nissan Pathfinder | |
| Popular Powertrains | ||
| Engine | 3.8-liter V6 | 3.5-liter V6 |
| Horsepower | 291 hp @ 6,000 rpm | 284 hp @ 6,400 rpm |
| Torque | 262 lb-ft @ 5,200 rpm | 259 lb-ft @ 4,800 rpm |
| Transmission | 8-speed automatic | 9-speed automatic |
| Fuel economy MPG | 20 city/26 highway/22 combined | 20 city/27 highway/23 combined |
| Also Available | AWD | AWD |
| 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 | 5-Star | 5-Star |
| Max Seating Capacity | 8 | 8 |
| Wheelbase | 114.2 inches | 114.2 inches |
| Overall Length | 196.9 inches | 197.7 inches |
| Width | 78.3 inches | 77.9 inches |
| Height | 68.9 inches | 70.9 inches |
| Turning Diameter | 38.8 feet | 38.7 feet |
| Headroom, Front | 40.9 inches | 42.3 inches |
| Headroom, 2nd Row | 40.2 inches | 39.6 inches |
| Headroom, 3rd Row | 38.1 inches | 37.8 inches |
| Legroom, Front | 41.4 inches | 44.3 inches |
| Legroom, 2nd Row | 42.4 inches | 35.5 inches |
| Legroom, 3rd Row | 31.4 inches | 28.0 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Front | 61.6 inches | 60.8 inches |
| Shoulder Room, 2nd Row | 61.2 inches | 59.6 inches |
| Shoulder Room, 3rd Row | 55.3 inches | 58.4 inches |
| Cargo Volume | 21.0/46.0/87.0 cubic feet | 16.6/45.0/80.5 cubic feet |
Conclusion
Credit is due to the Nissan Pathfinder for putting up a strong fight against the award-winning Telluride. The Nissan is attractive, comfortable, and provides excellent towing capability. It also scores high marks in terms of safety; it earned the prestigious Top Safety Pick+ status from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), just like the Telluride.
Yet the Telluride has the edge here thanks to its combination of value, greater interior volume, performance, and its class-leading warranty. Outside of its so-so fuel efficiency, there’s very little to fault in Kia’s largest SUV. It maintains its king-of-the-hill status in our Best 3-Row SUVs ranking.
