2026 Honda Pilot vs. 2027 Kia Telluride: 3-Row Midsize SUV Comparison

The 2026 Honda Pilot and the 2027 Kia Telluride are two of the strongest three-row SUVs a Greenville-area family can buy right now. Both seat up to eight passengers and come standard with a full driver-assist safety suite. Both are built to handle a driveway in Easley just as well as a weekend trip toward Table Rock State Park.

The Pilot sticks with a proven 3.5-liter V6, while the redesigned Telluride switches to a turbocharged four-cylinder with a hybrid option. That’s the biggest shift buyers need to understand before comparing price tags. This guide from Hendrick Honda Easley walks through power, space, technology, fuel economy, safety, and warranty coverage. Use it to decide which SUV actually fits how your family drives around Easley, Greenville, and the Upstate.

2026 Pilot vs. 2027 Telluride: The Differences That Matter Most

• A naturally aspirated V6 with no turbo lag: The Pilot’s 3.5-liter V6 makes 285 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. Power arrives the moment you press the gas pedal, with no boost to wait on.
• A proven platform without first-year redesign risk: The Pilot’s V6 and chassis carry years of real-world reliability data. The redesigned Telluride is just entering its first model year on an all-new platform.
• A powertrain warranty that runs twice as long: Kia backs the Telluride with a 10-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty, well beyond the Pilot’s 5-year, 60,000-mile coverage.
• A cabin backed by a decade of Honda Sensing refinement: Honda’s driver-assist suite comes standard on every Pilot trim. Kia’s newer Driving Assist 2 suite is still building its own track record.
• More second-row legroom for growing kids: The Telluride’s longer 116.9-inch wheelbase gives rear passengers noticeably more knee room than the Pilot’s 113.8-inch wheelbase.
• Both SUVs seat up to eight passengers and come standard with a full suite of driver-assist safety features. Neither one asks you to pay extra just to feel protected.

2026 Honda Pilot vs. 2027 Kia Telluride: Specs Side by Side

MSRP figures are starting reference points before options, taxes, and fees, not promotional offers. Telluride fuel economy is a manufacturer estimate pending official EPA certification. Contact Hendrick Honda Easley to confirm current pricing and trim availability on the Pilot.

How the Pilot and Telluride Handle the Drive

Every 2026 Pilot trim runs the same 3.5-liter V6, producing 285 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque through a 10-speed automatic transmission. That naturally aspirated setup means power arrives predictably every time, without waiting on a turbocharger to build boost.

The 2027 Telluride switches to a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder, making 274 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque through an 8-speed automatic. Telluride buyers get a real torque advantage off the line. An optional turbo-hybrid version raises that to 329 horsepower with better city mileage.

Both SUVs tow up to 5,000 pounds when properly equipped, enough for a boat trip to Lake Keowee or a camper headed into the mountains. Honda’s V6 has years of proven reliability behind it, the kind of track record a brand-new Telluride platform has yet to build.

Inside the Cabin: Space, Tech, and Everyday Comfort

Every 2026 Pilot trim seats up to eight passengers, except the TrailSport, which trades a bit of seating for standard all-wheel drive and off-road gear. Cargo space runs from 18.6 to 21.8 cubic feet behind the third row, depending on trim. Fold both rear rows and the Pilot opens up to 113.7 cubic feet of total cargo room, well ahead of the Telluride’s 89.3 cubic-foot max.

The 2027 Telluride edges ahead with 22.3 cubic feet directly behind the third row, and its wheelbase runs nearly three inches longer than the Pilot’s. That extra length shows up as noticeably more second-row legroom for kids tired of sharing knee space.

Both SUVs offer large touchscreens, wireless smartphone connectivity, and available premium audio on upper trims. The Telluride has an edge in rear-seat legroom, but the Pilot answers back with more usable cargo room overall.

Fuel Economy: V6 Power vs. Turbo Efficiency

You might expect the Telluride’s smaller turbo engine to win easily on fuel economy, but the two SUVs land close together. The Pilot is EPA-estimated at up to 22 mpg combined with front-wheel drive and 21 mpg combined with all-wheel drive.

Kia’s manufacturer-estimated figures for the gas Telluride sit at roughly 22 mpg combined FWD and 20 mpg combined AWD, pending final EPA certification. Neither engine pulls far ahead at the pump, so fuel costs alone shouldn’t decide this comparison.

Kia’s optional turbo-hybrid Telluride pushes that higher, to an estimated 35 mpg combined on front-wheel-drive EX trims. Even so, the Pilot delivers nearly identical everyday fuel economy without the added cost or complexity of a turbocharger or hybrid system.

Safety Tech and Warranty You Don’t Have to Upgrade To

Honda Sensing comes standard on every 2026 Pilot trim, bundling collision mitigation braking, adaptive cruise control, and lane keeping assist into the base price. Honda has refined this suite for close to a decade, and it runs on the Pilot without an upgrade required.

Kia’s Driving Assist 2 suite is standard on the 2027 Telluride, adding lane centering, blind-spot monitoring, and a front-row center airbag among 10 total airbags. Kia backs the Telluride with a 10-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty, nearly double the Pilot’s 5-year, 60,000-mile coverage.

Kia’s longer coverage looks appealing on paper. Honda’s reliability reputation is well established across the Upstate, and it’s why many owners rarely need to use a warranty at all.

Off-Road Trims for Blue Ridge Weekends: TrailSport vs. X-Pro

Families who spend weekends near Table Rock State Park or the Blue Ridge foothills should look past the base trims. The Pilot TrailSport starts at $52,090 with standard all-wheel drive, all-terrain tires, and Honda’s TrailWatch camera system, giving up one seat for a seven-passenger layout.

The Telluride X-Pro pairs standard all-wheel drive with 9.1 inches of ground clearance, just over an inch more than the Pilot TrailSport. Where the TrailSport pulls ahead is Honda Sensing and the TrailWatch camera system built into the same trim. While that clearance only matters once you’re already off-road, the safety suite is working during every drive.

Both trims still carry their model’s core strengths underneath the rugged styling. The Pilot’s proven V6 torque is the one you can count on trip after trip.

What a 2026 Pilot or 2027 Telluride Costs Near Greenville

The 2026 Pilot starts at $43,890 for the Sport trim with front-wheel drive, or $45,990 with all-wheel drive, both prices already including Honda’s destination charge. Add options, and the TrailSport, Touring, Elite, and Black Edition trims climb toward $56,690.

The 2027 Telluride starts lower on paper, at $39,190 for the base LX trim before Kia’s destination charge. That trim skips much of the tech and comfort most families cross-shopping the Pilot expect standard, which narrows the real-world price gap. Confirm current, exact pricing with Hendrick Honda Easley, since manufacturer figures shift and dealer inventory varies by trim and month.

Whichever way the numbers land, Hendrick Honda Easley’s team can walk you through current Pilot inventory, financing options, and trade-in value.

Deciding Between the Pilot and Telluride in Easley? Start Here

Comparing two well-built three-row SUVs means weighing real tradeoffs, not just picking a badge. Here’s what Easley and Greenville-area families ask most before choosing between the Pilot and the Telluride.

What’s the core difference between the 2026 Honda Pilot and the 2027 Kia Telluride?

The Pilot runs a naturally aspirated V6 with 285 horsepower. The Telluride switched to a turbocharged four-cylinder with 274 horsepower and an optional hybrid, plus a longer powertrain warranty and more second-row legroom.

Which SUV offers more standard technology, the Pilot or the Telluride?

Both come with large touchscreens, wireless smartphone connectivity, and a full suite of standard driver-assist features. The Telluride’s Driving Assist 2 suite adds a couple of newer features, but Honda Sensing has close to a decade of real-world refinement behind it.

Do the Pilot and Telluride come with the same warranty coverage?

No. Honda covers the Pilot for 5 years or 60,000 miles on the powertrain, while Kia backs the Telluride for 10 years or 100,000 miles. That gap is one of the more significant differences to factor into a long-term ownership decision.

Which is the better fit for a growing family in Easley or Greenville?

Families who tow boats to Lake Keowee or want proven V6 reliability tend to lean Pilot. Families prioritizing rear legroom and the longest available warranty often lean Telluride. Both seat up to eight and handle carpools and road trips equally well.

Can I test drive the Pilot at Hendrick Honda Easley?

Yes. Hendrick Honda Easley, located at 4609 Calhoun Memorial Highway, can schedule a Pilot test drive directly. Since the Telluride is a Kia model, you’ll want to compare it at a Kia dealership before making a final call.

Which one is the smarter buy for the money?

The Telluride’s base LX trim starts lower on paper, but the Pilot Sport comes better equipped for a modest difference. It’s also backed by a proven V6 and Honda’s reliability record. Compare current pricing at Hendrick Honda Easley to see the value for yourself.

How do I decide between the Pilot and the Telluride?

Weigh what matters most: V6 simplicity and Honda’s reliability history, or Kia’s longer warranty and extra legroom. Test driving the Pilot at Hendrick Honda Easley is the fastest way to see how it stacks up against your Telluride research.

Test Drive the 2026 Honda Pilot at Hendrick Honda Easley

Browse our current Honda Pilot inventory online, or visit us at 4609 Calhoun Memorial Highway in Easley. See the Sport, EX-L, TrailSport, Touring, Elite, and Black Edition trims in person, and schedule a test drive today.