Are you in need of a new SUV that’s ready to accommodate your family’s active lifestyle? With all the modern amenities inside the Kia Telluride and Ford Explorer , your family will ride around Cerritos, Long Beach, and Buena Park, California, in a stylish, comfortable, and safe vehicle with either model.
There are some differences between the two models, though, which our team here at Norm Reeves Ford Superstore Cerritos have highlighted below. Check out our Ford Explorer vs. Kia Telluride comparison and see which SUV is better suited for you.
Both SUVs have three rows of seating, which will let the whole family fit inside. Everyone will also have a comfortable ride with plenty of passenger space found inside both vehicles. Taller passengers will be more comfortable inside the Explorer since it provides more headroom to the second- and third-row seats in comparison to the Telluride.
While driving, you’ll have more legroom in the Ford Explorer vs Telluride to comfortably sit behind the steering wheel. This SUV comes with 43 inches of legroom up front. The front seats of the Kia Telluride only have 41.4 inches of legroom.
Both cars will let you fold down the rear seats and create more room to carry larger items (when out shopping) or gear you’re taking with you for the day’s adventure. The Kia Telluride will give you up to 87 cubic feet of cargo volume. At its maximum, the Explorer fits up to 85.8 cubic feet of cargo volume.
That said, the Explorer offers the optional Cargo Area Management System, providing versatile cabin storage solutions like dividers and shelving.
Both SUVs have impressive powertrains supplying strong capabilities to each model. The Kia Telluride is powered by a stout 3.8L V6 engine. This delivers 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. With that power, the Telluride is able to tow a maximum of 5,000 pounds.
The Ford Explorer comes with an even more powerful engine. Its 2.3L EcoBoost® I-4 engine creates 300 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. Opt for the 3.0L EcoBoost® V6, and experience 400 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque. Just like the Telluride, however, this Ford midsize SUV tows up to 5,000 pounds.
When it comes to tech features, the Ford Explorer and Kia Telluride both deliver a modern driving experience, but a closer look reveals some distinct advantages.
Both SUVs offer a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel to keep vital information front and center. However, the Explorer makes this feature standard across all trims, while the Telluride reserves it for the higher-end SX models.
Another difference of the Explorer vs Telluride lies in the main touchscreen size. The Explorer features a larger 13.2-inch display, giving you more room to interact with maps, media, and settings. Meanwhile, the Telluride offers a 12.3-inch touchscreen with navigation. While both systems support Android Auto™ and Apple CarPlay®, the Explorer’s extra screen space enhances usability, especially when multitasking.
One standout feature exclusive to the Ford Explorer is the standard Advanced Personalization. This system lets you customize your driving environment by setting preferences for the driver’s seat, steering wheel, and exterior mirrors. You can also link your keys and phones for automatic activation of your settings.
Plus, signing into Google allows you to access your saved destinations and get personalized Google Assistant results right from the dashboard.
In both cars, there are a range of standard and available safety features that will assist you in a variety of ways. When it comes to safely getting in and out of parking spots, they each have available cameras that give you a clear view of your surroundings.
Both the Explorer and Telluride can also apply the brakes when it detects a car is crossing your path when trying to back out of a parking spot in a busy lot. If you’re parking along the crowded streets in the city or by the beach, the Ford Explorer can also help you fit into an open space.
The available Active Park Assist 2.0 can help fit the Ford Explorer into parallel or perpendicular spots. With just the push of a button, the vehicle will navigate its way into the space on its own.
One of the standout features of the Ford Explorer is its available BlueCruise technology—something the Kia Telluride simply doesn't offer. BlueCruise is a hands-free highway driver-assist feature that brings a new level of ease to long-distance driving by controlling steering, braking, and acceleration while keeping your vehicle centered in its lane.
When you enter a pre-qualified section of a divided highway, known as a Blue Zone, you’ll see a prompt on the instrument cluster indicating that BlueCruise is ready. Just tap the Adaptive Cruise Control button on your steering wheel, and the system takes over—maintaining your speed, adjusting for traffic, and even assisting with lane changes when needed.
BlueCruise also features a driver-facing camera that monitors your eye gaze and head position to ensure you’re still focused on the road. This monitoring system provides an added layer of safety, confirming that you’re ready to take back control whenever necessary.
Each of these vehicles have a lot of impressive features and abilities, which is why they’re highly rated options for drivers in Cerritos, Long Beach, and Buena Park, CA, looking for a 3-row SUV.
Choosing between the Ford Explorer vs. Kia Telluride may come down to the few added benefits of the Ford SUV. Depending on the size of your boat or the equipment you’ll be towing with your trailer, that additional weight that it can tow may be a decisive reason to get a Ford Explorer.
You may even be leaning toward the Explorer thanks to its extra interior space or advanced technologies. Whatever you like about the Ford Explorer, you can come experience all it has to offer with a test drive here at Norm Reeves Ford Superstore Cerritos!
