Kia Telluride vs. Honda Pilot vs. Subaru Ascent | Midsize Family SUV Comparison Test

What do the 2021 Kia Telluride, 2021 Honda Pilot and 2021 Subaru Ascent all have in common? Third row? Check. Plenty of cargo space? Check. Technology features for everyone in the family? Check. So what sets each of these midsize SUVs apart from one another and which one is the right choice for you? In this midsize SUV comparison test video, Ryan ZumMallen answers that very question. We also detail what's new and what we like and don't like about each vehicle.
The Kia Telluride has been a favorite of ours since its release a couple of years ago - in fact, we named it the Edmunds Top Rated SUV two years in a row. We also acquired one for a yearlong test (read more edmu.in/3paAZDk). The Telluride just does everything right. The spacious, luxury-like feel to the interior should please family members of all ages. And with a third row that adults can comfortably sit in, it's easy to see why the Kia Telluride is a hit with consumers and critics alike.
The Honda Pilot is one of the most well-rounded midsize SUVs you can get. The Pilot's engine is powerful yet fuel efficient, making everyday around-the-city driving fun and easy. The interior of the Pilot showcases smart use of space and an abundance of practical features. All of this, plus a roomy interior, plenty of cargo space and great towing capabilities, makes the Pilot a solid choice for anyone looking for a 3-row family SUV.
The Subaru Ascent often gets lost in the sea of midsize SUVs. It's not flashy like the Telluride and not as practical as the Pilot. However, the Ascent has plenty to offer families and drivers looking for a midsize 3-row SUV. Like all Subarus and unlike the other two SUVs, the Ascent comes standard with all-wheel drive and includes software-controlled traction and hill descent control. It's a rugged SUV that you will feel as comfortable driving on the streets as you do taking it off-road.
Overall, it's hard to go wrong with any of these three midsize SUVs. They all offer a third row and plenty of space for a growing family. Technology features are aplenty and all three SUVs would look great sitting in your driveway. We have our favorite, but the decision ultimately comes down to your personal preference. So whether you're looking for the overall refinement of the Kia Telluride, the practicality of the Honda Pilot, or the ruggedness of the Ascent, we at Edmunds are here to help make your decision a little easier. This is the Kia Telluride vs. Honda Pilot vs. Subaru Ascent in our 2021 three-row midsize SUV comparison test.
2021 Kia Telluride review & pricing: edmu.in/2RaYXBY
2021 Honda Pilot review & pricing: edmu.in/2TuH3ed
2021 Subaru Ascent review & pricing: edmu.in/3yUM0NF
Best Family SUVs for 2021: edmu.in/3wGqOsW
Best Midsize SUVs for 2021: edmu.in/3uE9Vxp
Intro 00:00
Overview 01:02
Interiors 03:33
Driving impressions 07:14
Cargo & Towing 10:56
…
Conclusion 12:31
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#KiaTelluride #HondaPilot #SubaruAscent

[@edmundscars]

How would you change the Telluride, Pilot or Ascent to make them your perfect family SUV? Read more edmu.in/3g94Bgh

[@FoYo1005]

None of those crossovers have the number 1 family feature which matters to me and other parents: 2nd row seats which provide access to the third row with a child car seat installed. In our Mazda CX-9, we have three child car seats installed in the 2nd row and can still use the third row as needed. The Pathfinder, and Atlas can also do this but neither drove as well. Working well with car seats matters more to parents than number of cupholders and towing ratings.

[@stephenhendricks103]

@@FoYo1005 I understand your myopia. Anyone who needs THREE child car seats simultaneously has enough to occupy their attention without noticing how unique their needs are. Moreover, the need for child seats is not a permanent condition. Kids grow up and that single priority disappears. I'm sure that fact seems to exist in the far distant future for you but trust me, it does happen. 😎

[@ItsAlive111]

@@stephenhendricks103 People that need three car seats will buy what covers that need. Waiting a few years to use your car’s third row seat is not realistic. Might as well buy a two row one

[@FoYo1005]

@@stephenhendricks103 The video is titled "Midsize Family SUV comparison test" and the question prompt I was replying to asked, "how would you change ... to make them your perfect family SUV?" I literally answered the question about the number #1 feature I used to make my decision to pick an SUV to serve my family last year. It hardly seems myopic to consider what works for my family to make a better family SUV. I missed where you suggested what you would change to make them your perfect family SUV. As an aside, I'm looking forward to no longer needing child car seats but then I will be looking to no longer have a family SUV like those on this list.

[@stephenhendricks103]

@@FoYo1005 Sorry, my friend. I really didn't mean to offend you. I think I just took the opportunity to vent a bit about the fact that whenever "family" vehicles are reviewed the most prominent feature mentioned is typically their accommodation of child or infant seats. Perhaps I unfairly picked on your need for 3! seats simultaneously as an obvious example. But as noted, that's a need that many families have for a relatively short period of time or not at all. For example, I'm part of a family consisting of myself, my wife, my 16 year old daughter who now drives, and our large dog who accompanies the rest of us nearly everywhere. Neither my wife, my daughter nor the dog requires or would tolerate being belted into a child seat. My wife is especially insistent on this point. 😁 What we do require is a vehicle that easily accommodates at least the family's 4 passengers on long highway slogs along with a week's worth of luggage and gear. Though we all love one another dearly, being locked up together for extended periods can be a challenge so "roominess" is a priority. At the same time, the family SUV is my wife's and my daughter's daily driver. (My GTI is my daily driver unless I'm playing chauffeur.) They neither want nor need a behemoth 3 row SUV that's a challenge to navigate in the jungle of suburban and urban traffic and parking. On the other hand, we occasionally need a vehicle that will enable us to transport 5 to 7 passengers on a short local trip and avoid using two cars. And since the dog objects to being consigned to a captain chair in the back seat, we need a bench back there. Leather or "pleather" upholstery is far preferable to cloth that acts like a magnet for dog hair. And the gorgeous white leather upholstery that appears in many upscale SUV reviews is ridiculously inappropriate for our family of less than always spic and span passengers. Black or dark gray or brown are the only reasonable choices. And in cases where "Fido" returns muddy from a trip to the dog park or the beach, space for him in the cargo hold is essential. (He's a big dog so the space behind the second row has to be more than subcompact or most compact SUVs provide.) As noted we don't need child seats or backseat entertainment centers but my daughter would protest loudly the absence of easily accessible rear seat USB charging ports. (Note: The Mazda CX9's placement of two ports in the rear seat center console is clever but if the seat is occupied by 3 passengers there is NO access to the ports.) Since she's now a frequent (and very good) driver of the family SUV I want every possible driver assistance and safety feature I can get. (Dads are dads.) With three drivers in the family that range from 5' to almost 6' in height, memory settings for the driver are a huge convenience. Three would be ideal and two are a minimum. Fortunately, we own a near Goldilocks version of the SUV that meets our priorities, a 2018 top trim (SXL/PP) KIA Sorento. It's the perfect compromise in terms of trim size and the existence of a small but usable third row for short trips and substantial cargo space behind the second row. The top trim has durable and attractive nappa leather and a host of driver assistance and safety features. There are some tempting updates including a more powerful and fuel efficient replacement for the V6 with a 2.5L turbo four cylinder engine in the new Sorento but they're unfortunately coupled with some (significant to us) less desirable features. Specifically a bench seat is no longer available on upper (or even mid-level) trim Sorentos and the driver memory for two drivers has been inexplicably dropped from the new model. If I insisted on replacing our Sorento with the new model I'd probably have to pry my wife's cold, dead fingers from the steering wheel. 😜 I hope this long-winded comment about a "family" SUV for our particular family meets your expectations. The point is that families come in all shapes and sizes and the "number 1 family feature which matters to (you) AND OTHER PARENTS" is not necessarily easy accommodation of 2nd row child seats along with access to a third row. Our family is no more but also no less typical than yours and as parents child seats are irrelevant to us. Again, my apologies if my original comment led you to take offense.

[@JaneK-sw7ly]

We test drove all of them and the Kia definitely impressed but then drove the Subaru and there was just no comparison on the drive. We loved the Kia look and esthetics but ended up buying the Ascent for the superior drive, AWD, and overall safety reputation. We are v happy.

[@ROYALP100]

Thank you this helps a lot!

[@sq2441]

Same

[@inkim3541]

same here :))

[@johnp-h8896]

Found the opposite, the Kia the best of all that we test drove prior to purchasing, it’s the complete package. Picking it up today, can’t wait.

[@blissclaire]

I’m stuck between the ascent, Pilot, and Highlander hybrid!

[@MrMomo0529]

I would pick the ascent for so many reasons. It can take me further off the beaten path with my mind at ease than the other two, it doesn’t have those cheap black buttons on the door handles like the other two. The ascent is the only one in the group that gives you true dual tail pipes and more importantly the only one that gives you captains chair at not extra cast on lower trim levels and standard AWD. The guy who did this video apparently like tech features so he pick the Kia but I’m a bit different and the Subaru is the clear winner to me. Thanks for the video!

[@plmn93]

Yes, typical modern journalist prioritizing gimmicky tech over fundamentals. I also liked when he claimed how comfortable the third rows in the others were when we can see for ourselves that his knees are just as high in the Pilot as they are in the Ascent. I wouldn't necessarily claim the Ascent is the clear winner, though. They all have pros and cons.

[@Thezampanini]

You hit the nail on the head. I’ve owned 4 Subarus, and the reason why? They don’t muck around with gimmicks. Everything (and I mean everything) in the car is designed for a practicality. People are laughing about 19 cup holders (this reviewer included), but when I’m overlanding or camping, yeah, 4 gallons of water bottles in the cup holders is a necessity. I don’t care about an infotainment system that’s .05 seconds faster responding. I could care less about wireless charging. I want my car to be a usable tool, a companion that’s like a trained cocker spaniel. Always there, always works, always ready to go without letting everyone know you’re doing well for yourself.

[@CALF1N3ST323]

I own a 2021 Telluride and 2019 Honda Pilot. When going out with the family for a night out to cruze around our city, my wife and kids prefer to ride on the telluride all the time

[@wynn_explorations2543]

We have a 2019 Pilot EX-L FWD. Been averaging 26.9mpg (manual calculation). 70% highway for most of it's life. Pretty impressive for a big car

[@bjg6695]

We have had the ascent for two years. Have 61,000 miles and regularly at least once per month tow the 3500lb camper 200-500 miles. No complaints, fantastic off roader, love our go anywhere family hauler. Real world mpg is 21. Only complaint is factory tires only lasted 29,000 miles. Will buy another one when we wear this one out in 10 more years.

[@DarianDT]

I changed my Ascent tires to Michelin CrossClimate 2. It's the best all season tires I've experienced so far. It does handle snow very well but not as good as dedicated winter tire. I swap them to 18" wheel with winter tire when it snow here.

[@jamesbarron5590]

I bought a Telluride 8 months ago and I love it. I had a 2019 Volvo XC60 but needed more space. Love Volvo but the XC90’s third row was not as roomy. I still use one car seat and a booster seat for my daughters and love the captain’s chairs in the 2nd row. Being able to walk in between the seats or move the chair forward to get to the third row is great. It is so roomy and the third row is comfortable for adults. It is almost like an optical illusion how roomy it is compared to it’s overall size. I live in Texas and all the pickup trucks make the Telluride look small. I find it odd to hear people say that it feels like a boat. I wonder what they would say after driving a suburban. I’ve gotten used to using the dashboard blind spot camera but also listen to the blind spot monitoring as well. The lane keep assist is fantastic. Road trips are a breeze. I have an SX trim with AWD and the tow package. I wanted the tow package to be able to use a bike rack. Local dealers were charging markups but I waited until the last day of the month (Halloween) and drove up to a neighbor city to get what I wanted. People who have ridden with me have been shocked when they realize they are in a KIA. The drive is great as well. You will not break any land speed records but it has enough for what you need. Putting it in sport mode will help if you want a little more kick. I would highly recommend the Telluride to anyone. Bang for your buck, it is hard to beat.

[@YukonHawk1]

So happy that you love your Kia. How has it been since your comments 11months ago. My only worry with is fit, finish and long term reliability. Kia has come a long way from it's humble beginnings. Thank you.

[@dlm4501]

I've had my Telluride SX-P for 18 months now and still in love with it!

[@jamesbarron5590]

@@YukonHawk1 still lovin’ my Telluride. Just had the 30,000 mile service done. I did have one issue which I find has been common with the tow package. I noticed the back end slouch and would hear a knocking sound over speed bumps. It turns out the shocks were leaking/failed. The service department mentioned that they had experienced that with other Tellurides with the tow package/self leveling suspension. They had new shocks in stock and replaced them with the warranty of course. No more slouching or noise over speed bumps. Other than that, it has been a great SUV. The roominess inside has been everything I hoped for. The fit and finish are still great. My wife drives a 2021 Mercedes GLE and she doesn’t have a heated steering wheel. She drove my Telluride when it was cold and she was a bit jealous. The GLE is also three row but no captain seats and not as roomy as the Telluride. Other than that her GLE is better on everything else, 😊. But I love my Telluride. The main reason I wanted the tow package was for a bike rack. I purchased a 6 bike rack from Loloracks. The bikes hang from the handlebars and ride closer to the back of the Telluride. Love the rack as much as the Telluride. I also bought a Thule rooftop box that fit on the OEM roof rails. Thule Motion Xt L. I have only used the box on road-trips but I need the space so my 55 lb Siberian has room in the back. I would highly recommend the Telluride to anyone looking for a three row SUV or SUV that is still decent in gas mileage (22 mpg) that has a ton of room and doesn’t drive or park like it does. Hope this helps.

[@YukonHawk1]

@@jamesbarron5590 wow....thank you so much for that run down. You have convinced me to put this at the top of my list. I am very happy that it has been a great SUV for you. I bet your awesome sweet dog loves it too. Now you have to get a Telluride for wife😁😁👍👍 I wish you continued good luck and thousands of happy miles. Please give your dog a big hug for me. 😁

[@ks-bg5uk]

The ascent is faster, has great safety, standard AWD, very high resale value, and comes with a tunable turbo engine which is why we bought it. It's amazing.

[@CosmicApe]

How do you like it 4mo later?

[@ks-bg5uk]

@@CosmicApe It's a great SUV. My only complaint is the engine can get a little louder at lower speeds.

[@chuckwalla2967]

@@ks-bg5uk Well, that's the boxer engine. Nothing you can do about that.

[@seandaman6509]

@@ks-bg5uk hey after owning it this long would you still recommend the ascent?

[@ks-bg5uk]

@@seandaman6509 yes..just do a test drive. My only issue is it's noisy at lower RPM. See if you're ok with that. Best.

[@mgreen5207]

Whoever pays these people to test drive cars suck. The Ascent is so underrated. Subaru should be in the top 3 along with a lot of their other vehicles that just seem to way have an exceptional value. If you haven’t driven a Subaru I strongly recommend you do. You won’t regret it. I’ve driven over 4 Subarus and none have ever given me problems, still have 2 of them and I plan on buying another.

[@haroldbeauchamp3770]

The Ascent is definitely the best vehicle that Subaru makes. But many of us car folks with a mechanical background know that Subaru doesn’t have a reputation for reliability long term. Neither does Kia. Anyone shopping for long term reliability will choose the Honda and not give Subaru a passing glance. With that said, the Ascent is what I would choose as I don’t keep vehicle longer than 3 years.

[@kristians2704]

Out of these 3 I would pick the Telluride 100%

[@sixfootfourmike]

My wife has one. It's pretty awesome.

[@kristians2704]

@Cucking Liberals it’s ugly and pretty dated

[@tavius88]

No question the Telluride

[@peterretep1010]

U want a vehicle that does everything from off-roads to grocery shopping, get a pilot or ascent. The telluride is like a pretty boy. Looks good and premium for its price. But that's about it.

[@DarianDT]

Like Korean fashion? Looks good on the outside but is all plastic underneath.

[@JasonB72481]

Went with the Ascent. It doesn't drive like a big SUV, and as a family hauler, you can't beat it's top of the class Safety+ rating. Plus, once you go Subaru, it's hard to buy anything else; this is my 3rd.

[@MatthewSmith-uf6tr]

i disagree. i have a 21 impreza hatch. i think its clunky and cheap feeling.

[@JasonB72481]

@@MatthewSmith-uf6tr I don't think Subaru is as refined as maybe a Toyota/Honda, but they make great vehicles that last their owners a long time. They might not be as premium, and they go by the parts bin philosophy, but their track record speaks for itself. They've always been a quirky brand.

[@MatthewSmith-uf6tr]

@@JasonB72481 I can agree with you on that. We ended up getting my wife a pilot this weekend. It’s just so solid feeling compared to the Subaru. I think they’re both Great and everyone has their own preference.

[@princeofpeaceproductions3506]

Subaru gives me tiny mini van vibes-going with telluride..

[@MatthewSmith-uf6tr]

@@princeofpeaceproductions3506 telluride was 5k over msrp and they offered us 4k less than what we got for my wifes trade in through honda. Kia can suck it!

[@jessehansen6134]

The OEM hitch for the Ascent comes with both the 4 and 7 pin connectors as well as the pigtail for the electronic brake controller.

[@jSyndeoMusic]

Sure does! And it works great.

[@dhsu04]

Does it the hitch comes with certain trims only?

[@jtthebrick3]

More of this guy. He’s refreshing.

[@waynenicholas1493]

Agreed. I like the way delivers and simplifies this review

[@marycooper5454]

I would definitely buy the Telluride

[@TalismanPHX]

The Ascent has such a great suite of active safety features, its a very good choice as a family hauler. I think these vehicles are very rarely used as tow vehicles, so towing capacity isn't much of a concern.

[@tavius88]

It’s a non factor for me. And I have a Telluride

[@isaactristan6427]

So true. Didn't buy an Ascent to tow. Got it for it's active safety features. When we want to tow our travel trailer, I use my GMC 2500

[@makingtechsense126]

I just bought a Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy. I looked at the Subaru Ascent Touring as well. The Hyundai simply had a lot more of the features my wife and I wanted. Plus, at 6 feet tall, I could sit in the third row of the Palisade whereas I couldn't in the Ascent. With that said, the Subaru Ascent impressed us and just barely lost out to the Palisade.

[@newrunner91]

Looked at all of the above and went with the Ascent last November. Why? Three Words. Lake. Effect. Snow. That's snow where the moisture is picked up off the Great Lakes and dumped on poor parents driving their four kids to all sorts of activities. Subaru's AWD is rock-solid, reliable and Stan Derd.

[@haroldbeauchamp3770]

Literally any awd vehicle will do well on snow. It comes down to tires. Period. Science and dozens of YT videos have proven this over and over. 🤦🏾‍♂️

[@plmn93]

​@@haroldbeauchamp3770 AWD systems make a big difference. You need to look beyond simple acceleration and braking tests. Examples: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oV63gpd_pqupkNE kzbin.info/www/bejne/hmOUnap7jr5gepI

[@ahbrian]

Telluride Is like one segment above and beyond of other competition period.

[@wynn_explorations2543]

It's definitely a segment leader but most kia dealerships been wanting $2-5k market up since it launched... It's nice but to me, it's not worth $8k more than a similar equipped Honda Pilot

[@kristians2704]

@Juan Dela Cruz most car reviewers say otherwise

[@normt430]

@Juan Dela Cruz The Pilot is probably the worst and oldest 3-row in thr segment today.

[@normt430]

@Juan Dela Cruz you know H/K owners paid too much! They could make a good deal selling within a year of purchase but not longterm.

[@johnholst]

@Juan Dela Cruz Sour grapes eh? Don't be a sore loser! I'm sure the next Pilot will be better than the current one!

[@caidenn_mb]

The Ascent always had standard Adaptive cruise, the addition for 2021 was the lane centering.

[@stevenwilhite4026]

The Telluride without a doubt. LOVE it! It would look great in my garage parked next to my ‘18 Stinger. 😊

[@dtay8913]

Kia, no question

[@jacobhulsebus4877]

I just got a 2022 Ascent onyx edition. So far a great vehicle. For the price you can't beat the complete package. I had a Honda pilot and it was good but this is better. The telluride is very nice also but the mark up is incredible and not worth the extra 10 grand. The Ascent is AWD standard and is great for snow and offroad. I have used it in both situations. The 8.7 inch ground clearance is a definite bonus. The 3rd row seating I think is actually better than the Pilot and about the same as the Telluride. I am six feet tall and one requirement I had was that I needed to be able to fit in the third row. The middle captains seat are great for kids and for larger adults. I got my Ascent for $5000 less than the pilot and $10,000 less than the Telluride.

[@rmoss186]

I bought a 22 Pilot Black and it is amazing!

[@mastertry1935]

Believe it or not, Telluride has the highest resale value right now because of demand

[@jalmonte91]

That’s always been what determines resale value, demand.

[@normt430]

@@jalmonte91 not because it is a good deal. There are much less expensive premium choices like Buick Enclave starting in the low $30's, or less than a Honda Pilot.

[@marycooper5454]

@@normt430 I'm sorry but you can't compare an Enclave to the Telluride.

[@normt430]

@@marycooper5454 the Telluride S is middle $30's while the Enclave is low $30's. It is also more efficient with more power from 3.6l (310 hp) than the H/K 3.8l. The Enclave and Telluride have similar residual values set by the bank(Edmund's), the less expensive vehicle will hold it's value better than a more expensive one.

[@curiosityredpill7030]

Is enclave reliable?

[@MrMomo0529]

The Subaru inspires more confidence on both wet and dry pavements than the other two. Telluride looks beautiful on the inside but on the outside has fake exhaust tailpipe and those cheap black buttons on the door handle with no sensors behind the door handles. Ascent is the only one with two true tailpipes and sensors embedded in the door handles not those cheap dated black buttons. The telluride also falls way behind in fuel economy. Subaru’s turbocharged 4 can also go toe to toe with the competition in every dimension.

[@DarianDT]

That's why Subaru are practical in everyway. I don't like the styling of Telluride and Palisade. To me it's look very alien and more like a Range Rover wannable. I test drove all the 3 rows SUV except American brand one and decided to go with 2020 Ascent.

[@plmn93]

I like the Ascent but it's a bit cramped for a family that actually needs three rows. I guess all of these are compared to a minivan, but the Ascent is more so.

[@plmn93]

@@DarianDT Yeah styling is subjective, but I find the Telluride to look rather lumpy and cartoonish. Not a dealbreaker, but I don't really understand all the fawning over it.

[@ajtam05]

Telluride 1,000%. For an everyday driving convenience, quality & price, there's no competition. When it comes to preference? Well, that's up to you.

[@teria.8782]

Having a family of 6. I will definitely go with the Telluride!

[@TheKasai23]

Give me the telluride!

[@MixingGBP]

Give a thumbs up if you knew the counting of cup holders was a 1970s Sesame Street reference.

[@itsjazzbishes]

Great video guys, definitely upping the quality of these videos 👌

[@CenCalBimat]

We are picking up our Ascent later this month. We liked the safety features, punchy low end torque, and more capable off road ability. It won’t win a beauty contest, though. We originally wanted a Telluride, but the mark ups at Dealerships remove all the value Kia put in at the MSRP. The pandemic has been tough on car sales, but the SX at 60k+ vs Ascent at 45k isn’t a complicated question!

[@slandshark]

Did you pick up your Ascent yet? If so, how do you like it so far?

[@CenCalBimat]

@@slandshark hello! We’ve had it for 3 weeks now and so far we love it! Very comfortable for our family, lots of space, very quiet. Haven’t found anything about it we don’t like yet. We’ll do some more adventurous stuff in the coming months and utilize the capabilities, but so far so good!

[@averageguy1261]

Hey there, it's been a year. How'd it be going there?

[@CenCalBimat]

@@averageguy1261, A little over a year and no regrets! Being that it’s not as nice looking, we did do our own ‘Onyx’ package, de chroming it so it’s all black and white. Still not as sharp as the Kia, but we really like the impact of the simple mods! We turned 17k mileage on the way back from a NoCal trip, 1 of many it’s been on. Still very comfortable, and still doing everything we can ask of it. The AWD provides a lot of confidence, especially in rough weather. If I had it to do over, I would!

[@averageguy1261]

@@CenCalBimat Thanks for the update! Will definitely look at it!

[@johnholst]

They can't make the Telluride fast enough at their factory! Still the best!

[@trutano]

We really loved the Telluride. However, there is no single dealership right now that does not have a markup (substantially) and we feel that alone desmoralize the buyer. I went with the Pilot SE and got it for 12% off MSRP and we could no be happier.

[@wayboogie]

How is it im looking to buy one my self

[@trutano]

@@wayboogie Amazing. Really like it so far. Very roomy and comfy

[@wayboogie]

Niceee i love honda pilot can't wait to see the new 2022 😊😊👍🏾👍🏾

[@TroubleshootLIfe]

I went to look a while back at the telluride, but it felt like a big boat. It also didn’t help that the dealers here in Florida are asking over sticker. They want to charge SX money for the base trim. The lease deals are also horrible. After looking at the pilot and highlander, I ended up with a cx9 grand touring 2021. I agree with the blind spot camera gimmick. You need to be looking at the road, not the dash! The cx9 alerts you on the heads-up display if anyone is in your blind spot, which is WAY better. Everyone looks for all this space behind the third row but maybe use the 3rd row a handful of times. The cx9 is a blast to drive. We don’t tow anything, so it’s a nonissue for me.

[@michaelbernstein7061]

B

[@CharlieSpecter]

Did you lease or buy? It seems we have similar taste, highlanders are not available to me in my area, I’m deciding between an ascent, pilot and after reading your message may be considering the cx-9

[@TroubleshootLIfe]

@@CharlieSpecter We did a lease because the deals were great at the moment. We leased a grand touring because we wanted the captain chairs with the pass-through in the middle for easy access for the kiddos. We plan on buying at the end of the lease as the car will probably be worth more than the residual, and the new version, the cx90, will be more expensive. We’ll see. All other things aside, when you drive it, you will see the difference in luxury and driving dynamics. The 4-cylinder is a beast in low-end torque. I also have a Mazda 6 turbo for me :)

[@edavis5451]

The 3rd row on the ascent leans back. You can clearly see that you have it in the upright position, while the Telluride you have it reclined. Thus it's an unfair comparison.

[@MoisesEstrada]

I know right, I saw him in the same uncomfortable position in all 3 cars. At least don’t say “much better”, we all know that 3rd row sucks for adults

[@plmn93]

@@MoisesEstrada Exactly. The Ascent IS more cramped back there, particularly in headroom, but you are sitting with your knees in the air in all three. None of them is comparable to a minivan or GM full size.

[@seikocitizenwatches]

Kia Telluride gives impressive visual cues but I would definitely prefer the Ascent because its capabilities and fun to drive in inclement weather. The Subaru Symmetrical AWD is unchallenged when compared to any AWD system. Subaru needs to revise the exterior & interior styling to more modern styling. Other has style, Subaru has substance & capability.

[@plmn93]

Honda's VTM is pretty capable too, even better in some conditions.

[@roguedogx]

I tend to be quite the Honda fan, so it gives my words a bit more weight when I say "I'd have the Telluride in a heartbeat"

[@BradWilson1969]

I've been a Subaru owner for 20 years, and I love my car, but now that I live in Florida, I would take the Telluride as well.

[@mikeharris7261]

Pilot needs a exterior redo

[@aiaproductions9319]

Honda is doing it in 2023

[@elkhuntingpatriot6418]

Bought a 2021 Ascent Friday. The dealer just put a lift kit and black Method wheels on it. Looks great and can't wait for the snow!

[@fromtwoswvem]

Subaru beats both by a large margin in safety. Even if all crash prevention and brakes failed in all vehicles the Subaru is safer in all crash scenarios. Some scenarios by big margins. And not just the driver but also the passenger. I care about safety over all else.

[@blackhawk2429]

Telluride still the best SUV.

[@N3iLB]

STAN DERD..yes! LOL.. Hopefully Kia will do something to improve fuel economy that would make the Telluride the perfect SUV!

[@stephenhendricks103]

One of the ongoing challenges of the Hyundai engines that the major Korean manufacturers continue to use is fuel economy. Believe it not, the 3.8L V6 in the Telluride has been designed to improve fuel efficiency by running the Atkinson cycle. Without that feature moving the Telluride (and the Palisade) would be even more expensive.

[@wilfredolopez8600]

Kia Telluride any time it's the best SUV in its class. A great car company making big waves in the car industry.

[@garrettleeds3097]

We have a 2019 Pilot with tow hitch and it comes standard with a 7 pin wiring harness- not a 4 pin- just an FYI.

[@scottlynch5804]

As an Outback owner (3rd Subaru now), I can agree the Ascent is the odd ball out here. I suspect people don't cross shop the Ascent with these two. You either want a Subaru or you don't. I bet most Ascent buyers are previous Subaru owners who want something bigger. I'm disappointed Edmunds didn't include the Highlander. I think it would give the Telluride a run for it's money.

[@normt430]

Newer Toyota's are usually plagued with problems. The Ascent fell victim of reliability and Consumer Reports dropped it from recombination. The new Outback gets a 3 out of 5 in reliability which means they don't think you won't be going back to the dealership to get something fixed. The Ascent gets a 1 out of 5 as there is no 0 out of 5.

[@oambrosia]

I think you are right with this. The Ascent is our 5th Subaru. Wife had no interest in a Pilot or Highlander and thinks the Telluride is ugly. I'm just glad the adaptive cruise works as smoothly as it does.

[@marcisikoff]

Firs time Subaru owner, we got the Ascent Touring '21. Negotiated well and got it pretty fully loaded for 9.2% under MSRP. Conversely, 2 Kia dealers wanted $7500 and $9000 above MSRP for top trim Telluride due to inventory being low. That turns into an almost $20k swing and why should I pay for all wheel drive when Subaru comes standard plus has it all over these 2 in safety ratings.

[@marcisikoff]

@@normt430 Consumer Reports uses their own subscribers to rate cars. Not sure the overlap in Subaru Ascent owners and CR paid customers, but doubt it's strong. Also Subaru's sell mainly in the Northern states due to AWD. What CR does do, and they admit this, is supplant data when there's not enough (e.g., 2019 was Ascent debut, so there's no 5 year owners until 2024) hence the reliability ratings from CR mean almost nothing to me.

[@AjitAbraham]

@@marcisikoff which area did you buy the ascent from? I am looking for one and everyone seems to be selling it for MSRP.

[@chazlyle41]

Safety and reliability, all I care about for the kiddos. I wish more channels would emphasize these alone. Couldn’t care less about “features” at all.

[@isth4tdoc]

Great review… I bought the 2021 S trim and it’s just. so. Fantastic.

[@aliiftikhar7756]

Agreed, that formula 1 series was pretty good

[@mtnx7]

Missing the elephant in the room - Highlander hybrid. 35 MPG, ridiculous reliability, and Lexus level luxury. Game over.

[@pamelahicks517]

We have a Highlander Limited that we love, but with grown kids and grandkids we're really considering the Telluride. We're not interested in a Hybrid. I wish the Highlander would have the room and safety features of the Telluride. When is Toyota going to understand if they'd make some improvements they wouldn't lose customers. We personally think the body style of the Highlander is more attractive than the Telluride. We know how comfortable our Highlander is and we've been driving it for 11 years without any complaints. We love our Toyota, but we are seriously considering the Telluride.

[@bkcalvine]

Telluride doesn't have anything close to 35 MPG, but it still is better than the Highlander.

[@johnholst]

The Highlander is really nice to be sure! Not as nice as the Telluride. And the Kia just has soooo much more space. In fact, the Sorrento has more interior space than the Highlander.

[@curiosityredpill7030]

@@pamelahicks517 checkout the Kia carnival also

[@adilsagadiyev5090]

Lexus level luxury is a lie, telluride is way above, the highlander has way less luxury features and quality than telluride, and unless your keeping a car for over ten years the Kia will be just fine, also the highlander is tiny compared to the telluride

[@BrookStockton]

The Telluride is just so on point with everything it does. I have a bad habit of finding fault with everything but the Telluride is basically without complaint. My single wish is the windshield wipers were more sensitive to misty conditions. The driver aids are so good they totally changed my mind about using them. Adaptive cruise and lane centering are great on the highway.

[@marky1b]

My 2017 Pilot came with 7 pin wiring. And consumer reports also states that the pilot has 7 pin wiring. Also, the Pilots awd features are comparable or better than the ascent or telluride. So perhaps a little more clarification on those points would be helpful

[@RetrieverTrainingAlone]

The Pilot has a V-6 engine that is likely to outlast the Ascent 4-cylinder boxer engine (we run our vehicles to 250,000 miles). The Pilot can fit 2 dog boxes side by side while the Ascent can not. The Pilot has a 10-speed transmission which is likely to outlast the Ascent's continuous variable transmission.

[@mattcollins7939]

Your bias was overwhelming from the first minute of this match up. A non bias review is more beneficial to helping people pick which is right for them

[@StealthyAviator]

I feel like the design of the Honda Pilot looks 'manly', the Telluride 'smart', and the Ascent 'Adventurous'.

[@carlgarrard9710]

Did you state the 0-60 time of the Subaru, I believe it's 6.9 seconds, fastest in group. :)

[@vikasdangwal3080]

Redline review guy made it 6.1 second 0-60 by break torque

[@JamesCovalentBond]

It's tough to ignore reliability, but Kia is definitely rocking these days!

[@hondajohn6948]

Honda has been so bad with reliability over the last decade, I don’t even know if Kia has inferior reliability at this point

[@plmn93]

@@hondajohn6948 Subaru had a very rough start with the Ascent as well. One of the least reliable vehicles on the road when it was released. Have they fixed all the transmission and general quality issues? Only time will tell.

[@iforc]

The cruise on the subaru is the best part. Makes total sense.

[@depmodealex]

The Telluride is being sold like 15% OVER MSRP its ridiculous

[@cedricyoung4974]

You so right! Bought the the 2021 Black Edition Pilot (exact same as the one in this comparison). Was looking at the Telluride but could not find one at the trim level equal to the Pilot for comparable money. Everything I saw was 5-10 grand more with more miles on them🤷🏾‍♂️! The Telluride is nice but not that nice! I have never seen the top trim level go for the prices all the reviews quote them at🤷🏾‍♂️.

[@Xmvw2X]

On the Subaru, the cruise control setting isn't immediately intuitive. A full push of the toggle is 5mph. A partial push of the toggle is 1mph.

[@DenG611]

I'm going for the Telly

[@king-xerxus7040]

My lease on the fully loaded 2020 Telluride SX is up in March, it’s a great SUV. The dealer wants $28,500 if I decide to keep it, but I’m looking to get into a two door sports car instead. I only accumulated 5,450 miles on the Telluride in two years. The dealership will most likely get over $35,000 at auction.

[@mgp9733]

The Pilot is due for a redesign next year so not exactly apples to apples. Regardless of this comparison I'm looking at a Ridgeline but if I had to have one of these it would have to be the Pilot with it's superior SH-AWD system, acceleration, and balanced ride.

[@DarianDT]

No, the Pilot do not have SH-AWD. It's a 1 step down from SH-AWD, not as aggressive as Acura SH-AWD. Look it up.

[@ColinDoesStuff12]

Ascent cause we live in Alaska so the great all wheel drive is a huge up side and good cargo space good seating area leave it on top for me

[@BTC909]

Could you go with a darker camera filter?

[@venkatnbt]

Start comparing the base - if you always wanted to talk about the base models ! or stop talking about them - and talk abt the versions you have

[@jwm702]

Telluride for sure.

[@ciddy206]

We just traded in our 2021 Pilot EX for 2022 Onyx since the Onyx has more options to offer than our Pilot EX plus we got a good trade in value.

[@wwz1011]

Seven pin is not standard with the Telluride, unless you purchase the factory hitch option or the factory tow package option. Still, I like the Telluride the best!

[@MacSaab93]

Pallisade then Telluride for me.

[@deanrobbins8102]

Gratuitous reference to the Electric Company! HAhahahah! I love it!

[@haciendadad]

I think you should ask your viewers to press that Like button towards the end of your review. In the beginning is like asking for a tip before you have your meal.

[@RichardShelton]

Did I see a CD player in the Ascent? That's actually kinda BIG. I could still play my Perry Como Christmas CD's in that vehicle.

[@ctk4949]

That Telluride needs the 3.3L Turbo V6 from the Stinger!! :)

[@johnholst]

Agreed, but I'm not sure they can mount that engine in here, as it was designed to be mounted longitudinally. ie; for RWD platforms.

[@ctk4949]

@@johnholst hmm ok, how about the new 2.5L Turbo from the GV80?? Less weight and more power. :)

[@johnholst]

@@ctk4949 That might work! That engine can be mounted either way!

[@sseilheimer396]

NGL the stan dard bit is just weird, please let it die with this video :) Everything else was great tho!

[@NeeksBee]

I disagree ... I think he should make it... “say it with me, stan dard “ lol

[@danielsnyder2288]

We averaged 23.8mpg on our 2020 ascent over 30,000 miles

[@bengals098558]

Telluride all day. I never been interested or liked any Subaru. Although At least you have no excuse to be dehydrated in the Subaru.

[@juliodominguez4750]

I have owned 5 Subarus but at this segment and former owner of a Pilot, Honda really excel in this segment.

[@1071Halil1453]

subaru ascent çok kaliteli araçtır yol tutuşu ve güvenlik sistemleri 1 numara.

[@eberzen15]

My 2020 honda pilot exl navi tow package comes with 7 pin from the factory

[@kyron2092]

I know the Pilot has been out since 2015, but it could be better if Honda wasn't so bad with refreshes

[@aiaproductions9319]

They are doing a full redesign in 2023

[@bbbt8090]

Not a fan of these three since i own a Mdx Hybrid but the Pilot awd would be my pick. What most suv buyers need to understand is gas prices are only going to increase so hybrid and hybrid plug-in's are the way to go. My Hybrid gets a average 27mpg, its not the best in class but its better than the average 20-22mpg these three are getting. Just my opinion

[@DarianDT]

I agreed with Hybrid being the future of cars. However, a Toyta Rav4 hybrid prime or a Highlander Hybrid going for $60k out the door at my local dealerships. I don't see that's $20k over competitors is a gas saving option.

[@plmn93]

@@DarianDT I looked at a Highlander Hybrid but the dealer wanted $5K over sticker and it was up to a one year wait. Not to mention the cost to replace the battery in 8 years or so. That was a no from me. Kia is the same issue. Nothing on the lots and dealers charging way over MSRP.

[@alfasierra254]

I would prefer the Pilot just for reliability and resale value. What's a bunch of standard features that you'll probably never use and give you a hassle whenever they fail and make the dash look like a Christmas tree?

[@SC-or2zb]

51k…? Is honda serious?

[@gene978]

Every other Car reviewers Praise the Kia, and Hyundai’s Blind Spot Camera’s but Edmunds says not it’s not that valuable.

[@CrazyGuy9990]

I use the blind view monitor on my Tucson and at first thought it was a gimmick but now I use it all the time and find it invaluable. The thing is since it is a live feed it can’t be thrown off. What you see is what you get (no false positives/negatives)

[@twystedhumour]

and what would you want them to say what others are saying? if that's the case, then you should only watch one reviewer and skip Edmunds.

[@marcisikoff]

Kia pays Edmunds as you can plainly see in any comparison on KZbin. It's ludicrous.

[@slandshark]

Noticed you mentioned the 0 to 60 for the Telluride and Pilot, but not the Ascent. The ascent has been seen to get 6.1 second 0 to 60 with brake-boosting, otherwise 6.5 to 7.0 seconds is common.

[@alexzheng7594]

I saw so many reviews and comments saying Telluride is great. Might be true. But here in Canada, Telluride starting from $46xxx CAD, Ascent starting from $36xxx CAD, huge difference, So I picked Ascent base trim. Interesting to see in the US they have very similar starting price. In Canada Telluride has trims with $46xxx, $51xxx, $54xxx, $55xxx, Ascent has trims with $36xxx, $42xxx, $47xxx and $51xxx.

[@glenvictor028]

I got my Telluride for $2.4k below MSRP.

[@DeltaWhiskeyBravo13579]

Me personally, I'd consider the Honda for the potential higher gas mileage and the Subaru for its higher ground clearance, CVT, and turbo 4. The Telluride looks nice, but I think it's too big for me. I really only need at most an emergency 3rd row, so the Subaru would be fine.

[@archipelago93]

12:44 Nothing says how totally excited you are about a car then calling it “sufficient” hahaha 🤣

[@JunkWoodProjectswithJacob]

When you go to hit the second row seat button in the tell you ride and nothing… but the manual pull in the second row in the Subaru still works, which out lasts which? They are all great imo, Accent for me personally but I am biased.

[@kgindpls]

Also, great review by the way!!!

[@itr0863]

I think the Tellluride is a nice car but the dealer markup on them are hilarious. But people are paying so oh well. But imagine paying $60k+ for a Kia.

[@ItsAlive111]

No Highlander :(

[@normanfeliciano1089]

Where is the Palisade?

[@richardlewis2290]

Kia dealers are charging $5000 (Moreno Valley Kia) -$7000 (Riverside Kia) additional dealer margin on the Telluride in Southern California. I was all excited to get one until I ran into that issue. One dealer I visited was very matter of fact about it. No bargaining, no leeway. Until Kia realizes that dealers are burning off customers, the Kia brand is dead to me.

[@Lennen-N-Motion]

I am currently looking at purchasing one of these three vehicles. My wife just purchased a 2022 Chevrolet Blazer RS and one of the features I completely love, and hope all manufacturers make standard in the future is, "Active Noice Cancellation". Yep, the useless Infotainment system has ANC build in and it makes a world of difference when you're cruising. It cuts the road hummm down to almost nothing, which helps when using the handsfree telephone system, which is way better than my 2017 Honda Odyssey Van. Today my Odyssey sounds like I'm riding with the windows down. Anyone know if these three vehicles, or any others on the market, have ANC built in?

[@kino1298]

Telluride ANYDAY

[@RetrieverTrainingAlone]

We have a 2008 Escape that can hold 2 dog boxes side by side (47 inches between wheel wells). Can any of these 3 SUV's have enough width to hold our 2 dog boxes side by side (at least 47 inches wide between wheel wells).

[@brandon6541]

Great vid! I'd choose the Telluride but the other's are great choices also