Kia Sorento vs Telluride: Which Kia 3-Row SUV Should You Buy?
Published October 9, 2026 · Last updated October 9, 2026
The Kia Sorento vs Telluride decision comes down to one question: how much third row do you need? Both are three-row SUVs, both share Kia's 274-hp 2.5-liter turbo on upper trims, both offer a hybrid and both carry the 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. The 2027 Kia Sorento is the midsize option: 9.6 inches shorter, up to 37 mpg as a hybrid and $32,590 to start. The all-new 2027 Kia Telluride is the full-size family hauler: seating for up to eight, a 32.1-inch third row, 22.3 cubic feet behind it, up to 5,000 pounds of towing and a $39,190 starting price.
Sorento or Telluride: The Short Answer
- Choose the Kia Telluride if adults or teenagers ride in the third row regularly: 32.1 inches of third-row legroom, 22.3 cubic feet of cargo space with every seat up, up to 5,000 pounds of towing and a new 329-hp Telluride Hybrid.
- Choose the Kia Sorento if the third row is for kids and occasional use: a body 9.6 inches shorter for city parking, the same 274-hp turbo from EX up, a 37-mpg Sorento Hybrid and prices $5,100 to $8,800 lower trim for trim.
- Bottom line for NYC: big families, carpool drivers and anyone who tows need the Telluride; families of four or five who use the third row a few times a month get a cheaper, thriftier, easier-to-park SUV in the Sorento.
Model-year timing: This comparison uses the all-new second-generation 2027 Kia Telluride and Telluride Hybrid, on sale now (Kia skipped the 2026 model year), and the 2027 Kia Sorento, priced by Kia on October 1, 2026 and arriving in the coming weeks; 2026 Sorentos are in stock today at similar prices. Kia had not announced 2027 Sorento Hybrid pricing at the time of writing, so those figures are 2026 model year. Read more in our 2027 Kia Telluride and Telluride Hybrid guide and 2027 Kia Sorento guide for NYC drivers, or browse new Kia inventory in Brooklyn.
Kia Sorento vs Telluride at a Glance
| Spec | 2027 Kia Sorento | 2027 Kia Telluride | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP | $32,590 (LX, FWD); $37,490 (S, AWD). Destination $1,495 | $39,190 (LX, FWD); $44,090 (S, AWD). Destination $1,545 | Sorento |
| Hybrid starting MSRP | $38,890 (2026 Hybrid EX, FWD) | $46,490 (Hybrid EX, FWD) | Sorento |
| Seating | 7; 6 with captain's chairs (SX, X-Line, X-Pro) | 8 (LX, EX); 7 with captain's chairs on other trims; 7 on Hybrid | Telluride |
| Length | 189.6 in | 199.2 in | Sorento (parking) |
| Wheelbase | 110.8 in | 116.9 in | Telluride (ride) |
| Width / height | 74.8 in / 66.9 in (67.7 in AWD) | 78.3 in / 69.9 in (71.5 in X-Pro) | Sorento (garages) |
| Engine | 2.5L I4, 186 hp, 178 lb-ft (LX, S); 2.5L turbo, 274 hp, 311 lb-ft (EX and up) | 2.5L turbo, 274 hp, 311 lb-ft, 8-speed automatic, all trims | Telluride (standard turbo) |
| Hybrid | 1.6L turbo hybrid, 227 hp, 258 lb-ft | 2.5L turbo hybrid, 329 hp, 339 lb-ft | Telluride |
| Drivetrain | FWD standard; AWD on S and EX, standard on X-Line and X-Pro | FWD standard on LX, S, EX, SX; AWD on S and EX, standard on X-Line, X-Pro and SX-Prestige | Tie |
| EPA mpg (city/hwy/comb) | FWD 23/31/26; turbo 20/29/23 FWD, 20/27/23 AWD; Hybrid 37/36/37 FWD, 32/35/34 AWD | FWD 20/26/22; AWD 18/24/20; X-Pro 17/22/19; Hybrid 34/36/35 FWD, 30/32/31 AWD | Sorento |
| Max towing | 3,500 lb (turbo); 4,500 lb (X-Pro) | 5,000 lb (gas); 4,500 lb (Hybrid) | Telluride |
| Second-row legroom | 41.7 in | 43.0 in | Telluride |
| Third-row legroom | 29.6 in | 32.1 in | Telluride |
| Cargo behind 3rd row | 12.6 cu ft | 22.3 cu ft | Telluride |
| Cargo behind 2nd row | 45.0 cu ft | 48.7 cu ft | Telluride |
| Cargo behind 1st row | 75.5 cu ft | 89.3 cu ft | Telluride |
| Ground clearance | 6.9 in; 8.2 in (AWD) | 7.4 in; 9.1 in (X-Pro) | Telluride |
| Screens | 12.3-in touchscreen; dual 12.3-in panoramic displays on SX and up | 12.3-in touchscreen; dual 12.3-in displays and head-up display on upper trims | Tie |
| IIHS award | 2026 Top Safety Pick+ (built after September 2025) | 2026 Top Safety Pick+ (2027 models built after June 2026) | Tie |
| Warranty | 5 yr/60,000 mi basic; 10 yr/100,000 mi powertrain | 5 yr/60,000 mi basic; 10 yr/100,000 mi powertrain | Tie |
Want These Numbers for Your Exact Trim?
The table above covers base trims. Tell us whether you are leaning Sorento or Telluride, the trim and color you have in mind, and the best way to reach you, and a Plaza Kia product specialist will send current availability, Plaza pricing with today's incentives and a test-drive time, usually within the hour during business hours. No deposit, no obligation, no middlemen.
Size and Dimensions: How Much Bigger Is the Telluride?
The Telluride is the bigger SUV in every direction, and for 2027 it grew. At 199.2 inches long on a 116.9-inch wheelbase, it is 9.6 inches longer than the 189.6-inch Sorento, with 6.1 more inches of wheelbase, 3.5 more inches of width (78.3 vs 74.8) and about three inches more height. The Sorento, at just under 16 feet, is one of the shortest three-row SUVs you can buy; the Telluride is now a full-size vehicle at nearly 16 feet 7 inches.
In Brooklyn and Queens, those 9.6 inches decide whether you take the first curbside gap on Kings Highway or keep circling, and the Sorento's lower roof clears older Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn garages more comfortably. The Telluride's longer wheelbase pays off on the Belt Parkway and I-95, where it rides more settled, and its X-Pro trims offer 9.1 inches of ground clearance against the Sorento's maximum of 8.2.
Third-Row Comfort and Seating
This is the real difference between the two. The Sorento seats seven on LX, S and EX with a second-row bench, or six on SX, X-Line and X-Pro with captain's chairs. Its third row offers 29.6 inches of legroom and 36.8 inches of headroom, fine for children and short trips with adults, and the second row slides and tilts forward for access. The Telluride seats eight on LX and EX with a bench, seven with captain's chairs on the other trims, and seven on every Hybrid.
Behind the Telluride's second row, which has 43.0 inches of legroom to the Sorento's 41.7, sits a third row with 32.1 inches of legroom and 37.4 inches of headroom, 2.5 inches more legroom than the Sorento and enough for two adults on a trip to the Catskills. The 2027 Telluride also adds USB-C ports in all three rows, an available heated third row and a 120-volt outlet in the cargo area. If the Telluride is still not enough space, our Kia Carnival vs Telluride comparison weighs the minivan alternative.
Cargo Space
With every seat in use, the Telluride holds 22.3 cubic feet behind its third row, almost double the Sorento's 12.6 and enough for a double stroller plus a weekly grocery run. Fold the third row and the Telluride offers 48.7 cubic feet against the Sorento's 45.0; fold the second row too and the gap widens to 89.3 against 75.5 cubic feet.
So the Sorento is competitive with two rows up and gives up ground as soon as all three are occupied. The Telluride Hybrid loses almost nothing to its battery (88.3 cubic feet maximum), and both SUVs offer a smart power liftgate from EX up. For families who regularly fill every seat and still need luggage space, the Telluride is the practical choice; for a family of four with occasional extra passengers, the Sorento's 45.0 cubic feet behind the second row is plenty.
Engines, Hybrid and Towing
Do the Sorento and Telluride have the same engine? On the trims most New Yorkers buy, yes. Every 2027 Telluride uses Kia's 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 274 hp and 311 lb-ft and an eight-speed automatic, replacing the old V6. The Sorento gets the same turbo from EX up, with an eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox; the Sorento LX and S use a 186-hp 2.5-liter without the turbo, which keeps the entry price low but is the trim to skip if you fill the seats often.
The hybrids are where the two part ways. The Sorento Hybrid pairs a 1.6-liter turbo with an electric motor for 227 hp and 258 lb-ft, tuned for economy. The all-new Telluride Hybrid adds motors to the 2.5-liter turbo for 329 hp and 339 lb-ft, the most powerful Kia SUV short of the EV9, and still manages a 4,500-pound tow rating. Both hybrids are conventional, not plug-in; the Sorento is the only one of the two that also offers a plug-in hybrid.
Towing favors the Telluride. A properly equipped gas Telluride is rated to 5,000 pounds and the Hybrid to 4,500. The Sorento's turbo trims are rated to 3,500 pounds and the X-Pro SX-Prestige, with its towing package, to 4,500. Either handles a small utility trailer to Long Island; for a boat or a camper, buy the Telluride.
Fuel Economy (MPG)
The Sorento wins on fuel economy, as the smaller SUV should. Gas to gas, a front-drive Sorento LX or S is EPA-rated 23 mpg city, 31 highway and 26 combined, and the turbo trims 20/29/23 FWD and 20/27/23 AWD. A front-drive Telluride is rated 20/26/22, all-wheel-drive trims 18/24/20 and the X-Pro 17/22/19. Turbo to turbo, the Sorento's advantage is about 1 mpg city and 3 highway.
Hybrid to hybrid, the Sorento Hybrid is rated 37/36/37 with front-wheel drive and 32/35/34 with AWD, the best figures of any three-row Kia. The Telluride Hybrid is rated 34/36/35 FWD and 30/32/31 AWD, remarkable for a 329-hp full-size SUV and close to the Sorento Hybrid on the highway. For a Flatbush Avenue commute, the hybrid city ratings, 37 against 34, are the numbers that matter.
Safety and Technology
Both SUVs come with Kia Drive Wise, including forward collision avoidance with automatic emergency braking, lane keeping and lane following assist, blind-spot collision avoidance, rear cross-traffic avoidance, adaptive cruise control, rear occupant alert and safe exit assist. The 2027 Telluride adds ten airbags, including a new front-center airbag, with 19 driver aids standard and up to 29 available. Both hold the 2026 IIHS Top Safety Pick+, the institute's highest award: the 2026 Sorento and Sorento Hybrid (built after September 2025) and the 2027 Telluride (models built after June 2026, when Kia revised the standard headlights).
Inside, both start with a 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and both add a second 12.3-inch digital cluster, navigation, a 360-degree camera and Highway Driving Assist 2 on upper trims. The Telluride's EV9-derived cabin goes further on SX-Prestige: a head-up display, relaxation front seats, heated and ventilated seats in two rows, a heated third row and an available self-leveling rear suspension. The Sorento counters with Bose audio, a household power outlet and side parking sensors on SX-Prestige, at prices several thousand dollars lower.
Trims and Price Compared
The Sorento is cheaper at every step. The front-drive Sorento LX starts at $32,590, $6,600 below the Telluride LX at $39,190. Match the turbocharged Sorento EX FWD ($38,690) against the Telluride EX FWD ($43,790), which uses the same engine, and the gap is $5,100; with all-wheel drive it is $5,600. At the top, the Sorento X-Pro SX-Prestige at $47,990 is $8,800 below the Telluride X-Pro SX-Prestige at $56,790. The lineups overlap between roughly $39,000 and $48,000, where a loaded Sorento meets an entry or mid-range Telluride.
2027 Kia Sorento trims
LX $32,590, S $35,490 ($37,490 AWD), EX $38,690 ($40,190 AWD), SX $42,490, X-Line EX $42,990, X-Line SX $44,290, X-Line SX-Prestige $46,990 and X-Pro SX-Prestige $47,990 (X-Line and X-Pro are AWD), plus a $1,495 destination charge. 2026 Sorento Hybrid: EX $38,890 ($40,690 AWD) and X-Line SX-Prestige $47,190 (AWD). 2026 Sorento Plug-in Hybrid: EX $48,290 and X-Line SX-Prestige $53,490, both AWD, with $1,445 destination. See every trim side by side in Kia Sorento Trims Compared: LX vs S vs EX vs SX vs SX-Prestige, or browse new Kia inventory at Plaza Kia.
2027 Kia Telluride trims
LX $39,190, S $42,090 ($44,090 AWD), EX $43,790 ($45,790 AWD), X-Line EX $47,290 (AWD), SX $48,790, X-Line SX $51,790 (AWD), X-Pro SX $53,690 (AWD), SX-Prestige $53,890 (AWD), X-Line SX-Prestige $54,890 (AWD) and X-Pro SX-Prestige $56,790 (AWD), plus a $1,545 destination charge. Telluride Hybrid: EX $46,490 ($48,490 AWD), SX $51,490, X-Line SX $54,490 (AWD), SX-Prestige $56,590 (AWD) and X-Line SX-Prestige $57,590 (AWD). Compare the trims in detail in Kia Telluride Trims Compared: LX vs S vs EX vs SX vs SX-Prestige, or browse hybrid and plug-in Kia inventory.
Kia revises national incentives monthly and Plaza Kia layers its own offers on top, so check the current Kia sales promotions (updated monthly) and Kia incentives and rebates, and explore Kia financing. Trading in? Get a Kelley Blue Book Instant Cash Offer on your current car before you visit.
2027 Kia Sorento and Telluride in Stock at Plaza Kia
Every Sorento and Telluride below is on the ground at Plaza Kia in Brooklyn and available to drive today. Filter by trim, color and price, or call (877) 545-6543 and we will park a Sorento next to a Telluride so the difference is something you feel rather than read. Free delivery within 25 miles.
| MSRP | $42,425 |
| KFA Dealer Choice Program | -$1,000 |
| Doc fee | $175 |
| Plaza Price | $41,600 |
| MSRP | $37,020 |
| Discounts & Fees | -$3,325+ |
| Plaza Price | $33,695 |
| MSRP | $42,425 |
| KFA Dealer Choice Program | -$1,000 |
| Doc fee | $175 |
| Plaza Price | $41,600 |
| MSRP | $48,160 |
| KFA Dealer Choice Program | -$1,000 |
| Doc fee | $175 |
| Plaza Price | $47,335 |
| MSRP | $37,020 |
| Discounts & Fees | -$3,325+ |
| Plaza Price | $33,695 |
| MSRP | $46,755 |
| KFA Dealer Choice Program | -$1,000 |
| Doc fee | $175 |
| Plaza Price | $45,930 |
| MSRP | $39,595 |
| KFA Dealer Choice Program | -$2,750 |
| Doc fee | $175 |
| Plaza Price | $37,020 |
| MSRP | $39,120 |
| Discounts & Fees | -$3,325+ |
| Plaza Price | $35,795 |
| MSRP | $42,295 |
| Discounts & Fees | -$3,325+ |
| Plaza Price | $38,970 |
| MSRP | $54,660 |
| KFA Dealer Choice Program | -$1,000 |
| Doc fee | $175 |
| Plaza Price | $53,835 |
| MSRP | $39,120 |
| Discounts & Fees | -$3,325+ |
| Plaza Price | $35,795 |
| MSRP | $46,460 |
| KFA Dealer Choice Program | -$1,000 |
| Doc fee | $175 |
| Plaza Price | $45,635 |
| MSRP | $45,900 |
| Discounts & Fees | -$3,325+ |
| Plaza Price | $42,575 |
| MSRP | $45,095 |
| Discounts & Fees | -$3,325+ |
| Plaza Price | $41,770 |
| MSRP | $39,595 |
| Discounts & Fees | -$3,325+ |
| Plaza Price | $36,270 |
Sorento or Telluride: Which Should You Buy?
Family of six or more
Eight seats, a 32.1-inch third row and 22.3 cubic feet behind it make the Telluride the only Kia SUV that carries a full carpool and the luggage at once.
Street parker with a part-time third row
About 9.6 inches shorter and 3.5 inches narrower, with the same 274-hp turbo from EX up and prices $5,100 to $8,800 lower.
Lowest running costs
37 mpg city with front-wheel drive, seven seats and a 2026 IIHS Top Safety Pick+ from $38,890, about $7,600 less than a Telluride Hybrid EX.
Power, towing and long trips
329 hp in the Hybrid, 5,000 pounds of towing on the gas model and 9.1 inches of clearance on the X-Pro; nothing in the Sorento range matches any of the three.
Final Scorecard
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Sorento | $32,590 vs $39,190; hybrid from $38,890 |
| Third-row room | Telluride | 32.1 vs 29.6 in legroom; up to 8 seats |
| Cargo | Telluride | 22.3 / 48.7 / 89.3 vs 12.6 / 45.0 / 75.5 cu ft |
| Parking size | Sorento | 189.6 vs 199.2 in long |
| Power and towing | Telluride | 274 hp standard; 329-hp Hybrid; 5,000 lb vs 3,500–4,500 lb |
| Fuel economy | Sorento | 26 vs 22 mpg combined (gas FWD); 37 vs 35 (hybrid FWD) |
| Safety award | Tie | Both 2026 IIHS Top Safety Pick+ |
| Overall for NYC drivers | Split | Telluride for big families and towing; Sorento for price, mpg and parking |
Still deciding? If two rows might be enough, read Kia Sportage vs Sorento: Which Kia SUV Should You Buy?. Weighing a minivan? See Kia Carnival vs Telluride: Which Kia Family Hauler Should You Buy?. Cross-shopping other three-rows? See Kia Telluride vs Palisade, Traverse, Highlander and More.
Free home delivery within 25 miles. Plaza Kia delivers your new or pre-owned vehicle to your door — free within a 25-mile radius, which covers all five NYC boroughs and much of Nassau County. Our service department also offers pickup and drop-off across the entire NYC metro area.
Ask Our Team About DeliveryKia Sorento vs Telluride: Frequently Asked Questions
How much bigger is the Telluride than the Sorento?
The 2027 Telluride is 199.2 inches long on a 116.9-inch wheelbase; the 2027 Sorento is 189.6 inches on a 110.8-inch wheelbase. That makes the Telluride 9.6 inches longer, 6.1 inches longer in wheelbase, 3.5 inches wider (78.3 vs 74.8 inches) and about 3 inches taller. Most of that goes to the third row and cargo area: 32.1 inches of third-row legroom against 29.6, and 22.3 cubic feet behind the third row against 12.6.
Which has the roomier third row?
The Telluride, by a clear margin. Its third row offers 32.1 inches of legroom and 37.4 inches of headroom, with 43.0 inches of second-row legroom ahead of it, so adults can ride in the back on a trip to the Poconos. The Sorento's third row has 29.6 inches of legroom and 36.8 inches of headroom; it works for children and shorter rides with adults, and the second row slides forward to make access easier.
Which tows more?
The Telluride. A properly equipped gas Telluride is rated to tow up to 5,000 pounds and the Telluride Hybrid up to 4,500. The Sorento's turbocharged trims are rated for 3,500 pounds and the Sorento X-Pro with its towing package for 4,500. For a small utility trailer either works; for a boat or a camper the Telluride has the margin.
Is the Sorento Hybrid more efficient than the Telluride?
Yes, and it is the most efficient three-row Kia. The Sorento Hybrid is EPA-rated 37 mpg city, 36 highway and 37 combined with front-wheel drive, and 32/35/34 with all-wheel drive. The new Telluride Hybrid is rated 34/36/35 FWD and 30/32/31 AWD, still excellent for a 329-hp, 199-inch SUV. The gas versions are further apart: a front-drive Sorento LX returns 23/31/26 while a front-drive Telluride LX returns 20/26/22.
Which is cheaper, the Sorento or the Telluride?
The Sorento, by $5,100 to $8,800 trim for trim. The 2027 Sorento LX starts at $32,590 MSRP and the 2027 Telluride LX at $39,190, a $6,600 gap. A Sorento EX with the 274-hp turbo is $38,690 against $43,790 for a Telluride EX with the same engine, and the Sorento X-Pro SX-Prestige at $47,990 is $8,800 below the Telluride X-Pro SX-Prestige at $56,790. Destination is $1,495 on the Sorento and $1,545 on the Telluride.
Do the Sorento and Telluride have the same engine?
On the upper trims, yes. Both use Kia's 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder rated at 274 hp and 311 lb-ft; it is standard on every 2027 Telluride and on the Sorento from EX up (Sorento LX and S use a 186-hp 2.5-liter without a turbo). The hybrids differ: the Sorento Hybrid pairs a 1.6-liter turbo with an electric motor for 227 hp, while the Telluride Hybrid adds motors to the 2.5-liter turbo for 329 hp and 339 lb-ft.
Test-Drive the Sorento and Telluride at Plaza Kia
Plaza Kia (2746 Nostrand Ave, Brooklyn) keeps both SUVs in stock, so you can drive the Kia Sorento and Kia Telluride back to back in one visit, with the whole family along to try the third row. Family-owned since 1975, Plaza Auto Mall serves drivers from Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, Manhattan and Long Island, with free delivery within 25 miles. No Hassle, No Pressure, No Middlemen. Browse new Kia inventory, look at certified pre-owned Kias, book service, or call Plaza Kia at (877) 545-6543.
*MSRP excludes destination ($1,495 Sorento; $1,545 Telluride; $1,445 on the 2026 Sorento Plug-in Hybrid), taxes, title and registration fees. Specifications and pricing are based on manufacturer information available as of October 9, 2026 and are subject to change; Sorento Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid figures are 2026 model year. Towing varies by configuration. EPA ratings are estimates; actual mileage will vary. See dealer for details.
