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| 21 / 27 MPG | Fuel Economy | 20 / 26 MPG |
| 310 HP | Horsepower | 291 HP |
| 271 LB-FT | Torque | 262 LB-FT |
When it comes to midsize SUVs, you have a lot of options available to you – it is a popular market segment and everyone wants a piece of it. Cutting through all of those options to find the perfect model for your needs can be tricky, however, but we are here to help. We often find that comparing just two models against each other is a great way to simplify things and see what will work for you. With that in mind, let us consider the 2020 GMC Acadia vs 2020 Kia Telluride to see how they stack up.
In many ways, these are pretty comparable midsize SUVs, but in some important ways, they are quite different. For one thing, both models have numerous trims available, but when you start looking at how they compare, you can see the GMC Acadia gives you more freedom to get just what you want. For example, all models of the 2020 Kia Telluride have the same engine. And while it is a fine engine, you can choose from multiple engine options with the 2020 GMC Acadia, including one that is more powerful than Kia’s offering.
Both the Acadia and the Telluride have excellent options and features inside, but the Acadia pulls ahead in some key ways thanks to the luxurious Denali trim. These are both very safe midsize SUVs, which we like to see, but once again, the 2020 Acadia simply offers a bit more to put itself over the top. Of course, you do not have to take our word for it: you can see the 2020 GMC Acadia for yourself and discover everything it has to offer. Come visit us at Rick Hendrick Buick GMC Duluth today to see the Acadia and the rest of the 2020 GMC lineup; we will help you find the perfect vehicle for what you need.
Engines and PowerWhen it comes to any vehicle, including a sporty midsize SUV, the engine is the heart of the whole thing. No matter what kind of car, truck, or SUV you are looking at, you want one with a powerful engine that will make it fun to drive – or at least the option for one. So this is an important thing to consider when comparing the 2020 GMC Acadia and the 2020 Kia Telluride.
The 2020 Kia Telluride has only one engine available, so we will start there. The good news is that it is a very nice engine, but we still think having more options is typically better. A 3.8L V6 engine comes with the Telluride, which offers up to 291 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque. Not bad, but if that is more than you need, then you are paying for excessive engine; and if you want more power, then you are out of luck.
With the 2020 GMC Acadia, on the other hand, you have three different engines to choose from, depending on which trim you are interested in. The starting engine is a 2.5L 4-cylinder engine that delivers up to 193 hp and 188 lb-ft of torque, which is a good place to start if you do not need a ton of power for your everyday driving. If you want better performance, then there is an available 2.0L Turbo 4-cylinder engine that offers up to 230 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque.
Of course, if you really want some serious performance in your 2020 GMC Acadia, then you can choose an available 3.6L V6 engine that delivers up to 310 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque. As you can see, this is more power than you get in the Kia’s engine and gives you a really fantastic driving experience. All Acadia models come with a 9-speed automatic transmission, which is smoother and more fun to drive than the Kia Telluride’s 8-speed automatic.
In terms of interior space, the 2020 Kia Telluride does give you a little bit more, but not by a significant margin for the most part. Both of these midsize SUVs give you three rows of seating, and the Telluride offers about 41 inches of front headroom and 41 inches of front legroom. By comparison, the 2020 GMC Acadia gives you 40 inches of front headroom and 41 inches of front legroom, which you can see is nearly identical. The Acadia does this while being a few inches shorter than the Telluride in terms of both overall length and height.
For cargo, the Telluride does come out on top, but not by much. You get up to 21 cu.ft. of cargo space behind the third-row of seats in the Telluride, up to 46 cu.ft. behind the second row, and up to 87 cu.ft. of maximum cargo volume. With the 2020 Acadia, on the other hand, you get about 13 cu.ft. of space behind the third row, about 42 cu.ft. behind the second row, and up to 79 cu.ft. of maximum cargo volume. So the Acadia does give you a bit less space for stuff, but it is both shorter than and not as long as the Telluride.
The interior of both the 2020 GMC Acadia and the 2020 Kia Telluride can be quite nice, with different standard and available features depending on which trim you look at. To keep things simple, let us consider the highest trims for both models so you can see how they stack up.
The 2020 GMC Acadia Denali gives you a Bose Premium sound system, active noise cancellation, and 8-way power front passenger and driver seats. The seats throughout are heated, with the front seats also being ventilated, and the Denali includes a wireless charging pad for compatible devices and a heated steering wheel. You also get an 8-inch driver information screen in the Denali, driver’s seat memory settings, and tri-zone automatic climate control.
By comparison, the 2020 Kia Telluride SX, its highest trim, features an 8-way power front passenger seat and a Harman Kardon sound system. The front and second-row seats are heated, with a wireless phone charger, and available heated steering wheel. The Telluride SX features a 7-inch driver display, driver seat memory settings, and dual-zone automatic temperature control, which is pretty good, but not quite as nice as what you get in the 2020 GMC Acadia.
These are both very safe vehicles with a lot of great overall features, but the Acadia simply offers a bit more. The 2020 GMC Acadia Denali, the highest trim, includes automatic emergency braking, StabiliTrak electronic stability and traction control, and an electronic parking brake. It also features a comprehensive airbag system, an HD rear vision camera, and both front and rear park assist. The Acadia Denali has a following distance indicator, lane keep assist with a lane departure warning, a forward collision alert, and front pedestrian braking. You also get a Teen Driver safety system with every model of the Acadia, which makes it perfect for teaching a young driver safe habits.
The 2020 Kia Telluride SX, its highest trim, includes auto emergency braking with pedestrian detection, a forward collision warning, and blind spot detection. It has a lane keeping assist system with a lane departure warning, and a driver attention warning. The Telluride SX has numerous airbags and vehicle stability management with electronic stability control. It lacks the Teen Driver system of the GMC model, however, which makes it less ideal if you plan on teaching a new driver how to stay safe on the road.
Although these are certainly both excellent midsize SUVs, the 2020 GMC Acadia just does a little more to stand out. With a more powerful available engine, excellent trim levels that should meet pretty much every need, and incredible safety features, the Acadia truly delivers. The 2020 Kia Telluride does its best to keep up, including four trims with lots of options, but at the end of the day it falls short. And with better estimated fuel economy, the Acadia can help save you money for many years to come.
You might think we have a preference here at Rick Hendrick Buick GMC Duluth, which is true because we believe we sell the very best vehicles on the road. Come see them for yourself, and one of our friendly, helpful salespeople will be happy to show you everything the 2020 GMC Acadia or any other GMC vehicle has to offer. We know how good these vehicles are and we love showing them off to our friends, family, and customers every single day. Call or come visit us at Rick Hendrick Buick GMC Duluth near Atlanta, GA, and see this difference for yourself.
*Images, fuel economy, and other stats, may reflect higher trim levels, options, or features that may result in a higher cost from the starting MSRP.
MSRP excludes tax, license, registration, additional options, and possible destination charges. Dealers set own prices.