Compare the2023 Kia TellurideVS 2023 GMC Acadia

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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Both the Telluride and Acadia have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Telluride has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The Acadia’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Telluride SX has standard Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist Reverse that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Acadia doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

Both the Telluride and Acadia have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Telluride has Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic.

The Telluride’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Acadia doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Telluride and the Acadia have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Kia Telluride is safer than the GMC Acadia:

	Telluride	Acadia
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.6 inches
Neck Injury Risk	36%	43%
Neck Stress	131 lbs.	203 lbs.
Neck Compression	91 lbs.	99 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Kia Telluride is safer than the GMC Acadia:

	Telluride	Acadia
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	41	125
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.9 inches
Abdominal Force	93 lbs.	156 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	137	276
Spine Acceleration	47 G’s	51 G’s
Hip Force	449 lbs.	799 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	14 inches	14 inches
Hip Force	640 lbs.	760 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Telluride its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 29 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Acadia last would have qualified as only a standard “Top Safety Pick” in 2017.

Warranty

The Telluride comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Acadia’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Telluride 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than GMC covers the Acadia. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Acadia ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

Reliability

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Telluride has a standard 800-amp battery. The Acadia’s 660-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Telluride’s reliability 15 points higher than the Acadia.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Telluride second among upper midsize suvs in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The Acadia was rated third.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than GMC vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 6 more problems per 100 vehicles, GMC is ranked 7th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than GMC vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in reliability, above the industry average. With 47 more problems per 100 vehicles, GMC is ranked 17th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than GMC vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 12 places higher in reliability than GMC.

Engine

The Telluride’s 3.8 DOHC V6 produces 63 more horsepower (291 vs. 228) and 4 lbs.-ft. more torque (262 vs. 258) than the Acadia’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Kia Telluride uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Acadia with the 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder engine requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Telluride’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Acadia:

	Telluride	Acadia
Front Rotors	13.4 inches	12.6 inches

The Telluride stops much shorter than the Acadia:

	Telluride	Acadia
70 to 0 MPH	162 feet	173 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	113 feet	126 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Telluride has larger tires than the Acadia (245/60R18 vs. 235/65R18).

The Telluride LX/X-Pro’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Acadia SLE/SLT’s standard 65 series tires. The Telluride S/EX/SX’s tires have a lower 50 series profile than the Acadia’s optional 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Telluride LX/X-Pro has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Acadia AT4.

Suspension and Handling

The Telluride has a standard automatic load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Acadia doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Telluride’s wheelbase is 1.7 inches longer than on the Acadia (114.2 inches vs. 112.5 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Telluride is 2.7 inches wider in the front and 3.1 inches wider in the rear than on the Acadia.

For greater off-road capability the Telluride has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Acadia (8 vs. 7.2 inches), allowing the Telluride to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Telluride X-Line/X-Pro’s minimum ground clearance is 1.2 inches higher than on the Acadia (8.4 vs. 7.2 inches).

Passenger Space

The Telluride has standard seating for 8 passengers; the Acadia can only carry up to 7.

The Telluride has 11.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Acadia (155 vs. 143.8).

The Telluride has .9 inches more front headroom, .4 inches more front legroom, 3.2 inches more front hip room, 2.2 inches more front shoulder room, .6 inches more rear headroom, 2.7 inches more rear legroom, 4.7 inches more rear hip room, 2.5 inches more rear shoulder room, .9 inches more third row headroom, 1.7 inches more third row legroom, .8 inches more third row hip room and 1 inch more third row shoulder room than the Acadia.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Telluride’s middle and third row seats recline. The Acadia’s third row seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The Telluride’s cargo area provides more volume than the Acadia.

	Telluride	Acadia
Behind Third Seat	21 cubic feet	12.8 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	46 cubic feet	41.7 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	87 cubic feet	79 cubic feet

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Telluride easier. The Telluride’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 30.7 inches, while the Acadia’s liftover is 32 inches.

The Telluride’s cargo area is larger than the Acadia’s in every dimension:

	Telluride	Acadia
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	20.4”/49.8”/83.8”	18.5”/48”/83”
Max Width	54.4”	50”
Min Width	43.5”	42.5”
Height	34.5”	33”

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Telluride. The Acadia doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Towing

The Telluride’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Acadia’s (5000 vs. 1000 pounds).

Standard Trailer Stability Assist on the Telluride uses the Electronic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Acadia doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Ergonomics

The Telluride’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Acadia’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open them fully. Only its driver’s window closes automatically.

The Telluride has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The Acadia doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

The Telluride SX Prestige’s standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Acadia’s intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Telluride’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Acadia’s headlights are rated “Marginal.”

The Telluride EX/SX has standard front air conditioned seats and the Telluride SX Prestige also has them in the second row. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The Acadia doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Telluride owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Telluride with a number “8” insurance rate while the Acadia is rated higher at a number “10” rate.

The Telluride will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Telluride will retain 54.84% to 55.57% of its original price after five years, while the Acadia only retains 47.29% to 50.03%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Telluride is less expensive to operate than the Acadia because typical repairs cost less on the Telluride than the Acadia, including $29 less for front brake pads and $198 less for a timing belt/chain.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Kia Telluride will be $1403 to $1633 less than for the GMC Acadia.

Recommendations

Both are recommended, but Consumer Reports® chose the Kia Telluride as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Telluride second among upper midsize suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Acadia isn’t in the top three.

Motor Trend selected the Telluride as their 2020 Sport Utility of the Year. The Acadia has never been chosen.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Telluride as the 2020 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year. The Acadia has never been chosen.

The Kia Telluride outsold the GMC Acadia by 88% during 2022.

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