Compare the2024 Mazda CX-90VS 2024 Kia Telluride

For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Mazda CX-90 have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Kia Telluride doesn’t offer pretensioners for its second-row seat belts.

The Mazda CX-90 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Telluride doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The CX-90 Premium has a standard Secondary Collision Reduction System, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Telluride doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the CX-90. But it costs extra on the Telluride.

Both the CX-90 and the Telluride have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, 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, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Mazda CX-90 is safer than the Telluride:

The CX-90’s 5 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the Telluride runs out after 100,000 miles.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda 3 places higher in reliability than Kia.

The CX-90’s standard 3.3 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 70 lbs.-ft. more torque (332 vs. 262) than the Telluride’s 3.8 DOHC V6. The CX-90 PHEV’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 32 more horsepower (323 vs. 291) and 107 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 262) than the Telluride’s 3.8 DOHC V6. The CX-90 Turbo S’ standard 3.3 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 49 more horsepower (340 vs. 291) and 107 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 262) than the Telluride’s 3.8 DOHC V6.

As tested in Car and Driver the CX-90 PHEV 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Kia Telluride:

On the EPA test cycle the CX-90 running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the Telluride:

The CX-90 PHEV can travel with zero emissions for 26 miles. The Telluride can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the CX-90’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Telluride doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the CX-90’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Telluride doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

For better stopping power the CX-90 Turbo S/PHEV’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Telluride:

The CX-90’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Telluride are solid, not vented.

The CX-90 stops much shorter than the Telluride:

For better traction, the CX-90 has larger standard tires than the Telluride (265/55R19 vs. 245/60R18). The CX-90 Premium/Turbo S’ tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Telluride (275/45R21 vs. 245/60R18).

The CX-90’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Telluride LX/X-Pro’s standard 60 series tires. The CX-90 Premium/Turbo S’ tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Telluride S/EX/SX’s 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the CX-90 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Telluride LX/X-Pro. The CX-90 Premium/Turbo S’ 21-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels on the Telluride S/EX/SX.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CX-90’s wheelbase is 8.6 inches longer than on the Telluride (122.8 inches vs. 114.2 inches).

The CX-90’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (51.7% to 48.3%) than the Telluride’s (55% to 45%). This gives the CX-90 more stable handling and braking.

The CX-90 Premium Plus handles at .85 G’s, while the Telluride SX Prestige 4x4 pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The CX-90 Premium Plus executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.5 seconds quicker than the Telluride SX 4x4 (27.2 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 28.7 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the CX-90’s turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the Telluride’s (38.1 feet vs. 38.8 feet).

The engine in the CX-90 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Telluride. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

The CX-90’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Telluride’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the CX-90 Turbo S has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Telluride doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The CX-90’s optional rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Telluride offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Car and Driver performed a comparison test in its October 2023 issue and they ranked the Mazda CX-90 Premium Plus first. They ranked the Kia Telluride SX Prestige 4x4 third.