Compare the2025 Kia TellurideVS 2024 Chevrolet Traverse Limited

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

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Kia Telluride are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Chevrolet Traverse Limited doesn’t offer height-adjustable front seat belts.

Both the Telluride and Traverse Limited 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 Traverse Limited’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.

The Kia Telluride has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Traverse Limited doesn’t offer knee airbags.

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 Traverse Limited doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Telluride has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. A system to reveal vehicles in the Traverse Limited’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Telluride has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning and Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Chevrolet charges extra for Rear Cross Traffic Alert on the Traverse Limited and the Traverse Limited’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert does not include automatic braking.

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 Traverse Limited doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Telluride and the Traverse Limited have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, 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 Chevrolet Traverse Limited:

	Telluride	Traverse Limited
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.9 inches

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, results indicate that the Kia Telluride is safer than the Chevrolet Traverse Limited:

	Telluride	Traverse Limited
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	41	69
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.9 inches
Abdominal Force	93 lbs.	161 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	449 lbs.	716 lbs.

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

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 Kia Telluride is safer than the Traverse Limited:

	Telluride	Traverse Limited
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	GOOD	MARGINAL
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	68	141
Neck Tension	156 lbs.	446 lbs.
Neck Compression	-45 lbs.	45 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.55 in	1.3 in
Shoulder Force	156 lbs.	312 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.18 in	1.5 in
Torso Deflection Rate	6 MPH	6 MPH
Pelvis	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	1026 lbs.	1116 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head Injury Criterion	70	189
Neck Tension	89 lbs.	134 lbs.
Neck Compression	-67 lbs.	201 lbs.
Shoulder Deflection	.55 in	1.02 in
Shoulder Force	178 lbs.	290 lbs.
Torso Deflection Rate	5 MPH	10 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis Force	491 lbs.	848 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

The Kia Telluride has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2024 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Traverse Limited is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2024.

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 Traverse Limited’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 Chevrolet covers the Traverse Limited. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Traverse Limited 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 Traverse Limited’s 600-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 10 places higher in reliability than Chevrolet.

Engine

As tested in Car and Driver the Kia Telluride is faster than the Chevrolet Traverse Limited:

	Telluride	Traverse Limited
Zero to 60 MPH	6.7 sec	6.8 sec
Top Speed	135 MPH	130 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Telluride FWD gets better fuel mileage than the Traverse Limited FWD (20 city/26 hwy vs. 18 city/26 hwy).

The Telluride has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Traverse Limited. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Telluride	Traverse Limited
Front Rotors	13.4 inches	12.6 inches

The Telluride stops much shorter than the Traverse Limited:

	Telluride	Traverse Limited
70 to 0 MPH	162 feet	183 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	113 feet	135 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	133 feet	136 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

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 Traverse Limited’s standard 65 series tires. The Telluride S/EX/SX’s tires have a lower 50 series profile than the Traverse Limited’s optional 55 series tires.

Suspension and Handling

The Telluride has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Traverse Limited’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

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

The Telluride SX 4x4 handles at .80 G’s, while the Traverse Limited Premier AWD pulls only .77 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Telluride SX 4x4 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Traverse Limited Premier AWD (27.3 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 27.8 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Telluride has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Traverse Limited (8 vs. 7.5 inches), allowing the Telluride to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Telluride X-Line’s minimum ground clearance is .9 inch higher than on the Traverse Limited (8.4 vs. 7.5 inches).

Chassis

The Telluride is 9 inches shorter than the Traverse Limited, making the Telluride easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Telluride SX 4x4 is quieter than the Traverse Limited High Country AWD:

	Telluride	Traverse Limited
At idle	36 dB	41 dB
Full-Throttle	74 dB	76 dB
70 MPH Cruising	63 dB	67 dB

Passenger Space

The Telluride has .4 inches more front legroom, .8 inches more front hip room, .2 inches more rear headroom, 4 inches more rear legroom and 1.1 inches more rear hip room than the Traverse Limited.

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

Cargo Capacity

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

Towing

The Telluride’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Traverse Limited’s (5000 vs. 1500 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 Traverse Limited doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Ergonomics

The Telluride SX Prestige has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, navigation instruction and driver assistance information readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Traverse Limited doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

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 Traverse Limited’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 SX Prestige’s standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Traverse Limited’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

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 Traverse Limited’s headlights are rated “Poor.”

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Telluride to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Traverse Limited doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

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 Traverse Limited doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

The Telluride has a standard center folding armrest for the middle row passengers. A center armrest helps make middle row passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The Traverse Limited doesn’t offer a middle row seat center armrest.

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 Traverse Limited 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 57.67% to 58.24% of its original price after five years, while the Traverse Limited only retains 49.82% to 51.87%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Telluride is less expensive to operate than the Traverse Limited because typical repairs cost much less on the Telluride than the Traverse Limited, including $60 less for a water pump, $25 less for front brake pads, $51 less for fuel injection, $4 less for a fuel pump and $264 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 $315 to $1840 less than for the Chevrolet Traverse Limited.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Kia Telluride and the Chevrolet Traverse Limited, based on reliability, safety and performance.

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its May 2020 issue and they ranked the Kia Telluride SX 4x4 first. They ranked the Chevrolet Traverse Limited Premier sixth.

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 Traverse Limited isn’t in the top three in its category.

The Telluride was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2024 and 4 more times in the last 5 years. The Traverse Limited has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

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

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