It really depends what you value most. On the Kia side, both the gas and hybrid Telluride powertrains carry a 10-year/100,000-mile factory powertrain warranty — 40,000 miles and five years beyond the CX-90’s 5-year/60,000-mile term. Efficiency favors Kia too: the Telluride Hybrid is EPA-estimated at 35 MPG combined versus roughly 25 MPG combined for the CX-90’s gas turbo six. Where Mazda claws back ground is driving dynamics, a plusher cabin, all-wheel drive as standard equipment, and a plug-in hybrid option that Kia simply doesn’t build into the Telluride lineup. See live Telluride inventory.

This round goes to Mazda on paper. Running on regular fuel, the CX-90’s standard 3.3L turbo inline-six makes 280 hp and 332 lb-ft, edging out the Telluride’s standard turbo-four rating of 274 hp and 311 lb-ft — and the flagship CX-90 Turbo S climbs to 340 hp on premium fuel, enough to top even the Telluride Hybrid’s 329 combined hp. Kia isn’t playing that game, though; its hybrid instead chases fuel economy, EPA-rated around 35 MPG combined against roughly 25 MPG combined for the CX-90’s gas turbo.

Both, actually — and the plug-in version is one thing the Telluride lineup doesn’t have an answer for. Combining a 2.5L engine with an electric motor, the CX-90 PHEV produces 323 hp combined, along with an EPA-estimated 26 miles of electric-only range and 56 MPGe combined. There’s no plug on Kia’s side — the Telluride Hybrid is a conventional hybrid — yet it still outdoes the CX-90’s gas turbo on straight fuel economy (roughly 35 MPG combined against 25 MPG), and it carries Kia’s longer factory warranty.

Not by much — in fact Mazda holds the lower price: the Telluride LX starts at $39,190 against the CX-90 3.3 Turbo Select’s base MSRP of $38,800, a gap of roughly $390 before destination charges. That small number glosses over a bigger difference in base-trim equipment: the Telluride LX’s 12.3-inch touchscreen is standard and larger than the CX-90 Select’s standard 10.25-inch unit, and every Telluride can tow up to 5,000 lb while the CX-90’s two entry trims are limited to 3,500 lb unless you step up to Premium Sport or add the Towing Package.

This is where the two vehicles diverge the most. Kia’s factory terms on the Telluride are a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, while Mazda’s CX-90 gets a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty and a 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty — a shortfall of five years and 40,000 miles on the powertrain side.

Quite a bit, to be fair. Reviewers consistently place the CX-90 among the top-driving SUVs in its class, and its cabin — Nappa leather, satin-finish trim, three-zone climate standard — feels more expensive than the price tag suggests. Every CX-90 trim comes standard with Mazda’s i-Activ AWD (Telluride only offers AWD, doesn’t standardize it), the top-tier Turbo S outmuscles any Telluride available, and the CX-90 PHEV offers genuine electric driving range that no Telluride can match. Prioritize driving feel, all-wheel drive as standard, or a plug-in powertrain, and the CX-90 deserves a test drive. Prioritize warranty length, hybrid fuel economy, a larger standard screen, or towing capacity without buying a package, and the Telluride is your pick.

You’ll find the complete Telluride and Telluride Hybrid lineup at Dean McCrary Kia, 7124 US Hwy 98 in Hattiesburg — an easy drive from Petal, Oak Grove, Purvis, Columbia, Ellisville, and the rest of the Pine Belt. Stop by and experience the difference firsthand.