All-New Kia Telluride · Three-Row Showdown
Kia Telluride vs Subaru Ascent
Longer coverage. A hybrid option Subaru doesn’t have. Subaru counters with standard all-wheel drive.
Few three-row SUVs get cross-shopped in the Pine Belt more than these two. Against the Subaru Ascent, the redesigned Kia Telluride brings nearly twice the powertrain warranty coverage, a lower sticker price, and a 329-hp Hybrid variant Subaru has no answer for. The Ascent isn’t without its own case: all-wheel drive comes standard on every trim, the hardware backs up genuine off-pavement use, and it just picked up a 2026 IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award. Below, Dean McCrary Kia Hattiesburg lays out exactly how the two compare, no spin included.
10yr/100kPowertrain coverage from Kia
329 hpTelluride Hybrid output — Ascent offers zero hybrids
$39,190MSRP to start*
8Standard seating capacity
5,000 lbTowing capacity, properly equipped
6×KBB Best Buy award wins
The Short Answer
The Telluride Pulls Ahead in Four Key Areas
Put the all-new Telluride side-by-side with the Ascent and Kia comes out on top for warranty coverage, hybrid availability, and sticker price — though the Ascent holds its own, especially with standard all-wheel drive. Here’s the quick take before the deep dive below.
Warranty Leader
2×the coverage
10yr/100k vs Ascent’s 5yr/60k
Years and mileage both work out to exactly 2× what Subaru offers on the powertrain — ten years or 100,000 miles against the Ascent’s five years or 60,000.
Hybrid Power
329hp hybrid
Ascent offers no hybrid — at all
Rated at 329 combined horsepower and an EPA-estimated 35 MPG, the first-ever Telluride Hybrid has no Ascent equivalent — every Ascent trim runs the same gas-only turbo engine.
Value Leader
~$1,605lower start
$39,190 vs $40,795 Ascent Premium
Even the base LX Telluride comes with the complete driver-assist package included, and it undercuts the Ascent’s price floor — though that Ascent price does fold in standard AWD, which is worth factoring in.
Award Leader
6×KBB Best Buy
Plus World Car of the Year
World Car of the Year honors, a MotorTrend SUV of the Year nod, and the #1 J.D. Power Initial Quality ranking all belong to the Telluride — though the Ascent has its own recent win, a 2026 IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award.
Cost & Trim Lineup
Starting MSRP & Trim Range
Both models sticker just above $40K to start. Telluride undercuts that mark slightly and spreads across a wider trim ladder — X-Line, X-Pro, and Hybrid variants that Subaru has nothing to match. Subaru’s response: every single Ascent trim, from the base Premium up, comes standard with all-wheel drive.
Configuration
Kia TellurideAll-New
Subaru Ascent2026
Starting MSRP*
$39,190Lower Start
$40,795
Trim Range
LX → X-Pro SX Prestige + HybridWider Range + Hybrid
Premium → Onyx Edition Touring (5 trims, gas only)
Powertrains
Gas + HybridHybrid Option
2.4L turbo Boxer only
Standard Touchscreen
12.3″ (dual 12.3″ available)Slightly Larger
11.6″, every trim
Drivetrain
FWD standard, AWD available (standard on X-Line/X-Pro)
Standard AWD — every trim, with X-MODEStandard AWD
Ground Clearance
Up to 9.1″ (X-Pro)More on Top Trim
8.7″, every trim
Power & Fuel Economy
A Hybrid Option Ascent Lacks, Plus More Power
Spec sheet to spec sheet, Telluride’s base turbo engine outguns the only engine Subaru puts in the Ascent. That said, the Ascent’s turbocharged Boxer four is no slouch on efficiency, and paired with standard AWD across the board it actually beats the Telluride’s base gas engine in EPA combined MPG. Factor in the Telluride Hybrid, though, and there’s simply nothing else on the lot that competes.
Kia Telluride
2 Powertrain Options
- 2.5L Turbo I4 — 274 hp / 311 lb-ft
- 1.6L Turbo Hybrid — 329 hp combined, ~35 MPG
- 8-speed automatic (gas), 6-speed automatic (hybrid)
- Standard FWD, available AWD (standard on X-Line / X-Pro)
Subaru Ascent
1 Powertrain Option
- 2.4L Turbo Boxer H4 — 260 hp / 277 lb-ft
- Lineartronic CVT w/ 8-speed manual mode
- Standard Symmetrical AWD — every trim
- No hybrid powertrain available
Powertrain Spec
Kia Telluride
Subaru Ascent
Base Gas Horsepower
274 hp (turbo)More Power
260 hp (turbo)
Base Gas Torque
311 lb-ftMore Torque
277 lb-ft
Hybrid Available
Yes — 329 hpExclusive
Not offered
Combined Fuel Economy
~35 MPG (Hybrid) — 20 MPG (gas)Best Efficiency (Hybrid)
22 MPG (gas only, all trims)Edges Telluride’s Gas Engine
Max Towing
5,000 lb
5,000 lb
Cargo, Coverage & Daily Comfort
What You’ll Notice Every Day
Eight-passenger seating and a 5,000-lb tow rating are shared by both. Where the Telluride pulls away is warranty coverage, hybrid availability, and cargo space; the Ascent still holds a real edge for daily driving thanks to its standard all-wheel drive.
Peace of Mind
100kmile warranty
vs Ascent’s 60k-mile powertrain
Kia backs the powertrain for a decade or 100,000 miles — leaving Subaru’s 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain term well behind.
Cargo Room
89.3cu ft, seats folded
vs Ascent’s 75.6 cu ft max
Every cargo measurement favors the Telluride: 22.3 cu ft versus 17.8 behind the third row, and 48.7 cu ft versus 43.5 behind the second.
Standard AWD
Ascentwins this one
Standard on every trim vs Telluride’s FWD-standard base
This one goes to Subaru: Symmetrical AWD and X-MODE traction control ship standard on every Ascent, a real asset for buyers who prioritize all-weather grip above all else. Telluride offers AWD as well, just not as standard equipment outside the X-Line and X-Pro trims.
Safety & In-Cabin Tech
Genuine Off-Road Capability. More Standard Technology.
Thanks to standard AWD and X-MODE, the Ascent handles wet roads and mild trails with real confidence. Telluride answers by spreading its tech deeper across the lineup — dual displays, hands-free highway driving, and premium audio aren’t reserved exclusively for the range-topping trim.
Kia Telluride
Standard 12.3″ touchscreen — steps up to available dual 12.3″ panoramic displays
Highway Driving Assist 2 available, enabling hands-free-capable highway driving
14-speaker Meridian premium sound system available
Complete driver-assist suite included starting with the base LX
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard
360° camera and Blind-Spot View Monitor available
10-year / 100,000-mile powertrain coverage — double the Ascent’s term
Subaru Ascent
Every trim includes standard Symmetrical AWD, X-MODE, and Hill Descent Control
EyeSight driver-assist suite standard; DriverFocus distraction alert available
Subaru Multimedia System runs on a standard 11.6″ touchscreen
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard
Ground clearance of 8.7″, every trim
No dual-panoramic display, and no hands-free highway system on par with HDA2
No hybrid powertrain offered; warranty tops out at 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain, 3-year/36,000-mile basic
Third-Party Accolades
What the Award Shelf Shows
Both nameplates have been under the microscope of independent evaluators for years. Telluride continues to collect the trophies that define this segment — and Ascent has picked up legitimate, recent honors of its own.
World Car Awards
World Car of the Year
This is Telluride’s signature honor, earned alongside MotorTrend SUV of the Year and North American Utility of the Year — a three-award sweep the Ascent has never matched.
Kelley Blue Book
Best Buy, 6 Straight Years
Every year it’s been eligible, Kelley Blue Book has named it the midsize SUV Best Buy — proof of near-luxury quality at a fair price.
J.D. Power · 2025 IQS
#1 in Initial Quality
It logged the fewest reported issues in the first 90 days of ownership, topping the upper-midsize SUV class.
IIHS · 2026
Ascent Earns Top Safety Pick+
Fair’s fair: under IIHS’s newly tightened 2026 standards, the Ascent earned a genuine, up-to-date Top Safety Pick+ rating. The redesigned 2027 Telluride hasn’t been through IIHS testing yet, though the previous generation carried a 5-star NHTSA score. This page will be updated as soon as new Telluride crash results are published.
Weighing the Ascent? Get Behind the Wheel of a Telluride.
Browse our full Telluride and Telluride Hybrid inventory, get a straight trade-in number for your current SUV, and experience the difference firsthand — it’s all one visit, right here in the Hub City.
Frequently Asked — Telluride vs Ascent
Is the Kia Telluride better than the Subaru Ascent?⌄
Yes, for the majority of three-row shoppers. Kia backs the Telluride with 10 years/100,000 miles of powertrain coverage versus Subaru’s 5-year/60,000-mile term, offers a 329-hp Telluride Hybrid with no Ascent counterpart, and prices roughly $1,605 under an Ascent Premium. Subaru answers back with AWD standard across the board, genuine off-road ability (X-MODE plus 8.7 inches of clearance), and a 2026 IIHS Top Safety Pick+ rating earned under tougher new criteria. Weighing warranty, hybrid access, and price, the edge belongs to the Telluride. Browse live Telluride inventory.
Which has more power — Telluride or Ascent?⌄
Among the gas engines, Telluride’s standard 2.5L turbo makes 274 hp and 311 lb-ft — more than Subaru’s only engine option, a 2.4L turbocharged Boxer four good for 260 hp and 277 lb-ft (Subaru builds nothing else). Move up to the optional Telluride Hybrid and combined output reaches 329 hp at up to 35 MPG — a powertrain Subaru doesn’t offer in any Ascent trim, at any price.
Does the Subaru Ascent offer a hybrid?⌄
No. Across the entire 2026 Ascent lineup, the only engine is the 2.4L turbocharged Boxer four, EPA-rated at 22 MPG combined, with zero hybrid or electrified options available. Kia takes the opposite approach: the first-ever Telluride Hybrid delivers 329 hp combined and an EPA-estimated 35 MPG combined, a setup the Ascent has no version of.
Is the Kia Telluride cheaper than the Subaru Ascent?⌄
At the base trim, yes. The Telluride LX starts at $39,190 MSRP, and the Ascent Premium starts at $40,795 (neither includes destination) — about a $1,605 difference. Worth noting, though: that Ascent starting price already includes standard AWD, while the base Telluride LX is front-wheel drive, so equipping a comparable Telluride with AWD narrows the price gap somewhat.
What’s the warranty difference between Kia and Subaru?⌄
Kia’s terms stretch considerably further: 10 years / 100,000 miles on the powertrain and 5 years / 60,000 miles limited, versus Subaru’s 5 years / 60,000 miles powertrain and 3 years / 36,000 miles limited.
What does the Subaru Ascent do better?⌄
Fair credit to the Ascent: Symmetrical AWD and X-MODE are standard on every trim (Telluride’s entry trims stick with FWD), ground clearance measures a confident 8.7 inches, and it carries a 2026 IIHS Top Safety Pick+ rating under the agency’s newly toughened standards — the redesigned 2027 Telluride hasn’t finished IIHS testing yet. Its single turbo engine also edges the Telluride’s base gas engine in EPA combined MPG, 22 versus 20. If standard AWD or the newest crash-test results top your priority list, the Ascent deserves a look. That said, warranty length, hybrid availability, and starting price still tilt in the Telluride’s favor.
Where can I compare them near Hattiesburg, MS?⌄
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, and Laurel via I-59, US-49, US-98, and US-11. Stop by and experience the difference yourself.
Hattiesburg · Telluride vs Ascent
Looking for a Three-Row SUV Near Hattiesburg?
From Forrest and Lamar counties to Covington and Perry, Dean McCrary Kia gives Pine Belt families the region’s largest Telluride selection. Cross-shopping against the Subaru Ascent? Here’s why this is the place to start.
- Every Telluride trim in live inventory — LX all the way to X-Pro SX Prestige, plus the Hybrid
- A straight trade-in offer — value your current SUV in minutes
- Transparent pricing on every new Telluride
- Factory-trained service, scheduled maintenance, and genuine Kia parts
Dean McCrary Kia
Address7124 US Hwy 98, Hattiesburg, MS 39402
Sales(601) 544-4007
Sales HoursMon–Sat 8:30 AM–6:00 PM
Sources & Verification
This comparison sets the all-new Kia Telluride against the 2026 Subaru Ascent. Pricing and specifications were pulled from manufacturer sources (kia.com, subaru.com), along with Kelley Blue Book, Edmunds, and IIHS.org, and reflect information current at time of publication. The MSRP listed is the base price and does not include destination, taxes, title, or dealer fees; upper trims cost more. Figures for horsepower, torque, towing, and cargo capacity were each measured independently under manufacturer or EPA conditions and may not all apply at once. EPA fuel-economy estimates are provided strictly for comparison purposes — actual mileage will differ.
Subaru of America, Inc. holds the trademarks for Subaru, Ascent, Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, EyeSight, X-MODE, and Lineartronic. References to Kia, Telluride, and Meridian appear here solely for descriptive comparison purposes. Listed awards span both the current and prior Telluride generations. This page presents the dealership’s own perspective and exists for informational purposes only; pricing and offers may change, so reach out to Dean McCrary Kia to confirm current figures.
Dean McCrary Kia, Hattiesburg MS — Kia Telluride vs Subaru Ascent Comparison
Set against the Subaru Ascent, the all-new Kia Telluride comes out ahead on warranty terms (10 years/100,000 miles powertrain versus 5 years/60,000 miles), hybrid availability (a 329-hp Telluride Hybrid against no hybrid option for the Ascent at all), starting price (roughly $39,190 versus $40,795), and total cargo capacity (89.3 cubic feet versus 75.6). In response, the Ascent brings standard Symmetrical AWD with X-MODE off-pavement traction on every trim, 8.7 inches of ground clearance, and a 2026 IIHS Top Safety Pick+ rating earned under tightened testing standards — the redesigned 2027 Telluride has not completed IIHS evaluation yet. Both vehicles seat eight and tow up to 5,000 pounds. Serving the Pine Belt towns of Petal, Oak Grove, Purvis, and Columbia, Dean McCrary Kia in Hattiesburg, Mississippi carries the complete Telluride and Telluride Hybrid lineup.