2024 Kia Telluride vs 2025 Dodge Durango

The 2024 Kia Telluride was offered in five core trim levels: LX, S, EX, SX, and SX Prestige. The rugged X-Line treatment was available for all but the LX and S trims, while the X-Pro package was exclusive to the top two trims. The X-Line package added standard all-wheel drive (AWD) with a center locking differential, increased ground clearance to 8.4 inches, improved approach and departure angles, unique grille and 20-inch wheel designs, and roof rails. The X-Pro package further enhanced the Telluride with 18-inch matte-black wheels, all-terrain tires, and heavy-duty engine cooling, increasing the towing capacity to 5,500 pounds. Prices ranged from $35,990 for the LX to $53,185 for the SX Prestige with the X-Pro package, excluding the destination charge. The SX Prestige with the X-Line package, featuring Wolf Gray paint and floor mats, had an MSRP of $54,270, including the $1,365 destination charge.

The Telluride's design attracted buyers with its appealing forms and proportions, despite mixed reactions to last year’s styling updates. The Wolf Gray paint complemented the blacked-out X-Line styling, enhancing its visual appeal. Inside, the test car featured a black interior with premium Nappa leather seats, though other color options like Mahogany brown and Terracotta brown were available, offering a more appealing cabin ambiance. The interior included simulated open-pore wood trim and thoughtful details, nearly meeting luxury SUV standards. However, the shiny plastic covering the lower portions of the interior was a downside, especially in the SX Prestige trim.

The 2025 Dodge Durango offered a range of models from the base GT with a V6 engine and rear-wheel drive (RWD) starting at about $43,000, to the high-performance SRT Hellcat with a supercharged V8 engine and all-wheel drive (AWD) nearing $100,000. The SRT Hellcat Premium with the Silver Bullet special edition package, featuring Triple Nickel paint, had an MSRP of $115,315, including the $1,595 destination charge. The Silver Bullet edition added a satin black hood, unique wheels, dark badges, and black exhaust tips, enhancing the SRT Hellcat's visual attitude.

Inside, the SRT Hellcat maintained a subdued look with dark red premium Nappa leather seat faces contrasting with a black cabin. The Premium Package included a suede headliner, a leather and suede steering wheel wrap, and forged carbon fiber trim. While the upgrades were nice, the remaining plastic surfaces were less impressive at the Hellcat’s price point. The Durango felt solidly constructed, but the interior design and materials did not fully justify its high cost.

The 2024 Kia Telluride was powered by a 3.8-liter V6 engine producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Most Tellurides could tow 5,000 pounds, but the X-Pro package increased this to 5,500 pounds with heavy-duty engine cooling. The AWD models included a locking center differential and a Snow driving mode, alongside Comfort, Sport, and Smart modes. Ground clearance was 8.0 inches in standard spec, rising to 8.4 inches with the X-Line and X-Pro packages. The Telluride offered a refined driving experience with responsive steering and brakes, though fuel efficiency was a downside, averaging 19 mpg in combined driving.

The 2025 Dodge Durango featured a simplified lineup with the GT model having a 295-horsepower 3.6-liter V6, the R/T with a 360-hp 5.7-liter V8, and the SRT Hellcat boasting a 710-hp supercharged 6.2-liter V8. The SRT Hellcat’s engine delivered 645 pound-feet of torque, accelerating to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds, with a top speed of 180 mph and a towing capacity of 8,700 pounds. Despite its power, the Durango SRT Hellcat had poor fuel economy, rated at 12/17/13 mpg in city/highway/combined driving. The SUV featured a full-time AWD system, electronic limited-slip rear differential, and a competition-tuned adaptive damping suspension, providing a track-ready performance.

The 2024 Kia Telluride offered a comfortable interior, especially in higher trims like the SX Prestige X-Line, which featured premium Nappa leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, and a dual sunroof. The controls were oriented horizontally, with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system that was easy to use. The Telluride provided generous storage space and a hands-free power liftgate. Cargo space was ample, with 21 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 87 cubic feet with seats folded.

The 2025 Dodge Durango excelled in comfort and functionality, with the SRT Hellcat Premium featuring heated and ventilated front seats with Nappa leather. The second-row captain’s chairs offered good leg support, and the third-row seat was spacious enough for adults. The Durango provided ample storage, rear climate controls, and a power liftgate with 17.2 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to 85.1 cubic feet with seats folded.

The 2024 Kia Telluride came with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, requiring a cable for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Kia Connect offered various subscription plans, with features like remote engine starting and over-the-air updates. The Telluride included a Harman Kardon audio system, wireless charging, and a digital key function. Additional tech features included a camera-based rearview mirror and a 10-inch head-up display.

The 2025 Dodge Durango featured a Uconnect 5 infotainment system with a 10.1-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a native navigation system. The SRT Hellcat included SRT Performance Pages for tracking performance metrics. The system supported dual-phone Bluetooth pairing and offered a Harman Kardon audio system. The voice recognition system worked well but required specificity.

The 2024 Kia Telluride impressed with its Kia Drive Wise collection of driver assistance features, including collision avoidance, lane-keeping assist, and Highway Driving Assist. Safety upgrades included front parking sensors and a Blind-Spot View Monitor. The Telluride earned a five-star overall crash test rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.

The 2025 Dodge Durango had a shorter list of standard safety features, including forward-collision warning and blind-spot monitoring. Upgrades included adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist. The Durango earned a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with a concerning performance in the IIHS small overlap frontal-impact test.