2024 Kia Telluride vs 2025 Subaru Forester

The 2024 Kia Telluride was offered in five core trim levels: LX, S, EX, SX, and SX Prestige. The X-Line treatment was available for all trims except the LX and S, while the X-Pro package was reserved for 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, which we tested, featured Wolf Gray paint and floor mats, bringing the MSRP to $54,270, including the $1,365 destination charge.

The Telluride's design updates from the previous year were not universally appealing, but its attractive forms and proportions remained a strong selling point. The Wolf Gray paint complemented the blacked-out X-Line styling, including the grille surround and bumper details. Inside, the test car featured a black interior with premium Nappa leather seats, though other color options like Mahogany brown, Terracotta brown, light gray over black or dark blue, and Sage Green were available, each complementing the simulated open-pore wood trim. Despite the luxurious feel of the SX Prestige, the presence of shiny plastic in the interior's lower portions was a downside. However, the soft leather, artificial suede headliner, 24-inch dual-screen digital display panel, metallic accents, and thoughtful details nearly met luxury SUV standards.

The 2025 Subaru Forester, while not traditionally known for its beauty, received significant styling updates for 2025, focusing on practicality and capability. The exterior featured standard roof rails and 17-inch alloy wheels, with a more generic look that some might find less distinctive. Steering-responsive LED headlights with welcome lighting were standard, creating an "integrated shield effect" with the grille. The Forester Sport, which we tested, had bronze trim accents and 19-inch wheels, while the Limited and Touring trims featured 18-inch and 19-inch wheels, respectively. The Touring trim also included a low-profile roof rack and chrome badging. A new Forester Wilderness model was in development, but only the previous generation's Wilderness model was available at launch.

The Forester maintained its large-greenhouse shape with geometric wheel arches and a more decisive side window design. Black plastic pieces at the corners of the roof added a cat-eye effect, possibly hinting at future two-toned paint options. The base Forester came with cloth upholstery and blue contrast stitching, while the Sport trim featured StarTex material with brown contrast stitching. Limited and Touring trims offered genuine leather seating surfaces. The Forester's new interior design included structural dash elements that were attractive and not cheap-feeling. Overall, the cabin had a more intentional and designed look.

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. It offered both front-wheel and all-wheel drive options. Most Tellurides could tow up to 5,000 pounds, but the X-Pro package increased this capacity to 5,500 pounds with heavy-duty engine cooling. The AWD version included a locking center differential and a Snow driving mode, alongside Comfort, Sport, and Smart modes. The Telluride's ground clearance was 8.0 inches in standard spec, rising to 8.4 inches with the X-Line and X-Pro packages, and it featured a self-leveling rear suspension.

The Telluride provided ample power for freeway acceleration and passing, though it was not fuel-efficient. The EPA rated the AWD versions at 20 mpg combined, but real-world testing averaged 19 mpg on a mountainous evaluation loop and 17.5 mpg in city driving. A hybrid drivetrain was notably absent, which could have improved fuel economy. Despite this, the Telluride's driving experience was quick and refined, with standard brake-induced Torque Vectoring Cornering Control enhancing its athleticism in curves. The steering was responsive, and the brakes resisted rumble and fade.

The Telluride's ride was firm at lower speeds but soft and compliant at higher velocities, absorbing pavement undulations effectively. Off-road, the Telluride demonstrated more capability than expected, handling various terrains with ease, though it wouldn't rival a Jeep.

The 2025 Subaru Forester featured a 2.5-liter Boxer four-cylinder engine producing 180 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque, paired with a Lineartonic continuously variable transmission (CVT) and standard Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive (AWD). The engine was quieter than previous models, though still noisy during acceleration. Subaru's X-Mode system, standard from the Premium trim, included Hill Descent Control and managed engine output, transmission performance, and AWD for improved stability on challenging terrain. The Forester Sport and higher trims offered a dual-function version of X-Mode.

The Forester Sport's performance was stable and planted on various surfaces, including snow, mud, and wood chips. The steering was smooth and fluid, and the vehicle felt confident off-road. X-Mode activated and deactivated seamlessly, though it announced itself with an annoying beep. The Forester's fuel economy was rated at 26 mpg city, 33 highway, and 29 combined, with Sport and Touring trims slightly lower. A hybrid Forester was expected to follow the 2025 redesign, but fuel-economy figures were not yet available.

The 2024 Kia Telluride offered a comfortable interior, especially in higher trims. The SX Prestige X-Line test vehicle featured premium Nappa leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats with lumbar massage, heated and ventilated second-row captain’s chairs, and a third-row seat suitable for adults. A dual sunroof panel added light to the dark interior. The controls were oriented horizontally, with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system that was easy to use, though metallic finish buttons were hard to read in bright sunlight.

The Telluride included thoughtful details, such as a digital instrumentation panel with scenic landscape views that changed with the time of day. Storage space was generous, with a covered cubby, smartphone tray, and door panel bins. A hands-free power liftgate with automatic closing was available, though it could be undesirable in certain situations. The Telluride offered 21 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 46 cubic feet with it folded, and a maximum of 87 cubic feet. The X-Line and X-Pro trims provided useful roof rails for additional storage.

The 2025 Subaru Forester introduced a hands-free power liftgate, powered on the Sport trim and foot-activated on Limited. The more vertical rear glass increased cargo space to 29.6 cubic feet with the rear seats in place and 74.4 cubic feet with them folded. The cargo area included eight heavy-duty hooks. The Forester's cargo space was competitive with the Subaru Outback but slightly less than some competitors due to its roomy second row.

The Forester's interior featured a dark headliner to resist marks from pets and gear. The Premium trim offered a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, with heating available in the all-weather package. The Limited trim added eight-way power adjustability to the front passenger’s seat, while the Touring trim included driver’s seat memory, front-row seat ventilation, and heated back seats.

The 2024 Kia Telluride came equipped with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, though Apple CarPlay and Android Auto required a cable connection. A Kia Connect subscription was needed for conversational voice recognition. The test vehicle's Kia Connect subscription was inactive, but past experiences showed it worked well. Four Kia Connect plans were available, with the Ultimate plan offering the most features for $199 annually.

The Telluride included satellite radio, wireless smartphone charging, and a 10-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. Thoughtful features included a blue-light filter for the infotainment display, Quiet Mode, and a function to deliver the driver’s voice to rear-seat occupants. A digital key function allowed smartphone or card key access, and a camera-based rearview mirror offered a clear view behind the SUV. A 10-inch head-up display and a 360-degree camera system were also available.

The 2025 Subaru Forester introduced an 11.6-inch Multimedia Plus infotainment system, standard on all but the base trim, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The base Forester had two 7-inch touchscreens and wired smartphone projection. Premium and higher trims included dual USB-A and USB-C ports, a wireless charging pad, and Wi-Fi hotspot capability. A navigation system was standard on the Touring trim, featuring voice activation, TomTom, SiriusXM Travel Link, and “what3words” technology.

The Touring trim also included an 11-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, available on Sport and Limited trims as part of packages with additional features. Subaru’s Starlink connected services suite offered new capabilities for 2025, including Valet Mode, Remote Vehicle Configuration, and a Trip Log and Driving Journal.

The 2024 Kia Telluride featured the Kia Drive Wise collection of driver assistance features, including collision avoidance, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear occupant protection. Highway Driving Assist was standard, offering semi-autonomous driving with adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist. Safety feature upgrades varied by trim, with options like front parking sensors, cross-traffic alert, evasive steering assist, and automatic rear braking. The Telluride received a five-star overall crash test rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.

The 2025 Subaru Forester introduced Emergency Stop Assist, available on Touring trim with the driver distraction-mitigation system. This feature slowed the vehicle to a stop if the driver became unresponsive, notifying emergency services and unlocking the doors. The Touring trim also included a digital rearview mirror, surround view monitor, and reverse automatic braking. Subaru’s EyeSight suite of driver-assistance technology was standard, with enhancements for 2025, including a wider field of view and an electric brake booster. The 2025 Forester had not yet been crash-tested, but the 2024 model received a Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA.