2025 Acura ADX vs 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid

The 2025 Acura ADX, despite sharing its platform with the Honda HR-V, distinguished itself with a unique Acura styling. Its large pentagonal grille with diamond-patterned mesh was a striking feature, complemented by standard LED lighting across the board. The A-Spec models added LED fog lights, enhancing its sporty appearance with vent-like creases and dual exhaust outlets. The ADX offered a range of exterior colors, with the A-Spec models unlocking vibrant options like Adriatic Sea Blue and Milano Red. Inside, the ADX maintained Acura's premium feel with genuine leather in the A-Spec Advance trim, featuring a Red & Ebony color scheme that extended throughout the cabin. The interior design avoided the pitfalls of excessive piano black plastic, opting instead for textured components that reduced glare and fingerprints.

In contrast, the 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid presented a bold design that could polarize opinions, particularly with its flat, wide grille. The vehicle's personality shifted with color and trim, with body-colored vertical strakes that blended better in darker shades. The X-Line and X-Pro models replaced these strakes with rectangular grille blocks and amber accent lights. The Telluride's side profile featured angular fender sculpting and unique black plastic tabs, while the rear adopted a Range Rover-like style with rounded corners and vertical taillights. Inside, the Telluride's interior was less controversial, offering a simple horizontal dashboard layout. The Hybrid SX Prestige trim, with its Executive package, provided a luxurious two-tone palette, though some controls were difficult to read. The seats, covered in synthetic leather and suede, offered comfort but could be firm on longer drives. The interior materials were of high quality, with options like engineered wood and carbon fiber.

The 2025 Acura ADX came standard with a front-wheel drive setup, with all-wheel drive available for an additional $2,000. It was powered by a 1.5-liter VTEC turbo four-cylinder engine, producing 190 horsepower and 179 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission. While not the most powerful in its class, the ADX offered adequate performance for everyday tasks and was priced competitively. It featured multiple drive modes, including Sport, Normal, Comfort, and Snow, allowing drivers to tailor the driving experience. The ADX excelled in visibility and noise cancellation, providing a quiet ride even at highway speeds. However, for those prioritizing fuel economy, hybrid competitors like the Lexus NX 350h offered better efficiency.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid, on the other hand, was equipped with a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 274 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. The hybrid version added electric motors, increasing output to 329 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque, paired with a six-speed transmission. The Telluride Hybrid was not available in the off-road-capable X-Pro trims but was offered in the X-Line trim. The hybrid system provided a seamless transition between electric and gas power, with a quiet engine and smooth ride. The Telluride excelled in comfort, with a luxuriously smooth ride and minimal wind noise. It handled well on winding roads, though it wasn't particularly sporty. The brake pedal effort was soft, requiring some adjustment, but the vehicle remained composed during panic stops.

The 2025 Acura ADX offered a premium interior with no cloth options. The base trim featured leatherette seating, while the A-Spec added microsuede accents, and the Advance Package included genuine leather. The steering wheel was leather-wrapped across all trims, with a sportier flat-bottomed design for A-Spec models. Heated front seats and a power-adjustable driver's seat were standard, with additional features like front-seat ventilation and power adjustments for the front passenger in higher trims. The ADX provided ample headroom and legroom in the front row, with competitive rear seat legroom. Cargo space was generous, with 24.4 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 55.1 cubic feet with them folded. A power tailgate and dual-zone climate control were standard features.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid offered ample space for adults in all three rows, though the rearmost row was better suited for smaller passengers. The second row featured power-adjustable seats with heating and ventilation in the Hybrid SX Prestige trim, providing comfort comparable to a business-class airline seat. The middle-row seats offered significant travel, allowing for more cargo or third-row legroom. The Telluride's cargo capacity was competitive, with 22.3 cubic feet behind the third row and up to 89.3 cubic feet with the seats folded. The Hybrid models lost only about one cubic foot of cargo space. The Telluride also offered practical storage solutions, with a large center bin, deployable cupholders, and additional storage in the second and third rows.

The 2025 Acura ADX featured a comprehensive infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wi-fi hotspot, and a wireless phone charging pad. A nine-inch center touchscreen and a 10.2-inch digital gauge cluster were standard, with a physical volume knob for convenience. The A-Spec models added rear USB-C ports, while the Advance Package included Alexa Built-In, Google Built-In, HD Radio, and a 15-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system. The audio system offered a unique "beosonic" app for adjusting sound by mood or ambiance.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid came equipped with a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, and a 5-inch touchscreen for climate controls. The infotainment system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, dual wireless phone chargers, and a native navigation system. The system was user-friendly, though it required firm taps and had some delays. The Telluride offered customizable themes for the infotainment screen, and higher trims featured a 14-speaker Meridian premium audio system with powerful bass and clear tones.

The 2025 Acura ADX came with nearly all safety and advanced driver-assistance features as standard, including adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, blind-spot information, forward-collision warning, and lane-keeping assist. The ADX earned a Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS and a five-star Overall Safety Rating from the NHTSA.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid included standard advanced safety features such as frontal collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and parking proximity sensors. Higher trims added features like a surround-view camera system and automatic reverse braking. The Telluride's driver attention monitor had some operational issues, but the highway driving assist was effective on longer trips.