2025 Land Rover Defender vs 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid

The 2025 Land Rover Defender was a vehicle that could appear a bit unconventional, with the Defender 90 seeming too compact and the 130 appearing overly bulky at the rear. The 110 four-door model struck a balance in design, offering a rugged appeal that was customizable to a great extent. The base price for the Defender ranged from $58,525 to $120,525, with the OCTA model priced at $153,625. Our test vehicle, a Defender 130 in X trim, was priced at $106,092, featuring the Extended Black Exterior Pack and upgraded interior materials. The test model, painted in Gondwana Stone, lacked the matte paint protection film and had a color combination that didn't quite complement the orange brake calipers and 20-inch wheels. Inside, the Defender X boasted premium Windsor hides and Kvadrat fabric, with options for Ebony, Caraway, or Light Cloud upholstery. The interior maintained an industrial theme, focusing on quality materials and a purposeful design.

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 different colors and trims, with body-colored vertical strakes that could be jarring in lighter shades but harmonious in darker ones. The X-Line and X-Pro models replaced these strakes with rectangular grille blocks and featured distinctive amber accent lights. The side profile showcased angular fender sculpting and black plastic tabs atop the wheel wells, adding a unique touch. The rear view, with rounded corners and vertical taillights, bore a resemblance to a Range Rover. Inside, the Telluride's interior was less controversial, featuring a simple horizontal dashboard layout and a modern, buttonless appearance. The Hybrid SX Prestige trim offered a luxurious two-tone palette, though the labeling on the buttons was hard to read. The seats, covered in synthetic leather and suede, were somewhat firm, but the surrounding materials were of excellent quality, with options for engineered wood or carbon fiber trim.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender's test vehicle was equipped with a turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine, one of four powertrain options, delivering 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a mild-hybrid system and an eight-speed automatic transmission, provided robust acceleration and a maximum tow rating of 8,200 pounds. The Defender 130 X could accelerate to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds. Standard features included an adaptive air suspension, hill descent control, and Terrain Response 2 driving modes. The Defender excelled off-road, with a ground clearance of 11.4 inches and a maximum wading depth of 35.4 inches. However, on-road performance was less thrilling, with a heavy curb weight and slow steering. The test vehicle's observed fuel economy was 16.2 mpg, below the expected 19 mpg.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid featured a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 274 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. The Hybrid model added electric motors, increasing output to 329 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque. The Telluride Hybrid was not available in the off-road-capable X-Pro trims but was offered in the X-Line trim. The Hybrid provided a quiet ride, with seamless transitions between electric and gas power. Both Telluride models prioritized comfort, with the X-Pro Prestige trim offering a smooth ride despite its off-road suspension. The Hybrid SX Prestige had a stiffer ride with its 20-inch wheels. On winding roads, the Telluride was composed and controllable, though not particularly sporty. The brake pedal required some getting used to, but the vehicle tracked straight during panic stops.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender 130 offered three rows of spacious seating, though getting in and out required effort without the air suspension lowering. The front seats were 12-way power-adjustable with heating and ventilation, providing excellent forward visibility. The Defender's panoramic sunroof and large windows created an open and airy feel. Storage space was plentiful in the front, but less accommodating in the rear. The second-row captain's chairs were heated and ventilated, with adjustable armrests. The third-row seat was heated and roomy, providing comfort for adults. The Defender's side-hinged cargo door was heavy and awkward, with a high load floor. Cargo space behind the third row was 15.3 cubic feet, expanding to 43.7 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 89 cubic feet with all rear seats down.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid provided ample space for adults in all three rows, though the rearmost row was better suited for smaller passengers. The second-row seats in the Hybrid SX Prestige were power-adjustable with heating and ventilation, offering comfort comparable to business-class airline seats. The middle-row seats had significant travel, allowing for more cargo or third-row legroom. The Telluride could seat seven with captain's chairs or eight with a second-row bench. Cargo space behind the third row was 22.3 cubic feet, expanding to 48.7 cubic feet with the seatbacks folded, and up to 89.3 cubic feet with all seats down. The Telluride could tow up to 5,000 pounds, or 4,500 for the Hybrid. Storage for personal items was ample, with a large center bin and deployable cupholders.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender featured the Pivi Pro infotainment system with an 11.4-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The system's response to voice commands was slower than preferred, but accuracy was outstanding. The user experience was more intuitive than previous versions, with easy programming of favorite radio stations. The Defender also included a head-up display, ClearSight digital rearview mirror, and a surround-view camera system. The optional Towing Pack added a hands-free trailer reverse-steering system.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid came with a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, and a 5-inch climate control screen. The infotainment system was easy to use, though it required a hard tap to register inputs. The climate control screen was difficult to use while driving, but physical temperature control buttons were available. The Telluride offered customization options for the infotainment screen, including themes from various brand collaborations. A 14-speaker Meridian premium audio system was available on higher trims, delivering powerful and clear sound.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender was equipped with several driver aids, including automatic high-beam headlights, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality. The lane-keep assist was decisive, though it occasionally attempted to steer the vehicle into a turnout area. Crash-test ratings were unavailable at the time of writing.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid included standard advanced safety features such as frontal collision warning with automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and parking proximity sensors. Higher trims offered a surround-view camera system, blind-spot camera system, side parking proximity sensors, and automatic reverse braking. The driver attention monitor was occasionally triggered at night, and the blind-spot cameras were more distracting than helpful. Crash-test ratings were not available at the time of writing.