2025 Honda Odyssey vs 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid

The 2025 Honda Odyssey retained a familiar design that echoed its predecessors, offering a straightforward and practical aesthetic. Its interior followed suit with a traditional layout featuring buttons, knobs, and physical switchgear, which many found to be a blessing for ease of use. The Odyssey was available in EX-L, Sport-L, Touring, and Elite trims, with the Elite trim showcasing a new Smoke Blue Pearl paint and two-tone leather seats. Despite its utilitarian design, the Odyssey's interior materials maintained the high quality expected from Honda.

In contrast, the 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid presented a bold and potentially polarizing design, particularly with its wide, flat grille. The vehicle's appearance varied significantly with different colors and trims, with the X-Line and X-Pro models offering unique grille designs and amber accent lights. The Telluride's interior was less controversial, featuring a simple horizontal dashboard and a modern, buttonless appearance. The Hybrid SX Prestige trim, with its Executive package, offered a luxurious feel reminiscent of Volvo, though some found the button labeling difficult to read.

The 2025 Honda Odyssey was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission driving the front wheels. It lacked all-wheel drive and hybrid options, unlike some competitors. The Odyssey achieved an EPA rating of 22 mpg combined, with real-world tests showing slightly lower figures. Despite its fuel economy trade-offs, the Odyssey offered a rewarding driving experience with responsive steering and braking, and nimble handling. It excelled in comfort and quietness on long road trips, though it lacked a surround-view camera system.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid featured a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 274 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The hybrid version added electric motors for a total output of 329 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque, mated to a six-speed transmission. The Telluride Hybrid provided a smooth and quiet ride, with seamless transitions between electric and gas power. It offered all-wheel drive as an option and excelled in comfort, even in the off-road-capable X-Pro Prestige trim. The Telluride's braking system required some adjustment, but overall, it delivered a composed and controllable driving experience.

The 2025 Honda Odyssey was designed to maximize passenger and cargo capacity, seating eight people and offering up to 140.7 cubic feet of cargo space. The Elite trim featured comfortable power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation, though taller drivers might find legroom limited. The second-row Magic Slide seats provided flexibility but required removal for maximum cargo space. The third-row seat was spacious enough for adults, and the Odyssey offered ample storage throughout the cabin, along with features like a conversation mirror and Cabin Talk intercom.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid provided ample space for adults in all three rows, though the third-row seats were better suited for smaller passengers. The Hybrid SX Prestige trim offered power-adjustable second-row seats with heating and ventilation, though they were slow to adjust. The Telluride's cargo capacity was competitive, with up to 89.3 cubic feet available with the second-row seats folded. The vehicle also featured convenient storage solutions, including a large center bin and deployable cupholders, and could tow up to 5,000 pounds.

The 2025 Honda Odyssey received a technology update with a new 7-inch digital driver display and a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system. It included wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and smartphone charging, though the infotainment system's graphics and voice recognition were subpar. The rear-seat entertainment system, featuring Amazon Fire TV technology, proved frustrating to use, requiring a personal device connection via HDMI.

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 climate control screen. It included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, dual wireless phone chargers, and a customizable infotainment screen. The system was generally user-friendly, though it occasionally required a firm tap to register inputs. The Telluride SX trim and above featured a 14-speaker Meridian premium audio system, delivering excellent sound quality.

The 2025 Honda Odyssey came standard with Honda Sensing, a suite of driving-assistance systems including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and lane-keep assist. It performed well in safety tests by the NHTSA and IIHS, except for a "Poor" rating in a new evaluation. The Odyssey's safety features generally operated smoothly, though some aspects, like the lane-departure warning, could be improved.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid included advanced safety features such as frontal collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control. Higher trims offered additional features like a surround-view camera system and automatic reverse braking. The Telluride's driver attention monitor occasionally triggered false alerts, but the highway driving assist was particularly effective on long trips.