2025 Ford Expedition vs 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid

The 2025 Ford Expedition was a testament to the form-over-function design ethos, reminiscent of a modern school bus but with a more attractive aesthetic. Its long, rectangular body and slab sides emphasized its mission to maximize interior space, offering ample headroom, legroom, and shoulder room. Despite its utilitarian design, the Expedition featured stylish elements like horseshoe-shaped daytime running lights framing a bold grille, integrated headlights, and off-roading lamps on the Tremor trim. The blacked-out pillars and distinct character line added a touch of sophistication, while the new split-gate tailgate design provided practical benefits for loading and resting.

In contrast, the 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid presented a bold reinterpretation that could polarize opinions. Its grille, with a flat, faceless look, spanned the entire front end, while body-colored vertical strakes varied in appearance depending on the paint color. The X-Line and X-Pro models replaced these strakes with rectangular grille blocks and distinctive amber accent lights. The side profile showcased unique faceted fender sculpting and black plastic tabs atop each wheel well, contributing to its boldness. The rear view, with rounded corners and vertical taillights, bore a resemblance to a Range Rover. Inside, the Telluride's simple horizontal dashboard layout and buttonless modern appearance created a luxurious ambiance, especially in the Hybrid SX Prestige trim with its two-tone palette.

The 2025 Ford Expedition was powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 400 horsepower and 480 lb-ft of torque. The Tremor trim featured a high-output version, boosting power to 440 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque. Despite its 5,794-pound curb weight, the Expedition excelled on highways, offering a comfortable and quiet ride. Its ten-speed automatic transmission ensured smooth shifts, and the multi-link rear suspension handled rough terrain with ease. The Tremor trim, with increased ground clearance and off-road enhancements, performed admirably on challenging courses, though its size limited hardcore off-roading capabilities. However, the Expedition's fuel economy was a downside, with 4WD models achieving only 15/22/18 mpg.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid combined a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with electric motors, producing 329 horsepower and 339 lb-ft of torque. The hybrid system provided a seamless transition between electric and gas power, resulting in a quieter ride. The Telluride Hybrid excelled in comfort, with a luxuriously smooth ride and minimal wind noise. The X-Pro Prestige trim, with its off-road suspension, offered surprising comfort, while the Hybrid SX Prestige had a stiffer ride due to 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 panic stops were handled effectively.

The 2025 Ford Expedition boasted impressive towing capabilities, with a maximum capacity of 9,600 pounds. Inside, it offered generous cargo space, with 21.6 cubic feet behind the third row in the standard model, expanding to 36.1 cubic feet in the Expedition Max. Folding the seats increased cargo capacity to 108.5 cubic feet in the standard model and 123.1 cubic feet in the Max. The minimalist interior design featured touch-sensitive trackpads and a touchscreen for climate controls, which some users found high-tech but potentially cumbersome.

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 Hybrid SX Prestige trim featured power-adjustable second-row seats with heating and ventilation, offering comfort comparable to business-class airline seats. 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 interior offered practical storage solutions, including a large center bin and deployable cupholders.

The 2025 Ford Expedition featured a groundbreaking 24-inch driver information display, offering ample space for Google Maps projection and customizable widgets. The 13.2-inch touchscreen display, powered by a Google-based operating system, provided seamless integration with Google Maps, Google Assistant, and the Google Play store. However, the Ford Connectivity Package required an active cellular data plan for full functionality, with a subscription cost after the first year.

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 was user-friendly, though it occasionally required hard taps to register inputs. The Telluride offered customization options through brand collaborations, and the SX trim and above featured a 14-speaker Meridian premium audio system, delivering powerful and clear sound.

The 2025 Ford Expedition had not yet been rated by the NHTSA, and the IIHS ratings were based on a previous-generation model. However, it came with a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and a 360-degree camera. BlueCruise 1.4 was available on select trims, offering hands-free driving capabilities.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid also lacked crash test scores from the NHTSA and IIHS. It included standard advanced safety features such as frontal collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and highway driving assist. Higher trims offered additional features like a surround-view camera system and automatic reverse braking. The driver attention monitor had some operational issues, but the highway driving assist was particularly effective.