2025 Mitsubishi Outlander vs 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid

The 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander was available in ES, SE, and SEL trims, offering both front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) options. Its exterior design was distinctive, featuring a unique lighting arrangement with a thin upper eyebrow functioning as a daytime running light and a large, square headlight below, highlighted by a chrome bezel. Despite minor changes to the grille and diffuser, the Outlander retained its bold and somewhat polarizing appearance. Inside, the top SEL trim offered a more refined experience with quilted leather seats, soft-touch surfaces, and Yamaha speaker faces inspired by traditional Japanese patterns. However, some plastic elements detracted from the overall luxury feel.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid presented a bold design that could polarize opinions, particularly with its flat, wide grille. The vehicle's personality varied with color and trim, with body-colored vertical strakes in lighter shades appearing jarring, while darker colors offered a more harmonious look. The X-Line and X-Pro models featured distinctive grille designs and amber accent lights. The Telluride's side profile was marked by angular fender sculpting and black plastic tabs, while the rear view resembled a Range Rover with rounded corners and vertical taillights. Inside, the Telluride's interior was less controversial, featuring a simple horizontal dashboard layout and a luxurious feel in the Hybrid SX Prestige trim with the Executive package. The seats, covered in synthetic leather and suede, offered comfort, though some found the cushions firm on longer drives.

The 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander was equipped with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 181 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. While the AWD system, developed from Mitsubishi's rally racing heritage, provided stability on curvy roads, the engine's power was lacking, making acceleration a chore. The continuously variable transmission (CVT) contributed to a droney, rubber-band feeling, despite being divided into eight steps for a more automatic-like experience. The Outlander's fuel economy was rated at 26 miles per gallon combined, falling short of competitors like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. However, the plug-in hybrid variant offered a more powerful 248 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque, with a fuel rating of 64 MPGe and 38 miles of all-electric range.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid featured a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 274 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Hybrid model added electric motors, increasing output to 329 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque, with a six-speed transmission. The Telluride Hybrid delivered ample power and a quiet ride, with seamless transitions between electric and gas modes. The suspension was tuned for comfort, providing a smooth ride even in the off-road-capable X-Pro Prestige model. The Telluride's handling was composed and controllable, instilling confidence on winding roads, though not particularly sporty. The brake pedal effort was soft, requiring some adjustment, but brake response was immediate in panic stops.

The 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander offered a third row of seating, though it was only suitable for small children due to its 18.7 inches of legroom. With the third row in place, cargo space was limited to less than 11 cubic feet, but folding the seats increased storage to 30 cubic feet. The driver's seat featured digital HVAC controls with physical buttons for fan control and seat heating. The top-line model included heated and ventilated seats, a heated steering wheel, and heated rear seats. However, the cup holders were shallow, causing issues with larger bottles during braking.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid provided ample space for adults in all three rows, though the rear seats were better suited for smaller passengers due to low-mounted cushions. The Hybrid SX Prestige model with the Executive package featured power-adjustable second-row seats 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 offered up to 22.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expandable to 48.7 cubic feet with the seats folded. The Hybrid models lost only about one cubic foot of cargo space. The Telluride could tow up to 5,000 pounds, or 4,500 for the Hybrid.

The 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander featured a Yamaha premium sound system with eight speakers, or a 12-speaker, 1,650-watt system in upper trims. The system offered customizable sound modes and volume adjustments based on speed and ambient noise. The Outlander included a 12.3-inch infotainment screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a physical volume knob, and a button for the camera system. Upper trims offered a digital gauge cluster, rear camera mirror, and head-up display. Mitsubishi Connect provided remote services, including starting the heated seats and defrosters, with a five-year trial included.

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 system included native navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and dual wireless phone chargers. The infotainment system was user-friendly, though some delays and hard taps were noted. Physical temperature control buttons were available, and the system required minimal adjustments once set. The Telluride offered customizable themes for the infotainment screen and a 14-speaker Meridian premium audio system in the SX trim and above.

The 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander offered a limited suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) as standard, including blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning, and rear cross-traffic alert. Higher trims added adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and traffic sign recognition. The Outlander received a four-star rollover rating from the NHTSA, with previous models earning five stars in side crashes and four stars in frontal crashes. The IIHS rated the Outlander's headlights as "Good," with previous models receiving "Good" ratings in crashworthiness and "Poor" in front crash prevention.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid included standard advanced safety features such as frontal collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and highway driving assist. Higher trims offered a surround-view camera system, blind-spot camera system, and automatic reverse braking. The Telluride's driver attention monitor had operational issues at night, but the highway driving assist was effective on longer trips. At the time of writing, crash test scores from the NHTSA and IIHS were not available.