2026 Lexus NX vs 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid

The 2026 Lexus NX maintained a fresh appearance despite being a few years into its second generation. Its design elements, such as the chunky fenders, integrated LED daytime running lights, and the distinctive spindle grille, were well-integrated, offering a balanced look that was neither too conservative nor awkward. The design team at Lexus refined the existing design, ensuring that elements like the oversized grille and LED DRLs appeared intentional rather than added for visual impact. The NX was available in various trims, including the non-hybrid NX 350, hybrid NX 350h, and plug-in hybrid NX 450h+, with the F Sport Handling grade adding sporty features like adaptive dampers and black 20-inch wheels.

Despite its bold styling, the NX's interior didn't quite meet luxury expectations, especially in the base NX 350. The F Sport Handling model's all-black interior felt similar to high-end Toyota RAV4 versions, lacking the luxury feel expected from Lexus. While the NX 350 Luxury grade offered leather upholstery and other premium features, the F Sport Handling's sport seats and aluminum pedals didn't compensate for the overall lack of luxury. Lexus' extroverted styling didn't deter sales, but the base model's luxury shortfall was noticeable.

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 that could appear jarring in lighter shades but blended well in darker ones. The X-Line and X-Pro models featured distinctive grille blocks and amber accent lights. The side profile showcased unique fender sculpting and black plastic tabs, while the rear view adopted a Range Rover-like style with rounded corners and vertical taillights.

Inside, the Telluride's interior was less controversial, featuring a simple horizontal dashboard and a modern, buttonless appearance. The Hybrid SX Prestige trim, with the optional Executive package, offered a luxurious two-tone palette reminiscent of Volvo. However, the silver button labeling was hard to read. The seats, covered in synthetic leather and suede, had firm cushions that could be uncomfortable on long drives. The materials quality was excellent, with options like engineered wood and carbon fiber trim surfaces, adding to the interior's appeal.

The 2026 Lexus NX offered various powertrain options, but the standard NX 350 F Sport's performance was underwhelming. It featured a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine producing 275 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive. The engine, related to the Toyota Tacoma's, felt more suited to a pickup truck, with a coarse exhaust note and a lack of urgency. Despite a quoted 6.6-second zero to 60 mph time, the sluggish transmission made achieving this difficult. The NX 350h hybrid and NX 450h+ plug-in hybrid models offered more compelling options, with the latter producing 304 hp and a 6-second zero to 60 mph time.

The NX's F Sport Handling upgrade included adaptive dampers and 20-inch wheels, but the ride quality was firm and uncomfortable, with lifeless steering. Lexus struggled with performance models compared to Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz, and the NX's poor ride quality and wind noise at highway speeds detracted from its luxury appeal.

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 model added electric motors and a 1.65-kWh battery pack, 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 ample power and a quiet ride, with seamless transitions between electric and gas power.

Both Telluride models prioritized comfort, delivering a smooth ride. The X-Pro Prestige trim, with its off-road suspension, was surprisingly comfortable, while the Hybrid SX Prestige had a stiffer ride with its 20-inch wheels. The Telluride's suspension effectively absorbed bumps, and the interior remained quiet over various surfaces. On winding roads, the Telluride was composed and controllable, with a soft brake pedal effort that required adjustment.

The 2026 Lexus NX offered competitive passenger space for a compact luxury SUV but had some compromises. Rear-seat headroom was comparable to rivals like the Acura RDX, Audi Q5, and Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class, but legroom was slightly less. Front-seat legroom was closer to the Audi and Mercedes, with the Acura offering more. The front seats felt constrained, with limited headroom and hindered outward visibility due to the deep dashboard and large mirrors. The F Sport Handling spec included sport seats with extra bolstering, which were comfortable but unnecessary given the NX's performance limitations.

Cargo space in the NX measured 22.7 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 56.3 cubic feet with them folded, trailing most competitors. The NX's 2,000-pound towing capacity was also below class-leading figures. The interior featured large center-console cupholders, thanks to a small shifter positioned at the console's upper-left corner.

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 low-mounted seat cushions reduced thigh support, but headroom and legroom were adequate. The elevated seating position in the third row offered a better view out the front. The Hybrid SX Prestige test vehicle with the Executive package featured power-adjustable second-row seats with heating and ventilation, comparable to business-class airline seats. However, they took a long time to slide and tilt forward for third-row access.

The middle-row seats offered significant travel fore and aft, allowing for more cargo or third-row legroom. The Telluride Hybrid shortened second-row legroom by 1.6 inches, but there was still ample space. Most models came with captain's chairs, with only the non-Hybrid LX and EX trims offering a second-row bench for eight-passenger seating. Cargo capacity behind the third row was 22.3 cubic feet, slightly more than rivals. Folding the seatbacks increased the volume to 48.7 cubic feet, with a maximum of 89.3 cubic feet with the second-row 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 2026 Lexus NX featured a 9.8-inch infotainment touchscreen on base and Premium trims, with a 14-inch display optional on the Premium grade and standard on higher trims. All models came with a 7-inch digital instrument cluster, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and six USB ports. Wireless device charging, a head-up display, and a 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system were available. Data connectivity packages, requiring subscriptions after free trials, offered features like cloud-based navigation, digital key functionality, and emergency assistance.

The 14-inch touchscreen in the test car was well-placed but had room for improvement. Temperature control knobs were large, but fan speed adjustment required an awkward touch slider. The voice recognition system could adjust temperature but not set specific temperatures or switch SiriusXM stations. The instrument cluster efficiently presented information, with a numerical speedometer readout surrounded by a tachometer or powertrain-state meter, depending on the model.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid came with a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, and a 5-inch touchscreen for climate controls. The LX and S trims had a smaller 4.2-inch instrument panel. The infotainment system included native navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and dual wireless phone chargers. The system was easy to use, but there were delays between screen taps and responses, and the middle climate control screen was difficult to use while driving.

Kia's brand collaborations allowed for customizable infotainment screen themes, including NBA teams, National Geographic images, and Disney, Star Wars, and Marvel characters. The Telluride SX trim and above featured a 14-speaker Meridian premium audio system, delivering powerful bass and clear tones without distortion at higher volumes. Supporting trims had an eight-speaker system.

The 2026 Lexus NX came with the standard Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 suite, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-centering assist, and traffic-sign recognition. The electronic door handles were keyed to a Safe Exit Assist feature. Additional driver-assist features included park assist, front cross-traffic alert, lane-change assist, and a 360-degree camera system. The NX received a 2025 Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS but missed the Top Safety Pick+ due to an "Acceptable" score in the moderate overlap front crash test. NHTSA ratings were not available.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid's safety ratings from NHTSA and IIHS were unavailable at the time of writing. Standard safety features included frontal collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, 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 had operational issues at night, and the blind-spot cameras were distracting. The highway driving assist was helpful on long trips, maintaining lane centering and consistent speed.