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2020 Kia Telluride vs. 2020 Subaru Ascent: Which Is Best?
2020 Subaru Ascent ・ Photo by Subaru
According to Kia spokesperson James Bell, internally the company refers to the brand-new 2020 Telluride as the “Selluride.” That’s because the West Point, Georgia factory can’t produce enough of them, and some dealers are able to charge a premium for the handful of Tellurides they have in stock.
Seating up to eight people in three rows of seats, the 2020 Kia Telluride is a family-sized crossover SUV. It competes against a long list of similar vehicles, including the 2020 Subaru Ascent. Now in its second year since it debuted, the Ascent is the response to loyal Subaru fans’ demands for a vehicle that’s bigger than an Outback. It rolls off of an assembly line in Lafayette, Indiana, and this year Subaru holds the line on Ascent pricing while adding a new rear-seat reminder system that is especially helpful for parents of babies. (Or dogs.) Your choice between the two is likely determined by your lifestyle and personal preferences. But which one is better? We’re going to try to answer that question by comparing the Kia Telluride vs. the Subaru Ascent.
Styling and Design
One reason the 2020 Kia Telluride is selling so well is the styling. It looks like it costs much more than it does, thanks to its vertical lighting elements, wide textured grille, bold lettering, and chiseled flanks. The top trim, the SX, is more popular than Kia expected — perhaps due in part to its 20-inch black aluminum wheels, and perhaps due to its luxury-grade interior fittings at what seems to be a bargain price.
Meanwhile, the 2020 Subaru Ascent resembles a giant Subaru Forester. Emphasizing function over form, the Ascent is appealing in a practical, utilitarian sort of way. Inside, the Ascent feels narrow and tall rather than wide and low, in part because the dashboard features a waterfall-style center control panel as opposed to the Telluride’s horizontally-oriented controls and displays.
Photo by Kia
Comfort and Cargo
Both of these SUVs will be comfortable for a family, and each provides enough third-row-seat space to accommodate the occasional adult or lanky teenager. However, the Telluride’s longer wheelbase and wider cabin pay dividends in terms of interior room, providing 178.1 cubic feet of passenger volume compared to the Ascent’s 153.5 cubic feet. And while both these crossovers offer heated second-row seats, only the Kia has ventilated rear captain’s chairs.
When it comes to cargo space, the Subaru falls short when measured behind the third-row seat. With 17.8 cubic feet, the Ascent isn’t as roomy as the Telluride, which comes in at 21 cubes. Start folding seats, and the SUVs are essentially identical in size. The Subaru measures up to 47.5 cubic feet behind the second row, and up to 86.5 behind the front seats. The Kia comes in with 46 cubes and 87 cubes, respectively. Given its larger passenger volume, the Kia Telluride takes this category, but not by much.
Kia Telluride
Photo by Kia
Infotainment System
Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and UVO Link telematics with a free five-year trial of basic services are included with the Kia Telluride’s standard 8-inch display setup. Move up to the EX or SX trim levels for a sophisticated 10.25-inch touchscreen, multi-Bluetooth pairing, a Quiet Mode, a Driver Talk function, and wireless phone charging. You know what you can’t get? A Wi-Fi hotspot or a rear-seat entertainment system.
Subaru’s standard 6.5-inch touchscreen display looks basic, but it includes Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Starlink apps including navigation. If you roll old-school, you’ll like the CD player, too. Most Ascents have an 8-inch touchscreen with text-messaging support, and it’s ready for 4G Wi-Fi hotspot service. Embedded navigation is an option, and like the Kia, the Subaru is available with a Harman Kardon premium surround sound system. Here, though, you get 14 speakers instead of 10. The Ascent also comes with Starlink connected services, the basic plan free for three years. As an option, Starlink Entertainment Anywhere supplies two 32GB iPads with cases and two sets of Harman Kardon Bluetooth headphones.
Subaru Ascent
Photo by Subaru
Safety and Technology
Both the Telluride and the Ascent are rated as Top Safety Picks by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. That means they’ll protect you better than most vehicles in a collision, so deciding which one to buy boils down to unique features.
Kia offers a rear-occupancy alert for the Telluride, and it’s more sophisticated than the Subaru Ascent’s equivalent system. That’s because it can detect motion for hours after you lock it, giving you a smartphone alert via UVO Link if your child wakes up after you’ve left the vehicle. Active-lifestyle types, meanwhile, will adore the Subaru’s PIN Code Access system. It lets you leave the key fob inside the SUV while you run, hike, bike, or swim. When you return to the SUV, you use a PIN code to open the doors. Subaru’s acclaimed EyeSight collection of driving aids is standard on the Ascent, but Kia’s Drive Wise suite includes more of them at the base trim level. Plus, Kia offers more sophisticated features like Safe Exit Assist, Highway Drive Assist, and Blind-Spot View Monitor.
Kia Telluride
Photo by Kia
Power and Performance
Buy a Kia Telluride, and you get a 291-horsepower, 3.8-liter V6 engine powering the SUV’s front wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. The optional all-wheel drive includes a Lock mode to evenly split power at lower speeds. For off-roading, you get 8 inches of ground clearance.
Though I’ve driven a Telluride in conditions most people wouldn’t try, it’s made more for pavement, where it’s creamy smooth V6 supplies ample power. The Subaru Ascent, however, brings 8.7 inches of ground clearance, standard all-wheel drive, and the X-Mode traction system calibrated specifically for off-roading. That makes it the more capable SUV for going where few crossovers can. You’ll rely on a turbocharged 2.4-liter boxer-type four-cylinder engine generating 260 hp and more torque across a wider band than the Telluride’s V6 produces. Unfortunately, Subaru pairs it with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that can’t completely hide its continual variability. Maximum towing capacity tops out at 5,000 pounds, matching the Kia.
Kia Telluride
Photo by Kia
Fuel Economy
Skip the optional all-wheel drive system, and the Telluride will get 23 mpg in mixed driving. Adding AWD, the official EPA rating drops to 21 mpg.
Every Subaru Ascent has AWD. It’s baked into the SUV as a standard feature. And the turbocharged four-cylinder engine earns superior EPA fuel economy ratings of 23 mpg in its base and Premium trim levels, and 22 mpg with the heavier Limited and Touring models. That’s not much better than the Telluride, and that’s because the Ascent weighs more. Therefore, you can bet that turbo four is going to work harder in the real world than it does on the official EPA cycle. But the numbers are what the numbers are, so we’ve gotta hand it to the Subaru.
Subaru Ascent
Photo by Subaru
Driving Dynamics
Longer, wider, and lower than the Subaru Ascent, the Kia Telluride is the better SUV to drive. It feels more athletic and nimbler, and with its available self-leveling rear suspension it maintains a proper stance under a full load of passengers, gear, or trailer.
Comparatively, the taller and narrower Subaru Ascent feels less sure of itself. From the unwelcome turbo lag and occasional irritation of the CVT to its added weight and body motions while underway, it’s simply not as enjoyable to drive — on pavement. Off the beaten path, the Subaru shines brighter thanks to its greater capabilities and more compact dimensions. But ask yourself: How often do I plan to go off-road? Most people rarely do.
Kia Telluride
Photo by Kia
Value
Viewed solely in terms of price, the 2020 Subaru Ascent appears to be the better value in this contest, especially considering its standard all-wheel drive. And if you want to customize an SUV with a long list of dealer-installed accessories, this Subaru is ready to accommodate you with features designed to protect the interior, better haul cargo or sporting equipment, and more.
However, the Kia isn’t much more expensive, especially in higher trims. And it has an industry-leading warranty and roadside assistance program, more standard safety technology, and a longer free trial period to connected services. Plus, in SX trim with the Prestige Package, it would be a legit luxury SUV if not for some of the cheaper plastics in the cabin. On the other hand, Subaru models have proven to hold their value over time. Kias, not so much. That might change with the Telluride, but for now, we’re giving the value nod to the Subie.
Subaru Ascent
Photo by Subaru
The Verdict
Between the Kia Telluride and the Subaru Ascent, we think the Kia is the better SUV. It’s got a greater sense of style, inside and out. It’s larger inside for people and, just barely, cargo. It matches the Subaru for IIHS safety ratings and beats it in terms of driving assistance, collision avoidance, and other safety technologies. And it’s better to drive in everyday conditions.
Where the Subaru shines is with regard to its off-roading capability and more well-rounded – if dated-looking – infotainment. When it comes to fuel economy and value, the Ascent’s benefits are not as clear-cut. Overall, the Telluride impresses more.
Kia Telluride
Photo by Kia