2027 Kia Telluride vs. 2026 Lexus TX

TrueCar says if starting price matters most, the Kia Telluride has the edge, at a $40,735 MSRP against $58,490 for the Lexus TX, a $17,755 difference, while DriveDuel says the Lexus TX performs visibly better on city fuel economy, achieving 29 mpg against 20 mpg for the Telluride. Choose the Telluride for the lower price; choose the TX for better city efficiency and the Lexus badge if the price gap fits your budget.

Which to choose, and why

Price and fuel economy

TrueCar (opens in a new tab) says if starting price matters most, the Kia Telluride has the edge, with a $40,735 MSRP against $58,490 for the Lexus TX, a difference of $17,755, and that the Telluride gets 20 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway. DriveDuel (opens in a new tab) says when it comes to city fuel economy, the Lexus TX performs visibly better, achieving 29 mpg compared with 20 mpg for the Kia Telluride.

Choosing between them

The price gap and the mileage gap point opposite directions, so the choice comes down to whether the lower Telluride sticker price or the TX's better city efficiency and Lexus badge matters more to you.

Questions buyers ask

Which is cheaper, the Kia Telluride or the Lexus TX?

TrueCar (opens in a new tab) says the Kia Telluride, at $40,735 against $58,490 for the TX, a $17,755 difference.

Which gets better city mpg, the Telluride or the TX?

DriveDuel (opens in a new tab) says the Lexus TX, at 29 mpg city against 20 mpg for the Telluride.

Side-by-side matrix

The published fields that can change the decision.

Kia Telluride: 6 records · Lexus TX: 3 records.

Decision field	Kia Telluride	Lexus TX
Exact EPA records	6	3
Model / option labels	6	3
Drive layouts	All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive	All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive
Engines / propulsion	2.5L 4-cyl SIDI & PFI, 2.5L 4-cyl SIDI; Hybrid	2.4L 4-cyl SIDI & PFI, 2.4L 4-cyl SIDI & PFI; Hybrid
Transmissions	Automatic (AM-S6), Automatic (S8)	Automatic (S6), Automatic (S8)
Fuel types	Regular	Premium
EPA classes	Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD, Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD	Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD, Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Combined efficiency	19–35 MPG/MPGe	23–27 MPG/MPGe
Electric range	Not listed	Not listed
Annual fuel / energy estimate	$1850–3400 per year	$2950–3450 per year

Head to head

Kia Telluride vs. Lexus TX: size, power, capability and price.

Measure	Kia Telluride	Lexus TX
Starting price (KBB base)	$40,735	$57,890
Top trim price (KBB base)	$58,335	$81,760
Horsepower	n/a	275-404 hp
Torque	n/a	247-339 lb-ft
0 to 60 mph	n/a	5.9-7.8 sec
Curb weight	n/a	4,575-5,400 lb
Length	199.2 in	203.2-203.5 in
Wheelbase	116.9 in	116.1 in
Cargo volume	89.3 cu ft	20.2 cu ft
Towing capacity	5,000-5,500 lb	5,000 lb
Seating	7-8 seats	6-7 seats
Basic warranty	5 years	4 years

Figures are ranges across each model’s trims from Kelley Blue Book records (2027 and 2026 model years); prices are KBB base prices.

The Kia Telluride starts $17,155 lower: $40,735 against $57,890 before options and fees.
On length, the Lexus TX leads: 203.5 in against 199.2 in.
On wheelbase, the Kia Telluride leads: 116.9 in against 116.1 in.
On cargo volume, the Kia Telluride leads: 89.3 cu ft against 20.2 cu ft.
On maximum towing capacity, the Kia Telluride leads: 5,500 lb against 5,000 lb.
On seating capacity, the Kia Telluride leads: 8 seats against 7 seats.
On basic warranty, the Kia Telluride leads: 5 years against 4 years.

Background on each vehicle

What public sources say about the Kia Telluride and the Lexus TX.

2027 Kia Telluride

The Kia Telluride is a mid-size crossover SUV with three-row seating manufactured and marketed by Kia since 2019. Positioned above the Sorento, it was previewed as a concept car in 2016, with the production model debuting in early 2019 as a 2020 model. It shares components and specifications with its Hyundai counterpart, the Hyundai Palisade, including its engine, transmission, and wheelbase.

Safety: The 2020 and 2021 model years of the Telluride were awarded "Top Safety Pick" by IIHS, it was later awarded "Top Safety Pick+".
Recalls and problems: In March 2024, Kia recalled over 427,000 Tellurides from 2020 to 2024 model years, due to rollaway risks which the vehicles rolls away when placed in 'P' gear. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, this is because of improper assembly of the intermediate shaft and the right front driveshaft could cause unintended vehicle movement, if the driver failed to engage the parking brake.
Awards: In 2020, the Telluride received the 2020 World Car of the Year as well as Motor Trend's SUV of the Year.

Source: Kia Telluride (Wikipedia)

NHTSA rated the 2025 Kia Telluride overall 5 of 5 stars, front crash 4 of 5 stars, side crash 5 of 5 stars, rollover 4 of 5 stars.

Recent recalls (5 campaigns across the latest model years)

June 2026, Seat Belts:Front. Kia America, Inc (Kia) is recalling certain 2027 Telluride and Telluride Hybrid vehicles. The driver seat belt emergency locking retractor may lock, causing the seat belt strap not to extend. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal… Consequence: A seat belt strap that does not extend can fail to restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
March 2026, Seat Belts:Rear/Other:Anchorage. Kia America, Inc (Kia) is recalling certain 2027 Kia Telluride and 2026 Kia K4 vehicles. The rear center seat belt anchor buckle in the 2026 K4 and the third-row center seat belt anchor buckle in the 2027 Telluride may not latch properly. Consequence: A seat belt buckle that is not latched properly can fail to restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
February 2026, Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner. Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2025 Telluride vehicles, equipped with power front seat(s). Due to a manufacturing error, the driver and passenger seat back frame assemblies may fail to properly restrain occupants in a crash. Consequence: A seat back frame that fails to properly restrain an occupant during a crash increases the risk of injury.

Owners filed 24 complaints with NHTSA for the 2027 Kia Telluride, most often about seat belts (7), power train (6), seats (5).

2026 Lexus TX

The Lexus TX is a full-size luxury crossover SUV with three-row seating produced by Japanese brand Lexus, a luxury division of Toyota. Produced since September 2023, it is exclusively marketed in North America, with no plans for export to Europe, Asia or other world markets. The TX is constructed upon the front- and all-wheel drive TNGA-K platform, shared with its Toyota Grand Highlander sibling and the mid-size XU70 Highlander/Kluger.

Source: Lexus TX (Wikipedia)

Equipment. A 14.0-inch multimedia infotainment display is standard on base models, which runs Lexus' newest infotainment interface. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, as well as a navigation system integrated into the dashboard and a wireless smartphone charging system.

Powertrain. Three powertrains are offered: the TX 350, the TX 500h hybrid, and the TX 550h+ plug-in hybrid. The TX 350 is powered by the 2.4-liter T24A-FTS turbocharged inline-four engine rated at up to 275 hp (279 PS; 205 kW).

Recent recalls (7 campaigns across the latest model years)

September 2026, Steering:Linkages:Knuckle:Spindle:Arm. Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2026 Lexus TX350, RX350 Hybrid, RX350, RX500 Hybrid, TX500 Hybrid, Toyota Grand Highlander, and Grand Highlander Hybrid vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the front steering knuckles may crack and break, which can… Consequence: A loss of vehicle steering control increases the risk of a crash.
July 2026, Power Train:Axle Assembly. Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2026 Lexus TX Plug-In Hybrid, TX Hybrid, TX, Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid, and Grand Highlander vehicles. The rear axle carriers may have been manufactured with insufficient material strength and could break. Consequence: A broken rear axle carrier can cause a sudden loss of vehicle stability and control, increasing the risk of a crash.
March 2026, Equipment:Other:Labels. Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Toyota Tundra, Tacoma Hybrid, Tacoma, RAV4 Hybrid, Land Cruiser Hybrid, Lexus GX550, 2024-2026 Tundra Hybrid, 2025 Sequoia Hybrid, Crown Signia, Grand Highlander, Lexus TX500 Hybrid, Lexus NX350 Hybrid, 2025-2026 Grand Highlander Hybrid… Consequence: A vehicle with an incorrect maximum capacity weight value may be overloaded, which can increase the risk of a crash.

Open both dossiers

Resolve the exact engine, drive and EPA ID.

01 · 2027Kia Telluride6 configurations →02 · 2026Lexus TX3 configurations →

Comparison answer desk

12 answers for this exact pairing.

Q01Which is more efficient: the 2027 Kia Telluride or the 2026 Lexus TX?

Efficiency

The 2027 Kia Telluride lists the higher combined-efficiency midpoint in this snapshot (27 vs. the 2026 Lexus TX's 25 MPG/MPGe).