Compared: 2024 Kia Telluride vs. 2024 Nissan Pathfinder

It's a choice of style or functionality for these family three-row midsize SUVs.

Side view of a gray 2024 Kia Telluride and a red 2024 Nissan PathfinderKia | Nissan

QuickTakes

Three-row crossover SUVs such as the Kia Telluride and Nissan Pathfinder are the minivans of the modern era, and nearly every automaker has an offering in this popular segment.

The Telluride is a head turner with near-luxury finishes. It gets a mild exterior makeover for 2024. The Pathfinder, completely redesigned for 2022, offers a rugged look and intelligent features.

Front three-quarter view of a gray 2024 Kia TellurideKia

The Telluride and Pathfinder Compete on Price

The 2024 Kia Telluride comes in 10 trim levels. The least-expensive 2024 Telluride, a front-wheel-drive Telluride LX, starts around $37,000. Add $2,000 for all-wheel drive. The top-of-the-line 2024 Kia Telluride SX Prestige AWD X-Pro carries a starting price of about $55,000.

 Front three-quarter view of a red 2024 Nissan PathfinderNissan

Nissan offers the 2024 Pathfinder in five trim levels. The entry-level 2024 Nissan Pathfinder S starts just north of $37,000. Opting for all-wheel drive adds $2,000 to the price tag. A top-of-the-line 2024 Nissan Pathfinder Platinum rings in at around $52,000.

Dashboard and steering wheel of a 2024 Kia TellurideKia

Kia's SUV Has a Bigger Screen and a Longer Warranty

The Kia Telluride can be optioned with a 12.3-inch center infotainment screen, while the Pathfinder tops out with a 9.0-inch center screen. Each model's upper trim levels come with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a head-up display.

With second-row captain's chairs, the Pathfinder has a clever center storage bin you can remove whenever access to the third row takes priority. While both vehicles have an available heated second row, only the Telluride can be optioned with ventilated second-row seats — usually a luxury feature.

The Kia and Nissan three-row family SUVs offer trim levels meant for light off-roading. The Pathfinder Rock Creek is a standalone trim level, while the Telluride's X-Pro variant is available on the mid-level SX or top-level SX Prestige trim. Kia offers an off-road appearance package, the X-Line, for the Telluride's EX, SX, and SX Prestige trims.

Dashboard and steering wheel of a 2024 Nissan PathfinderNissan

The Pathfinder has an edge on the Telluride when it comes to towing. The 2024 Nissan Pathfinder hauls up to 6,000 pounds, while the Telluride is limited to 5,550 pounds. Only the Telluride is available with a self-leveling rear suspension.

Kia is known for its warranty, which is significantly better than most competitors. Every 2024 Kia Telluride has a five-year, 60,000-mile basic warranty and a 10-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty. The Pathfinder's warranty is three years, 36,000 miles of basic coverage and five years, 60,000 miles of powertrain coverage.

Rear three-quarter view of a gray 2024 Kia TellurideKia

The Pathfinder's V6 Is More Efficient by a Narrow Margin

The 2024 Kia Telluride has a 3.8-liter V6 making 291 horsepower paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Front wheel-drive models return 20/26/22 mpg city/highway/combined, while all-wheel-drive examples rate at 18/24/20 mpg.

Front of a red 2024 Nissan PathfinderNissan

The 2024 Nissan Pathfinder has a V6 engine, a 284-hp 3.5-liter powerplant mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission. The base 2024 Nissan Pathfinder returns 20/27/23 mpg, while all-wheel-drive models achieve up to 21/27/23 mpg.

All vehicle pricing includes MSRP plus destination charges (set at the time of publication) and will be rounded to the nearest thousand.

This site is for educational purposes only. The third parties listed are not affiliated with Capital One and are solely responsible for their opinions, products and services. Capital One does not provide, endorse or guarantee any third-party product, service, information or recommendation listed above. The information presented in this article is believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but is subject to change. The images shown are for illustration purposes only and may not be an exact representation of the product. The material provided on this site is not intended to provide legal, investment, or financial advice or to indicate the availability or suitability of any Capital One product or service to your unique circumstances. For specific advice about your unique circumstances, you may wish to consult a qualified professional.
author photo
Chris O'Neill
I am an auto-industry veteran and a current MBA candidate at the University of Utah. After moving to Utah in October 2015 and being fascinated by the unique car culture of the region, I started an Instagram project highlighting the rare and distinctive vehicles I see in the Mountain West region. I enjoy sharing with others my unique perspective and passion for all things automotive. In my free time, when I’m not thinking and writing about cars, I enjoy photography, toying with my 2011 Volkswagen GTI and 1999 Toyota Land Cruiser, and exploring Utah with my girlfriend and two dogs.