Shopping for a three-row SUV in Ohio usually ends the same way: you narrow it to two or three names, drive them back to back, and spend a week second-guessing yourself. The 2025 GMC Acadia Denali and the 2025 Kia Telluride SX Prestige make that decision harder than most, because both are genuinely good at the job. One is the flagship of GMC's freshly redesigned midsize SUV line. The other is the final, fully matured version of the SUV that reset expectations for the segment when it arrived in 2020.
The short answer: the Telluride SX Prestige is the better buy for most Ohio families, delivering nearly everything the Denali does for roughly $4,800 less in all-wheel-drive form. The Acadia Denali earns its premium with a stronger turbo engine, a bigger cargo hold, and a more modern cabin — but you pay for those advantages twice, at the dealer and at the pump.
Both seat seven, tow 5,000 pounds, and carry five-star overall safety ratings from NHTSA. The differences that matter live in the details: how the power arrives, how the third row treats adults, and what the monthly payment looks like.
Quick Verdict
- Performance: Acadia Denali — 328 hp and 326 lb-ft from its 2.5-liter turbo, against the Telluride's 291 hp and 262 lb-ft from its 3.8-liter V6.
- Comfort: Tie — both offer heated and ventilated front seats, heated second rows, and quiet highway rides. The Telluride adds ventilated second-row seats; the Acadia counters with a roomier third row.
- Technology: Acadia Denali — a 15-inch vertical touchscreen with Google Built-In and an available Super Cruise hands-free system. The Telluride answers with a head-up display and Highway Driving Assist 2.
- Value: Telluride SX Prestige — about $52,785 with destination, against $57,595 for the all-wheel-drive Denali.
- Cargo: Acadia Denali — 97.5 cubic feet maximum, against 87 for the Telluride.
- Best for families: Telluride SX Prestige for most buyers; Acadia Denali if you regularly use all three rows and want the most cargo space in the class.
At a Glance
| 2025 GMC Acadia Denali | 2025 Kia Telluride SX Prestige | |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 2.5L turbocharged inline-4 | 3.8L naturally aspirated V6 |
| Power | 328 hp / 326 lb-ft | 291 hp / 262 lb-ft |
| Transmission | 8-speed automatic | 8-speed automatic |
| Drivetrain | FWD standard; AWD optional (+$2,000) | AWD standard (no FWD version) |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 23 FWD / 21 AWD | 20 (AWD) |
| Towing (max) | 5,000 lbs | 5,000 lbs |
| Cargo (max) | 97.5 cu ft | 87 cu ft |
| Cargo behind 3rd row | 23.0 cu ft | 21 cu ft |
| Seating | 7 | 7 |
| Starting price (incl. destination) | $55,595 FWD / $57,595 AWD | ~$52,785 |
Design & Exterior
Park them side by side and the Acadia Denali looks like the newer truck, because it is. The 2025 model is the second year of GMC's third-generation Acadia, a full redesign that grew the SUV substantially and gave it the upright, squared-off stance GMC buyers expect. The Denali treatment adds its signature grille, Galvano Silver accents, animated lighting, and 20-inch Pearl Nickel wheels — 22-inch wheels come only with the $3,150 Denali Reserve Package, which also adds the panoramic moonroof and the 16-speaker Bose system.
The Telluride, by contrast, is a design that has aged remarkably well. Six model years into its first generation, the SX Prestige still turns heads with its upright proportions, amber daytime running lights, and restrained chrome. There is no mistaking it for anything else on the road, and Kia wisely left the formula alone for 2025. The SX Prestige rides on 20-inch wheels with self-leveling rear suspension, and its dual sunroofs give the cabin an airy feel that photographs cannot quite capture.
Neither SUV is trying to look sporty, and that is the point. The Acadia's edge is freshness — it looks like the 2025 model it is. The Telluride's edge is familiarity: its design has barely aged in six years, so it is the safer bet for how the truck will look when you trade it in.
Interior, Comfort & Technology
Step inside the Acadia Denali and the first thing you notice is the screen: a 15-inch vertical touchscreen with Google Built-In, paired with an 11-inch digital gauge cluster. It works well — wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, the menus are quick, and the Google integration feels native rather than bolted on. The Denali cabin wraps that tech in leather-appointed heated and ventilated front seats, heated second-row seats, quilted door surfaces, a power-adjustable steering column, and a configurable 8-inch head-up display. A 12-speaker Bose system is standard.
The Telluride SX Prestige answers with a different kind of luxury: less screen, more substance. Its dual 12.3-inch panoramic displays look integrated rather than tacked on, and the Nappa leather is a genuine step above the synthetic leather on lower trims. Heated and ventilated second-row captain's chairs are standard here — a feature the Acadia does not match at this price — along with a head-up display, a full-display digital rearview mirror, and a 110-volt power inverter. The Harman Kardon 10-speaker system is standard, and the cabin is library-quiet at highway speed.
Space is where the Acadia pulls ahead. Its 97.5 cubic feet of maximum cargo space is the biggest number in this comparison by a wide margin, and the 23.0 cubic feet behind the third row means a stroller and a week's groceries fit without folding anything. The Telluride's 87 cubic feet maximum and 21 behind the third row are respectable, but the Acadia simply swallows more. Third-row legroom favors the Acadia too, though neither third row is a place adults will volunteer for on a drive to Cedar Point. Second-row captain's chairs are standard on both — easier access to the back, and no middle-seat fights.
One honest note: Super Cruise, GM's hands-free highway system, is optional on the 2025 Denali at roughly $3,490 to $3,605 — not standard, despite what some listings suggest. The Telluride's Highway Driving Assist 2, with automatic lane changes, is standard on the SX Prestige. If hands-free driving matters, compare the Acadia's price with the package added, not the base sticker.
Performance & Driving Feel
The Acadia Denali's 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder makes 328 horsepower and 326 lb-ft of torque, and the numbers tell the story: it out-muscles the Telluride by 37 horsepower and a full 64 lb-ft of torque. Around town, that torque arrives early and the Acadia feels effortless — merging onto I-270 with a full load of kids and luggage is a non-event. The eight-speed automatic shifts smoothly, and the turbo four never sounds strained, even if it never sounds as good as a V6 either.
The Telluride's 3.8-liter V6 makes 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft, and it earns its keep with refinement rather than brute force — smooth, quiet, and linear, with one of the best-calibrated eight-speed automatics in the class. It will not win a drag race against the Acadia, but it will never leave you waiting for power. Kia pairs it with standard all-wheel drive, a self-leveling rear suspension, and a Tow Mode that keeps the trailer steady.
Both SUVs tow 5,000 pounds when properly equipped, so the boat or camper decision is a wash. The Acadia's front-wheel-drive version is the efficiency play; the Telluride's all-wheel-drive-only setup is the simplicity play — no $2,000 option box to tick. In Ohio snow, the Telluride's standard AWD is a real advantage, and the Acadia's available AWD is worth every penny if you drive unplowed roads in January.
Fuel Economy
The Acadia Denali wins on fuel economy, but the margin depends on the drivetrain. Front-wheel-drive models are rated 20 mpg city, 27 highway, and 23 combined; all-wheel drive drops that to 19 city, 24 highway, and 21 combined. The Telluride SX Prestige, all-wheel drive only, is rated 18 city, 23 highway, and 20 combined.
In the real world the gap narrows: long-term testing of the Telluride has returned around 23 mpg on mixed routes, better than its 20-mpg EPA combined rating. Over 15,000 miles a year, the difference between 21 and 20 mpg combined is roughly 35 gallons, or about $120 at Ohio fuel prices. Choose the front-wheel-drive Acadia and the savings grow to roughly $350 a year — if you are willing to give up all-wheel drive.
Safety & Driver Assistance
Both SUVs carry five-star overall safety ratings from NHTSA, and both earn top marks from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety — the Telluride a Top Safety Pick+, the Acadia a Top Safety Pick for units built after January 2025. Those are the numbers that matter, and they are effectively a tie.
The Telluride SX Prestige brings the full Kia Drive Wise suite: forward collision avoidance with pedestrian, cyclist, and junction-turning detection, blind-spot collision warning, rear cross-traffic collision avoidance, lane keeping and following assist, safe exit assist, smart cruise control with stop and go, and parking collision avoidance in reverse. Surround View Monitor and Blind-Spot View Monitor are standard, and the digital rearview mirror helps when the third row is full of heads.
The Acadia matches that with GM's standard safety suite, available Super Cruise, and an 8-inch head-up display. One quirk: the Telluride still uses wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while the Acadia offers wireless as standard — a small thing until you are fumbling for a cable with a car full of kids.
Pricing, Trims & Value
Here is where the comparison tilts. The 2025 Kia Telluride SX Prestige starts at $51,390 before destination; with the destination charge, which varied between $1,395 and $1,495 during the model year, the delivered price lands around $52,785 to $52,885 — and that is the whole price, because all-wheel drive is standard.
The 2025 GMC Acadia Denali starts at $55,595 with destination in front-wheel-drive form, and $57,595 with all-wheel drive. Option the Super Cruise package and a loaded Denali reaches roughly $65,000. So the honest apples-to-apples gap is about $4,800 between the all-wheel-drive Denali and the SX Prestige, and it grows if you want hands-free driving.
What does the extra money buy? More horsepower, more cargo space, a bigger screen, and a newer platform. What does the Telluride give you for less? Nappa leather, ventilated second-row seats, a head-up display, a digital rearview mirror, and standard all-wheel drive — plus a 10-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty that GMC does not match. The Telluride is also the last V6 Telluride: Kia skipped the 2026 model year, and the redesigned 2027 model replaces the V6 with a turbo four and a hybrid.
For related reading, see our GMC Acadia AT4 vs Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited comparison for the Acadia's off-road-flavored sibling, our Ford Explorer ST-Line vs Toyota Grand Highlander Limited three-row guide, and our Chevrolet Blazer RS vs Honda Passport TrailSport mid-size SUV review.
Pros and Cons
2025 GMC Acadia Denali
Pros: Strongest engine in the comparison (328 hp, 326 lb-ft); best-in-class cargo space at 97.5 cubic feet; big 15-inch touchscreen with Google Built-In; available Super Cruise hands-free driving; roomier third row; better EPA fuel economy in front-wheel-drive form.
Cons: Roughly $4,800 more than the Telluride in all-wheel-drive form; Super Cruise costs extra; all-wheel drive is a $2,000 option; no ventilated second-row seats; turbo four lacks the V6's refinement; long-term resale of the new generation is unproven.
2025 Kia Telluride SX Prestige
Pros: Outstanding value — about $52,785 delivered with standard AWD; smooth, refined V6; Nappa leather and ventilated second-row seats standard; head-up display and digital rearview mirror; IIHS Top Safety Pick+; 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty; proven resale value.
Cons: Less power and torque than the Acadia; smaller cargo hold (87 cubic feet max); wired-only Apple CarPlay and Android Auto; 20 mpg combined trails the Acadia; final year of the generation — a redesigned 2027 model is coming; no hands-free driving system to match Super Cruise.
Who Should Buy Which?
Buy the GMC Acadia Denali if you regularly fill all three rows and the cargo area at the same time, you want the strongest engine and the most cargo space in the class, or you want Super Cruise for long highway drives. It is the better tool for the biggest jobs.
Buy the Kia Telluride SX Prestige if you want the best value in the three-row segment, you prefer a smooth V6 to a turbo four, or standard all-wheel drive matters for Ohio winters. It is the smarter buy for most families — and the last chance to own a V6 Telluride.
Final Verdict
The Telluride SX Prestige wins this comparison on value, and value is what most three-row buyers actually shop for. It gives up 37 horsepower and about 10 cubic feet of cargo space to the Acadia Denali, and in exchange it hands back roughly $4,800, standard all-wheel drive, Nappa leather, ventilated second-row seats, and a powertrain warranty twice as long as the industry norm. That is a trade most Ohio families should take.
The Acadia Denali is not a loser — it is the more capable truck, and if your weekends involve a full third row, a loaded cargo area, and a trailer, its power and space earn the premium honestly. But for school runs, grocery trips, and winter commutes, the Telluride does everything the Denali does for less money, with a V6 that will be missed when it is gone. The one we would take home is the Telluride SX Prestige — and we would buy it soon, because the 2025 model is the last V6 Telluride Kia will ever build.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, the 2025 Acadia Denali or the 2025 Telluride SX Prestige?
The Telluride SX Prestige, by about $4,800 in all-wheel-drive form. It starts at $51,390 before destination, or roughly $52,785 delivered, with AWD standard. The Acadia Denali AWD is $57,595 including destination.
Which has more cargo space?
The Acadia Denali, by a clear margin: 97.5 cubic feet maximum and 23.0 behind the third row, against 87 cubic feet maximum and 21 behind the third row for the Telluride.
Can both SUVs tow 5,000 pounds?
Yes. Both the Acadia Denali and the Telluride SX Prestige are rated to tow up to 5,000 pounds when properly equipped. The Telluride's X-Pro variants tow up to 5,500 pounds, but the base SX Prestige is rated at 5,000.
Is all-wheel drive standard on both?
No. All-wheel drive is standard on the Telluride SX Prestige — there is no front-wheel-drive version. On the Acadia Denali, front-wheel drive is standard and all-wheel drive costs an extra $2,000.
Is the 2025 Telluride the last one with a V6?
Yes. Kia skipped the 2026 model year, and the redesigned 2027 Telluride replaces the 3.8-liter V6 with a turbo four and a hybrid. The 2025 SX Prestige is the final V6 Telluride.
Which one would you choose for your family — the Acadia Denali's power and space, or the Telluride SX Prestige's value and V6? Tell us in the comments.
— Stefany Aurora, ABBOhio Editorial
