2027 Chevy Traverse vs Kia Telluride: Which 3-Row SUV Should You Buy?

Shopping for a 3-row SUV in Buford usually means narrowing the field to two of the strongest options on the market this year. The 2027 Chevy Traverse and the redesigned 2027 Kia Telluride both deliver real family-hauling capability. Knowing where they actually differ will save you a lot of guesswork.

The 2027 Chevy Traverse outmuscles the Kia Telluride with 328 horsepower and 97.6 cubic feet of max cargo room. The Kia Telluride counters with a longer warranty and an available hybrid rated up to an estimated 35 mpg combined for Buford area families.

At Rick Hendrick Chevrolet of Buford, we help Gwinnett County families compare the Traverse against its closest rivals every week. The Telluride is one of the most common cross-shops we see. This guide breaks down size, power, cargo space, fuel economy, off-road trims, and warranty coverage. By the end, you will know which SUV actually fits your family, not just which one has the longer feature list.

Key Points: 2027 Chevy Traverse vs. Kia Telluride

• More horsepower and cargo room favor the Traverse. Its turbocharged engine makes 328 horsepower and holds up to 97.6 cubic feet of cargo with the rear seats folded. Both beat every version of the Telluride, gas or hybrid.
• Trim for trim, the Traverse delivers more for the money. Match a Traverse LT against a similarly equipped Telluride LX or EX, and the Traverse’s extra power and cargo room outweigh a lower starting price. Kia’s longer warranty is worth noting, but it comes with less muscle in every gas-for-gas comparison.
• The Telluride Hybrid trades power and price for mpg. Kia’s redesigned hybrid is estimated at up to 35 mpg combined, but it starts at $46,490, nearly $5,700 more than the Traverse.

2027 Chevy Traverse vs. Kia Telluride: Spec Comparison at a Glance

Before digging into the details, here is how the two SUVs stack up on paper. The numbers only tell part of the story, so keep reading after the table.

Starting MSRP figures are manufacturer suggested retail prices and may exclude destination charges, taxes, title, and dealer fees. EPA-estimated mpg and hybrid performance figures are preliminary pending final certification. Contact Rick Hendrick Chevrolet of Buford to confirm current pricing and availability.

The Traverse’s 54-horsepower advantage over the gas Telluride narrows once you add Kia’s hybrid to the comparison, and the hybrid edges ahead on torque. That capability comes at a cost, though: the hybrid’s $46,490 starting price sits nearly $5,700 above the Traverse. Kia does back every Telluride, gas or hybrid, with a longer basic warranty than the Traverse. Even so, the standard Traverse holds a cargo edge over both Telluride versions, and does it at a lower starting price than the hybrid.

Which Is Bigger: Traverse or Telluride?

The 2027 Chevy Traverse measures 204.5 inches long on a 121-inch wheelbase, noticeably larger than the 2027 Kia Telluride’s 199.2 inches and 116.9-inch wheelbase. That size difference shows up in interior room and outward visibility.

The Traverse’s larger footprint is the main reason it edges out the Telluride on cargo capacity, covered next. A bigger exterior does carry a tradeoff, though. The Telluride’s smaller dimensions can make it easier to maneuver in tight parking decks around Mall of Georgia or downtown Buford.

Which Has More Passenger and Cargo Space?

Both the Traverse and the Telluride seat up to 8 passengers. Both also hold roughly 22 cubic feet of cargo behind the third row, so day-to-day hauling is close to even. The real gap opens up once you fold the seats down.

The Traverse holds 97.6 cubic feet of maximum cargo space, compared to the Telluride’s 89.3 cubic feet. That’s more than 8 cubic feet of extra room for luggage, sports gear, or supplies for a home project. That’s room the Telluride simply cannot match with its seats folded flat.

Which Has the Better Engine?

Both SUVs use a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, but the output lands in different places. The Traverse’s version makes 328 horsepower and 326 lb-ft of torque, compared to 274 horsepower and 311 lb-ft in the gas-powered Telluride.

That is a 54-horsepower advantage for the Traverse, a gap you can feel merging onto I-85. Between the two gas models, the Traverse’s standard engine is the more powerful choice, no upgrade or upcharge required. Kia narrows that gap with its hybrid trim, but only at a real premium in price.

What About the 2027 Telluride Hybrid?

Kia’s redesigned 2027 Telluride Hybrid pairs the turbo engine with an electric motor for an estimated 329 horsepower and up to 339 lb-ft of torque. A hybrid engine is a powertrain that combines a gas engine with an electric motor to boost power, fuel economy, or both.

Those hybrid numbers close the horsepower gap and edge past the Traverse on torque. That extra capability comes with a nearly $5,700 higher starting price. The tradeoff shows up in fuel economy too. The Telluride Hybrid EX FWD is EPA-estimated at up to 35 mpg combined, well ahead of the Traverse’s rating. Whether that mileage gain justifies the added cost depends on how many miles you drive each year.

Is the Telluride Hybrid Worth Paying More For?

That is a real question, not a rhetorical one. The hybrid’s roughly $7,300 premium over the gas Telluride buys more power and dramatically better fuel economy. For a high-mileage driver, that can pay for itself over years of ownership. A driver who puts fewer miles on their SUV each year may find the gas Telluride, or the Traverse, a better value on day one.

Which Can Tow More?

The Traverse ties the gas-powered Telluride at up to 5,000 pounds when properly equipped, and beats the Telluride Hybrid’s 4,500-pound rating outright. That’s enough for a boat out of Lake Lanier or a small camper for a weekend in the mountains. It does that without giving up towing capacity to a hybrid powertrain.

Actual towing capacity depends on trim, drivetrain, and factory-installed towing equipment on both vehicles. Confirm the exact rating for your configuration before you hitch up.

Which Gets Better Gas Mileage?

In their base front-wheel-drive gas forms, the Traverse and the Telluride are essentially tied, both EPA-estimated at 20 city, 26 highway, and 22 combined mpg. Neither gas model holds a real efficiency edge over the other.

The Telluride Hybrid changes that comparison on paper. Its EPA-estimated 35 mpg combined figure is a jump of more than 50 percent over either gas engine. That mileage gain carries the same price premium noted earlier. High-mileage drivers should weigh the extra upfront cost against years of fuel savings before assuming the hybrid wins outright.

Traverse Z71 vs. Telluride X-Pro: Is Either Ready to Leave the Pavement?

Both brands build a rugged trim for families who want more than a paved-road look. The Traverse Z71 adds all-wheel drive, increased ground clearance, all-terrain tires, and a firmer suspension tune, plus underbody protection for gravel roads and light trails. The Telluride X-Pro answers with its own terrain modes, hill-descent control, and skid plates.

Neither trim is built for serious rock crawling. Both are built for the gravel roads, boat ramps, and campground driveways Gwinnett County families actually use. Towing capacity and daily road manners stay close to the standard trims on both. The choice comes down to which brand’s off-road hardware and styling you prefer.

What Technology Do Families Actually Use in the Traverse and Telluride?

Both SUVs pack in modern technology, but a few features stand out for daily family use. The Traverse offers Super Cruise, GM’s hands-free highway driving system, on compatible routes. It also includes standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, multiple USB ports, and a surround-view camera on upper trims.

The Telluride counters with its own comprehensive driver-assistance suite, a 360-degree surround view camera, and available premium audio. Super Cruise is the clearest technology differentiator between the two, since Kia does not currently offer a comparable hands-free highway system on the Telluride.

Which Has the Longer Warranty?

Kia’s 5-year, 60,000-mile basic warranty runs longer than the Traverse’s 3-year, 36,000-mile coverage, a real edge if warranty length tops your priority list. Chevrolet’s coverage is standard for the segment, and the Traverse pairs it with roadside assistance and a solid corrosion warranty on top.

For most Buford area families, the Traverse’s extra horsepower, cargo room, and available Super Cruise technology make a bigger difference day to day. That beats a few extra years of coverage you may never need to use.

Which Gives You More SUV for the Money?

Pricing gets more interesting once you compare similar trim levels instead of just the base MSRP. A Traverse LT lines up reasonably well against a Telluride LX or EX on equipment. The loaded Traverse RS and High Country trims compete with the Telluride SX and SX Prestige.

Once you match trim for trim, the gas Telluride’s lower starting price does not tell the whole story. The Traverse includes more standard power and cargo room at nearly every comparable price point. The Telluride brings a longer warranty and, at the top of its lineup, hybrid efficiency, at a meaningfully higher price than a similarly equipped Traverse.

Which 3-Row SUV Fits Your Family: Traverse or Telluride?

• You want the most horsepower and cargo room: the Traverse’s 328 hp and 97.6 cubic feet of max cargo space beat every Telluride trim.
• You want more SUV for the money, trim for trim: the Traverse delivers more standard power and cargo room than a comparable Telluride.
• You want Z71-level rugged capability: the Traverse Z71 is built for gravel roads and light trails without sacrificing daily comfort.
• You want Super Cruise or other available Chevrolet technology: that hands-free highway system is exclusive to the Traverse here.
• You want a large 3-row crossover without moving up to a Tahoe: the Traverse fills that space well.
• The longer basic warranty matters most to you: the Telluride’s 5-year, 60,000-mile coverage beats the Traverse by 2 years and 24,000 miles.
• You prefer a smaller, redesigned footprint: the second-generation Telluride brings tighter exterior dimensions and a fully reworked cabin for 2027.
• You want a hybrid 3-row SUV right now: the Telluride Hybrid is available today, at a real premium, and Chevrolet has no hybrid Traverse yet.

See the 2027 Traverse in Person at Rick Hendrick Chevrolet of Buford

For most Gwinnett County families, the Traverse’s extra horsepower, extra cargo room, and available Super Cruise technology add up to more SUV for the money. That’s more than a comparably equipped Telluride offers. Rick Hendrick Chevrolet of Buford is located at 4490 South Lee Street in Buford, GA, near the Mall of Georgia. We serve families throughout Atlanta, Cumming, Dacula, Gainesville, Johns Creek, Lawrenceville, Suwanee, and Winder. Our team can walk you through current Traverse trim availability, from the value-focused LT to the loaded High Country.

Browse our Traverse inventory online, or contact us to schedule a test drive and feel the horsepower and cargo room for yourself. The best way to see why the Traverse wins this comparison is behind the wheel.