Kia Telluride vs. Sorento vs. Sportage: Which SUV Fits Your Family?
All three of Kia’s SUVs seat a family comfortably, but they’re built for different needs. The all-new 2027 Telluride offers up to 8-passenger seating and a first-ever hybrid option, the 2026 Sorento is Kia’s most flexible 3-row for a smaller footprint, and the 2026 Sportage is the compact, easy-to-park choice for daily High Desert driving.
2027 Kia Telluride: The Biggest, Most Capable Option
The Telluride is all-new for 2027, with a longer wheelbase, more second-row legroom, and easier third-row access than the outgoing generation. It’s the only one of the three offered with 8-passenger seating, and the first Telluride ever offered as a hybrid.
- Seats 7 or 8, depending on configuration
- Cargo: 22.3 cu ft behind the third row, 48.7 cu ft behind the second row, 89.3 cu ft maximum (Kia lists the Turbo-Hybrid at 21.3, 47.7 and 88.3)
- Standard 2.5L Turbo engine: 274 hp, up to 5,000 lbs towing
- Available 2.5L Turbo-Hybrid: 329 hp, up to a Kia-estimated 35 mpg combined, up to 4,500 lbs towing
- X-Pro trim adds 9.1 inches of ground clearance, wider all-terrain tires, an electronic limited-slip differential, and a multi-terrain AWD mode
Deciding between the two Telluride powertrains? Read our 2027 Telluride hybrid vs gas guide, or see everything that changed in the 2027 redesign.
2026 Kia Sorento: A More Compact 3-Row
The Sorento gives you three rows of seating in a noticeably smaller footprint than the Telluride, making it easier to maneuver and park while still covering occasional 6- or 7-passenger needs.
- Seats 7 on LX and S trims, 6 on EX, SX, and SX Prestige (captain’s chairs in the second row)
- Cargo: 12.6 cu ft behind the third row, up to 45.0 cu ft behind the second row, 75.5 cu ft maximum
- 191 hp on LX and S trims; 281 hp on turbocharged EX, SX, and SX Prestige trims
- Towing: 2,000 lbs standard, up to 3,500 lbs (4,500 lbs on SX/SX Prestige AWD) with the available towing package
2026 Kia Sportage: The Compact, Everyday Choice
The Sportage skips the third row entirely, trading it for a smaller, more efficient footprint that’s easier to park and maneuver for daily errands and commuting around Victorville.
- Two-row compact SUV, standard 5-passenger seating
- Cargo: 36.6 to 39.6 cu ft behind the rear seats, 74.1 cu ft maximum with seats folded
- 187 hp on gas models
- Towing: 2,500 lbs with trailer brakes, 1,653 lbs without
Looking at the newest model year? Our 2027 Sportage guide compares the gas, hybrid and plug-in models.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Spec | 2027 Telluride | 2026 Sorento | 2026 Sportage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seating | 7 or 8 | 6 or 7 | 5 |
| Rows | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Max Cargo (seats folded) | 89.3 cu ft | 75.5 cu ft | 74.1 cu ft |
| Cargo Behind Last Row | 22.3 cu ft | 12.6 cu ft | 36.6 to 39.6 cu ft |
| Base Horsepower | 274 hp (Turbo) | 191 hp | 187 hp |
| Max Horsepower | 329 hp (Turbo-Hybrid) | 281 hp (Turbo) | 187 hp |
| Max Towing | 5,000 lbs | 4,500 lbs | 2,500 lbs |
| Hybrid Available | Yes | Yes (Sorento HEV) | Yes (Sportage HEV) |
| Off-Road Trim | X-Pro | X-Pro | X-Pro |
Telluride cargo figures are for gas models. Kia lists the Telluride Turbo-Hybrid about one cubic foot lower in each measurement.
Which One Fits Your Family?
If you regularly haul more than 6 people, need maximum cargo room, or want the most towing capacity, the Telluride is the clear choice. If you want 3-row flexibility without the Telluride’s larger footprint, the Sorento is the middle ground. And if it’s just you, your family, and the day-to-day errands of High Desert life, without a regular need for a third row, the Sportage is the easiest to live with day to day.
Common Questions About the Telluride, Sorento, and Sportage
Which Kia SUV has the most seating, the Telluride, Sorento, or Sportage?
The 2027 Telluride is the only one of the three offered with 8-passenger seating, and it seats 7 or 8 depending on configuration. The 2026 Sorento seats 6 or 7, and the 2026 Sportage is a two-row SUV with standard 5-passenger seating.
Which Kia SUV can tow the most?
The 2027 Telluride tows up to 5,000 lbs with the gas turbo engine. The 2026 Sorento tows up to 4,500 lbs on SX and SX Prestige AWD with the available towing package, and the 2026 Sportage tows 2,500 lbs with trailer brakes.
How much cargo space does each Kia SUV have behind the last row?
The 2027 Telluride has 22.3 cubic feet behind the third row and the 2026 Sorento has 12.6 cubic feet. The 2026 Sportage has no third row and offers 36.6 to 39.6 cubic feet behind the rear seats.
Do the Telluride, Sorento, and Sportage come as hybrids?
Yes. The 2027 Telluride is offered as a hybrid for the first time, with the Turbo-Hybrid making 329 hp. Hybrid versions of the Sorento and Sportage are also available.
Where can I compare the Telluride, Sorento, and Sportage in person?
Valley Hi Kia is at 14644 Valley Center Dr, Victorville, CA 92395. Call (760) 955-0046 or schedule a test drive online to sit in all three.
More from the Valley Hi Kia blog: model guides, comparisons, hybrid and EV tips and High Desert driving advice.
See All Three in Person at Valley Hi Kia
The best way to know which SUV fits your family is to sit in all three. Stop by our Victorville showroom or schedule a test drive online.
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