2027 GMC Acadia vs. 2027 Kia Telluride: Which Three-Row SUV Fits Your Family?
The 2027 GMC Acadia and the all-new 2027 Kia Telluride are two of the most cross-shopped three-row SUVs on the market, and they take genuinely different approaches. The Acadia leads on standard power and standard screen real estate: 328 horsepower and 326 lb-ft of torque from a turbocharged 2.5L four-cylinder, a 15-inch center touchscreen and 11-inch driver display on every trim, and available Super Cruise* hands-free driving — standard on Denali. The redesigned Telluride counters with a lower entry price, an available turbo-hybrid that posts an EPA-estimated 35 MPG combined, and a purpose-built off-road X-Pro trim.
Here’s an honest, spec-by-spec look at both, from our team at Legacy GMC of Waxahachie.
Safety or driver assistance features are no substitute for the driver’s responsibility to operate the vehicle in a safe manner. The driver should remain attentive to traffic, surroundings and road conditions at all times. Visibility, weather and road conditions may affect feature performance. Read the vehicle Owner’s Manual for more important feature limitations and information.
*Always pay attention while driving and when using Super Cruise. Always use Super Cruise in accordance with local laws. Do not use a hand-held device. Requires an active service plan or trial. Terms apply. Visit gmc.com/connectivity-technology/super-cruise for compatible roads and full details.
2027 Acadia vs. Telluride Pricing: What Each SUV Actually Costs
The Telluride opens lower. A 2027 Kia Telluride LX FWD starts at $40,735 MSRP, while a 2027 GMC Acadia Elevation FWD starts at $46,240 MSRP — a difference of roughly $5,505 at the entry point.
What that gap buys is standard equipment rather than a trim upgrade. Every Acadia, including the base Elevation, arrives with 328 horsepower, the 15-inch portrait touchscreen, the 11-inch digital driver display, a surround-view camera system, a rearview camera mirror, and a Bose audio system. Matching that content on the Telluride means climbing its trim ladder.
2027 GMC Acadia Trim Pricing
| 2027 GMC Acadia Trim | FWD MSRP* | AWD MSRP* | Seating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | $46,240* | $48,240* | Up to 8 |
| AT4 | — | $54,395* | Up to 7 |
| Denali | $60,895* | $62,895* | Up to 7 |
| Denali Ultimate | $65,395* | $67,395* | Up to 7 |
*MSRP includes destination.
Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for new vehicles includes manufacturer and distributor options and delivery, process and handling fees, which may be subject to change at any time. MSRP excludes taxes, title, license and dealer installed options, accessories, fees and charges. MSRP is not the dealer advertised price. Dealer price will vary. The dealer sets the final price.
2027 Kia Telluride Trim Pricing
| 2027 Kia Telluride Trim | FWD MSRP* | AWD MSRP* |
|---|---|---|
| LX | $40,735* | — |
| S | $43,635* | $45,635* |
| EX | $45,335* | $47,335* |
| SX | $50,335* | — |
| SX Prestige | — | $55,435* |
| Telluride HEV (EX) | $48,035* | — |
*MSRP includes destination. X-Line and X-Pro variants of the EX, SX, and SX Prestige are offered at additional cost, topping out at $58,335 MSRP for the X-Pro SX Prestige AWD.
Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for new vehicles includes manufacturer and distributor options and delivery, process and handling fees, which may be subject to change at any time. MSRP excludes taxes, title, license and dealer installed options, accessories, fees and charges. MSRP is not the dealer advertised price. Dealer price will vary. The dealer sets the final price.
Category winner — Pricing: 2027 Kia Telluride. It opens roughly $5,505 lower.
Shopping a budget from both directions? Our pre-owned inventory is worth a look alongside new.
Finding the Right Acadia Trim for Your Family
The Acadia runs four trims, and they’re aimed at clearly different buyers. Horsepower and towing are identical across all four, so the choice comes down to how you want to use the vehicle rather than what it can do.
Elevation
The value play, and the only Acadia that seats eight. It carries the same 328-hp engine and the same 15-inch touchscreen as the Denali Ultimate, with 6.77 inches of ground clearance.
AT4
The off-road-leaning trim, available exclusively with all-wheel drive. It adds an Active Torque Control all-wheel-drive system, off-road-tuned suspension, all-terrain tires, and 7.75 inches of ground clearance — nearly a full inch more than Elevation.
Denali
Moves to leather-appointed seating, premium wheel finishes, a configurable head-up display, and — importantly — Super Cruise* as standard equipment rather than a $3,670 option. Optional 22-inch Pearl Nickel machined aluminum wheels are available.
Denali Ultimate
Tops the range with massaging front seats and a power panoramic sunroof included as standard equipment.
*Always pay attention while driving and when using Super Cruise. Always use Super Cruise in accordance with local laws. Do not use a hand-held device. Requires an active service plan or trial. Terms apply. Visit gmc.com/connectivity-technology/super-cruise for compatible roads and full details.
Space and Cargo for School Runs and Weekend Trips
The Acadia is the larger cargo hauler, leading the Telluride on maximum cargo volume. Drop only the third row and it offers 57 cubic feet; with all three rows in use there is still room behind the third row for a week of groceries or a stroller and a sports bag. Full figures are in the table below.
Passenger space is closer than the cargo numbers suggest. The Acadia’s second row offers 41.5 inches of legroom and 40 inches of headroom; the third row provides 32 inches of legroom and 38 inches of headroom. Kia, for its part, claims class-leading second-row legroom for the redesigned Telluride, so families who spend more time carrying people than cargo should sit in both.
Seating capacity is a trim decision on both SUVs. The Acadia Elevation seats up to eight; AT4, Denali, and Denali Ultimate seat up to seven with second-row captain’s chairs. The Telluride seats seven or eight depending on configuration.
| Specification | 2027 GMC Acadia | 2027 Kia Telluride |
|---|---|---|
| Seating | Up to 8 (Elevation) / up to 7 | 7 or 8 |
| Max cargo volume | 97.5 cu ft | 89.3 cu ft |
| Cargo behind third row | 23 cu ft | Not published |
| Max towing† | 5,000 lbs | 5,000 lbs (gas) / 4,500 lbs (HEV) |
| Ground clearance | 6.77″–7.75″ by trim | Up to 9.1″ (X-Pro) |
Maximum towing and payload capacity figures are based on properly equipped vehicles and vary by configuration. Do not exceed any weight rating. See your owner’s manual and the vehicle’s door-jamb label for specific capacities.
Category winner — Cargo: 2027 GMC Acadia. Ground clearance goes to the Telluride X-Pro.
For families in Waxahachie and Midlothian, the practical read is this: the Acadia carries more gear, the Telluride X-Pro clears more ground.
Power and Handling: 328 Horsepower vs. 274
This is the Acadia’s clearest win. Its turbocharged 2.5L four-cylinder (engine code LK0, built on GM’s C1 platform) makes 328 horsepower on every single trim — 54 more than the Telluride’s 2.5L turbo four, with a 15-lb-ft torque advantage on top. That gap shows up when you’re merging onto I-35E fully loaded.
Both use an eight-speed automatic. The Acadia offers front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive on Elevation, Denali, and Denali Ultimate, with all-wheel drive standard on AT4.
| Specification | 2027 GMC Acadia | 2027 Kia Telluride (gas) |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 2.5L turbocharged I4 | 2.5L turbocharged I4 |
| Horsepower | 328 hp | 274 hp |
| Torque | 326 lb-ft | 311 lb-ft |
| Transmission | 8-speed automatic | 8-speed automatic |
| Drivetrain | FWD or AWD (AT4: AWD only) | FWD or AWD |
One caveat in Kia’s favor: the Telluride HEV’s combined output is 329 horsepower and 339 lb-ft — effectively matching the Acadia on power while running a hybrid system through a six-speed automatic.
Category winner — Standard Power: 2027 GMC Acadia. 54 more horsepower on every trim.
Ready to see one in person? Browse our 2027 GMC Acadia inventory to check current availability by trim.
EPA-Estimated Fuel Economy: Where the Telluride Hybrid Changes the Math
Among gas models, the two are close. Front-wheel-drive versions of the Acadia and the Telluride post identical EPA-estimated ratings. With all-wheel drive, the Acadia leads on the EPA-estimated city and combined figures while the Telluride takes the highway figure by a single EPA-estimated MPG. Both run on regular 87-octane gasoline, and Acadia all-wheel-drive models carry a 21.7-gallon tank. Full ratings for every configuration are in the table below.
The honest caveat: if EPA-estimated fuel economy is your top priority, the Telluride Hybrid wins outright. Its EPA-estimated ratings are substantially higher than anything in the Acadia lineup, and there is no hybrid Acadia to answer it. Buyers whose decision rests primarily on EPA-estimated fuel economy should weigh that seriously. Buyers weighing standard power, standard technology, cargo volume, and hands-free driving will find the Acadia’s case stronger — and the hybrid premium is real, with the HEV EX FWD opening at $48,035 MSRP.
| Model | EPA-Estimated City | EPA-Estimated Highway | EPA-Estimated Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 GMC Acadia FWD | 20 MPG | 26 MPG | 22 MPG |
| 2027 GMC Acadia AWD | 20 MPG | 23 MPG | 21 MPG |
| 2027 Kia Telluride FWD (gas) | 20 MPG | 26 MPG | 22 MPG |
| 2027 Kia Telluride AWD (gas) | 18 MPG | 24 MPG | 20 MPG |
| 2027 Kia Telluride HEV EX FWD | 34 MPG | 36 MPG | 35 MPG |
| 2027 Kia Telluride HEV AWD | 30 MPG | 32 MPG | 31 MPG |
EPA-estimated fuel economy figures are for comparison purposes only. Your actual mileage will vary depending on driving conditions, how you drive and maintain your vehicle, battery age/condition, and other factors.
Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for new vehicles includes manufacturer and distributor options and delivery, process and handling fees, which may be subject to change at any time. MSRP excludes taxes, title, license and dealer installed options, accessories, fees and charges. MSRP is not the dealer advertised price. Dealer price will vary. The dealer sets the final price.
Category winner — EPA-Estimated Fuel Economy: 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid. Among gas models, the two are effectively even.
Technology: A 15-Inch Screen on Every Trim
Every 2027 Acadia — including the Elevation — comes with a 15-inch portrait-oriented center touchscreen and an 11-inch reconfigurable digital driver display. The system integrates Google built-in, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, SiriusXM, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The Telluride’s standard setup is a 12.3-inch touchscreen with navigation, also with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Audio comes from Bose on every Acadia: a 12-speaker system standard, with a 16-speaker system on upper trims. A wireless charging pad and five USB ports handle the rest of the cabin.
Category winner — Standard Technology: 2027 GMC Acadia. A 15-inch center screen and 11-inch driver display on every trim.
Safety and Super Cruise
Both SUVs arrive with deep standard driver-assistance content. The Telluride includes 19 advanced driver-assistance systems as standard. Every Acadia includes automatic emergency braking with intersection assist, blind-spot detection, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, a following-distance indicator, traffic sign recognition, automatic high beams, rear parking sensors, reverse automatic braking, a Safety Alert Seat, and a high-definition surround-view camera with 10 available views.
The genuine separator is Super Cruise.* GM’s hands-free driver assistance system handles steering, braking, acceleration, and lane changes on mapped compatible highways while monitoring driver attentiveness. It is a $3,670 option on Elevation and AT4, and standard equipment on Denali and Denali Ultimate. The Telluride offers no equivalent at any trim or price. For families running US-287 and I-35E into the Metroplex, this is the feature most likely to change how the drive actually feels.
Category winner — Driver Assistance: 2027 GMC Acadia. Super Cruise has no Telluride equivalent.
Safety or driver assistance features are no substitute for the driver’s responsibility to operate the vehicle in a safe manner. The driver should remain attentive to traffic, surroundings and road conditions at all times. Visibility, weather and road conditions may affect feature performance. Read the vehicle Owner’s Manual for more important feature limitations and information.
*Always pay attention while driving and when using Super Cruise. Always use Super Cruise in accordance with local laws. Do not use a hand-held device. Requires an active service plan or trial. Terms apply. Visit gmc.com/connectivity-technology/super-cruise for compatible roads and full details.
Kia driver-assistance systems: no system, no matter how advanced, can compensate for all driver error and/or driving conditions. Always drive safely.
Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for new vehicles includes manufacturer and distributor options and delivery, process and handling fees, which may be subject to change at any time. MSRP excludes taxes, title, license and dealer installed options, accessories, fees and charges. MSRP is not the dealer advertised price. Dealer price will vary. The dealer sets the final price.
The Verdict: Which One Belongs in Your Driveway?
Choose the 2027 GMC Acadia if…
You want more standard power (328 hp on every trim), more maximum cargo room (97.5 cu ft), a larger standard touchscreen, and access to Super Cruise* hands-free driving — standard on Denali.
Choose the 2027 Kia Telluride if…
Your priority is the lowest entry price, maximum EPA-estimated fuel economy through the hybrid powertrain, or the X-Pro’s 9.1 inches of ground clearance.
For most families cross-shopping these two in Ellis County, the Acadia’s combination of standard equipment, cargo capability, and hands-free highway driving makes the roughly $5,505 entry premium a reasonable trade — particularly at the Denali trim, where Super Cruise is included rather than optional.
Come drive one. Our team can walk you through all four Acadia trims, and you can explore the full new GMC lineup or dig deeper in our GMC research hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 2027 GMC Acadia worth the price premium over the 2027 Kia Telluride?
At the entry point, the Acadia Elevation FWD starts at $46,240 MSRP against $40,735 MSRP for the Telluride LX FWD. That roughly $5,505 difference buys 54 more horsepower, a 15-inch touchscreen and 11-inch driver display standard, a surround-view camera, and Bose audio on the base trim. Whether it’s worth it depends on how much of that content you’d have added to a Telluride anyway.
Which SUV offers more cargo space?
The Acadia. It provides 97.5 cubic feet with both rear rows folded, compared with 89.3 cubic feet for the Telluride, and 23 cubic feet behind the third row with all seats in use.
How does EPA-estimated fuel economy compare between the Acadia AWD and Telluride AWD?
The Acadia AWD is rated at an EPA-estimated 20 MPG city / 23 MPG highway / 21 MPG combined. The gas Telluride AWD is rated at an EPA-estimated 18 / 24 / 20. The Acadia leads in city and combined; the Telluride’s EPA-estimated highway figure is one MPG higher. The Telluride HEV AWD, at an EPA-estimated 31 MPG combined, outperforms both.
What are the key performance differences between the two engines?
Both use a 2.5L turbocharged four-cylinder with an eight-speed automatic. The Acadia produces 328 horsepower and 326 lb-ft of torque; the gas Telluride produces 274 horsepower and 311 lb-ft. The Acadia’s 54-horsepower advantage is most noticeable during highway merging and passing with a full load.
Does the Kia Telluride offer anything like Super Cruise?
No. Super Cruise* is GM-exclusive. It’s optional on Acadia Elevation and AT4 and standard on Denali and Denali Ultimate.
Kia driver-assistance systems: no system, no matter how advanced, can compensate for all driver error and/or driving conditions. Always drive safely.
Disclaimers
Model year 2027 specifications, pricing, and availability are preliminary and subject to change. All figures verified against manufacturer sources: GMC (gmc.com) and Kia (kiamedia.com, kia.com) as of September 16, 2026.
Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for new vehicles includes manufacturer and distributor options and delivery, process and handling fees, which may be subject to change at any time. MSRP excludes taxes, title, license and dealer installed options, accessories, fees and charges. MSRP is not the dealer advertised price. Dealer price will vary. The dealer sets the final price.
EPA-estimated fuel economy figures are for comparison purposes only. Your actual mileage will vary depending on driving conditions, how you drive and maintain your vehicle, battery age/condition, and other factors.
Maximum towing and payload capacity figures are based on properly equipped vehicles and vary by configuration. Do not exceed any weight rating. See your owner’s manual and the vehicle’s door-jamb label for specific capacities.
Safety or driver assistance features are no substitute for the driver’s responsibility to operate the vehicle in a safe manner. The driver should remain attentive to traffic, surroundings and road conditions at all times. Visibility, weather and road conditions may affect feature performance. Read the vehicle Owner’s Manual for more important feature limitations and information.
*Always pay attention while driving and when using Super Cruise. Always use Super Cruise in accordance with local laws. Do not use a hand-held device. Requires an active service plan or trial. Terms apply. Visit gmc.com/connectivity-technology/super-cruise for compatible roads and full details.
Kia driver-assistance systems: no system, no matter how advanced, can compensate for all driver error and/or driving conditions. Always drive safely.
Legacy GMC of Waxahachie
1701 US-287 Byp, Waxahachie, TX 75165
Sales: 214-903-4359