Compare the2027 Kia TellurideVS 2025 Cadillac XT6

For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Kia Telluride have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Cadillac XT6 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its second-row seat belts.

Both the Telluride and XT6 have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Telluride has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The XT6’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

The Telluride has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The XT6 doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Telluride AWD’s standard Downhill Brake Control allows you to creep down safely. The XT6 doesn’t offer Downhill Brake Control.

To deliver safety and visibility under dusty conditions the Kia Telluride’s backup monitor has a standard rear washer to keep the view clear. A camera washer system costs extra on the Cadillac XT6.

Both the Telluride and XT6 have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Telluride has Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The XT6’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

The Telluride’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The XT6 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Telluride and the XT6 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The Telluride comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The XT6’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Telluride 4 years and 30,000 miles longer than Cadillac covers the XT6. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the XT6 ends after only 6 years or 70,000 miles.

There are over 40 percent more Kia dealers than there are Cadillac dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Telluride’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Cadillac vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia above average in initial quality. With 19 more problems per 100 vehicles, Cadillac is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 12 places higher in reliability than Cadillac.

The Telluride’s standard 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 39 more horsepower (274 vs. 235) and 53 lbs.-ft. more torque (311 vs. 258) than the XT6’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Telluride’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 40 lbs.-ft. more torque (311 vs. 271) than the XT6 Premium Luxury/Sport’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6. The Telluride’s optional 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 19 more horsepower (329 vs. 310) and 68 lbs.-ft. more torque (339 vs. 271) than the XT6 Premium Luxury/Sport’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6.

On the EPA test cycle the Telluride 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder FWD gets better fuel mileage than the XT6 3.6 DOHC V6 FWD (20 city/26 hwy vs. 19 city/26 hwy).

Regenerative brakes improve the Telluride Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The XT6 doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Kia Telluride uses regular unleaded gasoline. The XT6 with the 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder engine requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Telluride has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the XT6. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Kia Telluride higher (6 out of 10) than the Cadillac XT6 (5 to 6). This means the Telluride produces up to 6.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the XT6 every 15,000 miles.

For better stopping power the Telluride’s brake rotors are larger than those on the XT6:

The Telluride offers an optional automatic rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The XT6 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Telluride’s wheelbase is 4.2 inches longer than on the XT6 (116.9 inches vs. 112.7 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Telluride is 1.1 inches wider in the front and 1.8 inches wider in the rear than the track on the XT6.

For greater off-road capability the Telluride has a greater minimum ground clearance than the XT6 (7.4 vs. 6.7 inches), allowing the Telluride to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Telluride X-Pro’s minimum ground clearance is 2.4 inches higher than on the XT6 (9.1 vs. 6.7 inches).

The Telluride offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the XT6 can only carry 7.

The Telluride has .2 inches more front headroom, .2 inches more front legroom, 3.3 inches more front shoulder room, 1.3 inches more rear headroom, 3.9 inches more rear legroom, 3.8 inches more rear shoulder room, .2 inches more third row headroom, 2.6 inches more third row legroom and 1.8 inches more third row shoulder room than the XT6.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Telluride’s middle and third row seats recline. The XT6’s third row seats don’t recline.

The Telluride’s cargo area provides more volume than the XT6.

The Telluride’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the XT6’s (5000 vs. 1000 pounds).

The Telluride’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The XT6’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Telluride to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The XT6 doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Telluride EX/SX/Prestige has standard front air conditioned seats and the Telluride Prestige also has them in the second row. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The XT6 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

The Telluride Prestige has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the XT6.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Kia Telluride has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console for two separate devices. Only the XT6 Premium Luxury/Sport offers wireless charging, and only charges one device.

The Telluride Prestige/X-Pro SX has a 115-volt a/c outlet in the cargo area, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The XT6 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Telluride Prestige’s Remote Smart Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Smart Parking Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The XT6 Premium Luxury/Sport’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

Motor Trend selected the Telluride as their 2020 Sport Utility of the Year. The XT6 has never been chosen.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Telluride as the 2020 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year. The XT6 has never been chosen.

The Kia Telluride outsold the Cadillac XT6 by over seven to one during 2025.