2026 Nissan Pathfinder vs. 2027 Kia Telluride: A Three-Row Showdown

Three-row SUV shoppers in Newnan keep landing on two strong contenders: the 2026 Nissan Pathfinder and the 2027 Kia Telluride. Both bring real family-hauling capability, both stack their cabins with premium touches, and both deliver the kind of safety tech that used to live on luxury badges. So which one actually deserves your test drive? Here is how they line up, side by side, and where the Pathfinder edges ahead for Newnan area drivers.

Power and performance

The biggest spec-sheet difference shows up under the hood. The 2026 Pathfinder runs a 3.5-liter V6 making 284 horsepower, paired with a 9-speed automatic that always seems to be in the right gear. The 2027 Telluride goes the smaller-engine, bigger-boost route with a 2.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder rated at 274 horsepower, paired with an 8-speed.

Both have paddle shifters. Both are confident on the highway. But the Pathfinder's V6 pulls in a more linear, predictable way, especially when the cabin is full or you are climbing on I-85. Hitch up a trailer and the Pathfinder's 6,000-pound towing capacity beats the Telluride's 5,500 pounds, which matters if a boat, camper, or utility trailer is part of your weekend.

Interior and comfort

Both SUVs seat up to eight from the base trim and both look the part once you step inside. Keyless ignition, dual-zone climate, and a comfortable driving position come standard in both. Move up the trim ladder and both offer heated and ventilated front seats, panoramic moonroofs, and power liftgates.

One quiet win for the Pathfinder: it offers genuine leather seating on its upper trims, while the Telluride leans on premium synthetic upholstery for most of its lineup. The Pathfinder also gives the front row a touch more legroom, which adds up on longer drives between Newnan and Atlanta. Both cabins feel calm and quiet at speed, but Pathfinder testers tend to come away talking about the materials.

Fuel economy and daily driving

This category is almost a wash. Both SUVs return 20 MPG in the city, and on the highway the Pathfinder edges the Telluride by a single mile per gallon, 27 versus 26. Over a full tank, the difference is small.

Where the Pathfinder pulls ahead on daily driving is feel. The 9-speed transmission keeps the V6 in its sweet spot more often, which makes stop-and-go traffic less busy and highway cruising more relaxed. The Telluride's turbo I4 is responsive once it spools up, but the Pathfinder gives you that power right off the line, which is the part you notice driving around Union City or Riverdale on a Tuesday morning.

Technology and safety

This is one of the closest categories on paper. Both SUVs include wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Wi-Fi, automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, and rear parking sensors as standard. Step up to the top trims and both offer head-up displays and a full suite of driver-assist features.

The Pathfinder's interface tends to feel a little more direct, with fewer menu layers to dig through to get to the controls you actually use. The Telluride looks great and has the bigger screen on some trims, but if you value getting in, hitting one button, and pulling out, the Pathfinder's layout rewards you a little more often.

Price and value

The Pathfinder starts at $38,995, which is about $1,740 less than the Telluride at $40,735. That gap holds up reasonably well as you climb trims. For Newnan shoppers, that is a real chunk of money you can either keep in your pocket, put toward a longer warranty, or upgrade a trim level with.

Add in the extra horsepower, the 500-pound towing edge, the leather upgrade, and the slightly better highway MPG, and the Pathfinder is delivering more for less on the spec sheet. If value matters and it usually does, the Pathfinder is the easier math.

The verdict

The 2027 Kia Telluride is a genuinely good SUV. There is no shame in shortlisting it. But when you put it next to the 2026 Pathfinder and look at the full picture, Nissan delivers more usable horsepower, more towing strength, more standard cabin material, a slightly better highway MPG number, and a lower starting price.

For three-row shoppers in Newnan, Moreland, Union City, and the rest of the area, that adds up to a smarter buy. The Pathfinder gives you the same family-SUV ability and asks less of your wallet to get it.

Compare them side by side at ALM Nissan Newnan

Specs only tell part of the story. The rest comes down to how the SUV feels with your hands on the wheel. Visit ALM Nissan Newnan to take the 2026 Pathfinder for a test drive, and we will help you weigh it against whatever else is on your list, Telluride included. Our team serves drivers from Newnan, Union City, Riverdale, Moreland, and beyond. Stop by, take it out, and see for yourself why the Pathfinder keeps winning over three-row shoppers.