The 2025 Kia Telluride gets 20 to 22 miles per gallon combined, depending on the version. The best is the 2025 Telluride FWD at 22 mpg.
In the Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD class for 2025, the Telluride ranks 37th (tied with 3 others) of 40 for combined mileage (22 mpg), 31st (tied with 3 others) of 40 for yearly fuel cost ($2,850 for its cheapest version, cheapest first) and 37th of 40 for tailpipe CO2 (398 grams per mile for its lowest version, lowest first). The middle model of the class gets 27 mpg, costs $2,300 a year and puts out 327.5 grams per mile.
Across all 250 2025 models in the file that burn fuel, the middle best-version figure is 25 mpg and the highest is 57 mpg (Toyota Prius). Of the 249 other models, 168 get more miles per gallon than the 2025 Telluride's best version, 19 other models get the same and 62 get less. The 2025 Telluride's cheapest version costs $2,850 a year to fuel by the agency's figure; of the 241 other models with a cost figure, 110 cost less, 16 the same and 115 more.
Open the best-mileage list of this class for 2025. Cost and CO2 in the table are each model's lowest figure over its versions; plug-in hybrid and fuel-cell versions have no fuel cost and are left out of the cost column.
| Place | Model | Best version | mpg | Fuel a year, cheapest version | CO2 g/mi, lowest version |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 37 | 2025 Acura MDX | 2025 MDX FWD | 22 | $3,500 | 411 |
| 37 | 2025 Honda Pilot | 2025 Pilot FWD | 22 | $2,850 | 402 |
| 37 | 2025 Hyundai Palisade | 2025 Palisade FWD | 22 | $2,850 | 403 |
| 37 | 2025 Kia TellurideThis car | 2025 Telluride FWD | 22 | $2,850 | 398 |
Pick a 2025 version, then set your miles and fuel price. Fuel price as of 2026-11-14, U.S. Department of Energy / EPA. The price box starts at the dated price of the fuel the picked version burns (regular, midgrade or premium gasoline, diesel, E85 or electricity) and sets the price of that fuel. Miles are limited to 1,000 to 60,000 a year and the price to $0.01 to $20.00; a value outside that is worked out at the nearest limit.
2025 Telluride FWD, 6-cyl 3.8 L: 20 mpg city, 26 highway, 22 combined. The agency's own estimate for the 2025 Telluride version is $2,850 a year (15,000 miles, the agency's fuel prices).
The 3 nearest rivals in the Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD class for 2025, picked by closest combined mileage; only versions with a fuel-cost figure are listed. Same miles as on the left. The price box on the left is the price of the fuel of the version you picked: a rival that burns the same fuel uses that price, a rival that burns another fuel keeps the dated price of its own fuel. The 5-year line is 5 times the yearly gap.
The Telluride costs $689 less to fuel each year.
Over 5 years the Telluride costs $3,445 less to fuel than the MDX (5 times the yearly difference, at these miles and these prices).
Dollar gaps use each car's best-mileage version.
| Rival in 2025 | Best version | Combined | Fuel a year, agency (15,000 miles) | Against the Telluride (mileage) | Agency yearly fuel cost against the Telluride | Side by side |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Acura MDX | 2025 MDX FWD | 22 mpg | $3,500 | same figure | $650 more a year | - |
| 2025 Honda Pilot | 2025 Pilot FWD | 22 mpg | $2,850 | same figure | same | Compare |
| 2025 Hyundai Palisade | 2025 Palisade FWD | 22 mpg | $2,850 | same figure | same | Compare |
EPA test figures for 2025; the last column is the yearly fuel cost against the cheapest version.
| Version | Engine | Gearbox | Drive | City | Highway | Combined | Fuel a year | CO2 g/mi | Fuel vs cheapest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Telluride FWD | 6-cyl 3.8 L | Automatic (S8) | Front-wheel | 20 | 26 | 22 | $2,850 | 398 | cheapest |
| 2025 Telluride AWD | 6-cyl 3.8 L | Automatic (S8) | All-wheel | 18 | 23 | 20 | $3,100 | 442 | +$250 |
Enter the price difference you were quoted for the 2025 Telluride; this page has no prices. Miles come from the calculator. The fuel price box there sets the price of the fuel of the version picked there; a version here that burns another fuel keeps the dated price of its own fuel. Versions with no fuel-cost figure are not listed.
Type the price difference you were quoted to see the payback.
Tailpipe CO2: the 2025 Telluride FWD puts out 398 grams per mile; across the 2 tested versions the figure runs from 398 to 442.
EPA scores (1 to 10, 10 best) for the 2025 Telluride FWD: fuel economy score 5 (4 to 5 across versions), greenhouse gas score 5 (4 to 5 across versions).
Best combined figure of the Telluride gas version each model year since 2016, set against the 2025 model.
| Model year | Best gas version | Versions tested | Against 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 23 mpg | 2 | 1 mpg higher than 2025 | |
| 2021 | 23 mpg | 2 | 1 mpg higher than 2025 | |
| 2022 | 23 mpg | 2 | 1 mpg higher than 2025 | |
| 2023 | 23 mpg | 2 | 1 mpg higher than 2025 | |
| 2024 | 22 mpg | 2 | same as 2025 | |
| 2025This page | 22 mpg | 2 | this page |
Compared with the 2024 model: 2 versions were tested then and 2 now; the best figure went from 22 to 22 mpg (no change).
| Version in 2025 | 2025 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Telluride FWD, 6-cyl 3.8 L | 22 mpg | 22 mpg | no change |
| 2025 Telluride AWD, 6-cyl 3.8 L | 20 mpg | 20 mpg | no change |
Crash-test stars from the U.S. safety agency's 5-Star Safety Ratings, checked 2026-11-14. 5 is the best.
| Vehicle | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Kia Telluride SUV AWD | 5 of 5 | 4 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 4 of 5 |
| 2025 Kia Telluride SUV FWD | 5 of 5 | 4 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 4 of 5 |
The agency lists 2 variants; all 2 are shown.
The agency's record for the first rated vehicle also lists 127 complaints, 3 recalls, 0 investigations.
127 complaints for the 2025 Kia Telluride are on file (checked 2026-11-14). Complaints are reports that owners sent to the safety agency. They are not proven defects, and the counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold.
| Part named in the reports | Reports | |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 51 | |
| Electrical System | 23 | |
| Unknown Or Other | 23 | |
| Visibility/Wiper | 19 | |
| Power Train | 9 |
3 of the 127 reports say the car was in a crash, 2 mention a fire and 4 mention an injury. One report can name more than one part.
3 recalls are on file for the 2025 Kia Telluride at the U.S. safety agency (checked 2026-11-14). A dealer does recall repairs free of charge.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2025 Telluride vehicles, equipped with power front seat(s). Due to a manufacturing error, the driver and passenger seat back frame assemblies may fail to properly restrain occupants in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the front seat back frame assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning April 24, 2026.
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2025 Telluride and 2026 Sorento vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with an incorrect spare tire which, when installed, can impair the anti-lock braking system (ABS) and the traction control system (TCS).
Fix: Dealers will replace the spare wheel and tire assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 3, 2025. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Telluride vehicles. The door belt molding trim can delaminate and detach from the vehicle.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the belt molding trim assemblies as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 19, 2025.
Other 2025 models of the same agency class, each with its best combined figure. The Telluride itself is at 22 mpg.
More Kia models that have a 2025 page here, with the class of each and its best combined figure.
The 2025 Telluride FWD with 22 mpg combined (20 city, 26 highway).
The 2025 Kia Telluride costs between $2,850 and $3,100 to fuel by the agency's estimate, which assumes 15,000 miles a year. The cheapest is the 2025 Telluride FWD at $2,850; the dearest is the 2025 Telluride AWD at $3,100. Use the calculator above for your own miles and fuel price.
2025 Telluride AWD: 20 mpg combined (18 city, 23 highway).
The 2025 Kia Telluride is 37th of 40 for combined mileage. The top of the class is the 2025 Kia Niro at 53 mpg, and the middle figure for the class is 27 mpg. In the list, the next one ahead is the 2025 Hyundai Palisade at 22 mpg.
The 2024 model had 2 tested versions and the 2025 model has 2. The best figure went from 22 to 22 mpg (no change).
In the agency's 5-Star Safety Ratings (checked 2026-11-14; 5 is the best), the stars are 2025 Kia Telluride SUV AWD: overall 5 of 5, front 4, side 5, rollover 4; 2025 Kia Telluride SUV FWD: overall 5 of 5, front 4, side 5, rollover 4. The agency lists 2 variants; all 2 are shown.
127 complaints for the 2025 Kia Telluride are on file at the safety agency (checked 2026-11-14); the part named most often is Engine (51 reports). Complaints are reports owners sent in, not proven defects.
The agency's database lists 3 recalls for the 2025 Kia Telluride (checked 2026-11-14). They are listed above with the repair the maker offers.
For the 2025 Kia Telluride: EPA file 2026-11-04; fuel price 2026-11-14; crash tests 2026-11-14; complaints 2026-11-14; recalls 2026-11-14. Not covered: purchase price, towing, reliability, repair and insurance costs.
Mileage and fuel cost for the 2025 Kia Telluride: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, fueleconomy.gov vehicle file (file dated 2026-11-04). Recalls for the 2025 Kia Telluride: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (checked 2026-11-14). Crash-test ratings for the 2025 Kia Telluride: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (checked 2026-11-14). Complaints for the 2025 Kia Telluride: NHTSA (checked 2026-11-14). Fuel prices: U.S. Department of Energy / EPA (2026-11-14). Your own mileage depends on how and where you drive. Where our numbers come from.