Honda Pilot VS Kia Telluride
▸ WHICH ONE HOLDS UP BETTER
Kia Telluride holds up better here: it's rated QUESTION IT, while Honda Pilot is BYE THE HYPE.
Verdict🔴 BYE THE HYPE🟡 QUESTION IT
The RealityWhile the Pilot fulfills its role as Honda's largest crossover SUV, official safety filings reveal a structural recall impacting nearly one million vehicles due to rear subframe corrosion that threatens control and handling.The awards and the crash-test ratings are real: IIHS lists the 2023 Telluride as a Top Safety Pick+, and the 2020 World Car of the Year, MotorTrend SUV of the Year and North American Utility Vehicle of the Year wins are independently recorded. But crash ratings measure how a car protects you in a crash, not whether parts fail. The same 2020–2024 first-generation Telluride has had repeated serious recalls: 462,869 cars for a front power seat motor that can overheat and start a fire (June 2024, owners told to park outside), recalled again in July 2026 because the seat could still overheat, including after an improper first repair; and 427,407 cars for a roll-away risk while in Park (March 2024). These recalls cover 2020–2024 models only, not the redesigned 2027 Telluride.
SHORT ANSWER
Honda Pilot: The Honda Pilot offers mid-size crossover utility and three-row seating as Honda's largest SUV, but an official NHTSA recall affects 965,561 vehicles due to rear subframe corrosion that can lead to suspension component failure and loss of vehicle control.
Kia Telluride: Partly. The Kia Telluride really did win a rare set of 2020 awards and IIHS Top Safety Pick+ ratings for 2023 and 2024. But the 2020–2024 model has been recalled twice for a front seat motor that can start a fire (the 2024 fix wasn't enough) and once for rolling away in Park. Those recalls don't cover the 2027 redesign.