The Quick Answer
- Price: the Telluride starts at $39,190 (Hybrid $46,490); the EV9 at $54,900. With AWD: $44,090 versus $63,900.
- Fuel costs: at 12,000 miles a year, about $2,490 in gas for an AWD Telluride, $1,606 for an AWD Telluride Hybrid and $816 in home electricity for an AWD EV9.
- Space: the Telluride seats up to eight, with 32.1 in. of third-row legroom and more cargo room. The EV9 seats six or seven.
- Range and road trips: an AWD Telluride Hybrid goes up to 564 miles on a tank (Kia); an AWD EV9 is EPA-rated at 280 to 283 miles.
- Towing: 5,000 lbs on every gas Telluride. The EV9 tows 5,000 lbs on the Land and GT-Line, and towing cuts EV range sharply.
Telluride vs. EV9: Side by Side
| 2027 Kia Telluride | 2026 Kia EV9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP | $39,190 (LX FWD); Hybrid $46,490 | $54,900 (Light RWD) |
| AWD from | $44,090 (S AWD) | $63,900 (Wind) |
| Powertrain | 2.5L turbo, 274 hp / 311 lb-ft; Hybrid 329 hp / 339 lb-ft | Electric: 201–215 hp RWD; 379 hp / 443 lb-ft AWD (516 lb-ft GT-Line or Boost) |
| Efficiency | 22 mpg FWD, 20 AWD; Hybrid up to 35 (EX FWD), 31 AWD | 82–89 MPGe; 40 kWh/100 mi AWD |
| Range | About 380 mi AWD gas (our math); Hybrid AWD 564 mi (Kia) | 230–305 mi RWD; 280–283 mi AWD (EPA) |
| Refueling | About 5 minutes at any gas station | About 24 min 10-80% on a 350-kW charger; about 8 h 45 min on home Level 2 (99.8-kWh trims) |
| Seats | 7 or 8 | 6 or 7 |
| Legroom, 2nd / 3rd row | 43.0 / 32.1 in. | 42.8 / 30.8 in. (32.0 with captain's chairs) |
| Cargo behind 3rd / 2nd / 1st row | 22.3 / 48.7 / 89.3 cu ft (Kia, includes under-floor tray) | 20.2 / 43.5 / 81.7 cu ft, plus a front trunk |
| Max towing | 5,000 lbs every gas trim (Towing Package); Hybrid 4,500 | 2,000 (Light); 3,500 (Wind); 5,000 lbs (Land, GT-Line) |
| Ground clearance | 7.4 in.; 9.1 in. X-Pro | 7.0 in. RWD; 7.8 in. AWD |
| Length | 199.2 in. | 197.2 in. |
| IIHS | 2026 TOP SAFETY PICK+ (built after June 2026) | 2026 TOP SAFETY PICK+ |
| Colorado EV tax credit | No | $750 through Dec. 31, 2026; $0 from 2027 |
| Destination | $1,545 | $1,645 |
| Assembly | West Point, Georgia | West Point, Georgia |
Kia MSRP and specifications as of October 2026, excluding destination. EPA estimates; actual mileage and range vary. Gas Telluride range is 19.0 gallons times the EPA combined rating. Towing requires additional equipment.
Price: The Telluride Costs Far Less
| Budget | 2027 Telluride | 2026 EV9 |
|---|---|---|
| About $45,000–$48,000 | EX AWD ($45,790): 8 seats, heated and ventilated front seats | – |
| About $54,000–$58,000 | SX Prestige AWD ($53,890) or X-Pro SX Prestige ($56,790) | Light RWD ($54,900) or Light Long Range RWD ($57,900) |
| About $64,000–$69,000 | – | Wind AWD ($63,900) or Land AWD ($68,900) |
MSRP excludes destination.
For less than an entry-level EV9, you can have a Telluride SX Prestige AWD with a head-up display and ventilated second-row seats. An AWD EV9 starts at $63,900, about $18,000 more than a Telluride EX AWD.
Running Costs in Denver
| 12,000 miles a year | Energy used | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Telluride AWD (gas, 20 mpg) | 600 gallons | $2,490 |
| Telluride Hybrid AWD (31 mpg) | about 387 gallons | $1,606 |
| EV9 AWD, home charging (40 kWh/100 mi) | 4,800 kWh | $816 |
Denver regular gas averaged $4.15 a gallon the week of October 12, 2026 (U.S. EIA). Colorado's average residential electricity price was 17.0 cents per kWh in July 2026 (U.S. EIA). Public fast charging costs more than home charging.
Charged at home, an AWD EV9 saves about $1,674 a year on fuel versus a gas Telluride AWD, and about $790 versus the Telluride Hybrid. It also skips oil changes. At those rates, fuel savings alone take many years to cover the EV9's higher price, so the EV9 makes the most sense if you value electric driving itself: strong, quiet acceleration, no gas stations and charging in your garage.
Road Trips and Towing
- Range: a gas Telluride AWD covers about 380 miles per tank and refuels in minutes. An AWD EV9 is rated 280 to 283 miles, and a 10-to-80% fast-charge stop takes about 24 minutes on a 350-kW charger.
- Towing: both tow up to 5,000 lbs, but towing sharply reduces an EV's range, so trailer trips in an EV9 need planned charging stops. For regular camper trips, the Telluride is the easier choice.
- Charging network: the EV9's built-in NACS port works at Tesla Superchargers along I-70 and I-25. Our Kia towing guide compares towing across the lineup.
Space and Seating
The Telluride is 2 in. longer and uses it well: up to eight seats (LX and EX), 32.1 in. of third-row legroom versus 30.8 in the seven-seat EV9, and more cargo room behind every row. Both offer second-row captain's chairs. The EV9 adds a front trunk, and in six-seat form its third row has 32.0 in. of legroom.
Colorado Weather and Mountains
- Clearance: an AWD EV9 sits at 7.8 in., more than the standard Telluride's 7.4 in. The Telluride X-Pro tops both at 9.1 in. with all-terrain tires and a locking center differential.
- Altitude: the EV9's electric motors make full power at any elevation, and the Telluride's turbo holds its power well on I-70 grades.
- Cold weather: every EV loses range in freezing temperatures. AWD EV9s have a heat pump to limit the loss; a gas or hybrid Telluride isn't affected the same way.
- Tax savings: both are assembled in Georgia and can qualify for the car loan interest deduction. Only the EV9 gets Colorado's $750 EV credit, and only if delivered by Dec. 31, 2026. See our Colorado EV tax credit guide.
Where the EV9 Wins
Where the EV9 comes out ahead of the Telluride:
- Much lower fuel costs with home charging: about $816 a year versus $2,490 for a gas Telluride AWD.
- More power with AWD: 379 hp versus 274 hp (329 for the Hybrid), with Kia quoting 0-60 mph in 5.7 seconds (5.0 on the GT-Line).
- No oil changes, and quiet electric driving.
- More ground clearance than a non-X-Pro Telluride: 7.8 vs. 7.4 in. with AWD.
- A $750 Colorado tax credit through Dec. 31, 2026.
- A front trunk for charging cables and small gear.
Which Should You Buy?
Choose the Telluride if…
You want the most space for the money, eight seats, long road trips or regular towing, or you can't charge at home. The Telluride Hybrid adds up to 35 mpg.
Choose the EV9 if…
You can charge at home, drive mostly around the Front Range and want strong, quiet electric power and the lowest fuel costs.
Drive Both at Emich Kia
We stock the Telluride, Telluride Hybrid and EV9, so you can drive gas, hybrid and electric back to back in one visit.
- Family-owned since 1922 at 1260 S. Colorado Blvd. in Denver, a few minutes from I-25 and Cherry Creek.
- Not sure which trim has the feature you want? We'll check the window sticker on any vehicle before you visit.
- Schedule a test drive, apply for financing online or value your trade before you come in.
Telluride vs. EV9: FAQ
What's the difference between the Kia Telluride and EV9?
The Telluride is a gas or hybrid three-row SUV that starts at $39,190, seats up to eight and tows 5,000 lbs on every gas trim. The EV9 is an all-electric three-row SUV that starts at $54,900, seats six or seven, has up to 305 miles of EPA range and charges at home or on Tesla Superchargers.
Is the EV9 bigger than the Telluride?
No. The Telluride is about 2 inches longer, seats up to eight versus seven, and has more third-row legroom (32.1 vs. 30.8 inches in seven-seat form) and more cargo room.
Which is cheaper to own, the Telluride or EV9?
The Telluride costs much less to buy. The EV9 costs less to fuel: about $816 a year charging at home versus $2,490 in gas for an AWD Telluride at 12,000 miles. For most drivers, the fuel savings don't cover the EV9's higher price on their own.
Can the EV9 tow as much as the Telluride?
The EV9 Land and GT-Line tow 5,000 lbs, the same as every gas Telluride. The EV9 Wind tows 3,500 lbs and the Light trims 2,000. Towing sharply reduces an EV's range.
Which is better for Colorado winters?
Both offer AWD. An AWD EV9 has more ground clearance (7.8 in.) than a standard Telluride (7.4 in.), while the Telluride X-Pro has 9.1 in. Cold weather reduces EV range, so the Telluride is simpler for long winter trips.
Does the Telluride or EV9 qualify for Colorado's EV tax credit?
Only the EV9, which gets $750 if delivered by Dec. 31, 2026. It drops to $0 in 2027. The Telluride Hybrid isn't a plug-in and doesn't qualify.
Compare the Telluride and EV9 in Person
Shop both in stock at Emich Kia in Denver.
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