Choose the Best Engine to Highlight Your Adventure

When it comes to finding your next vehicle, you're probably looking for a commanding motor to deliver a strong and daring drive. Under the hood of the Ford Explorer, you'll have three engines to choose from, each one delivering its own unique perks:

The Kia Telluride, on the other hand, only has one powertrain to choose from. Its 3.8-liter V6 engine doesn't even match the refined power of the standard motor in the Explorer with only 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, so you’re sure to notice a difference in performance.

Additionally, the engine in the Telluride only earns an EPA-estimated 20 city/26 highway MPG and doesn't have a more efficient hybrid motor to offer. With this dip in efficiency, you may find yourself running to the pump more often.

Bring Your Toys on Your Next Trek

More power in the Explorer leads to more brawn, helping each of the three powertrain options deliver impressive towing capacities:

• 3.3-liter Hybrid V6 engine: 5,000 pounds
• 2.3-liter EcoBoost® I-4 engine: 5,300 pounds
• 3.0-liter EcoBoost® V6 engine: 5,600 pounds

With this much brawn, bringing your family’s hard-sided RV or a small recreational boat on your adventures is possible.

The solo motor selection in the Telluride also delivers rugged towing capabilities and can handle hauls up to 5,000 pounds. However, if you’re looking for a little extra capability for your biggest adventure toys, you’ll want to consider the gas powertrains in the Explorer.

Stay Comfortable Throughout Your Trek

No matter how bumpy the road ahead gets, the 2021 Ford Explorer and the Kia Telluride will keep you cozy with ample headroom and legroom for all three rows of passengers to enjoy.

If you’re looking to stretch out in the front seat, the Telluride offers just over 41 inches of leg space for you to indulge in. However, taller drivers will appreciate the 43 inches of front legroom the Explorer has to offer.

To expand upon the comfort of the cabin, the Explorer and the Telluride offer available 10-way power driver’s seats. Choose from an array of seating positions to find the best one to keep you supported no matter how long you’re behind the wheel.

Want to take your comfort to the next level? The Explorer also offers available Multicontour Seats with Active Motion®. These front seats offer five massaging themes to completely melt away stress and tension for you and your front-seat partner on lengthy road trips.

The Telluride may not be as cozy on your next adventure, though, since these deluxe seats are not available.

A Protected Adventure

Whether you're staying local or heading out of town, you need to know you'll have a safe and protected journey. Therefore, the Ford Explorer and the Kia Telluride come standard with the following safety systems:

• BLIS® (Blind Spot Information System) with Cross-Traffic Alert: Keeps an eye on your side blind zones so you know when a vehicle is traveling alongside you and when it’s safe to make a lane change. When backing out of a parking space, it senses approaching vehicles so you can leave safely.
• Lane-Keeping System: Warns when you may be about to leave your lane unintentionally and, if needed, applies gentle steering corrections to help keep you on track.
• Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking: Measures the distance between your SUV and frontal obstacles, warning when you’re too close. If needed, it will apply the brakes to help avoid a frontal collision.

If you’re looking to go beyond baseline comforts, you can add on Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control to the Explorer and the Telluride. This system works to maintain a safe following speed and distance between your ride and the car ahead, slowing and accelerating as traffic calls for. If the vehicle ahead of you grinds to a halt, so will your car, helping you stay alerted and safe.

Clearly, no matter where the road takes you, these SUVs are ready to help keep you protected at every turn.

Park With Confidence

However, if you're looking for even greater peace of mind when in the parking lot, consider what the Explorer has to offer. With available Active Park Assist 2.0, this SUV can automatically steer itself into detected parking spots to make complex parking maneuvers easier.

The Telluride is available with Parking Distance Warning to let you know when you’re too close to nearby obstacles while parking. However, a feature to take the wheel when parking isn’t available, so you’ll need to steer into spaces the old-fashioned way.