Motor Trend - USA (2020-05)

POWERTRAIN/CHASSIS

2020 Chevrolet Traverse

Premiere (FWD)

2020 Ford Explorer

XLT (RWD)

2020 Honda Pilot

Black Edition AWD

DRIVETRAIN LAYOUT Front-engine, FWD Front-engine, RWD Front-engine, AWD

ENGINE TYPE 60-deg V-6, alum block/

heads

Turbocharged I-4,

alum block/head

60-deg V-6, alum

block/heads

VALVETRAIN DOHC, 4 valves/cyl DOHC, 4 valves/cyl SOHC, 4 valves/cyl

DISPLACEMENT 222.7 cu in/3,649cc 138.1 cu in/2,264cc 211.8 cu in/3,471cc

COMPRESSION RATIO 11.5:1 10.0:1 11.5:1

POWER (SAE NET) 310 hp @ 6,800 rpm 300 hp @ 5,500 rpm 280 hp @ 6,000 rpm

TORQUE (SAE NET) 266 lb-ft @ 2,800 rpm 310 lb-ft @ 3,500 rpm 262 lb-ft @ 4,700 rpm

REDLINE 6,750 rpm 6,500 rpm 6,750 rpm

WEIGHT TO POWER 14.0 lb/hp 14.6 lb/hp 15.3 lb/hp

TRANSMISSION 9-speed automatic 10-speed automatic 9-speed automatic

AXLE/FINAL DRIVE RATIO 3.49:1/2.16:1 3.58:1/2.58:1 4.33:1/2.08:1

SUSPENSION, FRONT; REAR Struts, coil springs,

anti-roll bar; multilink,

coil springs, anti-roll bar

Struts, coil springs,

anti-roll bar; multilink,

coil springs, anti-roll bar

Struts, coil springs,

anti-roll bar; multilink,

coil springs, anti-roll bar

STEERING RATIO 17.3:1 16.5:1 16.0:1

TURNS LOCK TO LOCK 3.3 3.1 3.1

BRAKES, F; R 12.6-in vented disc;

12.4-in vented disc, ABS

13.6-in vented disc; 12.6-in

disc, ABS

12.6-in vented disc;

13.0-in disc, ABS

WHEELS 8.0 x 20-in cast aluminum 8.5 x 20-in cast

aluminum

9.5 x 20-in cast

aluminum

TIRES 255/55R20 107H (M+S)

Continental Cross

Contact LX20

255/55R20 107H (M+S)

Pirelli Scorpion Zero

245/50R20 102H (M+S)

Continental Cross

Contact LX25

BASE PRICE $46,995 $37,770 $50,740

PRICE AS TESTED $47,990 $47,715 $50,740

STABILITY/TRACTION

CONTROL

Yes/Yes Yes/Yes Yes/Yes

AIRBAGS 7: Dual front, front side,

front center, f/m/r curtain

8: Dual front, front side,

front knee, f/m/r curtain

6: Dual front, front side,

f/m/r curtain

BASIC WARRANTY 3 years/36,000 miles 3 years/36,000 miles 3 years/35,000 miles

POWERTRAIN WARRANTY 5 years/60,000 miles 5 years/60,000 miles 5 years/60,000 miles

ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE 5 years/60,000 miles 5 years/60,000 miles 3 years/35,000 miles

FUEL CAPACITY 19.4 gal 17.9 gal 19.5 gal

5 X 25-MI LOOP, VEHICLE

REPORTED*

19.7 mpg 18.9 mpg 21.2 MPG

REAL MPG, CITY/HWY/COMB Not tested 20.1/29.4/23.5 mpg 19.1/28.2/22.3 MPG

EPA CITY/HWY/COMB ECON 18/27/21 mpg 21/28/24 mpg 19/26/22 mpg

ENERGY CONS, CITY/HWY 187/125 kW-hr/100 miles 160/120 kW-hr/100 miles 177/130 kW-hr/100 miles

CO2 EMISSIONS, COMB 0.92 lb/mile 0.82 lb/mile 0.90 lb/mile

RECOMMENDED FUEL Unleaded regular Unleaded regular Unleaded regular

CONSUMER INFO

46 MOTORTREND.COM MAY 2020

9th Place Volkswagen Atlas
It’s plenty spacious but has a ride that
will make kids carsick. VW needs to
improve its family SUV’s suspension.

8th Place Ford Explorer
It’s new to market, but the Ford seems
like it was built ages ago. Its price
ladder doesn’t speak well to value.

7th Place Mazda CX-9
Great power, ride, and handling,
but that’s not why folks buy people
haulers. It’s short of the traits that
make a true family vehicle.

6th Place Chevrolet Traverse
A strong SUV just three years ago, the
Traverse has suffered at the hands of
the newer players in the segment. A
rental car feel at a high price.

5th Place Toyota Highlander
The segment sales leader arrived with
a cool new design, but a cramped third
row and a thrashy powertrain hurt.

4th Place Hyundai Palisade
A smart value, the Palisade raises eye-
brows at school drop-off and soccer
practice. Ride is stiff for kids, though.

3rd Place Honda Pilot
The smartly packaged Pilot scores
highly with its responsive suspension
and direct steering feel.

2nd Place Subaru Ascent
It’s oddly styled, but once you see how
spacious and capable it is, the Ascent
checks many boxes. Plus: value.

1st Place Kia Telluride
Eye-catching design, an elegant inte-
rior, and excellent value. The Telluride
doesn’t disappoint. A class above.

THE BIG

TEST

COVER STORY I 3-Row SUVs

The Subaru Ascent’s value, interior
design, and spacious cabin helped it
claim the silver medal. Shame about
that exterior design, though.
Finally, the Telluride. It seems 2020
is the year for South Korea. Not only
did Parasite take the top honors at the
Oscars, but our reigning SUV of the
Year also continues to outperform its
competitors. Although it still has areas
where it could improve, the Kia Tellu-
ride remains the best three-row family
SUV you can buy today. Q

South Korea beats Japan.

The Telluride may not sell

as well as the Highlander,

but Kia built a better SUV.