2027 Volkswagen Atlas vs Kia Telluride: We Compared the Data
By the CarWhere Vehicle Data Team · Updated November 8, 2026 · how we score
Our pick: the Telluride — it leads our weighted scorecard 5–1 across 7 categories, winning on a lower starting price ($39,190 vs $41,610) and better fuel economy (35 mpg vs 25 mpg best EPA combined). Choose the Atlas if you want the bigger discount off MSRP (8.7% off MSRP vs 1.2% off MSRP for verified buyers).
Scorecard: Atlas 1 pts · Telluride 5 pts across 7 scored categories.
The scorecard
| Category (weight) | 2027 Atlas | 2027 Telluride | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP (2) | $41,610 | $39,190 | Telluride |
| 5-year value retained (1.5) | 42.4% | 40.4% | Tie |
| Best EPA combined (1.5) | 25 mpg | 35 mpg | Telluride |
| Most horsepower available (1) | 282 hp | 329 hp | Telluride |
| Max towing (1) | 5,000 lb | 5,000 lb | Tie |
| Cargo behind rear seats (1) | — | 22.3 cu ft | No data |
| Standard seats (1) | — | 7 | No data |
| Median discount verified buyers got (1) | 8.7% off MSRP | 1.2% off MSRP | Atlas |
| Recalls, 2023–2025 model years (0.5) | 12 | 9 | Telluride |
| Weighted points | 1 | 5 | Telluride |
Which one we'd buy, and for whom
- Commuter. Commuters: the Telluride — 35 mpg vs 25 mpg (best EPA combined).
- Budget. Tight budgets: the Telluride — $39,190 vs $41,610 (starting MSRP). Used, the median asking price is $26,825 for the Atlas vs $30,686 for the Telluride.
- Resale. Resale-minded buyers: it's a wash — Atlas 42.4% vs Telluride 40.4% (5-year value retained).
- Towing. Towing: it's a wash — Atlas 5,000 lb vs Telluride 5,000 lb (max towing).
Price: sticker and what buyers paid
The Atlas starts at $41,610 and tops out at $56,610; the Telluride runs $39,190 to $57,590 (manufacturer MSRP, before destination). Verified Atlas buyers paid a median 8.7% off MSRP across 26 deals; the CarWhere Index target is 10.3% off. Verified Telluride buyers paid a median 1.2% off MSRP across 64 deals; the CarWhere Index target is 2.2% off. Used, the median asking price is $26,825 for the Atlas and $30,686 for the Telluride (all model years, US dealer listings).
Reliability: NHTSA complaints and recalls
- Atlas: a complaint rate per 1,000 sold isn't available yet.
- Telluride: a complaint rate per 1,000 sold isn't available yet.
- Recall campaigns touching the 2023–2025 model years: Atlas 12, Telluride 9.
Latest rated model years on our years-to-avoid pages: Atlas 2023 (caution), 2024 (avoid), 2025 (solid).
Complaint rates are owner complaints filed with NHTSA divided by vehicles sold — a federal-data signal, not a survey score.
Specs side by side
| 2027 Atlas | 2027 Telluride | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP (base trim) | $41,610 | $39,190 |
| Top-trim MSRP | $56,610 | $57,590 |
| Horsepower | 282 hp | 274–329 hp |
| Max torque | 258 lb-ft | 339 lb-ft |
| EPA combined | 23–25 mpg | 19–35 mpg (hybrid avail.) |
| Max towing | 5,000 lb | 5,000 lb |
| Max payload | 1,102 lb | — |
| Seats (standard / max) | — / 7 | 7 / 8 |
| Cargo behind rear seats | — | 22.3 cu ft |
Automaker-published figures; EPA ratings from fueleconomy.gov. "—" = not published.
Resale: 5-year value retained
A 5-year-old (2021) Atlas lists for a median $20,927 — 42.4% of today's median new price of $49,319. A 5-year-old (2020) Telluride lists for a median $19,802 — 40.4% of today's median new price of $48,963.
Shop both
- See 11,547 new 2027 Volkswagen Atlas for sale →Median listed price $51,475 · updated Nov 7, 2026
- See 25,556 new 2027 Kia Tellurides for sale →Median listed price $56,212 · updated Nov 7, 2026
Negotiating either one?
CarWhere PRO ($12.99/mo) shows the 75th-percentile target price for your exact trim and zip, comparable nearby deals, and an AI quote analyzer. See PRO → · Checking a specific used one? The $9.99 Full VIN Report covers the federal record + original window sticker.
More on the Volkswagen Atlas
More on the Kia Telluride
Related head-to-heads
FAQ
Is the Atlas better than the Telluride?
On our data, no — the Telluride comes out ahead. Our pick: the Telluride — it leads our weighted scorecard 5–1 across 7 categories, winning on a lower starting price ($39,190 vs $41,610) and better fuel economy (35 mpg vs 25 mpg best EPA combined). Choose the Atlas if you want the bigger discount off MSRP (8.7% off MSRP vs 1.2% off MSRP for verified buyers).
Which is more reliable, the Atlas or the Telluride?
We only rank reliability by NHTSA complaints per 1,000 vehicles sold, and that rate isn't available for both models yet. NHTSA lists 12 recall campaigns touching the 2023–2025 Atlas and 9 for the Telluride.
Which holds its value better, the Atlas or the Telluride?
About the same — 42.4% vs 40.4% retained after five years (within 2 points).
Which is cheaper, the Atlas or the Telluride?
The Telluride starts lower: $39,190 vs $41,610 starting MSRP (before destination). Verified buyers paid a median 8.7% off MSRP on the Atlas (26 deals) and 1.2% on the Telluride (64 deals).
Which has better gas mileage, the Atlas or the Telluride?
The Telluride: up to 35 mpg combined vs 25 mpg for the Atlas (best EPA rating across each lineup).
How we score
Each category compares one published number per model and counts only when both models have it. The winner earns the category weight; results inside the tie band earn nothing. Our pick has more weighted points; level points fall back to more category wins, then the reliability winner, then the price winner.
- Starting MSRP: lower wins; tie within 3%.
- NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold: lower wins; tie within 15%.
- 5-year value retained: higher wins; tie within 2 points.
- Best EPA combined: higher wins; tie within 1 mpg (3 MPGe).
- Most horsepower available: higher wins; tie within 5%.
- Max towing: higher wins; tie within 5%.
- Cargo behind rear seats: higher wins; tie within 5%.
- Standard seats: higher wins; tie same count.
- Median discount verified buyers got: higher wins; tie within 0.5 points.
- Recalls, 2023–2025 model years: lower wins; tie within 1.
Towing weighs 2 for pickups and 1 otherwise; seating is only scored between SUVs and minivans, using standard (never optional) seats. Sources: automaker spec pages and order guides; EPA ratings (fueleconomy.gov); NHTSA owner complaints and recall campaigns against published US sales; median used asking prices across active US dealer listings from licensed vehicle-data providers; verified buyer-submitted deal sheets for discounts.
Cite this page: CarWhere, "2027 Volkswagen Atlas vs Kia Telluride: We Compared the Data," carwhere.com/compare-cars/volkswagen-atlas-vs-kia-telluride, updated November 8, 2026.