Page 46 - Motor Trend (May 2020)

COVER STORY I 3-Row SUVs
THE BIG
TEST

The Subaru Ascent’s value, interior
design, and spacious cabin helped it 2020 Chevrolet Traverse 2020 Ford Explorer 2020 Honda Pilot
claim the silver medal. Shame about POWERTRAIN/CHASSIS Premiere (FWD) XLT (RWD) Black Edition AWD
that exterior design, though. DRIVETRAIN LAYOUT Front-engine, FWD Front-engine, RWD Front-engine, AWD
Finally, the Telluride. It seems 2020 ENGINE TYPE 60-deg V-6, alum block/ Turbocharged I-4, 60-deg V-6, alum
is the year for South Korea. Not only heads alum block/head block/heads
did Parasite take the top honors at the VALVETRAIN DOHC, 4 valves/cyl DOHC, 4 valves/cyl SOHC, 4 valves/cyl
Oscars, but our reigning SUV of the DISPLACEMENT 222.7 cu in/3,649cc 138.1 cu in/2,264cc 211.8 cu in/3,471cc
Year also continues to outperform its COMPRESSION RATIO 11.5:1 10.0:1 11.5:1
competitors. Although it still has areas POWER (SAE NET) 310 hp @ 6,800 rpm 300 hp @ 5,500 rpm 280 hp @ 6,000 rpm
where it could improve, the Kia Tellu- TORQUE (SAE NET) 266 lb-ft @ 2,800 rpm 310 lb-ft @ 3,500 rpm 262 lb-ft @ 4,700 rpm
ride remains the best three-row family REDLINE 6,750 rpm 6,500 rpm 6,750 rpm
SUV you can buy today. Q 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
9th Place Volkswagen Atlas AXLE/FINAL DRIVE RATIO 3.49:1/2.16:1 3.58:1/2.58:1 4.33:1/2.08:1
It’s plenty spacious but has a ride that SUSPENSION, FRONT; REAR Struts, coil springs, Struts, coil springs, Struts, coil springs,
will make kids carsick. VW needs to anti-roll bar; multilink, anti-roll bar; multilink, anti-roll bar; multilink,
coil springs, anti-roll bar coil springs, anti-roll bar coil springs, anti-roll bar
improve its family SUV’s suspension.
STEERING RATIO 17.3:1 16.5:1 16.0:1
TURNS LOCK TO LOCK 3.3 3.1 3.1
8th Place Ford Explorer
BRAKES, F; R 12.6-in vented disc; 13.6-in vented disc; 12.6-in 12.6-in vented disc;
It’s new to market, but the Ford seems
12.4-in vented disc, ABS disc, ABS 13.0-in disc, ABS
like it was built ages ago. Its price
WHEELS 8.0 x 20-in cast aluminum 8.5 x 20-in cast 9.5 x 20-in cast
ladder doesn’t speak well to value. aluminum aluminum
TIRES 255/55R20 107H (M+S) 255/55R20 107H (M+S) 245/50R20 102H (M+S)
7th Place Mazda CX-9 Continental Cross Pirelli Scorpion Zero Continental Cross
Great power, ride, and handling, Contact LX20 Contact LX25
but that’s not why folks buy people CONSUMER INFO
haulers. It’s short of the traits that BASE PRICE $46,995 $37,770 $50,740
make a true family vehicle. PRICE AS TESTED $47,990 $47,715 $50,740
STABILITY/TRACTION Yes/Yes Yes/Yes Yes/Yes
6th Place Chevrolet Traverse CONTROL
A strong SUV just three years ago, the AIRBAGS 7: Dual front, front side, 8: Dual front, front side, 6: Dual front, front side,
front center, f/m/r curtain front knee, f/m/r curtain f/m/r curtain
Traverse has suffered at the hands of
the newer players in the segment. A
BASIC WARRANTY 3 years/36,000 miles 3 years/36,000 miles 3 years/35,000 miles
rental car feel at a high price.
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
5th Place Toyota Highlander
FUEL CAPACITY 19.4 gal 17.9 gal 19.5 gal
The segment sales leader arrived with
5 X 25-MI LOOP, VEHICLE 19.7 mpg 18.9 mpg 21.2 MPG
a cool new design, but a cramped third
REPORTED*
row and a thrashy powertrain hurt.
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
4th Place Hyundai Palisade
ENERGY CONS, CITY/HWY 187/125 kW-hr/100 miles 160/120 kW-hr/100 miles 177/130 kW-hr/100 miles
A smart value, the Palisade raises eye-
CO2 EMISSIONS, COMB 0.92 lb/mile 0.82 lb/mile 0.90 lb/mile
brows at school drop-off and soccer
RECOMMENDED FUEL Unleaded regular Unleaded regular Unleaded regular
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.
South Korea beats Japan.
The Telluride may not sell
as well as the Highlander,
46 MOTORTREND.COM MAY 2020 but Kia built a better SUV.