Used Kia Telluride vs. Kia Sportage: an Indianapolis Guide

Used Kia Telluride or Kia Sportage? Picking the Right Fit in Indy

Two of the most popular used SUVs in central Indiana wear the same badge. One hauls the whole family to Brown County for fall color and still has room for the cooler. The other squeezes into a downtown parking garage before a Pacers game without breaking a sweat. Picking between them gets a lot easier once you know how they differ year by year.

• Every used Kia Telluride from 2020 to 2025 carries the same 291-hp V6 engine.
• Kia redesigned the Sportage for 2023, adding size, cargo room, and hybrid options.
• Telluride models seat up to eight people, while the Sportage seats five.

A Size Gap You’ll Notice on Day One

The used Kia Telluride vs. Kia Sportage question starts with size. One is a mid-size SUV with three rows that seats seven or eight, depending on whether the second row holds captain’s chairs or a bench. Sportage buyers get a compact SUV that seats five. Fold everything flat, and the Telluride opens up 87 cubic feet of cargo room. A 2023 to 2025 Sportage maxes out at 74.1 cubic feet. Older 2020 to 2022 models top out at 60.1.

Engines and Gas Mileage by Model Year

Telluride shoppers have it easy. All six model years run a 3.8L V6 rated at 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, paired with an 8-speed automatic. EPA estimates land at 20 city and 26 highway mpg with front-wheel drive, and all-wheel drive trims rate a little lower.

Sportage buyers need to check the year. Models from 2020 to 2022 pair a 181-hp 2.4L four-cylinder with a 6-speed automatic, and the SX Turbo bumps output to 240 horsepower. Kia’s 2023 redesign brought a 187-hp 2.5L engine, an 8-speed automatic, and EPA ratings of 25 city and 32 highway mpg with front-wheel drive. It also introduced a 227-hp hybrid and a 261-hp plug-in hybrid, both smart picks if your commute follows I-65 or I-70 into downtown every day.

Used Kia Telluride vs. Kia Sportage Feature Comparison

Figures below cover front-wheel drive gas models unless noted, and they come straight from Kia. Always match the window sticker to the exact year and trim you’re considering.

How Each One Fits Life Around Indianapolis

Think about where you actually drive. Merging onto I-465 at rush hour is easier with the Telluride’s V6. Its 5,000-lb towing capacity also handles a pop-up camper headed for Lake Monroe or jet skis bound for Geist Reservoir. Race weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with six people and a cooler? That third row earns its keep. Swap over to the Sportage, and the wins show up in tighter spots. It parks with less drama near Gainbridge Fieldhouse and sips less gas on the daily grind up US 31 from Greenwood. Hybrid versions stretch a tank even further. Both offer all-wheel drive, which helps when January snow hits the county roads before the plows do.

Price gaps matter too. Pull up any Kia Telluride used listing around Indy and you’ll usually see prices several thousand dollars above a Sportage from the same year. Credit the bigger body and that V6. If your budget is tight and the third row would sit empty most days, the smaller SUV leaves cash for other things.

Let Your Weekends Make the Call

Families who camp, tow, or carpool will get their money’s worth from the three-row Telluride. Solo commuters and couples who spend Saturdays on the Monon Trail will likely be happier in a Sportage. A 2023 or newer one adds the extra cargo room. Test drive both back to back, and the answer usually shows up within a mile.

Questions Indy Shoppers Ask About These Used Kia SUVs

Which used Kia Telluride model years have the same engine?

Every Telluride from 2020 to 2025 uses the same 3.8L V6 rated at 291 horsepower, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. That consistency makes it easy to shop across model years.

What changed on the Kia Sportage in 2023?

Kia redesigned the Sportage for 2023. It grew about seven inches longer, swapped the old 2.4L engine for a 187-hp 2.5L with an 8-speed automatic, and added hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions for the first time.

Do I need all-wheel drive for Indiana winters?

Front-wheel drive with quality tires handles most Indianapolis snow just fine. All-wheel drive is worth the extra cost if you live on rural roads outside the I-465 loop or drive north toward heavier lake-effect snow in winter.

How much can a used Kia Telluride tow?

Most used Telluride models tow up to 5,000 pounds when properly equipped. The X-Pro trim, offered from 2023 to 2025, raises that figure to 5,500 pounds.

Is a used Kia Sportage Hybrid a good buy for commuters?

Yes. This version pairs a turbocharged 1.6L engine with an electric motor for 227 total horsepower. It gets much better gas mileage than the standard engine, which pays off on stop-and-go drives along I-69 or Keystone Parkway.

Drive Both at Ray Skillman Auto Center

We keep both of these SUVs moving through our used inventory at Ray Skillman Auto Center, and our team hand-picks every vehicle before it reaches the lot. Stop by our Kia dealership on the south side of Indianapolis, just north of the Greenwood Park Mall. You can walk the rows and compare a used Kia Sportage for sale right next to a Telluride from the same model year. Our sales team knows these SUVs inside and out. We can line up back-to-back test drives so you feel the difference for yourself. Financing help is available for every credit situation, and our trade-in program puts extra cash toward whichever one you pick. Come see us, and we’ll help you narrow it down.