Kia Telluride Vs. Toyota Grand Highlander Vs. Honda Pilot Sales: There’s A New Leader In 2026

The three-row crossover segment has undergone a bit of a shift in 2026 so far. With automakers having reported third-quarter sales, we now have a clearer idea of which brands and models are on track to end the year on a high. This particular segment is chock-full of talent, from Japanese stalwarts like the Toyota Grand Highlander and Honda Pilot to fresh faces like the all-new Kia Telluride. But which of these three popular vehicles has garnered the most U.S. buyers in 2026? Here’s a closer look at the numbers.

Kia Telluride Overtakes Japanese Rivals

2026 Honda Pilot

Kristen Brown

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The Kia Telluride has officially outsold the Toyota Grand Highlander and Honda Pilot across the first nine months of the year.


	September 2026 YTD	September 2025 YTD	% Change
Kia Telluride	110,038	92,498	+19%
Toyota Grand Highlander	108,511	99,833	+8.7%
Honda Pilot	92,967	94,607	-1.7%

At this stage in 2025, the Toyota was outselling its rivals, but the Telluride has taken the lead in 2026. No doubt buoyed by the arrival of the second-generation Telluride, Kia is on a roll in this segment, with a 19% increase in sales. The Grand Highlander isn’t far behind, though; it’s just 1,527 units behind the Kia. The Honda Pilot is the only one of the three that has seen a decline in 2026, but it’s also the oldest vehicle year, despite a recent facelift.

Toyota also sold 42,950 examples of the older Highlander in the first three quarters of 2026. But Kia sells more three-row crossovers overall, since it moved 77,205 units of the affordable Sorento. Honda does not sell another three-row crossover besides the Pilot.

All three of these vehicles are well short of the Ford Explorer, which remains the country’s favorite three-row crossover. Ford sold 189,210 Explorers through September.

Why The New Telluride Is So Good

2027 Kia Telluride X-Pro SX-Prestige

Kyle Edward – Autoblog

Overtaking two established models from Toyota and Honda is no small feat. Kia has done so by launching a vehicle with a much more progressive design, inside and out. But this is also a vehicle with real substance to it.

The 2027 Telluride now comes with a standard turbocharged engine producing 274 horsepower. Crucially, an efficient hybrid with 329 hp and an EPA rating of up to 35 mpg combined is available, too. Honda still doesn’t sell a hybrid version of the Pilot, which has seen it fall behind in this segment.

Despite being the newest vehicle here, the Telluride is the only option that starts below $40,000. You can get a well-equipped mid-range trim for roughly the same price as a base Grand Highlander or Pilot. The Kia has no glaring weaknesses; it’s refined, rides with composure, and keeps the family entertained with an abundance of tech.

If Kia continues its current growth, the Telluride may soon challenge the Explorer on the sales charts.