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 Rivals2026 Honda PilotKristen BrownThe Kia Telluride has officially outsold the Toyota Grand Highlander and Honda Pilot across the first nine months of the year.September 2026 YTDSeptember 2025 YTD% ChangeKia Telluride110,03892,498+19%Toyota Grand Highlander108,51199,833+8.7%Honda Pilot92,96794,607-1.7%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.Related: 2027 Kia Telluride vs. Hyundai Palisade: Which Roomy 3-Row SUV is Best?Why The New Telluride Is So Good2027 Kia Telluride X-Pro SX-PrestigeKyle Edward - AutoblogOvertaking 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.Related: I Drove the 2027 Kia Telluride X-Pro SX-Prestige: $58,335 Buys a Lot of SUV
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