Three-Row Throw Down: Toyota Highlander vs. Kia Telluride

Whether you’re cruising the streets of Manhattan or headed to Upstate New York to enjoy a little slice of nature, the right SUV can make all the difference. Today’s crossover segment provides no shortage of choices for those seeking a versatile vehicle that seamlessly transitions from the morning commute to a weekend full of off-the-grid fun. If you’re looking for a value-packed vehicle backed by an ironclad reputation for reliability, it’s time to seek out a Toyota Highlander for sale in New York City. The three-row, midsize SUV has been a driver favorite for over two decades, with Toyota continually reinventing the Highlander to keep pace with the ever-evolving market.

From forced induction to hybrid engines, infotainment displays, and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), the Highlander has managed to change with the times by integrating the latest and greatest in performance, convenience, and safety technology. It’s proven tough to beat, but that doesn’t mean Toyota’s competitors have stopped trying. Debuting in 2021, the Telluride is Kia’s answer to the Toyota Highlander. How does it stack up in key categories like performance, fuel economy, reliability, and safety? Buckle up as we review some differences and similarities between the two models and see which one deserves a place in your driveway.

Performance and Fuel Economy

As the brand behind the original Prius, Toyota has been a leader in hybrid technology since the segment’s earliest days. The automaker has steadily built on that success, with the Toyota Highlander Hybrid first hitting the market in 2006. The 2024 model is another strong showing for Toyota, boasting two electric motors that, combined with the SUV’s 2.5L I-4 engine, give drivers some 243 hp to work with. Available in both front- and all-wheel drive, the Highlander Hybrid increases efficiency without a significant decrease in power, posting a 7.3-second zero-to-60-mph time compared to the gas-powered version’s 7.2 seconds.

Speaking of the internal combustion model, the non-hybrid Highlander employs a similar 2.4L I-4 but adds a turbocharger to bump up the horsepower to 265. This version of the Highlander does come with an eight-speed automatic transmission that some drivers might prefer over the hybrid’s continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). However, if you’re the type of driver who values efficiency over raw power, the CVT is well worth the trade-off. The hybrid delivers an impressive 36 MPG combined -- 36 MPG city and 35 MPG highway -- while the gas-powered Highlander trails by almost 10 MPG. While 25 MPG combined might not be bad for the midsize SUV class, it can’t touch the hybrid. Neither can the competition, with Hyundai and Mazda’s hybrid midsize models both falling behind the electrically-assisted Highlander in fuel economy.

Kia is a bit of an outlier when it comes to electrification. While the brand does offer a hybrid version of the Sorento, the Telluride is limited to a sole gas-powered offering for 2024. The Telluride does outpace the Toyota in terms of pure power, with a 3.8L V6 that puts out 291 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque. However, when it comes to efficiency, the Telluride lags behind both the gas and hybrid versions of the Highlander. The front-wheel drive version is already below the segment average at 22 MPG combined, and opting for AWD certainly doesn’t help with that figure dropping to 20 MPG. The Telluride is a little speedier from zero to 60 mph, with a time of 6.8 seconds. While that might be helpful when you’re trying to merge onto the West Side Highway, it’ll hardly make up for the lack of fuel efficiency in most drivers' minds.

Reliability

While some drivers focus on a vehicle’s performance, tech, and safety features, these aren’t the only factors to consider when picking your next ride. Suppose you’re looking to reduce lifetime ownership costs and the hassles that can come with a vehicle being out of commission due to frequent repairs. In that case, reliability is one of the most important metrics to consider before leaving the dealership. This is one area where Toyota has a definitive edge over the competition, routinely ranking right at the top of the industry when it comes to keeping its cars, trucks, and SUVs on the road.

Toyota is a mainstay of annual reliability studies, placing second in surveys conducted by industry leaders like Consumer Reports and JD Power. In fact, the only company that regularly bests Toyota is the company’s own luxury sub-brand, Lexus. Toyota earned a 76 out of 100 to Lexus’ chart-topping 79 in Consumer Reports’ 2023 ranking and placed second to its sister company in J.D. Power’s 2024 rankings of the industry’s most reliable car brands. Kia also managed to crack the top ten in the Consumer Reports list and placed eighth in the J.D. Power survey but trailed Toyota by a significant margin in both.

Toyota might be hard to beat when it comes to pure reliability, but what about the Highlander and Telluride models specifically? Again, the options you'll find at your local Toyota dealership have set a high bar, with the Highlander Hybrid earning a stellar reliability score of 86/100 from Consumer Reports and the gas-powered Highlander following close behind at 80/100. The Telluride did earn an 83/100 from JD Power, but it’s tough to know how that compares to the Highlander, as the two surveys weigh different factors to determine individual ratings.

Of course, reliability rankings aren’t the only way to judge a vehicle’s quality. Recalls are another important consideration, and the Highlander once again enjoys a strong showing with zero recalls reported for the 2024 model. The 2024 Telluride, on the other hand, has already been the subject of two recalls concerning the SUV’s engine valve springs and driveshaft, two issues that can cause the Telluride to roll away while in park or even create a hole in the engine itself. The Toyota also has an advantage when it comes to complimentary maintenance. The Highlander comes with complimentary maintenance for the first two years or 25,000 miles of ownership, while Telluride owners are left to fend for themselves when it comes to belt, fluid, and filter changes.

Safety

The three-row crossover has steadily supplanted the minivan and station wagons as the go-to choice for busy families. Given this newfound role, a model’s safety features must be up to par, especially when transporting the most precious cargo of all. The Toyota Highlander and Kia Telluride have both earned a solid five-star safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and earned awards from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Still, the two crossovers do differ when it comes down to which safety features an included as part of the standard package and which are only offered as optional add-ons.

Toyota has taken much of the guesswork out of the process by packing the 2024 Highlander with a well-rounded list of standard safety and driver-assistance features. Adaptive cruise control allows the Highlander to keep a steady pace while responding to changing traffic conditions, while lane-keep assist seamlessly nudges you into the right direction should you start to drift. The SUV’s automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection will come in handy the next time a tourist darts in front of your ride. Traffic sign recognition will ensure you don’t find yourself running afoul of New York’s Finest. The Highlander’s automatic high-beam headlights are normally offered as a pricey upgrade in the rest of the segment, but Toyota has included this convenience- and safety-enhancing feature for no extra charge on the 2024 model.

The Kia Telluride is no slouch in the safety department and offers some unique features, but it simply can’t match the Highlander when it comes to standard equipment. The Telluride features all the expected safety tech like lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and blind-spot monitoring, but the automatic high-beam headlights will cost you a little extra. Other optional safety features include a 360-degree camera for easy parking, and an interesting blind-spot view monitor that displays a live feed of the Telluride’s blind spot on the digital gauge cluster. These are both impressive upgrades, but locking them away as optional features puts the Telluride at a disadvantage when compared to the Highlander.

The Toyota Highlander has long set the bar for what a three-row midsize SUV can be, and the 2024 model is no exception. With a long list of standard safety equipment, an efficient pair of engines, and the sort of reliability that can only come from Toyota, the Highlander will provide some valuable peace of mind while navigating the busy streets of New York. The Telluride is a worthwhile addition to the midsize segment but fails to match the Highlander in some key areas, such as fuel economy. Kia’s crossover shows some promise and might one day be considered a worthy adversary to the Highlander. However, it’s still too early for the Telluride to give the Toyota a serious run for its money. The lack of a hybrid model might be the Telluride’s most glaring omission. Frankly, it is a little hard to fathom in an age where electrification has been proven to offer many benefits in performance and efficiency. If you want to learn more about the handy Highlander or explore the rest of Toyota’s dependable cars, trucks, and SUVs, contact us or stop by Toyota of Manhattan today.