Compared: 2024 Kia Telluride vs. 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander
The new Toyota SUV is bigger and more efficient, but at a cost.
Toyota | Kia
QuickTakes:
With plenty of space inside and attention-getting styling outside, the 2024 Kia Telluride and 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander are compelling three-row crossover SUVs. The differences are in the details, though. Here's how these two choices stack up.
Kia
The Telluride's Pricing Undercuts the Grand Highlander
The 2024 Kia Telluride is the more affordable option here, with a starting price of $38,000 for the entry-level, front-wheel-drive LX model. If you're after leather upholstery, heated front seats, and a sunroof, the Telluride EX, priced at around $43,000, may be worth the splurge.
All in, the SX Prestige X-Pro at the top of the range has swankier leather, heated and ventilated front and middle seats, dual sunroofs, and Harman Kardon audio for about $55,000. Adding all-wheel drive (AWD) runs about $2,000.
Toyota
The Toyota Grand Highlander starts at just under $45,000 for the FWD base XLE trim level, though with synthetic leather upholstery, heated front seats, and 10-way power adjustment for the driver, it's generously outfitted.
The Limited model is about $50,000, which buys heated second-row seats, a foot-activated power liftgate, and bigger wheels. With more leather trim, JBL audio, and AWD (which costs about $1,700 on lower trims), the top Platinum model is around $55,000.
Toyota also offers two hybrid powertrains for the Grand Highlander, with the standard hybrid model starting at about $46,000 and the more powerful Hybrid MAX models starting at around $56,000.
Toyota
Grand Highlander Has More Cargo Space Inside
Both crossovers feature a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. However, the Toyota includes standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity while the Kia requires plugging in. Higher trim levels of both vehicles offer 12.3-inch instrument cluster screens, head-up displays, heated seats in the front and second rows, a heated steering wheel, and a sunroof, though only Kia has a rugged-looking trim level called X-Pro.
As family vehicles, the Grand Highlander and Telluride's cargo and passenger space are key. The Grand Highlander has a bit less cargo room behind the third row, with just 20.6 cubic-feet compared with 21 cu-ft in the Telluride.
The Grand Highlander is more practical in all other configurations, however, with 57.9 cubes behind the second row and 97.5 when all seats are folded. The Telluride, meanwhile, serves up 46 cu-ft behind the second row and 87 when all seats are down.
While the Grand Highlander is larger than the Telluride, it has a bit less passenger space in the second row of seats: 39.5 inches of legroom versus 42.4 for the Kia. Its third row, however, is more accommodating than the Telluride's: 33.5 inches compared with 31.4.
Kia
Grand Highlander's Available Hybrid Makes It a Thriftier Choice
The Toyota scores big with its fuel-efficient powertrain, as it uses a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine making 265 horsepower that's paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
This combination is EPA-rated to deliver 21/28/24 mpg in city/highway/combined driving in front-wheel-drive form, while the AWD XLE gets 1 mpg fewer on the highway and combined figures.
The AWD Limited and Platinum models top out at 20/26/22 mpg. Those buyers focused on impressive fuel economy should might one of the hybrid models, which can net up to 37/34/36 mpg.
The Telluride has more power with its 291-hp V6 engine but is less efficient. The FWD model is EPA test-rated at 20/26/22 mpg, and the AWD model is 2 mpg lower across the board.
