2023 Kia Telluride vs 2024 Land Rover Defender

During our time in Texas, we sampled the new 2023 Kia Telluride X-Line and X-Pro models. All Tellurides received fresh front and rear styling, updated headlights and taillights, and new wheel designs. New paint colors included Midnight Lake Blue, Dawning Red, and Jungle Green, while the interior offered new colors like Terracotta, Navy, and Sage Green. The X-Line replaced the Nightfall Edition, featuring a raised suspension, unique grille design, raised roof rails, body-color door handles, and black 20-inch wheels. The X-Pro went further with exclusive 18-inch wheels and all-terrain tires, giving both models a mildly aggressive off-roader look.

Inside, the Telluride's updates were less obvious but significant. The most notable change was the available digital instrumentation panel and the standard 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, housed under a curved 24-inch piece of glass. Other interior changes included new colors, minor trim updates, a new steering-wheel design, and a more functional center console. Both the X-Line and X-Pro had their trim names embossed into the upper portion of the front seatbacks. The Telluride was available in various trims, with prices starting at $35,690 for the LX with front-wheel drive and rising to $52,785 for the SX Prestige X-Pro with all-wheel drive.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender combined an old-school, boxy profile with modern features like angular headlights, visually connecting it to other Land Rover vehicles. The interior felt more durable and adventure-ready compared to other Land Rovers, resembling a Jeep Wrangler or Ford Bronco but with more soft-touch materials. The Defender was offered in three body styles: the two-door 90, the four-door 110, and the extended-wheelbase four-door 130, each available in various trims, including S, X-Dynamic SE, X, Carpathian Edition, and Outbound.

We drove the Defender 110 S, the most popular configuration, which came with the County visual package featuring white wheels and vintage graphics. Standard features on the S trim included 19-inch alloy wheels, power-adjustable front seats, heated front seats, partial leather upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control, a panoramic glass roof, and a heated and power-adjustable steering wheel. The X-Dynamic SE trim added 20-inch alloy wheels and distinctive styling touches, while the X trim included a digital rearview mirror camera and partial Windsor leather upholstery. The Carpathian Edition and Outbound trims offered unique features, with the latter removing the third row for added cargo space.

Mechanically, the 2023 Kia Telluride remained largely unchanged, featuring a 3.8-liter V6 engine producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Drivers could select from Eco, Comfort, Smart, Sport, and Snow driving modes, with the available all-wheel-drive system offering a low-speed Lock setting for even power distribution. The V6 easily motivated the Telluride, averaging 24.1 mpg in the X-Line and 20.4 mpg in the X-Pro, which included off-roading. The Telluride's suspension was raised by 10mm, ground clearance increased to 8.4 inches, and the traction control system was modified for improved off-road performance. The X-Pro model featured 18-inch wheels, all-terrain tires, and an improved cooling system, increasing towing capacity to 5,500 pounds.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender offered several powertrains, starting with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the P300, producing 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Our P400 test model featured a mild-hybrid turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six, delivering 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. Two supercharged 5.0-liter V8 engine options, the P500 and P525, produced 493 hp and 450 lb-ft of torque, and 518 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque, respectively. All engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time active four-wheel drive. The six-cylinder and eight-cylinder powertrains allowed the Defender to tow up to 7,716 pounds, while the four-cylinder version could tow up to 5,500 pounds.

The most powerful V8 in the Defender 110 Carpathian Edition accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 5.1 seconds. The Defender's off-road capabilities were impressive, especially in models like the Defender X, which included an adaptive air suspension system, Terrain Response 2 system, electronic differential, and all-terrain progress control. Our P400 test model had plenty of power for highway speeds and passing maneuvers, with a pleasant on-road ride and minimal body roll.

The 2023 Kia Telluride accommodated seven or eight passengers, depending on the second-row seating configuration. Our test vehicles featured premium Nappa leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, and heated and ventilated front- and second-row captain’s chairs. The second-row seats were comfortable, with manual side-window sunshades, adjustable inboard armrests, USB ports, and storage pockets. The third-row seat was more comfortable than in some midsize SUVs, though not as spacious as the Volkswagen Atlas. Cargo space included 21 cubic feet behind the third row, 46 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 87 cubic feet with both rear rows folded.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender offered a blend of luxury and functionality, with soft-touch materials, grip handles, rubberized floors, and numerous cargo compartments. Seating capacity ranged from five to eight passengers, depending on the configuration and body style. The Defender 110 had an optional third row with two seats, while the Defender 130 had three seats in the third row, bringing the seating capacity to eight. Cargo capacity varied by model, with the Defender 130 offering 15.3 cubic feet behind the third row, 35.8 cubic feet behind the second row, and 76.1 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. The Defender 110 provided 34 cubic feet behind the second row and 78.8 cubic feet with the first row folded in the two-row version, and 10.7 cubic feet behind the third row, 34.6 cubic feet behind the second row, and 69 cubic feet with both rows folded in the three-row configuration. The two-door Defender 90 offered 15.6 cubic feet behind the second row and up to 58.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The 2023 Kia Telluride came standard with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, including Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, a navigation system, and Kia Connect services with a new Wi-Fi hotspot. The voice recognition system performed well, though it did not accept climate control commands. The Kia Access smartphone app allowed remote control of some vehicle functions, and over-the-air updates kept the infotainment system up to date. The Telluride also featured six USB charging ports, Driver Talk, Quiet Mode, a 10-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system, wireless smartphone charging, digital-key technology, a Full Display Mirror, and an optional head-up display.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender featured a 12.3-inch fully digital instrument panel and an 11.4-inch touchscreen, which included navigation, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Defender also came equipped with Bluetooth, satellite radio, HD radio, and a 10-speaker Meridian stereo system. The straightforward setup and home buttons on the left and right rails made the touchscreen easy to use, providing a blend of refinement and utility.

The 2023 Kia Telluride offered a long list of standard safety features, including forward-collision warning, pedestrian and cyclist detection, junction turning system, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear parking sensors, rear cross-traffic alert with automatic braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, Safe Exit Assist, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, Intelligent Speed Limit Assist, Highway Drive Assist 1.5, and Highway Drive Assist 2.0. The Telluride SX trim added front parking sensors, low-speed automatic braking while parking, a surround-view camera, and a Blind-Spot View Monitor. Other standard features included automatic high-beam headlights, a driver attention warning system, and a Rear Occupant Alert system.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender came with standard driver assistance features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, traffic sign recognition, automatic high beams, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and a 360-degree parking camera system. The lane-departure and lane-keeping assist features were a bit touchy but could be deactivated. As of this writing, the Defender had not been crash-tested by the IIHS or NHTSA.