2023 Kia Telluride vs 2024 Toyota RAV4

During our time in Texas, we experienced the 2023 Kia Telluride X-Line and X-Pro models, which showcased fresh front and rear styling, updated headlights and taillights, and new wheel designs. The Telluride offered new paint colors like Midnight Lake Blue, Dawning Red, and Jungle Green, along with interior colors such as Terracotta, Navy, and Sage Green. The X-Line replaced the Nightfall Edition, featuring a raised suspension, unique grille design, and black 20-inch wheels, while the X-Pro added exclusive 18-inch wheels and all-terrain tires, enhancing its off-road appeal. Inside, the Telluride boasted a digital instrumentation panel and a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, housed under a curved 24-inch glass piece, pushing the SUV into a modern era.

The 2023 Telluride's interior updates were subtle, with new colors, minor trim changes, and a redesigned steering wheel. The center console was made more functional, and both the X-Line and X-Pro had their trim names embossed on the front seatbacks. Available in LX, S, EX, SX, and SX Prestige trims, the Telluride's pricing started at $35,690 for the LX with FWD, reaching $52,785 for the SX Prestige X-Pro with AWD, excluding a $1,335 destination charge. We tested two SX Prestige models, one in Wolf Gray with X-Line trim and another in Midnight Lake Blue with X-Pro trim, priced at $54,120 and $55,120, respectively.

The 2024 Toyota RAV4 aimed to project a rugged image with its aggressive styling, including angular gray body cladding and dual exhaust outlets. The TRD Off-Road model, which we tested, topped the lineup with a base price of $38,295 plus a $1,350 destination charge. It featured Army Green paint, a digital rearview mirror, and the Advanced Technology and Weather option packages, bringing the MSRP to $41,925. The RAV4's interior emphasized practicality, with storage shelves, trays, and oversized rubberized control knobs. The TRD Off-Road trim included SofTex artificial leather upholstery, an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, and optional heated and ventilated front seats.

The RAV4 accommodated four adults comfortably, with a rear seat that offered good legroom and footroom, despite feeling a bit low. The cargo area provided 37.6 cubic feet of space, expanding to 69.8 cubic feet with the seats folded, competitive for its segment. The RAV4's power liftgate revealed a spacious cargo area, and the test model included rear air conditioning vents, USB charging ports, and a fold-down center armrest with cupholders.

The 2023 Kia Telluride retained its mechanical prowess with a 3.8-liter V6 engine producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It offered driving modes like Eco, Comfort, Smart, Sport, and Snow, with an AWD system featuring a low-speed Lock setting for power distribution. The V6 provided ample motivation, averaging 24.1 mpg in the X-Line during a mix of highway and twisty roads, while the X-Pro returned 20.4 mpg, including off-roading. Official EPA ratings for the AWD Telluride were 21 mpg combined.

Kia enhanced the Telluride's off-road capabilities with a raised suspension, increased ground clearance to 8.4 inches, and improved approach and departure angles. The X-Pro model, equipped with 18-inch wheels and all-terrain tires, excelled off-road, showcasing features like the AWD Lock mode, Downhill Brake Control system, and forward camera view system. On highways, the Telluride offered a smooth ride, with some wind noise at high speeds and a slightly squishy feel in turns due to the off-road tires.

The 2024 Toyota RAV4 featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The TRD Off-Road model came with AWD, off-road suspension tuning, an underbody skid plate, and all-terrain tires on 18-inch matte-black TRD alloy wheels. It offered Multi-Terrain Select with Normal, Snow, Mud & Sand, and Rock & Dirt driving modes, but shared the same 8.6 inches of ground clearance as other RAV4 models.

The RAV4's off-road suspension excelled in daily commutes, absorbing bumps and imperfections. The steering and brakes were well-tuned, and the all-terrain tires performed adequately on the road. The RAV4's engine, while powerful for its class, was loud and unrefined, but the eight-speed automatic and engine reliability compensated for this. The TRD Off-Road model's EPA rating was 28 mpg combined, with an observed 26.6 mpg during testing.

The 2023 Kia Telluride offered seating for seven or eight passengers, with premium Nappa leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, and heated and ventilated front- and second-row captain's chairs in the SX Prestige trim. The interior was spacious, with comfortable front seats and a power lumbar stabilization system for long trips. The second-row seats featured manual sunshades, USB ports, and storage pockets, while the third-row was more comfortable than many competitors.

The Telluride provided ample storage space, with a "smart" power tailgate and an automatic closing function. Cargo space was generous, with 21 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 46 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 87 cubic feet with both rear rows down.

The 2024 Toyota RAV4 emphasized practicality with its interior design, featuring storage shelves, trays, and oversized control knobs. The TRD Off-Road trim included SofTex artificial leather upholstery and an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat. The RAV4 accommodated four adults comfortably, with a rear seat offering good legroom and footroom.

The RAV4's cargo area provided 37.6 cubic feet of space, expanding to 69.8 cubic feet with the seats folded. The power liftgate revealed a spacious cargo area, and the test model included rear air conditioning vents, USB charging ports, and a fold-down center armrest with cupholders.

The 2023 Kia Telluride came standard with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, featuring Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and Kia Connect services. The voice recognition system performed well, though climate control adjustments required manual input. The Kia Access app allowed remote control of vehicle functions, and over-the-air updates kept the system current.

The Telluride included Driver Talk and Quiet Mode, a 10-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, wireless smartphone charging, and digital-key technology. A Full Display Mirror and a head-up display with a 10-inch viewing area were available, along with a Leading Vehicle Departure Alert system.

The 2024 Toyota RAV4 featured the Toyota Audio Multimedia system with an 8-inch or optional 10.5-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio. It offered five connected services plans, including Service Connect and Safety Connect for ten years, and Remote Connect and Drive Connect for one year.

The RAV4's infotainment system included a cloud-based navigation system, digital voice assistant, and Wi-Fi Connect with a three-month data plan. The system lacked a multi-panel Home screen and had a delicate font that was hard to read. The digital voice assistant performed well, but had issues with volume and parsing data for specific requests.

The 2023 Kia Telluride offered a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including forward-collision warning, pedestrian and cyclist detection, and a junction turning system. It also included blind-spot monitoring, rear parking sensors, and lane-keeping assist. Adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability and Highway Drive Assist 1.5 were standard, with Highway Drive Assist 2.0 available on higher trims.

The Telluride featured automatic high-beam headlights, a driver attention warning system, and a Rear Occupant Alert system. The forward collision warning system was effective, and Highway Drive Assist 2.0 performed well in stop-and-go traffic. Crash-test ratings were unavailable at the time of review.

The 2024 Toyota RAV4 came with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5, but the base LE trim lacked blind-spot monitoring. The adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist systems were adequate, though the latter struggled on curvy roads. The adaptive cruise control managed distances well, but braking was often excessive.

The RAV4 lost its Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS due to a Marginal rating in the small overlap frontal-impact crash test and an Acceptable rating in the side-impact test. These results highlighted the need for an updated RAV4 design.