2024 Kia Telluride vs 2023 Toyota RAV4

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 was offered in six trim levels, ranging from the economical RAV4 LE to the more luxurious RAV4 Limited, and included two trims tailored for off-road adventures. It stayed true to its 2019 design, especially with the Adventure and TRD Off-Road trims, which maintained a distinct two-part face. Our Adventure trim test model featured a more aggressively styled grille with the Toyota badge positioned near its center, blacked-out wheels, a faux skid plate, and pronounced black cladding around the wheel arches. Despite its rugged appearance, the Adventure trim was more style than substance in off-road capabilities. The interior of this trim flaunted orange accents, with stripes and contrast stitching on the seats and orange plastic borders around the center console. The frameless rearview mirror added a touch of premium feel to an otherwise utilitarian interior.

In contrast, the 2024 Kia Telluride was available in five core trim levels: LX, S, EX, SX, and SX Prestige, with the rugged X-Line and X-Pro packages adding more flair and functionality to certain trims. Our test drive in the SX Prestige X-Line provided a great example of the model's premium cockpit, featuring black interior with Nappa leather seats. Depending on the trim, buyers could choose from a range of interior colors including Mahogany brown, Terracotta brown, light gray over black or dark blue, and Sage Green. These various colors complemented the simulated open-pore wood trim and helped mask the less appealing plastic portions of the interior. The exterior, finished in Wolf Gray with blacked-out X-Line accents, maintained the Telluride’s fundamentally attractive form and commanding proportions.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 came with a standard front-wheel drive except for the Adventure and TRD Off-Road trims, which defaulted to all-wheel drive. Any trim could be upgraded to AWD, which added a Snow Mode. The sole engine option for the gas-powered RAV4 was a 2.5-liter four-cylinder producing 203 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. While this combination was robust, it didn’t excel in acceleration and could be somewhat noisy at high revs. The RAV4 Adventure featured 19-inch wheels with all-season tires, but its true off-road sibling, the TRD Off-Road, boasted 18-inch wheels with Falken All-Terrain tires and a TRD-tuned suspension.

By contrast, the Telluride 2024 was powered by a 3.8-liter V6 engine that generated 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, managed through an eight-speed automatic transmission. Tellurides equipped with the X-Pro package upped the ante with heavy-duty engine cooling, increasing the max towing capacity to 5,500 pounds. AWD models included a locking center differential and multiple driving modes such as Comfort, Sport, and Snow. Our test drive highlighted the Telluride’s easy highway speed acceleration, proficient passing power, yet mediocre fuel efficiency—averaging 17.5 mpg in mixed driving conditions. The Telluride handled admirably on winding roads and maintained a comfortable ride on varied terrains, thanks to its robust suspension.

The RAV4’s interior was designed to seat five, offering 37.7 inches of headroom in the front and 39.5 inches in the back. Front leg room measured 41 inches, while the second row had 37.8 inches. The RAV4’s rear seat was narrower compared to competitors, but it excelled in front passenger storage with features like a glove compartment-length shelf and spacious door pockets. Cargo capacity was a respectable 37.5 cubic feet behind the second row, expanding to 69.8 cubic feet with the seats folded.

The Telluride excelled in passenger comfort with a feature-rich cabin that included Nappa leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front and second-row seats, and a third row that even adults could use comfortably. The dual sunroof enhanced the cabin's spacious feel. The horizontally-oriented control layout was user-friendly, though some metallic buttons could be hard to read in bright light. The hands-free power liftgate provided convenient access to the impressive cargo space: 21 cubic feet behind the third row, 46 cubic feet with the third-row folded, and a substantial 87 cubic feet with both the second and third rows down. Additionally, the X-Line and X-Pro packages added functional roof rails for extra storage.

For 2023, the RAV4 received a much-needed upgrade in infotainment technology. It featured an 8.0-inch touchscreen as standard, with a 10.5-inch touchscreen available on higher trims. The new system supported over-the-air updates, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and voice command capabilities. Our Adventure trim tester included the upgraded multimedia system with an 11-speaker JBL Premium audio system.

The 2024 Telluride came standard with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Though wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were required, the system was intuitive and user-friendly. The Telluride also had additional tech bonuses like a camera-based rearview mirror, a 10-inch head-up display, and a 360-degree camera system. Kia’s thoughtful features included blue-light filters, Quiet Mode for the stereo, and a digital key function.

The RAV4 2023 model's standard safety features included lane-departure warning with steering assist, automatic emergency braking, automatic high-beam LED headlights, and a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection. It came with adaptive cruise control, while blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert was available on base models and standard on higher trims. The RAV4 earned a Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS.

Kia’s Telluride 2024 came with a comprehensive suite of standard driver assistance features, including collision avoidance, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear occupant protection. Higher trims added features like front parking sensors, cross-traffic alert, and evasive steering assist. The Telluride also received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall crash test rating from NHTSA.