2024 Kia Telluride vs 2024 Land Rover Defender

The 2024 Kia Telluride was available in five core trim levels: LX, S, EX, SX, and SX Prestige. The X-Line treatment could be added to all but the LX and S trims, while the X-Pro package was reserved for the top two trims. The X-Line package equipped the Telluride with standard all-wheel drive (AWD), a center locking differential, increased ground clearance, improved approach and departure angles, unique grille and wheel designs, and roof rails. The X-Pro package further enhanced the vehicle with 18-inch matte-black wheels, all-terrain tires, and heavy-duty engine cooling, increasing the towing capacity to 5,500 pounds. Prices ranged from $35,990 for the LX to $53,185 for the SX Prestige with the X-Pro package, excluding the destination charge. The SX Prestige with the X-Line package, featuring Wolf Gray paint and floor mats, had an MSRP of $54,270, including the destination charge. The Telluride's styling updates maintained its attractive forms and proportions, with the Wolf Gray paint complementing the blacked-out X-Line styling. The interior featured premium Nappa leather seats, with various color options available to complement the simulated open-pore wood trim.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender combined a classic boxy profile with modern features like angular headlights, connecting it visually to other Land Rover models. The interior, however, was more rugged and adventure-ready, 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, with trims including S, X-Dynamic SE, X, Carpathian Edition, and Outbound. The Defender 110 S, the most popular configuration, featured the County visual package with 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 styling and features, with the latter providing added cargo space by removing the third row.

The 2024 Kia Telluride was powered by a 3.8-liter V6 engine producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It offered a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds, which increased to 5,500 pounds with the X-Pro package. The AWD version included a locking center differential and various driving modes, including Snow, Comfort, Sport, and Smart. The Telluride had a ground clearance of 8.0 inches, which increased to 8.4 inches with the X-Line and X-Pro packages. It provided a smooth and refined driving experience, with responsive steering and brakes. However, its fuel efficiency was a downside, with an EPA rating of 20 mpg in combined driving for AWD versions, but real-world testing showed lower figures. Despite this, the Telluride's driving dynamics were commendable, offering a firm ride at lower speeds and a compliant ride at higher velocities. It was also capable off-road, handling various terrains with ease.

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. The 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 Defender's towing capacity varied, with the six-cylinder and eight-cylinder powertrains allowing up to 7,716 pounds, while the four-cylinder version could tow up to 5,500 pounds. The Defender excelled in off-road capabilities, with features like adaptive air suspension, Terrain Response 2 system, electronic differential, and all-terrain progress control. The P400 test model provided ample power for highway speeds and passing maneuvers, though it exhibited some lurching at low speeds. Overall, the Defender offered a pleasant on-road ride with minimal body roll.

The 2024 Kia Telluride offered a comfortable interior, especially in higher trim levels. The SX Prestige X-Line test vehicle featured premium Nappa leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats with lumbar massage, heated and ventilated second-row captain’s chairs, and a third-row seat suitable for adults. A dual sunroof panel added light to the interior. The controls were oriented horizontally, with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system that was easy to use. However, the metallic finish buttons were hard to read in bright sunlight. The Telluride included thoughtful details like a digital instrumentation panel with scenic landscape views, generous storage space, and a hands-free power liftgate. Cargo space was ample, with 21 cubic feet behind the third row, 46 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 87 cubic feet. The X-Line and X-Pro offered useful roof rails for additional storage.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender blended luxury and functionality, featuring soft-touch materials, grip handles, rubberized floors, and numerous cargo compartments. The multifunctional climate control dials required an additional button press to switch between temperature and fan speed adjustments. Seating capacity varied between five and eight passengers, depending on the configuration and body style. The Defender 110 offered an optional third row, while the Defender 130 provided three seats in the third row, though space was limited. Cargo capacity depended on the 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. 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 2024 Kia Telluride came equipped with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, requiring a cable for Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. An active Kia Connect subscription was needed for voice recognition. The test vehicle's Kia Connect subscription was inactive, but past experiences showed it worked well. Kia Connect offered four plans, with the Ultimate plan costing $199 annually. Features included remote engine starting, climate pre-conditioning, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and over-the-air updates. The test vehicle also had satellite radio, wireless smartphone charging, and a 10-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. Additional features included a blue-light filter, Quiet Mode, a digital key function, a camera-based rearview mirror, a 10-inch head-up display, and a 360-degree camera system.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender featured a 12.3-inch fully digital instrument panel and an 11.4-inch touchscreen. The touchscreen, though smaller than some competitors, was simple and suited the Defender's utilitarian persona. It came standard with navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, satellite radio, HD radio, and a 10-speaker Meridian stereo system. The straightforward setup provided a blend of refinement and utility, with home buttons on the left and right rails for easy navigation.

The 2024 Kia Telluride impressed with its standard Kia Drive Wise collection of driver assistance features, including collision avoidance, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear occupant protection. Highway Driving Assist was standard, offering a semi-autonomous driving system with adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist. Safety feature upgrades varied by trim level, with options like front parking sensors, cross-traffic alert, evasive steering assist, lane-change assist, and automatic rear braking. The Telluride received a five-star overall crash test rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender came with an extensive list of standard driver assistance features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Other standard safety tech included 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 they could be deactivated. As of this writing, the Defender had not been crash-tested by the IIHS or NHTSA.