2024 Kia Telluride vs 2024 Toyota Sienna

The 2024 Kia Telluride, offered in five core trims—LX, S, EX, SX, and SX Prestige—provided a blend of rugged and refined design elements to stand out in the saturated SUV market. Kia added the X-Line treatment to all but the base LX and S trims, contributing features like standard all-wheel drive (AWD) with a center locking differential, an increase in ground clearance from 8.0 to 8.4 inches, enhanced approach and departure angles, unique grille and 20-inch wheel designs, and roof rails. The X-Pro package, available only on the higher trims, added 18-inch matte-black wheels with all-terrain tires and heavy-duty engine cooling, bumping up the towing capacity to 5,500 pounds.

Price points varied significantly, from $35,990 for the base LX trim to $53,185 for the top-tier SX Prestige with the added X-Pro package. Our test vehicle featured the SX Prestige X-Line setup, bringing its MSRP to $54,270 with the additional Wolf Gray paint and floor mats.

Although the styling updates were not universally appeasing, the Telluride’s fundamental forms and proportions held strong appeal. The blacked-out X-Line styling, especially with the Wolf Gray paint, added to its rugged charm. Inside, the test vehicle sported a black interior with premium Nappa leather seats, although darker and less inviting compared to other options like Mahogany brown and Sage Green. Even with minor drawbacks like shiny plastic lower interior portions, the soft leather, artificial suede headliner, dual-screen 24-inch display panel, metallic accents, and thoughtful details brought the Telluride close to luxury SUV standards.

Meanwhile, the 2024 Toyota Sienna, available in LE, XLE, XSE, Woodland Edition, Limited, and Platinum trims, maintained a distinctive look that resonated well with family-centric buyers. Despite fierce competition from rivals like the Kia Carnival, the Sienna's sleek front and rear fascias coupled with vibrant colors like deep blue, red, and green imparted a certain charm. Signature features included standard LED lighting with upper trims boasting Bi-LED projector headlamps.

Our XSE tester showcased a sporty appeal with its black metallic mesh front grille, black heated side mirrors, and 20-inch dark wheels. The unique Woodland Edition stood out with its off-road readiness, thanks to roof rails with crossbars, a tow hitch, and slightly increased ground clearance to 6.9 inches.

Inside, the Sienna came standard with cloth seats and three-zone climate control but our XSE with the optional Premium package featured heated and cooled leather-trimmed front seats along with two second-row captain’s chairs that replaced the bench seat, reducing potential seating to seven. While the Sienna stopped short of luxury, its horizontal design lines, nifty satin accents, and numerous cup holders and cubby spaces made it both functional and family-friendly. Notably, upper trims offered a built-in vacuum cleaner—a practical addition for families with young children.

With a robust 3.8-liter V6 engine, the 2024 Kia Telluride packed a punch, delivering 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. Power was transferred either to the front or all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. Most Tellurides managed a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds, extendable to 5,500 pounds with the X-Pro package that included heavy-duty engine cooling.

The Telluride’s AWD models featured a locking center differential, facilitating power distribution between front and rear wheels at low speeds. This was complemented by a Snow driving mode alongside Comfort, Sport, and Smart modes. With a ground clearance of 8.4 inches in X-Line and X-Pro packages, it also integrated a self-leveling rear suspension. The Telluride provided solid acceleration for highway merging and passing, though its fuel economy was less impressive, averaging just 19 mpg in combined driving per EPA estimates, and observed efficiency of 17.5 mpg during extensive city driving.

Despite its potential bulkiness, the Telluride maneuvered with agility, thanks to brake-induced Torque Vectoring Cornering Control and 20-inch wheels and tires. The SUV’s steering responsiveness and brake performance remained commendable. Although the Telluride offered a firm ride at lower speeds on city streets, it transitioned to a more compliant feel at higher velocities, adeptly handling pavement undulations on winding roads.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna featured a hybrid powertrain comprising a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and dual electric motors, producing a combined output of 245 horsepower. AWD variants allocated one electric motor to the rear wheels. While the Sienna’s performance was not thrilling, it was serviceable. Its CVT offered smooth but relatively slow acceleration, especially noticeable when merging onto highways or climbing mountainous roads.

Around town, the Sienna’s drive was largely uneventful but smooth, with Normal and Eco modes being the most effective. An EV mode allowed for silent, slow-speed cruising in tight spaces like parking lots. While the CVT sometimes became noisy and the brakes could be grabby, the steering was accurate and visibility excellent. However, for those who prioritized performance, alternatives like the Honda Odyssey, Kia Carnival, or Chrysler Pacifica with their robust V6 powertrains were more invigorating choices.

The 2024 Kia Telluride excelled in comfort and practicality, particularly in higher trim levels. Our SX Prestige X-Line test model featured premium Nappa leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front and second-row seats, and a third-row seat amenable for adult passengers. A dual sunroof brightened the otherwise dark interior. Kia’s horizontally oriented controls were easy to navigate, and the 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, while effective, relied partially on physical buttons which were sometimes hard to read in bright light.

Innovative details like the adjustable 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel that mirrored real-time landscapes added a pleasant aesthetic touch. The Telluride provided generous storage options, including a covered cubby, smartphone tray, and roomy door panel bins. A hands-free power liftgate, safe and convenient in various situations, facilitated easier access to the cargo area.

The Telluride’s cargo capacity was substantial with 21 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 46 cubic feet with the seats down, and a maximum of 87 cubic feet overall. For additional storage, the X-Line and X-Pro packages included practical roof rails.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna emphasized family-friendly features with practical storage solutions. Up front, the Sienna boasted a lower storage pass-through for bulkier items, supplemented by multiple cup holders and a shelf with an available wireless charging pad. Powered sliding doors in the second row were a boon for convenience.

Second-row captain’s chairs in upper trims could slide fore and aft, providing up to 40 inches of legroom. However, the non-removable seats limited maximum cargo capacity relative to other minivans. For third-row access, the second row’s complex slide function might pose a challenge, but legroom was adequate with the second row adjusted forward.

Standard tri-zone climate control, with an additional zone on the XSE trim, ensured no more temperature disputes. The Sienna’s cargo space excelled with 33.5 cubic feet behind the third row, 75 cubic feet with it folded, and a maximum of 101 cubic feet of storage with both rows stowed.

The 2024 Kia Telluride impressed with its 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. However, users needed a cable for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a minor inconvenience. Wireless Bluetooth pairing was seamless, and the infotainment system offered a blue-light filter to reduce eye strain, a Quiet Mode for serene back-seat environments, and functions like driver’s voice projection to rear-seat occupants.

Kia also provided smart connectivity through Kia Connect with plans that included features like 911 Connect and over-the-air updates. The test vehicle featured satellite radio, wireless smartphone charging, and a 10-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. Additional tech highlights included a digital key function and comprehensive camera-based systems like a rearview mirror and 360-degree camera.

In contrast, the 2024 Toyota Sienna lagged with its older nine-inch touchscreen infotainment system, still utilising wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. While physical buttons for common menus were a plus, the back-up camera’s grainy display was a notable drawback. Analog gauges coupled with a seven-inch digital display provided basic information, but might not satisfy tech-savvy drivers.

Standard tech included a Wi-Fi hotspot, SiriusXM satellite radio, and an optional JBL stereo system. A rear-camera mirror and a rear-seat entertainment system were available on higher trims. Importantly, USB ports and a 1500-watt inverter with outlets in the second row and rear cargo area enhanced versatility, although switching them on required driver action.

Safety in the 2024 Kia Telluride was addressed robustly through its Kia Drive Wise suite. This included collision avoidance, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear occupant protection as standard. Higher trims featured enhancements like front parking sensors, cross-traffic alert, and automatic rear braking. The available Highway Driving Assist 2.0 added semi-autonomous driving capabilities, though its performance in heavy or inclined traffic left room for improvement.

Despite its minor shortcomings, the Telluride secured impressive safety ratings—a five-star overall crash test rating from NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from IIHS.

Similarly, the 2024 Toyota Sienna was well-equipped with the Toyota Safety Sense suite, offering lane departure alert, automatic emergency braking, road sign recognition, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams as standard. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert also came included.

While most systems worked well, the lane-keeping assist function occasionally induced mild side-to-side movement. The Sienna housed plenty of airbags, including side curtain airbags for all rows, and reminders for rear seat occupants added to the safety feature. It garnered commendable ratings, with four out of five stars in frontal crash and rollover protection from NHTSA, and top scores in crashworthiness and child restraint systems from IIHS, although its front crash prevention was rated as “Average.”