Toyota Grand Highlander vs Kia Telluride Hybrid

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was a standout in Toyota's lineup of crossovers and SUVs, offering a range of options from all-gas to hybrid-powered models. Built on the TNGA-K platform, it shared its underpinnings with the regular Highlander, RAV4, Sienna, and Camry, distinguishing itself from the body-on-frame Sequoia. With a length of 201.4 inches and a 116.1-inch wheelbase, it was larger than the Kia Telluride, providing a spacious interior. Its design, inspired by rugged vehicles, featured a conservative yet blocky style, reminiscent of the Ford Explorer and Kia Telluride. The Grand Highlander was available in three trims: XLE, Limited, and Platinum, with interior options ranging from Softex synthetic leather to real leather in higher trims. It offered a comfortable and well-built interior, making it an excellent choice for road trips.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid presented a bold reinterpretation of its design, with a grille that divided opinions due to its flat, faceless look. The vehicle's personality varied with color and trim level, with body-colored vertical strakes that blended harmoniously in darker shades. The X-Line and X-Pro models featured distinctive grille blocks and amber accent lights. The side profile showcased unique faceted fender sculpting and black plastic tabs atop each wheel well. The rear view adopted a different style, resembling a Range Rover with rounded corners and vertical taillights. Inside, the Telluride's interior was simple and modern, with a horizontal dashboard layout. The Hybrid SX Prestige trim offered a luxurious two-tone palette, though the labeling on buttons was difficult to read. The seats, covered in synthetic leather and suede, provided comfort, though the cushions were somewhat firm for long drives.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander offered three engine options. The base model featured a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 265 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. A 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid option delivered 245 combined net horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque. The top-tier Hybrid Max powertrain, a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder hybrid, produced 362 combined net horsepower and 400 combined net lb-ft of torque. Both gas and hybrid engines were available with front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD), while the Hybrid Max was AWD only. The Hybrid Max offered impressive acceleration with a zero-to-60 time of 6.3 seconds. The Grand Highlander was known for its solid brakes and adequate acceleration, though its steering feel was somewhat numb. It featured three drive modes: Sport, Eco, and Normal, with additional modes for AWD-equipped models.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid was powered by a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 274 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. The Hybrid model added electric motors, increasing output to 329 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque. It was paired with a six-speed transmission and was not available in the off-road-capable X-Pro trims. The Telluride Hybrid offered a quiet ride, with seamless transitions between electric and gas power. Both Telluride models were tuned for comfort, delivering a smooth ride. The X-Pro Prestige trim provided a comfortable ride despite its off-road suspension, while the Hybrid SX Prestige had a stiffer ride with its 20-inch wheels. The Telluride was composed on winding roads, though not particularly sporty. The brake pedal effort was soft, but brake response was immediate during panic stops.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was larger than its primary rivals, measuring 201.4 inches long with a 116.1-inch wheelbase. It offered a total cargo capacity of 97.5 cubic feet, surpassing the Kia Telluride. With seats in position, it provided 57.9 cubic feet behind the second row and 20.6 cubic feet with all three rows up. The Grand Highlander was spacious and comfortable, with ample headroom, legroom, and shoulder room in every row. Even the third row accommodated six-foot adults comfortably.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid provided ample space for adults in all three rows, though the rearmost row was better suited for smaller passengers. The seat cushions were low to the floor, reducing thigh support, but headroom and legroom were adequate. The second row featured power-adjustable seats with heating and ventilation in the Hybrid SX Prestige trim. The middle-row seats offered significant travel fore and aft, allowing for more cargo or third-row legroom. The Telluride could hold up to 22.3 cubic feet of cargo behind the third row, with a total capacity of 89.3 cubic feet. The Hybrid models lost only about one cubic foot of cargo space. The Telluride featured a large center bin, deployable cupholders, and additional storage options throughout the cabin.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander came equipped with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. It featured an intelligent assistant, cloud-based navigation, and 24/7 live agent assistance via a connected-services subscription. Standard features included dual-device Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Limited and Platinum trims came with an 11-speaker JBL stereo. Streaming audio integration was available, along with Sirius XM satellite radio and Wi-Fi Connect package options.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, and a 5-inch touchscreen for climate controls. The infotainment system included native navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, along with dual wireless phone chargers. The system was easy to use, though it required a firm tap to register inputs. The Telluride offered customizable themes for the infotainment screen and a 14-speaker Meridian premium audio system in the SX trim and above.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander had not been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS at the time of writing. However, it included Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 as standard, featuring automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert, lane-tracing assist, road-sign recognition, and blind-spot monitoring. Adaptive cruise control with four following-distance settings was also standard.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid had not been rated by the NHTSA or IIHS either. It included standard advanced safety features such as frontal collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and parking proximity sensors. Higher trims offered additional features like a surround-view camera system and automatic reverse braking. The Telluride also featured a driver attention monitor, though it occasionally triggered false alerts at night.