Toyota Highlander vs Kia Telluride

The 2022 Toyota Highlander featured a modern and somewhat aggressive front-end design. Its flared fender arches and the way the third-row window kicked up a bit gave the vehicle a more compact appearance. However, once inside, it was clear that the Highlander boasted a roomy cabin, replete with clever storage solutions designed for items like iPads and juice boxes.

The XSE test car, in particular, stood out with its bold red leather interior, an option that contrasted playfully with a sedate navy blue exterior. The XSE also included unique exterior styling elements, ambient interior lighting, and a sport-tuned suspension. The Highlander trim options ranged from the base L to the luxurious Platinum, offering various features such as 18-inch alloy wheels, pushbutton start, three-zone climate control, and a power-adjustable driver’s seat as standard on the base L trim. Moving up the trims added more features such as LED fog lights, a smart key system, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and second-row sunshades. The higher trims like Limited and Platinum catered to more luxurious needs with offerings like heated and ventilated front seats, a hands-free power liftgate, and a panoramic sunroof.

On the other hand, the 2023 Kia Telluride emphasized a fresh look with updates to the front and rear styling, headlights, taillights, and new wheel designs. New paint colors such as Midnight Lake Blue, Dawning Red, and Jungle Green, as well as new interior colors like Terracotta, Navy, and Sage Green, allowed buyers to personalize their vehicles further.

The X-Line and X-Pro models replaced the Nightfall Edition, featuring raised suspensions, unique grille designs, raised roof rails, body-color door handles, and aggressive wheel designs. The X-Pro included exclusive 18-inch wheels and all-terrain tires, signaling its off-road capabilities. Interior updates included a digital instrumentation panel and a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system under a 24-inch curved glass.

Overall, both vehicles had high-quality interiors and exterior styling that catered to different tastes. The Highlander leaned towards a modern, somewhat aggressive look with a sporty interior, while the Telluride adopted a more rugged, off-road-ready appearance with sophisticated interior updates.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander came with a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque. The power was routed through an eight-speed automatic transmission to either front-wheel drive (FWD) or available all-wheel drive (AWD). The Highlander offered a tap-shift function and steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters in certain trims, coupled with a drive-mode button offering Sport, Normal, and Eco modes. An additional dial allowed selection among Mud/Sand, Rock, and Normal AWD modes.

Once on the move, the Highlander's V6 engine shined more in cruising or highway scenarios, offering plenty of pickup for overtakes. Its sport-tuned suspension in the XSE trim managed to reduce body roll without compromising ride comfort. The Highlander also supported a towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds and a max payload of 1,685 pounds, which was average for its class.

The 2023 Kia Telluride retained its 3.8-liter V6 engine that produced 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Drive modes included Eco, Comfort, Smart, Sport, and Snow, with an AWD system that offered a low-speed Lock setting for distributing power evenly between front and rear wheels.

The Telluride provided a smoother and more efficient driving experience with an average of 24.1 mpg in the X-Line and 20.4 mpg in the X-Pro, the latter including a half-hour of off-roading. Kia raised the suspension by 10mm, increasing ground clearance to 8.4 inches, and improved approach and departure angles for better off-road performance. The Telluride X-Pro further enhanced off-road capabilities with 18-inch wheels and all-terrain tires, bumping its towing capacity to an impressive 5,500 pounds.

Both vehicles performed well in various conditions, but the Telluride's off-road readiness and slightly better fuel economy gave it a slight edge in performance versatility.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander provided ample cargo space with up to 84.3 cubic feet available when the second- and third-row seats were folded down. With the second-row seats in use, the cargo space reduced to 48.4 cubic feet, and with all seats deployed, it offered 16 cubic feet behind the third row. The power liftgate was standard on all trims above the base L, and the hands-free power liftgate was available on the Limited and Platinum trims.

The Highlander's interior was practical and accommodating. The deep cargo pockets in the front doors, multiple little ledges in the dash, a spacious center console compartment, and numerous cupholders added to its utility. Second-row captain’s chairs enhanced comfort and accessibility, although the third row was best suited for short trips for adults.

The 2023 Kia Telluride's interior also focused on comfort and functionality, accommodating seven or eight passengers depending on the second-row seating configuration. The test vehicles had premium Nappa leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, and heated and ventilated front- and second-row captain’s chairs. The Telluride had a power lumbar stabilization system for front-seat occupants, Wi-Fi hotspot, manual side-window sunshades, USB ports, and storage pockets in the second row.

The Telluride's cargo space was similarly generous. With the third-row seats up, it offered 21 cubic feet, which expanded to 46 cubic feet with the third-row folded down and 87 cubic feet with both rear rows folded. The SUV also included a smart power tailgate with proximity sensing and an automatic closing function.

While both vehicles offered substantial cargo space and interior functionality, the Telluride had slight advantages in passenger comfort and cargo capacity.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander came standard with a WiFi hotspot, five USB ports, and an 8-inch touchscreen that supported Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. This system, although not wireless, had a straightforward layout and was backed by hard buttons for ease of use. A wireless charging pad and a combination of USB and USB-C ports were located beneath the climate controls. The Highlander also offered a larger 12.3-inch touchscreen and an 11-speaker JBL premium stereo system as available upgrades.

In contrast, the 2023 Kia Telluride featured a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen across all models, including Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM, a navigation system, and Kia Connect services with a new Wi-Fi hotspot. Voice recognition was reliable, though it did not control the climate system. Kia also provided over-the-air updates, support for pairing two devices simultaneously via Bluetooth, and six USB charging ports.

The Telluride’s tech suite 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 an optional head-up display added to its high-tech offerings. The Leading Vehicle Departure Alert system was particularly unique, alerting drivers when the vehicle ahead moved from a stop.

Overall, the Telluride featured more advanced technology and infotainment options, making it a more compelling choice for tech-savvy consumers.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander came equipped with the Toyota Safety Sense suite, which included forward collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, and automatic high beams. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were standard on all but the base L trim. Additional safety features on upper trims included front and rear parking sensors, rain-sensing windshield wipers, a surround-view monitor, a head-up display, and adaptive headlights.

Conversely, the 2023 Kia Telluride offered a comprehensive list of standard safety features, including forward-collision warning, pedestrian and cyclist detection, and a new junction turning system. Also standard were blind-spot monitoring, rear parking sensors, rear cross-traffic alert with automatic braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, and a Safe Exit Assist system. Adaptive cruise control and Highway Drive Assist 1.5 were also standard, with Highway Drive Assist 2.0 available on higher trims.

The Telluride added advanced collision avoidance features, front parking sensors, a surround-view camera, Blind-Spot View Monitor, automatic high-beam headlights, a driver attention warning system, and a Rear Occupant Alert system with ultrasonic sensors. These safety technologies worked seamlessly during the drive, enhancing overall safety and driver confidence.

While both vehicles were well-equipped in terms of safety, the Telluride’s advanced features and additional systems provided superior safety credentials.