Toyota Land Cruiser vs Kia Telluride Hybrid

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid presented a bold design that was likely to polarize opinions. Its grille, spanning the entire width of the front end, had a flat, faceless look that divided opinions. The vehicle's personality shifted significantly with different color and trim levels, with body-colored vertical strakes at each edge that could appear jarring in lighter colors but blended harmoniously in darker shades. The X-Line and X-Pro models replaced these strakes with rectangular grille blocks and featured distinctive amber accent lights. The side profile showcased unique faceted and angular fender sculpting, with black plastic tabs atop each wheel well that seemed unnecessary. The rear view adopted a different style, with rounded corners and vertical taillights reminiscent of a Range Rover.

Inside, the Telluride's interior was less controversial, featuring a simple horizontal dashboard layout with a modern, buttonless appearance. The Hybrid SX Prestige trim, equipped with the optional SX Prestige Executive package, offered a luxurious two-tone palette reminiscent of Volvo. However, the silver buttons and cream-colored infotainment shortcut buttons were difficult to read. The seats, covered in synthetic leather and suede, had somewhat flat and firm cushions, which could be uncomfortable on longer drives. The surrounding materials were of excellent quality, with options for different trim surfaces, including engineered wood and carbon fiber.

The 2027 Toyota Land Cruiser was available in two versions: the Land Cruiser 1958 and a higher trim level. The 1958 model featured round headlights and cloth seats, while the higher trim level had rectangular lamps and artificial leather upholstery. The higher trim also offered more color options and features. Starting at $59,775, the 1958 model catered to those seeking a basic yet functional vehicle, while the upmarket version, priced from $64,620, targeted buyers looking for more features.

The Land Cruiser's cabin emphasized function over form, with the optional Premium Package adding soft leather upholstery and generous padding. The displays and switchgear were similar to those of the Lexus GX, exuding quality in construction and materials. Despite a thin metallic echo when a door slammed, the Land Cruiser maintained a sense of quality. The all-season floor mats highlighted its off-roading capabilities, while the optional Premium Package added features like a center console cool box and a rear bumper guard mat.

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. It was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, with front-wheel drive standard on the base LX trim and all-wheel drive available on midrange trims and above. The Telluride Hybrid added electric motors and a 1.65-kWh battery pack, increasing output to 329 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque. It was mated to a six-speed transmission and was not offered in the off-road-capable X-Pro trims. The Hybrid provided ample power and a quiet ride, with a seamless transition between electric and gas modes. The X-Pro Prestige trim offered a comfortable ride, even with its lifted off-road suspension, while the Hybrid SX Prestige had a stiffer ride with its 20-inch wheels.

The 2027 Toyota Land Cruiser featured the i-Force Max hybrid powertrain, combining a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric motor to produce 326 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque. It came with an eight-speed automatic transmission, full-time four-wheel drive, and a towing capacity of 6,000 pounds. The Land Cruiser returned 23 mpg combined on premium fuel, according to the EPA, but averaged 20.3 mpg during testing. It was equipped with features like center and locking rear differentials, hill-start assist, hill-descent assist, and Crawl Control for off-roading. The i-Force Max powertrain provided adequate power, and the Land Cruiser excelled in off-road conditions, though it felt less agile on winding roads.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid offered ample space for adults in all three rows, though the rearmost row was better suited for smaller passengers. The seat cushions were mounted low, reducing thigh support for adults, but headroom and legroom were adequate. The second row featured power-adjustable seats with heating and ventilation, and the middle-row seats had significant travel fore and aft. The Telluride could hold up to 22.3 cu-ft of cargo behind the third row, expanding to 48.7 cu-ft with the seatbacks folded. All trims featured buttons in the cargo area to remotely fold the second-row seatbacks flat, offering up to 89.3 cu-ft of cargo capacity. The Telluride could tow up to 5,000 pounds, or 4,500 for the Hybrid.

The 2027 Toyota Land Cruiser's 1958 model had manually adjustable front seats and cloth upholstery, while the higher trim level offered power-adjustable seats with heating and ventilation, wrapped in SofTex artificial leather. The Premium Package added genuine leather, memory settings, and heated and ventilated rear seats. The Land Cruiser's front and rear seats were comfortable, with room for up to five people. The cargo area offered 46.2 cubic feet of space, expanding to 82.2 cubic feet with the rear seat folded. However, the liftover height was high due to the hybrid powertrain's battery pack, and the rear window didn't power down like in the 4Runner.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid came with 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 a native navigation system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and dual wireless phone chargers. The system was easy to use, though it required a hard tap to register inputs. The Telluride SX trim and above featured a 14-speaker Meridian premium audio system, while supporting trims had an eight-speaker system.

The 2027 Toyota Land Cruiser 1958 model had a 7-inch digital driver display and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The higher trim level featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 12.3-inch touchscreen. The Premium Package added a 14-speaker JBL audio system, a digital rearview mirror, and a head-up display. The infotainment system was simple and easy to use, with an Intelligent Assistant that responded accurately to commands. However, the system occasionally misinterpreted certain prompts.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid came with standard advanced safety features, including frontal collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and parking proximity sensors. Higher trims added features like a surround-view camera system and automatic reverse braking. The Telluride's driver attention monitor had operational issues at night, but the highway driving assist was particularly helpful on longer trips.

The 2027 Toyota Land Cruiser featured Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, which included high-beam assist, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and parking sensors. Additional features included blind-spot monitors, rear cross-traffic alert, and a safe-exit assist system. The Premium Package added lane-change assist and Traffic Jam Assist. The Land Cruiser received a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and mostly Good ratings from the IIHS, with some Acceptable and Marginal scores.