If you’re in the market for a new midsize SUV, the 2024 models of the Kia Telluride and Toyota Grand Highlander may be on your list of options. Both of these vehicles are known for their spacious interiors and reliability, and it may be difficult to choose between the two. Here at Tom Kadlec Kia in Rochester, Minnesota, we’ve put together a comparison of these two models to help you make the right decision.
Trim Levels
When it comes to trims, the 2024 Kia Telluride is the clear winner. The Grand Highlander only has seven trims: the XLE, Limited, Platinum, Hybrid XLE, Hybrid Limited, Hybrid MAX Limited, and Hybrid MAX Platinum. Its base XLE model starts at $43,070, while its top trim has an MSRP of $58,125. Toyota provides a three-year/36,000-mile full warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. In contrast, the Telluride offers a whopping ten trims with these starting MSRPs:
- LX: $35,990.
- S: $37,890.
- EX: $41,590.
- EX X-Line: $45,885.
- SX: $45,790.
- SX X-Line: $49,285.
- SX X-Pro: $50,285.
- SX Prestige: $50,690.
- SX Prestige X-Line: $52,185.
- SX Prestige X-Pro: $53,185.
Overall, the Kia Telluride is more affordable, whether you choose the base trim or go for the top-tier model. Kia comes through with a five-year/60,000-mile full warranty and a generous 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, which is yet another reason it’s the better choice. The X-Line and X-Pro are trims built for off-road adventures, but if you want to know more about what each of the Kia Telluride’s ten trims has to offer, contact us at Tom Kadlec Kia for a detailed breakdown of their features.
Exterior
Both vehicles have a commanding presence on the road, thanks to their size and aggressive styling. The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander is just 4.5 inches longer than the Telluride, which is the only notable difference between them. They’re quite similar in all other dimensions, which means that while the Grand Highlander has a slight advantage, it doesn’t offer much to make it the better choice based on the exterior alone.
Interiors
The Grand Highlander, in its standard version, is potentially the more luxurious option. The XLE Grand Highlander comes with faux leather seats, a 10-way adjustable driver’s seat, heated front seats, sunshades for the second row, a digital key that requires a subscription, a 12.3-inch touch screen, a 7.0-inch digital gauge display, seven USB ports in total, and wireless charging.
The Telluride has many of the same features, such as a 12.3-inch touch screen, faux leather seats, and keyless entry with a start button. However, no wireless charging is available on any Telluride model. Additionally, the Grand Highlander offers a choice of second-row captain’s chairs, while the Telluride only has a bench in the middle row in its base version.
Performance
The Kia Telluride comes equipped with a 3.8-liter V-6 engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission. You can choose between front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). The Toyota Grand Highlander features a standard 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and the same eight-speed automatic transmission, with options for FWD or AWD.
Overall, the 2024 Kia Telluride offers more horsepower and a slightly higher towing capacity than the Toyota Grand Highlander, and it’s quicker in acceleration tests. The Kia Telluride produces 291 hp, while the Toyota Grand Highlander offers 265 hp. In terms of towing capacity, the 2024 Kia Telluride can pull up to 5,500 pounds, whereas the Toyota Grand Highlander only manages up to 5,000 pounds.
In performance tests conducted by Car and Driver, the Kia Telluride, with its standard V-6 engine, can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 6.8 seconds. The Toyota Grand Highlander takes 7 seconds to reach the same speed with its standard engine.
Cargo Capacity and Passenger Volume
The new Kia Telluride provides better maneuverability when parking in tight spots despite having the same width as the Grand Highlander. In terms of cargo space, with all the seats upright, the smaller Telluride gives you an extra 0.4 cubic feet. While this isn’t a significant difference, it does give the Telluride a slight advantage when it comes to carrying larger items.
There’s plenty of room for everyone in the 2024 Kia Telluride’s interior, including the second row, which offers 42.4 inches of legroom as opposed to the Grand Highlander’s 39.5 inches. And while the Grand Highlander can handle rough terrain with its 8 inches of ground clearance, the Telluride surpasses it with up to 8.4 inches for enhanced capability on various terrains.
Technology
The Grand Highlander has high-end features such as ventilated seats, a panoramic moonroof, and gaming console capability. Meanwhile, the 2023 Telluride gets a tech boost with options such as a head-up display, power liftgate, and a premium 10-speaker sound system from Harman Kardon. These highlight Toyota and Kia’s commitment to equipping their vehicles with advanced technology and convenience features.
Safety
The 2024 Kia Telluride’s base model is packed with advanced safety features. These include systems to warn about blind-spot collisions, assist with rear cross-traffic avoidance, detect pedestrians and cyclists, and even help with parking. Lane-keeping and driver attention systems, as well as adaptive cruise control, make highway driving safer. Ultrasonic sensors watch for rear occupants, and various aids such as hill-start and high-beam assist round out the vehicle’s safety suite.
The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander base model offers features such as blind-spot monitoring, pre-collision detection with pedestrian awareness, and a backup camera with dynamic guidance. Lane departure alerts, adaptive cruise control, and road sign recognition enhance safety. Like the Telluride, the Grand Highlander includes hill-start assist and automatic high beams.
Test-Drive the 2024 Kia Telluride at Tom Kadlec Kia
The 2024 Kia Telluride and the 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander are two well-rounded SUVs. While they’re comparable in some areas, the Kia Telluride is the better vehicle overall because of its superior performance, affordability, and more spacious cabin. To learn more about this vehicle or experience it for yourself with a test drive, get in touch with us at Tom Kadlec Kia. We’re a full-service dealership with a wide range of used and new Kia vehicles for sale. We also have a finance department and service center to take care of all your automotive needs.
Connect with us
Recent Blog Entries
Categories
Warranties include 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain and 5-year/60,000-mile basic. All warranties and roadside assistance are limited. See retailer for warranty details.