Compare the2022 Toyota HighlanderVS 2022 Kia Telluride

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The Highlander has standard Whiplash Injury Lessening Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash Injury Lessening Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Telluride doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The Highlander has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Telluride doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Highlander Limited/Platinum has standard Automated Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Telluride doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Highlander AWD’s standard Downhill Assist Control allows you to creep down safely. The Telluride doesn’t offer Downhill Assist Control.

Both the Highlander and the Telluride have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Toyota Highlander is safer than the Kia Telluride:

	Highlander	Telluride
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Leg Forces (l/r)	321/243 lbs.	164/998 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	328	378
Neck Injury Risk	28.4%	36%
Neck Compression	90 lbs.	91 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Toyota Highlander is safer than the Kia Telluride:

	Highlander	Telluride
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.3 inches	.5 inches
Abdominal Force	79 G’s	93 G’s
Hip Force	300 lbs.	440 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	114	137
Spine Acceleration	37 G’s	47 G’s
Hip Force	152 lbs.	449 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	366	450
Spine Acceleration	41 G’s	52 G’s

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Highlander its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2021, a rating granted to only 73 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Telluride is only a standard “Top Pick” for 2021.

Warranty

The Highlander’s 5 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the Telluride runs out after 100,000 miles.

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Highlander for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Kia doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Telluride.

There are over 62 percent more Toyota dealers than there are Kia dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Highlander’s warranty.

Reliability

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in reliability. Kia is ranked 15th.

Engine

The Highlander’s 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 4 more horsepower (295 vs. 291) and 1 lbs.-ft. more torque (263 vs. 262) than the Telluride’s 3.8 DOHC V6.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Highlander gets better mileage than the Telluride:

			MPG
Highlander
	FWD	3.5 DOHC V6	21 city/29 hwy
	AWD	3.5 DOHC V6	20 city/27 hwy
Telluride
	FWD	3.8 DOHC V6	20 city/26 hwy
	AWD	3.8 DOHC V6	19 city/24 hwy

In heavy traffic or at stop lights the Highlander’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Telluride doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

Brakes and Stopping

The Highlander’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Telluride are solid, not vented.

The Highlander stops much shorter than the Telluride:

	Highlander	Telluride
60 to 0 MPH	116 feet	126 feet	Motor Trend

Suspension and Handling

The Highlander XLE AWD handles at .82 G’s, while the Telluride SX 4x4 pulls only .76 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Highlander XLE AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.3 seconds quicker than the Telluride SX 4x4 (27.4 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 28.7 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Highlander’s turning circle is 1.4 feet tighter than the Telluride’s (37.4 feet vs. 38.8 feet).

Passenger Space

The Highlander has .3 inches more front headroom, .6 inches more front legroom and 1.9 inches more third row hip room than the Telluride.

Cargo Capacity

The Highlander’s cargo area provides more volume than the Telluride.

	Highlander	Telluride
Third Seat Folded	48.4 cubic feet	46 cubic feet

Ergonomics

If the windows are left open on the Highlander the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the Telluride can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Highlander’s headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the Telluride’s headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Poor.”

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Highlander Platinum has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Telluride doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Highlander is less expensive to operate than the Telluride because it costs $527 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Highlander than the Telluride, including $246 less for a water pump, $473 less for a muffler, $112 less for front brake pads, $13 less for a fuel pump, $174 less for front struts and $840 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

The Toyota Highlander outsold the Kia Telluride by almost three to one during the 2021 model year.