Compare the2023 Kia TellurideVS 2023 Toyota 4Runner

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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Both the Telluride and 4Runner have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Telluride has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The 4Runner’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Telluride SX has standard Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist Reverse that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The 4Runner doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

For better protection of the passenger compartment, the Telluride uses safety cell construction with a three-dimensional high-strength frame that surrounds the passenger compartment. It provides extra impact protection and a sturdy mounting location for door hardware and side impact beams. The 4Runner uses a body-on-frame design, which has no frame members above the floor of the vehicle.

Both the Telluride and the 4Runner have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Kia Telluride is safer than the Toyota 4Runner:

	Telluride	4Runner
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	27%	47%
Neck Stress	275 lbs.	438 lbs.
Neck Compression	32 lbs.	54 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	3 Stars
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.7 inches
Neck Injury Risk	36%	57%
Neck Stress	131 lbs.	271 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	351/369 lbs.	453/353 lbs.

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

A significantly tougher test than their original offset frontal crash test, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH small overlap frontal offset crash tests. In this test, where only 25% of the total width of the vehicle is struck, results indicate that the Kia Telluride is safer than the 4Runner:

	Telluride	4Runner
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
Head Neck Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Head injury index	109	142
Peak Head Forces	0 G’s	0 G’s
Steering Column Movement Rearward	0 cm	12 cm
Chest Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Hip & Thigh Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Femur Force R/L	1.2/1.4 kN	3.9/2.4 kN
Hip & Thigh Injury Risk R/L	0%/0%	1%/0%
Lower Leg Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Tibia index R/L	.38/.35	.95/.85
Tibia forces R/L	1.4/1.3 kN	5/2.9 kN

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 Kia Telluride is safer than the Toyota 4Runner:

	Telluride	4Runner
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	41	41
Chest Movement	.5 inches	1.1 inches
Abdominal Force	93 lbs.	179 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Max Damage Depth	14 inches	20 inches
HIC	450	507
Hip Force	640 lbs.	895 lbs.

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

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Telluride, with its four-star roll-over rating, is 9.1% to 10.3% less likely to roll over than the 4Runner, which received a three-star rating.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Telluride its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 29 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The 4Runner is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick.”

Warranty

The Telluride comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The 4Runner’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Telluride 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Toyota covers the 4Runner. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the 4Runner ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 16 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is ranked 14th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in reliability, above the industry average. With 13 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is ranked fifth.

Engine

The Telluride’s 3.8 DOHC V6 produces 21 more horsepower (291 vs. 270) than the 4Runner’s 4.0 DOHC V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Kia Telluride is faster than the Toyota 4Runner:

	Telluride	4Runner
Zero to 60 MPH	6.9 sec	7.8 sec
Quarter Mile	15.2 sec	15.9 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	94.2 MPH	87.3 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Telluride gets better mileage than the 4Runner:

			MPG
Telluride
	FWD	3.8 DOHC V6	20 city/26 hwy
	AWD	3.8 DOHC V6	18 city/24 hwy
4Runner
	RWD	4.0 DOHC V6	16 city/19 hwy
	AWD	4.0 DOHC V6	16 city/19 hwy

Transmission

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Kia Telluride, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a five-speed automatic is available for the 4Runner.

Brakes and Stopping

The Telluride stops much shorter than the 4Runner:

	Telluride	4Runner
70 to 0 MPH	162 feet	201 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	113 feet	138 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	133 feet	145 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

The Telluride LX/X-Pro’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the 4Runner’s standard 70 series tires. The Telluride S/EX/SX’s tires have a lower 50 series profile than the 4Runner Limited/TRD Sport’s 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Telluride LX/X-Pro has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the 4Runner.

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the Kia Telluride has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Toyota 4Runner has a solid rear axle, with a non-independent rear suspension.

The Telluride has a standard automatic load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The 4Runner doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Telluride’s wheelbase is 4.4 inches longer than on the 4Runner (114.2 inches vs. 109.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Telluride is 3.6 inches wider in the front and 3.9 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the 4Runner.

The Telluride SX 4x4 handles at .81 G’s, while the 4Runner TRD Off-Road pulls only .71 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Telluride SX 4x4 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.2 seconds quicker than the 4Runner TRD Off-Road (27.3 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 29.5 seconds @ .55 average G’s).

Chassis

The Kia Telluride may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 to 350 pounds less than the Toyota 4Runner.

Unibody construction lowers the Telluride’s center of gravity significantly without reducing ground clearance. This contributes to better on the road handling and better off-road performance and stability. In addition, unibody construction makes the chassis stiffer, improving handling and reducing squeaks and rattles. The 4Runner uses body-on-frame design instead.

The design of the Kia Telluride amounts to more than styling. The Telluride has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .34 Cd. That is lower than the 4Runner (.36). A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Telluride get better fuel mileage.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Telluride SX 4x4 is quieter than the 4Runner TRD Off-Road:

	Telluride	4Runner
At idle	36 dB	43 dB
Full-Throttle	74 dB	76 dB
70 MPH Cruising	63 dB	69 dB

Passenger Space

The Telluride has standard seating for 8 passengers; the 4Runner can only carry up to 7.

The Telluride has 27 cubic feet more passenger volume than the 4Runner (155 vs. 128).

The Telluride has 1.6 inches more front headroom, 2.4 inches more front hip room, 3.8 inches more front shoulder room, 1.6 inches more rear headroom, 9.5 inches more rear legroom, 2.3 inches more rear hip room, 3.4 inches more rear shoulder room, 3.8 inches more third row headroom, 2.1 inches more third row legroom and .4 inches more third row hip room than the 4Runner.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Telluride’s middle and third row seats recline. The 4Runner’s third row seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The Telluride’s cargo area provides more volume than the 4Runner.

	Telluride	4Runner
Behind Third Seat	21 cubic feet	9 cubic feet

The Telluride’s cargo area is larger than the 4Runner’s in almost every dimension:

	Telluride	4Runner
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	20.4”/49.8”/83.8”	n.a./42”/66.3”
Max Width	54.4”	57.7”
Min Width	43.5”	42.4”
Height	34.5”	39.5”

Pressing a button automatically lowers the Telluride’s second row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The 4Runner doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Telluride EX/SX’s power liftgate can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Telluride’s power liftgate can also be opened or closed by pressing a button. The 4Runner doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening liftgate.

Towing

Standard Trailer Stability Assist on the Telluride uses the Electronic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The 4Runner doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Servicing Ease

A maintenance reminder system is standard on the Telluride to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals based on odometer mileage. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer. Toyota doesn’t offer a maintenance reminder on the 4Runner.

Ergonomics

The Telluride has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The 4Runner doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The engine computer on the Telluride automatically engages the starter until the car starts with one twist of the key and disables the starter while the engine is running. The 4Runner’s starter can be accidentally engaged while the engine is running, making a grinding noise and possibly damaging the starter and ring gear.

The Telluride SX Prestige has a standard heads-up display that projects speed in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The 4Runner doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Telluride’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The 4Runner’s parking brake has to be released manually.

The power windows standard on both the Telluride and the 4Runner have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Telluride is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The 4Runner prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Telluride’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The 4Runner’s power mirror and cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Telluride has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The 4Runner doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

The Telluride SX Prestige’s standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The 4Runner’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Telluride has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the 4Runner only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

The Telluride has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. The 4Runner has an automatic headlight on/off feature standard only on the Limited/TRD Pro.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Telluride to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The 4Runner doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Telluride’s power mirror controls are mounted on the armrest for easy access. The 4Runner’s power mirror controls are on the dash where they are possibly hidden by the steering wheel and are awkward to manipulate.

When the Telluride SX is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The 4Runner’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

Both the Telluride and the 4Runner offer available heated front seats. The Telluride SX Prestige also has standard heated second row seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated second row seats aren’t available in the 4Runner.

The Telluride EX/SX has standard front air conditioned seats and the Telluride SX Prestige also has them in the second row. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The 4Runner doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

On extremely cold winter days, the Telluride’s optional (except LX/S) heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The 4Runner doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Telluride has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the 4Runner Limited/TRD Pro.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Kia Telluride S/EX/SX has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) for the front seat. The 4Runner doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Telluride owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Telluride with a number “8” insurance rate while the 4Runner is rated higher at a number “10” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Telluride is less expensive to operate than the 4Runner because typical repairs cost much less on the Telluride than the 4Runner, including $106 less for a water pump, $174 less for a starter, $25 less for a fuel pump and $708 less for a timing belt/chain.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® chose the Kia Telluride as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Toyota 4Runner isn't recommended.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Telluride second among upper midsize suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The 4Runner isn’t in the top three in its category.

Motor Trend selected the Telluride as their 2020 Sport Utility of the Year. The 4Runner has never been chosen.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Telluride as the 2020 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year. The 4Runner has never been chosen.

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