Compare the2023 Toyota SequoiaVS 2023 Kia Telluride

The Toyota Sequoia has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Telluride doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The Sequoia has standard Active Headrests, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Headrests system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Telluride doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Both the Sequoia and the Telluride have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, 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 and available four-wheel drive.

The Toyota Sequoia weighs 1165 to 2051 pounds more than the Kia Telluride. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The Sequoia’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 Sequoia 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 59 percent more Toyota dealers than there are Kia dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Sequoia’s warranty.

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 overall reliability. Kia is ranked 15th.

The Sequoia’s 3.4 turbo V6 hybrid produces 146 more horsepower (437 vs. 291) and 321 lbs.-ft. more torque (583 vs. 262) than the Telluride’s 3.8 DOHC V6.

Regenerative brakes improve the Sequoia’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Telluride doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Sequoia’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. The Telluride doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Sequoia has 3.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the Telluride (22.5 vs. 18.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Toyota Sequoia, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Telluride.

For better stopping power the Sequoia’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Telluride:

The Sequoia’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.

For better traction, the Sequoia has larger standard tires than the Telluride (265/70R18 vs. 245/60R18). The Sequoia TRD Pro’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Telluride (285/65R18 vs. 245/60R18).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Sequoia Capstone has standard 22-inch wheels. The Telluride’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

The Toyota Sequoia’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Kia Telluride only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The Sequoia has a standard full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the Telluride; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

The Sequoia offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Telluride’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Sequoia’s wheelbase is 7.8 inches longer than on the Telluride (122 inches vs. 114.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Sequoia is 1.9 inches wider in the front and 1.3 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Telluride.

For greater off-road capability the Sequoia has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Telluride (8.6 vs. 8 inches), allowing the Sequoia to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Sequoia TRD Pro’s minimum ground clearance is .7 inch higher than on the Telluride X-Line/X-Pro (9.1 vs. 8.4 inches).

The front grille of the Sequoia uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Telluride doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Sequoia has 3.7 inches more front hip room, 3.4 inches more front shoulder room, 2.8 inches more rear hip room, .6 inches more rear shoulder room, 2.3 inches more third row legroom, 7.2 inches more third row hip room and 7.3 inches more third row shoulder room than the Telluride.

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

The Sequoia’s rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the liftgate door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The Telluride’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

The Sequoia’s minimum standard towing capacity is much higher than the Telluride’s (9120 vs. 5000 pounds).

The Sequoia has a higher maximum payload capacity than the Telluride (1730 vs. 1664 lbs.).

The engine in the Sequoia is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Telluride. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

The Sequoia’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Telluride does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The Sequoia’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Telluride offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.