Compare the2025 Kia TellurideVS 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L

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

Safety

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Both the Telluride and Grand Cherokee L 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 Grand Cherokee L’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.

With its standard Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, the Kia Telluride is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Jeep Grand Cherokee L, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

	Telluride	Grand Cherokee L
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Crossing Child - DAY
12 MPH	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH	-23 MPH	-11 MPH
	Crossing Adult - NIGHT
12 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
12 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
	Parallel Adult - NIGHT
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
37 MPH Brights	-36 MPH	-33 MPH
37 MPH Low beams	-32 MPH	-28 MPH

Both the Telluride and Grand Cherokee L have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Telluride has Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Grand Cherokee L’s Rear Cross Path Detection doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Telluride and the Grand Cherokee L 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, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the Telluride is much safer than the Grand Cherokee L:

	Telluride	Grand Cherokee L
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	POOR
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh/hip Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Leg/foot Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Leg Forces L/R	382/472 pounds	495/607 pounds
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	POOR
Chest Rating	GOOD	POOR
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Kia Telluride is safer than the Grand Cherokee L:

	Telluride	Grand Cherokee L
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	68	163
Neck Tension	156 lbs.	312 lbs.
Neck Compression	-45 lbs.	67 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.55 in	1.06 in
Shoulder Force	156 lbs.	178 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.18 in	1.3 in
Torso Deflection Rate	6 MPH	7 MPH
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	70	96
Neck Compression	-67 lbs.	134 lbs.
Torso	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.55 in	1.38 in
Shoulder Force	178 lbs.	268 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.46 in	1.69 in
Torso Deflection Rate	5 MPH	11 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	491 lbs.	915 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

The Kia Telluride has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2024 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Grand Cherokee L is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2024.

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 Grand Cherokee L’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 Jeep covers the Grand Cherokee L. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Grand Cherokee L ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

Reliability

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the Telluride has an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of the 5.7 V8 in the Grand Cherokee L.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Telluride’s reliability 31 points higher than the Grand Cherokee L.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Telluride third among upper midsize suvs in their 2024 Initial Quality Study. The Grand Cherokee L isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Jeep vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 37 more problems per 100 vehicles, Jeep is ranked 19th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia above average in long-term dependability. With 3 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Jeep is rated lower.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 16 places higher in reliability than Jeep.

Engine

The Telluride’s 3.8 DOHC V6 produces 5 lbs.-ft. more torque (262 vs. 257) than the Grand Cherokee L’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Kia Telluride is faster than the Jeep Grand Cherokee L V6:

	Telluride	Grand Cherokee L
Zero to 30 MPH	2.7 sec	3 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	7.2 sec	8.8 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	5.1 sec	5.7 sec
Quarter Mile	15.5 sec	16.7 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	93 MPH	85 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Telluride gets better mileage than the Grand Cherokee L:

			MPG
Telluride
	FWD	3.8 DOHC V6	20 city/26 hwy
	AWD	3.8 DOHC V6	18 city/23 hwy
Grand Cherokee L
	RWD	3.6 DOHC V6	19 city/26 hwy
	AWD	5.7 OHV V8	14 city/22 hwy

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Kia Telluride uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Grand Cherokee L with the 5.7 V8 engine requires mid-grade for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 49.8 cents more per gallon.

Brakes and Stopping

The Telluride stops much shorter than the Grand Cherokee L:

	Telluride	Grand Cherokee L
70 to 0 MPH	162 feet	194 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	113 feet	139 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	133 feet	150 feet	Consumer Reports

Suspension and Handling

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Telluride is 1.8 inches wider in the front and 2.2 inches wider in the rear than on the Grand Cherokee L.

The Telluride SX 4x4 handles at .80 G’s, while the Grand Cherokee L Overland pulls only .75 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Telluride SX 4x4 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Grand Cherokee L Overland (27.3 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 28.2 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

Chassis

The Kia Telluride may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 400 to 800 pounds less than the Jeep Grand Cherokee L.

The Telluride is 8 inches shorter than the Grand Cherokee L, making the Telluride easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

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 Grand Cherokee L (.357). 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 Grand Cherokee L Limited 4x4:

	Telluride	Grand Cherokee L
At idle	36 dB	39 dB
Full-Throttle	74 dB	79 dB
70 MPH Cruising	63 dB	68 dB

Passenger Space

The Telluride has standard seating for 8 passengers; the Grand Cherokee L can only carry up to 7.

The Telluride has 1.1 inches more front headroom, .1 inches more front legroom, 1.5 inches more front hip room, 2.4 inches more front shoulder room, .3 inches more rear headroom, 3 inches more rear legroom, 1.7 inches more rear hip room, 3.2 inches more rear shoulder room, .8 inches more third row headroom, 1.1 inches more third row legroom, .8 inches more third row hip room and 3.4 inches more third row shoulder room than the Grand Cherokee L.

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

Cargo Capacity

The Telluride’s cargo area provides more volume than the Grand Cherokee L.

	Telluride	Grand Cherokee L
Behind Third Seat	21 cubic feet	17.2 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	87 cubic feet	84.6 cubic feet

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Telluride easier. The Telluride’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 30.7 inches, while the Grand Cherokee L’s liftover is 32.2 inches.

Payload and Towing

The Telluride’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Grand Cherokee L’s (5000 vs. 3500 pounds).

The Telluride has a much higher standard payload capacity than the Grand Cherokee L (1662 vs. 1370 lbs.).

The Telluride has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the Grand Cherokee L (1664 vs. 1400 lbs.).

Ergonomics

The Telluride’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Grand Cherokee L’s standard rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open them fully. Only its driver’s window closes automatically.

Consumer Reports rated the Telluride’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Grand Cherokee L’s headlights, which were rated “Good.”

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Telluride owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Telluride will cost $210 less than the Grand Cherokee L over a five-year period.

The Telluride will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Telluride will retain 57.67% to 58.24% of its original price after five years, while the Grand Cherokee L only retains 53.16% to 56.1%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Kia Telluride will be $4317 to $11882 less than for the Jeep Grand Cherokee L.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Kia Telluride, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Jeep Grand Cherokee L isn't recommended.

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its August 2023 issue and they ranked the Kia Telluride SX Prestige X-Line 4x4 four places higher than the Jeep Grand Cherokee L Overland.

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 Grand Cherokee L isn’t in the top three in its category.

The Telluride was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2024 and 4 more times in the last 5 years. The Grand Cherokee L has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

Motor Trend selected the Telluride as their 2020 Sport Utility of the Year. The Grand Cherokee L 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 Grand Cherokee L has never been chosen.

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