Compare the2025 Kia TellurideVS 2024 Toyota Highlander

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

Safety

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Both the Telluride and Highlander 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 Highlander’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.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Telluride has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning with Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist, systems which detect vehicles approaching from the sides and can automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. Only the Highlander Limited/Platinum offers Parking Support Brake.

Both the Telluride and the Highlander 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, 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 Highlander:

	Telluride	Highlander
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	281	292
Neck Injury Risk	27%	38.2%
Neck Stress	275 lbs.	347 lbs.
Neck Compression	32 lbs.	55 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.6 inches
Neck Stress	131 lbs.	179 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	351/369 lbs.	545/323 lbs.

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

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 Highlander:

	Telluride	Highlander
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh/hip Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh Forces L/R	90/225 pounds	270/315 pounds
Leg/foot Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh Forces L/R	90/225 pounds	270/315 pounds
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL

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 Highlander:

	Telluride	Highlander
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	41	55
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	14 inches	15 inches
Hip Force	640 lbs.	664 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 is .9% to 2.6% less likely to roll over than the Highlander.

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

Reliability

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

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 Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 29 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is ranked 17th.

Engine

The Telluride’s 3.8 DOHC V6 produces 26 more horsepower (291 vs. 265) than the Highlander’s 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Kia Telluride is faster than the Toyota Highlander:

	Telluride	Highlander
Zero to 30 MPH	2.7 sec	3.1 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	7.2 sec	7.7 sec
Quarter Mile	15.5 sec	16 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	93 MPH	92 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

The Telluride has almost a gallon more fuel capacity than the Highlander (18.8 vs. 17.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Brakes and Stopping

The Telluride stops shorter than the Highlander:

	Telluride	Highlander
60 to 0 MPH	127 feet	133 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	133 feet	143 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Telluride has larger tires than the Highlander (245/60R18 vs. 235/65R18).

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 Highlander LE/XLE’s standard 65 series tires. The Telluride S/EX/SX’s tires have a lower 50 series profile than the Highlander XSE/Limited/Platinum’s 55 series tires.

Suspension and Handling

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

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Telluride’s wheelbase is 2 inches longer than on the Highlander (114.2 inches vs. 112.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Telluride is 1.9 inches wider in the front and 2.2 inches wider in the rear than on the Highlander.

For greater off-road capability the Telluride X-Line has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Highlander (8.4 vs. 8 inches), allowing the Telluride to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Passenger Space

The Telluride has 13.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Highlander (155 vs. 141.8).

The Telluride has 1.7 inches more front hip room, 2.6 inches more front shoulder room, .8 inches more rear headroom, 3.7 inches more rear legroom, 1 inch more rear hip room, 2.5 inches more rear shoulder room, 2 inches more third row headroom, 3.4 inches more third row legroom and .3 inches more third row shoulder room than the Highlander.

Cargo Capacity

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

	Telluride	Highlander
Behind Third Seat	21 cubic feet	16 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	87 cubic feet	84.3 cubic feet

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

Payload

The Telluride has a much higher standard payload capacity than the Highlander (1662 vs. 1330 lbs.).

The Telluride has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the Highlander (1664 vs. 1390 lbs.).

Servicing Ease

The Telluride uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Highlander uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

Ergonomics

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

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 Highlander doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

Economic Advantages

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 Highlander only retains 54.44% to 56.71%.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Kia Telluride and the Toyota Highlander, based on reliability, safety and performance.

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 Highlander isn’t in the top three.

The Telluride was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2024 and 4 more times in the last 5 years. The Highlander hasn’t been picked since 2001, and the Highlander has only been chosen once.

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

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