If you’ve started shopping for three-row SUVs for sale and want to know more about the Kia Telluride vs. Toyota Highlander, Jim Ellis Kia of Kennesaw is here for you with a detailed review covering these two popular options. See how the Kia and Toyota SUVs stack up below.
Power your family’s adventures with the robust and capable new 2024 Kia Telluride, a versatile SUV with a standard 3.8-liter V-6 engine. This SUV’s potent powertrain develops 291 horsepower, outperforming the Toyota Highlander and its small four-cylinder engine.
The 2024 Toyota Highlander is fitted with a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, generating just 265 horsepower. Both SUVs feature a standard eight-speed automatic transmission coupled with front-wheel drive in base form. You can also upgrade to available AWD in either model for an extra layer of confidence on the road.
Furthermore, the 2024 Kia Telluride comes standard with Torque Vectoring Cornering Control, which helps maintain stability under various driving conditions. The Highlander fails to offer a similar system. To boot, the Telluride has a larger 18.8-gallon fuel tank compared to the Highlander SUV’s 17.9-gallon tank.
Now, let’s see how the Kia Telluride vs. Toyota Highlander compare in terms of size.
Drivers and families seeking a substantial and spacious three-row SUV will be better served with the Kia Telluride than the Toyota Highlander. The Telluride is bigger and more accommodating than the Highlander, making it a great option for those looking to maximize cabin comfort and cargo-hauling capabilities.
The 2024 Kia Telluride is two inches longer, at 196.9 inches, compared to the Highlander at 194.9 inches in base form. It’s also over 2 inches wider, measuring 78.3 inches vs. 76 inches. That added size translates to the interior, where the Telluride provides more space for what matters.
Kia Telluride families get 157.1 cubic feet of passenger volume inside their SUV, spread over three spacious rows, with seating up to eight. The 2024 Toyota Highlander only offers up to 141.8 cubic feet of space for occupants but also has eight-passenger seating available.
Second- and third-row passengers will especially appreciate the Telluride’s more spacious interior, as this SUV provides 42.4 inches of second-row legroom and 31.4 inches in the third row. The Highlander SUV’s second and third rows are more cramped, with only 38.7 inches and 28 inches of legroom, respectively.
Whether you plan to mostly leave all seats upright or regularly fold the third and second rows to maximize cargo space, the Kia Telluride is the more versatile SUV option. It boasts an impressive 21 cubic feet of standard cargo volume behind its back row and up to 87 cubic feet of space for cargo behind the first row.
The Toyota Highlander lacks that level of versatility, only offering 16 cubic feet for cargo behind the third row and 84.3 cubic feet behind the front seats.
You’ll find more than performance and space advantages for the Kia model when you compare the 2024 Kia Telluride vs. Toyota Highlander. The Telluride is available in 10 trim levels for the 2024 model year, starting with the well-appointed LX trim. With stylish and comfortable SynTex seat trim and a large 12.3-inch touch screen with navigation as standard equipment, the 2024 Telluride is equipped to impress right out of the gate.
The 2024 Toyota Highlander comes standard with fabric-trimmed seating and a smaller 8-inch touch-screen multimedia system. Its infotainment system can be upgraded to an available 12.3-inch touch screen for an added cost or by selecting a pricier trim. Plus, its integrated navigation system is only accessible via the available Head-Up Display.
The gasoline-powered 2024 Highlander also only offers five editions, so its interior doesn’t vary as widely as the new Telluride SUV and its 10 available trims.
Some of the available amenities in the 2024 Kia Telluride you won’t find in its Toyota competitor include the following:
The 2024 Kia Telluride safety features stand out in our Kia Telluride vs. Toyota Highlander comparison. The base trim of the Kia Telluride comes standard with the following advanced safety technologies:
Meanwhile, the base-trim Toyota Highlander has the following standard safety features, a noticeably less impressive list compared to the Telluride:
| 2024 Kia Telluride | 2024 Toyota Highlander | |
| Engine | 3.8L V-6 | 2.4L turbo 4-cyl |
| Horsepower | 291 | 265 |
| Transmission | 8-speed automatic | 8-speed automatic |
| Drivetrain | FWD or AWD | FWD or AWD |
| Max Towing Capacity | 5,000 lbs1 | 5,000 lbs2 |
| Ground Clearance | Up to 8.4 in | 8 in |
| Cargo Volume | 21 cu ft | 16 cu ft |
| Max Cargo Volume | 87 cu ft | 84.3 cu ft |
| Seating Capacity | 7 or 8 | 7 or 8 |
| Length | 196.9 in | 194.9 / 197.4 in |
| Width | 78.3 in | 76 in |
| Climate-Controlled Seating | -Available heated and ventilated front-row seats -Available heated and ventilated second-row seats |
-Available heated and ventilated front-row seats -Available heated second-row seats |
| Standard Infotainment Display | 12.3 in | 8 in |
| Standard Sound System | 6 speakers | 6 speakers |
| Standard Safety Technology | -Blind-Spot Collision Warning -Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist -Navigation-Based Smart Cruise Control with Curve Control and Stop and Go -Highway Driving Assist 1.5 -Driver Attention Warning -Rear Occupant Alert with Ultrasonic Sensors -Lane Departure Warning -Lane Keeping Assist -Lane Following Assist -Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian, Cyclist, and Junction Turning Detection -Intelligent Speed Limit Assist |
Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert -Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control -Lane Departure Alert with Lane Steering Assist -Lane Tracing Assist -Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection -Road Sign Assist |
After reviewing our Kia Telluride vs. Toyota Highlander comparison, you’re probably eager to shop our new Kia inventory for your ideal Telluride SUV. If that’s the case, start your search online, where we provide access to our complete collection of new Kia SUVs for sale.
Remember that you can always lease a Kia Telluride if you prefer that over purchasing or financing your next vehicle.
Yes, the Kia Telluride is bigger than the Toyota Highlander, and by a substantial margin. The Telluride SUV is 196.9 inches long, or two inches longer than the Highlander in base form, which measures 194.9 inches. The Telluride is also wider and more spacious inside. You get more passenger volume and cargo space by choosing a new Kia Telluride for sale over a Toyota Highlander.
While both SUVs have built a reputation for reliability, only one comes with a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain and a five-year/60,000-mile basic bumper-to-bumper warranty package,3 and that’s the Kia Telluride SUV. If you’re after a quality family SUV with a generous warranty plan, the Kia Telluride is the better choice for you.
Many three-row SUV shoppers find that the 2024 Kia Telluride represents a better value for their money than when they shop and compare it to the Toyota Highlander. While both are competitively priced, the Kia Telluride comes premium-equipped starting with its base model. For instance, the entry-level Telluride trim has a 12.3-inch touch screen, whereas the base Highlander model features an 8-inch touch screen.
1Towing requires additional equipment. See Owner’s Manual for towing capacity and additional information and warnings. For information on proper towing procedures, please speak to a Kia representative. The Owner’s Manual also features detailed towing instructions and is available for download at https://www.kiatechinfo.com; subscription required for site access.
2Before towing, confirm your vehicle and trailer are compatible, hooked up and loaded properly and that you have any necessary additional equipment. Do not exceed any Weight Ratings and follow all instructions in your Owner’s Manual. The maximum you can tow depends on base curb weight plus the total weight of any cargo, occupants, and added vehicle equipment. “Added vehicle equipment” includes additional standard/optional equipment and accessories added by the manufacturer, dealers, and/or vehicle owners. The only way to be certain of your vehicle’s exact curb weight is to weigh your vehicle without passengers or cargo. [Calculated with the new SAE J2807 method.] Installation of a tow hitch receiver or other accessories located near the rear bumper or side-door kick sensors may require disabling or removing the kick sensor, and the sensor operation setting in your vehicle should be turned off. See Owner’s Manual for limitations.
3Warranties include 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain and 5-year/60,000-mile basic. All warranties and roadside assistance are limited. See retailer for warranty details.
