People have voted with their checkbooks and wish larger, roomier SUVs laden with know-how. Extra importantly, automakers have responded by offering extra selections for choosing a brand new SUV.
Particularly common are 3-row SUVs with room for not less than seven individuals and engines pushing 300 horsepower. The truth is, it could be essentially the most fascinating setup throughout the phase. Luckily, with the 2024 Kia Telluride and 2024 Toyota Highlander round, there’ll all the time be not less than two excellent selections.
Let’s check out two of one of the best 3-row midsize SUVs on this aggressive class.
2024 Kia Telluride
An immediate success when it debuted 4 years in the past and our reigning Finest Purchase Award winner amongst 3-row SUVs, the Kia Telluride pairs its fashionable and rugged exterior with a V6 engine placing out 291 horsepower. It’s an ideal place to start out for patrons who desire a spacious cabin and good functionality for an inexpensive value.
Maybe much more spectacular is which you can gown it up, pushing it from good-looking to dashing. There are 10 completely different trim mixtures obtainable, from the bottom mannequin LX to the SX Status X-Professional. The LX comes with front-wheel drive, however for $2,000, you may add all-wheel drive (AWD). As soon as you progress into the EX X-Line, AWD is normal gear.
The Telluride presents loads of security and know-how options, together with ahead collision avoidance, adaptive cruise management, lane-keeping help, and blind-spot monitoring, all normal. There’s additionally 5 USB-C ports all through the cabin, a free 1-year subscription to Kia Join Final, and a navigation system. Pricing for the Telluride begins at $37,585, together with the vacation spot price.
Kia Telluride Highlights
Clean energy: The Kia Telluride contains a 291-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine paired with an 8-speed computerized transmission and front- (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). That form of energy helps when tooling round city or making an attempt to get out of city — and it’s 31 extra ponies than the Highlander. Most fashions can tow as much as 5,000 kilos, whereas the SX Status X-Professional can lug 5,500.
Good worth: The Telluride gained the KBB Finest Resale Worth Award for its class in 2022. It completed simply behind its company cousin, the Hyundai Palisade, in 2023 and 2024. In brief, you’re getting your cash’s value with the Telluride.
Protected house: The Kia Telluride can carry as much as eight individuals, so realizing it’s a protected automobile is important. It contains a 5-Star total ranking from NHTSA and the High Security Choose+ award from IIHS.
Verify this week’s Honest Buy Value or see the Telluride fashions on the market close to you.
2024 Toyota Highlander
The Highlander has been a well-liked entry on this phase for many years. With excellent reliability, good highway manners, and loads of versatility — together with room for as much as eight passengers — it’s simple to see why. It’s the previous guard on this class, whereas the Kia Telluride continues to be a relative newcomer.
Now in its second 12 months with a extra environment friendly turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, the Highlander’s recognition continues. The Highlander can be obtainable as a fuel-efficient hybrid, whereas the Grand Highlander is an extended model with extra room for passengers and cargo. With an open, comfy inside and plenty of technological upgrades, the Highlander continues to be a automobile to benchmark within the phase. Pricing begins at $40,665, together with the vacation spot price.
Toyota Highlander Highlights
Street warrior: The Highlander is obtainable with two variations of all-wheel drive. In its increased trim ranges, patrons can select the Dynamic Torque Vectoring system that manages torque distribution between the left and proper rear wheels, in addition to the back and front. It additionally helps with a slew of different inputs to enhance responsiveness.
Security suite Consumers of those automobiles need to make sure they’re protected, and the usual Toyota Security Sense 2.5, with driving aids like adaptive cruise management, lane-tracing help, and even blind-spot monitoring, helps foster that sense of safety. Just like the Telluride, the Highlander additionally earns the highest 5-Star crash ranking from the Nationwide Freeway Visitors Security Administration.
Gasoline environment friendly: Six-cylinder engines was a mainstay on this class, however the tide is altering. Toyota put a 2.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder beneath the hood of the Highlander in 2023, and it posts 25 mpg mixed — 3 mpg higher than the Kia Telluride.
Verify this week’s Honest Buy Value or see the Highlander fashions on the market close to you.
Similarities
With interesting exterior styling, high security rankings, and loads of know-how, the Kia Telluride and Toyota Highlander make incredible selections within the midsize 3-row SUV class.
Conclusion
These two may need extra in widespread than they do completely different. The Kia Telluride boasts a blockier design, a V6 engine, and a beginning value about $3,000 lower than the Highlander. With higher gasoline financial system and its personal legion of devoted patrons, the Toyota Highlander additionally scores loads of factors. You’ll be able to’t go fallacious with both SUV. Our recommendation is to think about your finances, take a look at them each, and see which one is one of the best match on your wants.
2024 Kia Telluride | 2024 Toyota Highlander | |
Beginning Value | $37,585 | $40,665 |
Common Powertrains | ||
Engine | 3.8-liter 6-cylinder | 2.4-liter turbo 4-cylinder |
Horsepower | 291 hp @ 6,000 rpm | 265 hp @ 6,000 rpm |
Torque | 262 lb-ft @ 5,200 rpm | 310 lb-ft @ 3,600 rpm |
Transmission | 8-speed computerized | 8-speed computerized |
Gasoline Economic system | 20 metropolis/26 freeway/22 mixed | 22 metropolis/29 freeway/25 mixed |
Additionally Obtainable | FWD, AWD | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder hybrid |
Specs | ||
Primary Guarantee | 5 years/60,000 miles | 3 years/36,000 miles |
Powertrain Guarantee | 10 years/100,000 miles | 5 years/60,000 miles |
NHTSA General Security | 5 stars | 5 stars |
Max Seating Capability | 8 | 8 |
Wheelbase | 114.2 inches | 112.2 inches |
General Size | 196.9 inches | 194.9 inches |
Width | 78.3 inches | 76.0 inches |
Top | 68.9 inches | 68.1 inches |
Turning Diameter | 38.8 toes | 37.4 toes |
Headroom, Entrance | 40.9 inches | 39.9 inches |
Headroom, Rear | 40.2 inches | 39.4 inches |
Legroom, Entrance | 41.4 inches | 42.0 inches |
Legroom, Rear | 42.4 inches | 38.7 inches |
Shoulder Room, Entrance | 61.6 inches | 59.0 inches |
Shoulder Room, Rear | 59.9 inches | 58.7 inches |
Cargo Quantity | 21/87 cubic toes | 16/84.3 cubic toes |