For the latest Kia Telluride or Toyota Highlander pricing and information:
https://www.kbb.com/kia/telluride/
https://www.kbb.com/toyota/highlander/

Lookout, we’ve got a rumble on our hands. On one side, the reigning Kelley Blue Book 3-row SUV Best Buy winner. On the other, a sales juggernaut and SUV icon. The Toyota Highlander.

Let’s do a little comparison to see which is best…keeping in mind that “best” is inevitably largely subjective and whatever conclusion we reach will make some folks super mad.

Both the Highlander and Telluride do commendable jobs hauling people and their gear. However, the Telluride has some notable advantages. For one, it’s simply bigger than the Highlander, offering more space behind the 3rd row (21 cu-ft), more total cargo space (87 cu-ft), and a greater total interior volume (178.1 cu-ft). Beyond size, the Telluride’s interior is just easier to use. Deploying the Highlander’s 2nd-row seats feels cumbersome by comparison. Plus, Telluride headroom is greater in all 3 rows. An extra 2 inches of headspace really pays off for adults who find themselves banished to the Tellride’s 3rd row. Inside, the Telluride is our top choice.



Both vehicles are perfectly competent in motion if not overly thrilling. Each has its own driving character but neither stands as clearly superior. We’ll call that an even match.

Power
The gasoline Highlander is just barely more powerful than the Kia Telluride. (Highlander 3.5L 295hp, 263 lb-ft) (Telluride 3.8L 291hp, 262 lb-ft) Then again, the Telluride weighs slightly less. On the other hand, Toyota offers a Highlander hybrid. (Highlander Hybrid: 36city/35 hwy) Those are excellent numbers for a midsize 3-row SUV. And even without a hybrid powertrain, the Highlander beats the Telluride where efficiency is concerned. (Telluride FWD: 20city/26hwy) (Highlander FWD: 21city/29hwy up to). Conversely, Kia offers a 10-year/100k mile powertrain warranty that Toyota can’t match. And, if you’re wondering, both vehicles have 8-speed automatic transmissions and can tow up to 5,000 pounds. Before I burn down the rest of the video countering my own points, we’ll just call this category a wash.

Where style is concerned…well…we can’t wait for that mid-cycle refresh, Highlander. Looking good, Telluride.

Both the Telluride and Highlander have 5-star overall ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. And both include a standard suite of active driver assists. That another tie.

Where value is concerned, the Kia Telluride shines bright. The base price is a reasonable $33,160 including destination charges, which is $2,600 lower than a base Highlander. Go nuts and even the swankiest Nappa leather filled SX Prestige Package lands under $48,000, undercutting a well-equipped all-wheel-drive Highlander Platinum trim by more than $1,000 bucks. Of course, resale values remain a Toyota strong suit but even there, Kia has made major gains in recent years.

For what you get versus what it costs, we think the Kia Telluride is the superior choice.

And that is pretty much our conclusion. The Highlander is a perfectly agreeable SUV but, viewed holistically, the Kia Telluride is the better buy. In fact, thanks to its style, space, functionality and value, Kelley Blue Book has named the 2021 Kia Telluride our 3-row SUV Best Buy for the 2nd year in a row.

If you’d like to learn more, you can check out our complete Best Buys coverage on KBB.com. And if you’d like to tell us we’re wrong, the YouTube comment section awaits your insights.

00:00 2021 Toyota Highlander vs. 2021 Kia Telluride
0:40 Exterior
1:07 Interior
2:50 Engine
4:38 Driving Impressions
6:50 Competitors