Head-to-head
2025 Kia Telluride vs 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander
The Kia Telluride edges it, 89 to 84.1, on tech & comfort, price, performance. The Toyota Grand Highlander is ahead on fuel & range and space & cargo.
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2025 Kia Telluride
The 2025 Kia Telluride is sold in the U.S. as a gas large SUV with 2 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Telluride FWD, is EPA-rated at 22…
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B2025 Toyota Grand Highlander
The 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas large SUV with 7 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Grand Highla…
Verdict · default weights
2025 Kia Telluride
Slight edgeThe Kia Telluride edges it, 89 to 84.1, on tech & comfort, price, performance. The Toyota Grand Highlander is ahead on fuel & range and space & cargo.
Tech & comfort 2025 Kia Telluride leads by 60.8
Fuel & range 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander leads by 39.2
Price 2025 Kia Telluride leads by 10.9
| Category · weight | 2025 Toyota Grand Highlanderoverall 84.1 | 2025 Kia Tellurideoverall 89 | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricew 4 | 89.1 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
Base MSRP of the trim (or the model's lowest trim). Lower is better. | |||||||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 100 | 60.8 | |||||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | |||||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 88.7 | 87.8 | |||||||||||||||
NHTSA 5-Star rating, WhichTrim Safety Signal (open recalls by severity), owner complaints, standard driver-assist features (from the press kit, or from what the manufacturer filed with NHTSA where there is none). Open park-outside / do-not-drive advisories cost 25 points. | |||||||||||||||||
| Space & cargow 2 | 100 | 88.3 | |||||||||||||||
Seats, cargo volume behind the 1st and 2nd rows, rear legroom. | |||||||||||||||||
| Performancew 2 | 92.5 | 96.1 | |||||||||||||||
Horsepower, torque and horsepower per ton. | |||||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 39.2 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
Standard (1) and optional (0.5) infotainment, convenience, climate and interior features from the manufacturer's press kit. | |||||||||||||||||
| Warrantynot compared | No data | No data | |||||||||||||||
| Overall | 84.1 | 89 | |||||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 6 of 7 categories compared
Toyota Grand Highlander: base trim LE FWD · Kia Telluride: base trim LX FWD. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Change what matters to you →Scores are 0–100 per category from the data on this page. The weights are yours to set.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2025 Kia Telluride wins
- It lists 37 standard driver-assist features against 18.
- It lists more comfort and tech equipment (48.5 points against 19 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½).
- It starts $4,470 lower ($36,390 against $40,860 base MSRP).
Where the 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander answers
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (81 against 124 filed with NHTSA).
- It costs $1,200 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($1,850 against $3,050).
What they share
- 5 NHTSA stars.
- 8 seats.
Ranked by how far apart the two score on each measure, so a price gap and a horsepower gap are compared on the same scale. Every figure is on this page.
Specifications side by side
52 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Toyota Grand HighlanderLE FWD | Kia TellurideLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $40,860 | $36,390 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | twin turbo | naturally aspirated |
| Cylinder count | 4 | 6 |
| Engine displacement | 2,393 cc | 3,778 cc |
| Engine type (full description) | 2.4-liter 4-cylinder Turbo | 3.8L V6 Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) Lambda-II |
| Fuel injection system | D-4S | gdi mpi |
| Valve configuration | 16-valve DVVT-i | DOHC |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 265 hp | 291 hp |
| Torque | 310 lb-ft | 262 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | 21 mpg | 20 mpg |
| MPG (combined) | 24 mpg | 22 mpg |
| MPG (highway) | 28 mpg | 26 mpg |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | 3.329 | 3.510:1 |
| Transmission speeds | 8 | 8 |
| Transmission type | Direct Shift 8AT | automatic hybrid |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | 8 in | 8 in |
| Overall height | 70.1 in | 68.9 in |
| Overall length | 201 in | 197 in |
| Overall width | 78.3 in | 78.3 in |
| Wheelbase | 116 in | 114 in |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 1st row | 97.5 cu-ft | 87 cu-ft |
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | 57.9 cu-ft | 46 cu-ft |
| Cargo volume behind 3rd row | 20.6 cu-ft | 21 cu-ft |
| Total interior volume | 153 cu-ft | 178 cu-ft |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | 8 | 8 |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 41.5 in | 40.9 in |
| Second-row headroom | 40.2 in | 40.2 in |
| Third-row headroom | 37.2 in | 38.1 in |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 41.7 in | 41.4 in |
| Second-row legroom | 39.5 in | 42.4 in |
| Third-row legroom | 33.5 in | 31.4 in |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | 4,290 lbs | 4,248 lbs |
| Curb weight (minimum) | 4,290 lbs | 4,134 lbs |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | 6,040 lbs | 5,776 lbs |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | Independent MacPherson strut with stabilizer bar | Independent, MacPherson struts, coil springs, stabilizer bar |
| Rear suspension type | Multi-link with stabilizer bar | Independent, Multi-link, stabilizer bar |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | Electric Power Steering (EPS) | Column Mounted-Motor Driven Power Steering (C-MDPS) |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | 19 ft | 19.4 ft |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | 340 mm | 340 mm |
| Front brake type | ventilated disc | Vented disc |
| Parking brake type | epb | epb |
| Rear brake diameter | 339 mm | 305 mm |
| Rear brake type | ventilated disc | solid disc |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 18 in | 18 in |
| Wheel material | Aluminum | forged alloy |
| Wheel width | — | 7.5 in |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | — | P245/60 R18 |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | 17.8 gal | 18.8 gal |
| Minimum recommended octane | 87 | 87 |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | 60.2 in | 61.6 in |
| Second-row shoulder room | 58.8 in | 61.2 in |
| Third-row shoulder room | 57.5 in | 55.3 in |
Green marks the better value where the direction is unambiguous (more room, more power, lower price). Blank rows are specs the press kit does not publish.
Equipment, feature by feature
158 features · differences first, then sharedSafety37 differ · 46 listed
| Feature | Toyota Grand HighlanderLE FWD | Kia TellurideLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Forward Collision Avoidance with Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection (FCA) | — | std |
| Smart Cruise Control (SCC) with STOP & GO (S&G) | — | std |
| Forward Collision Avoidance - Junction Turning (FCA-JT) | — | std |
| Forward Collision Warning (FCW) | — | std |
| Dual front advanced airbags | — | std |
| Highway Driving Assist (HDA 1.5) | — | std |
| Lane Departure Warning (LDW) | — | std |
| Lane Keeping Assist (LKA) | — | std |
| Navigation-based Smart Cruise Control-Curve - NSCC-C | — | std |
| Rear View Monitor (RVM) with Parking Guidance-Dynamic | — | std |
| Downhill Brake Control (DBC) | — | std |
| Driver Attention Warning (DAW) | — | std |
| Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) | — | std |
| Parking Distance Warning - Reverse (PDW-R) | — | std |
| Rear side (2nd row) airbags | — | std |
| Safe Exit Assist (SEA) | — | std |
| Trailer Stability Assist (TSA) | — | std |
| 3-point seatbelts for all seating positions; driver's-side Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) and Automatic/Emergency Locking Retractor (ALR/ELR) on all passenger seatbelts | std | — |
| Adjustable front seatbelt shoulder anchors and driver and front passenger seatbelt pretensioners with force limiters | std | — |
| Backup camera with dynamic gridlines | std | — |
| Blind Spot Collision Warning (BCW) | — | std |
| Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA) | std | — |
| Child-protector rear door locks and power window lockout control | std | — |
| Driver and front passenger seatbelt warning | std | — |
| Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) | — | std |
| High Beam Assist (HBA) | — | std |
| Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA) | — | std |
| Lane Following Assist (LFA) | — | std |
| LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) includes lower anchors and tethers on outboard second-row seats and tether anchor on third-row seats | std | — |
| Rear Occupant Alert with Ultrasonic Sensors (2nd and 3rd Rows) | — | std |
| Rear-passenger seatbelt reminder | std | — |
| Rollover sensor | — | std |
| Side impact sensor | — | std |
| Torque Vectoring Corner Control (TVCC) | — | std |
| Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 (TSS 3.0) — Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection (PCS w/PD), Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC), Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist (LDA w/SA), Lane Tracing Assist (LTA), Road Sign Assist (RSA), Automatic High Beams (AHB), Proactive Driving Assist (PDA) | std | — |
| Traction Control System (TCS) | — | std |
| Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) | — | std |
| Rear Cross-Traffic Collision - Avoidance Assist (RCCA) | std | std |
| Dual front seat-mounted side airbags | std | std |
| Full-length side curtain airbags | std | std |
| Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) | std | std |
| Driver's knee airbag | std | std |
| Electronic Stability Control (ESC) | std | std |
| Hill-start Assist Control (HAC) | std | std |
| Immobilizer | std | std |
| Tire-Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) high-line | std | std |
Infotainment10 differ · 10 listed
| Feature | Toyota Grand HighlanderLE FWD | Kia TellurideLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi Hotspot | — | std |
| Seven USB-C ports (one media port and six charging ports) and two 12V outlets | std | — |
| Steering wheel-mounted Bluetooth Hands-free with Voice activation controls | — | std |
| 12.3-in. Toyota Audio Multimedia touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay® & Android Auto™ compatibility, SiriusXM® with 3-month trial subscription | std | — |
| 12.3-inch audio display unit with navigation, MAP OTA, Quiet Mode, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Radio, SIRIUS XM, Voice Recognition, Bluetooth (with Multi-Bluetooth function), Rear View Camera and TMU | — | std |
| 6 speakers including 2 tweeter speakers | — | std |
| 6-speaker audio system | std | — |
| Steering wheel-mounted audio controls | — | std |
| Telematics Mobile Unit - Embedded Modem (TMU) | — | std |
| USB charging port X5 | — | std |
Convenience8 differ · 9 listed
| Feature | Toyota Grand HighlanderLE FWD | Kia TellurideLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Remote Engine Start button on Key Fob | — | std |
| Height-adjustable power liftgate with jam protection | std | — |
| Power door locks with shift-linked automatic lock/unlock feature | std | — |
| Power windows with auto up/down in all positions and jam protection | std | — |
| Manual liftgate | — | std |
| Driver and Passenger's central door lock | — | std |
| Power outlets (x3) | — | std |
| Power windows with auto up/down and safety | — | std |
| Push-button start with Smart Key and burglar alarm | std | std |
Climate5 differ · 5 listed
| Feature | Toyota Grand HighlanderLE FWD | Kia TellurideLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Three-zone automatic climate control with air filter, separate second-row control panel, individual temperature settings for driver, front passenger and rear-seat passengers, and second- and third-row vents | std | — |
| Rear ducts - Ceiling Mounted with Diffuse Vents (2nd and 3rd row) | — | std |
| Dual zone automatic temperature control | — | std |
| Rear automatic temperature control | — | std |
| Auto Window Defogger | — | std |
Seating9 differ · 9 listed
| Feature | Toyota Grand HighlanderLE FWD | Kia TellurideLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd-row 60/40 split-folding bench seats | — | std |
| 8-way power adjustable driver's seat | std | — |
| SynTex (Synthetic Leather) seating trim | — | std |
| 1-touch slide and fold for 3rd row Ingress/Egress | — | std |
| 2nd-row one-touch slide and fold | — | std |
| 2nd-row remote folding buttons (in cargo area) | — | std |
| 8-passenger seating with 60/40 split, sliding and reclining fold-down second-row bench seats; 60/40 split, fold-down third-row seats with sliding headrests and recline function | std | — |
| Fabric-trimmed front- second- and third-row seats; 8-way power-adjustable driver's seat including power lumbar support; 4-way manual-adjustable front passenger seat | std | — |
| 2nd-row center armrest with cup holders | — | std |
Interior30 differ · 32 listed
| Feature | Toyota Grand HighlanderLE FWD | Kia TellurideLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 4.2-inch color TFT-LCD full segment meter cluster | — | std |
| 13 cup and bottle holders | std | — |
| 2nd row lamp | — | std |
| Cargo lamp | — | std |
| Chrome interior door handles | — | std |
| Combination meter with analog gauges and 7-in. color Multi-Information Display (MID) with fuel economy, Driver Assist, vehicle/trip information, and warning messages | std | — |
| Dual sun visors with sliding function and illuminated vanity mirrors | std | — |
| Front seatback hooks | — | std |
| Leather-wrapped steering wheel | — | std |
| Metal paint crashpad trim | — | std |
| Overhead console lamp | — | std |
| Plastic pillar trim | — | std |
| PVC transmission gear shift knob | — | std |
| Silver-painted dashboard trim and matte gray metallic door trim | std | — |
| Soft-touch roll-top center console with removable utility tray | std | — |
| Standard door scuff plates | — | std |
| Tilt/telescopic steering wheel with audio, Multi-Information Display (MID), Bluetooth® hands-free phone, voice command, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC), Lane Departure Alert (LDA), Lane Steering Assist (LSA) and multimedia information controls | std | — |
| Floor console with center armrest, cup holders, side handles and storage box | — | std |
| Synthetic leather wrapped door armrest | — | std |
| Carpet Floor Mats | — | opt |
| Cloth headliner trim | — | std |
| Dual sunvisors, sliding with vanity mirrors | — | std |
| Front seatback pockets | — | std |
| Trip computer | — | std |
| Carpet flooring | — | std |
| Cloth sunvisor | — | std |
| Front and rear side door pockets | — | std |
| Rheostat | — | std |
| Standard door scuff plates | — | std |
| Standard Pedals | — | std |
| Day/night interior rear-view mirror | std | std |
| Overhead console with sunglass holder | std | std |
Exterior34 differ · 39 listed
| Feature | Toyota Grand HighlanderLE FWD | Kia TellurideLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 18-in. 5-spoke silver wheels | std | — |
| 18-inch alloy wheels with silver finish | — | std |
| Black front bumper side air duct garnish | — | std |
| Black front lower bumper | std | — |
| Black insert with satin chrome surround trim (a-type design) radiator grille | — | std |
| Black rear lower bumper | std | — |
| Black wheel arch and side sill lower molding | — | std |
| Black-painted front grille | std | — |
| Body-color outside door handles | — | std |
| Body-color with silver accent trim and non-painted lower and side plastic trim bumpers | — | std |
| Color-keyed outside door handles | std | — |
| Conventional wiper blades | — | std |
| Daytime Running Lights (DRL) with on/off feature | std | — |
| Heated power outside mirrors with blind spot warning indicators | std | — |
| Hidden single exhaust tip | — | std |
| LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL) | — | std |
| LED positioning lights | — | std |
| LED rear combination lamps | std | — |
| Matte black outside mirror lower trim | — | std |
| Power adjustable outside mirrors, heated with integrated LED turn signals | — | std |
| Rear combination lamps (Bulb type) | — | std |
| Rear liftgate windshield washer and backup camera washer | std | — |
| Rear spoiler with LED center high-mount stop light | std | — |
| Satin chrome DLO surround molding | — | std |
| Satin chrome lower door garnish (front and rear) | — | std |
| Silver-painted roof rails | std | — |
| Single muffler, Regular type | — | std |
| Windshield wiper de-icer | std | — |
| Auto light control (ALC) | — | std |
| Solar Front Door Windows and Windshield | — | std |
| Body-color rear spoiler | — | std |
| LED High Mounted Stop Lamp, integrated into rear spoiler | — | std |
| Mud guards | — | opt |
| Low washer fluid warning system | — | std |
| LED Projector-style headlights with high and low beams | std | std |
| Acoustic Front Windshield | std | std |
| Privacy Rear Windows, 3rd row/Cargo Side Glass and Liftgate Glass | std | std |
| Rear windshield defroster | std | std |
| Temporary spare wheel tire | std | std |
Powertrain2 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Toyota Grand HighlanderLE FWD | Kia TellurideLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| AWD Modes: AWD Lock and Snow modes | — | opt |
| Drive Mode Select (DMS): Comfort / Eco / Sport and Smart modes | — | std |
| Front Wheel Drive (FWD) | std | std |
Chassis3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Toyota Grand HighlanderLE FWD | Kia TellurideLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Column Mounted Motor Driven Power Steering (C-MDPS) | — | std |
| McPherson struts and stabilizer bar front suspension | — | std |
| Multi-link independent and stabilizer bar rear suspension | — | std |
Cargo2 differ · 2 listed
| Feature | Toyota Grand HighlanderLE FWD | Kia TellurideLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Towing Hitch | — | opt |
| 2-way luggage board | — | std |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPToyota Grand Highlander
Safety Signal 87 B
NHTSA overall ★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover ★★★★☆ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★☆
Recalls 3
Owner complaints 81 · 0 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained about Unspecified (22), Power Train (18), Engine (16)
Top recalls
- moderate Back Over Prevention 25V744000 · 1,024,407 vehicles
- moderate Electrical System 25V595000 · 591,377 vehicles
- minor Equipment 26V179000 · 8,230 vehicles
Kia Telluride
Safety Signal 79 C
NHTSA overall ★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover ★★★★☆ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★☆
Recalls 3
Owner complaints 124 · 3 crashes · 2 fires
Most complained about Engine (50), Visibility/Wiper (22), Unspecified (22)
Top recalls
- high Seats 26V105000 · 85,515 vehicles
- high Tires 25V745000 · 45 vehicles
- high Structure 25V494000 · 201,149 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Toyota Grand HighlanderLE FWD | Kia TellurideLX FWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $40,860 (base trim) | $36,390 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | $40,860 – $58,775 14 trims | $36,390 – $53,685 13 trims |
| Powertrains | HEV, GAS | GAS |
| EPA configuration compared | Grand Highlander Hybrid | Telluride FWD |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 36 | 22 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $1,850 | $3,050 |
| EV range | — | — |
| Basic warranty | 3 yr / 36,000 mi | — |
| Powertrain warranty | 5 yr / 60,000 mi | — |
| Roadside assistance | 2 yr | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander or the 2025 Kia Telluride?
The Kia Telluride edges it, 89 to 84.1, on tech & comfort, price, performance. The Toyota Grand Highlander is ahead on fuel & range and space & cargo. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2025 Kia Telluride scores 89 and the 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander 84.1. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which is cheaper, the 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander or the 2025 Kia Telluride?
The 2025 Kia Telluride starts lower — $36,390 against $40,860, a gap of $4,470 at the trims compared here. Both are manufacturer MSRPs before destination, options and dealer charges.
Which has the better safety record, the 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander or the 2025 Kia Telluride?
2025 Toyota Grand Highlander: 5 NHTSA stars, grade B, 3 recalls. 2025 Kia Telluride: 5 NHTSA stars, grade C, 3 recalls. Crash ratings come from NHTSA's own tests; the grade is WhichTrim's read of the recall record, and the two can disagree.
What are the biggest differences between the 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander and the 2025 Kia Telluride?
Where the 2025 Kia Telluride wins: it lists 37 standard driver-assist features against 18, lists more comfort and tech equipment (48.5 points against 19 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½), and starts $4,470 lower ($36,390 against $40,860 base MSRP). Where the 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander answers: it has drawn fewer owner complaints (81 against 124 filed with NHTSA) and costs $1,200 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($1,850 against $3,050). What they share: 5 NHTSA stars and 8 seats.