There are moments in historical past when a brand new contender arrives on the scene and disrupts the complete panorama. Keep in mind skilled golf earlier than Tiger Woods? Athletes on the PGA Tour did not work out. Heck, they confirmed up for his or her spherical of 18 with a pack of cigarettes and a sixer of home beer. Then Tiger arrived and started an period of domination that rattled the inspiration of the game. Why is any of that related to three-row SUVs? Effectively, when the Kia Telluride first arrived for 2020, it compelled the same shakeup within the three-row world. The Telluride provided a lavish expertise at a discount worth, however it’s now not as recent because it was initially of the last decade, and the competitors hasn’t been sleeping.

A couple of years later, the Telluride stays a implausible household SUV, however others on this class are catching up. With the arrival of the brand new Toyota Grand Highlander, we figured now was a very good time to reassess the Telluride and its place within the family-SUV market. For the check, we selected well-optioned variations of each automobiles whereas staying underneath the $60,000 mark.

2nd Place: 2023 Kia Telluride SX Status AWD

Cash talks, and viewing the 2 vehicles from a purely financial standpoint, the Telluride comes out on high. Outfitted with the SX Status AWD bundle, the Telluride continues to amaze us with the spectacular variety of options included for the bottom worth of $51,955 or our examined automobile’s $52,970 sticker—greater than $6000 lower than the Toyota.

Even with the affordable worth of admission, the inside of our check automotive gives a near-luxury expertise with leather-based, a faux-suede headliner, and heated and ventilated first- and second-row seating. And the Telluride’s inside structure continues to make sense. Twin 12.3-inch shows stretch throughout the left aspect of the sprint, and the middle touchscreen gives an intuitive menu. Controls on the steering wheel are clear and easy, the PRNDL shifter is immediately acquainted, and in contrast to a few of the newer choices from Kia, the Telluride retains a full suite of bodily buttons for the local weather management and the stereo.

HIGHS: Characteristic-rich, implausible styling, nice worth.
LOWS: So-so acceleration, lower than accommodating for all sizes, wired telephone mirroring.
VERDICT: Nonetheless the perfect worth, however now not the perfect general.

Sure, the Grand Highlander tops it in lots of quantity metrics, however the Telluride ties the Toyota for front-row house and truly gives extra space for second-row passengers. Plus, the Telluride equals the Grand Highlander for cargo storage behind the third row.

Most drivers will discover the Telluride’s cockpit a cushty house, although shorter pilots would possibly battle to seek out that just-right driving place, even with 10-way adjustability for the driving force’s seat. Regardless of that, the Telluride cockpit sits low sufficient that almost all of us can settle into the automotive reasonably than clambering up and in.

Usually, the construct high quality exhibits consideration to element, and the supplies are for probably the most half upscale. Frequent contact factors, such because the shifter and the inside door handles, are completed in sturdy plastic, nappa leather-based, or a gloss metallic end. Elsewhere, the Telluride begins to indicate its worth pricing a bit extra. On the entrance seatbacks, leather-based offers technique to a cheaper-looking black plastic masking that additionally makes its technique to the glove compartment.

And for as nicely geared up as it’s, the Telluride does present some grey hairs. Take Apple CarPlay—the Telluride comes geared up with it however requires a wired connection, and that connection is USB-A. Most likely not a dealbreaker, however the wi-fi possibility could be good to have.

In terms of driving dynamics, the Telluride does all the pieces it must and does it nicely, however the competitors has caught up. The Kia’s 291-hp V-6 gives sufficient oomph for many events, however the Grand Highlander Hybrid Max has much more energy. For instance, its 4.2-second 50-to-70-mph run simply beat the Telluride’s 4.7. It in all probability will not be a frequent concern, however the further grunt within the Toyota definitely made passing on two-lane highways a much less annoying occasion.

1st Place: 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid Max Platinum AWD

The Grand Highlander arrives as the brand new child on the block. It shares the Highlander title, however it’s an even bigger automobile throughout: longer, wider, and taller than the Highlander. But it is nonetheless in a position to slip right into a parking stall or most garages. It is 4.5 inches longer than the Telluride and almost a full inch taller, with each SUVs measuring 78.3 inches extensive. The additional size within the Toyota makes room for 11 extra cubic toes of cargo house with the second- and third-row seats folded down.

Once you first open the door, the Toyota inside is just about all work and no play, even with the Platinum’s diamond-stylized trim items and rose-gold accents. The middle console is sensible, though we want Toyota did not really feel the necessity to reinvent the shifter. The wi-fi charging pad is tucked underneath the sprint to maintain your smartphone from turning into a projectile. The detachable cupholder doubles as an additional cubby, and the middle console gives sufficient house for a bag or a handbag. Versatile storage was clearly a theme for the design group, because the second-row console might be lifted out of the best way to make an aisle between the seats. Kids will doubtless discover the third row to be welcoming sufficient, however most adults will discover a shortage of legroom until the second row is pushed ahead.

HIGHS: Carries probably the most cargo, robust gasoline financial system, plenty of energy.
LOWS: Larger worth, cramped third row, Rubik’s Dice shifter.
VERDICT: What the Grand Highlander lacks in pizazz, it makes up for in practicality.

If the hybrid system in the Prius is the live performance equal of attending a Sunday church choir, the one which debuted in the Crown—and that serves as the highest powertrain providing within the Grand Highlander—is the equal of a Slipknot live performance. The combustion engine is a 265-hp turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder paired with a set of electrical motors and a six-speed automated transmission with a moist clutch. The overall output within the Grand Highlander is a formidable 362 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. The torque determine is achieved at a splendidly low 2000 rpm, making stoplight drag racing a actuality. The 5.6 seconds required to hit 60 mph makes it 1.1 seconds faster than the Telluride.

These two-lane highways we talked about earlier? Passing with the Grand Highlander was a breeze. Granted, efficiency is not the primary advertising and marketing level for this section, however you will be glad for the additional ponies when your loaded-up SUV is used to chauffeur half of your kid’s youth hockey group and its gear.

As for gasoline financial system, the Grand Highlander exhibits the advantages of its hybrid energy—particularly within the metropolis. The Toyota returned 25 mpg over the course of our 650-mile check, beating the Telluride’s 22 mpg. Nonetheless, the Telluride did handle to come back out on high in our 200-mile 75-mph fuel-economy check, returning 26 mpg to the Grand Highlander’s 24 mpg.

Exterior of acceleration and energy, the driving dynamics of the Grand Highlander and the Telluride are literally fairly comparable. Trip high quality is easy and cozy, with each suspension setups sopping up all however the worst potholes. Neither three-row gives a lot steering suggestions, however, then once more, these aren’t canyon carvers.

After three years of being undefeated as compared checks and profitable 10Best awards, the Telluride totally earned the goal on its again. Now the Grand Highlander is right here, and it is huge, fast, and extremely sensible. If the Grand Highlander leaves something on the desk, it is that Toyota is unashamedly leaving room for the Lexus TX (which can doubtless value much more than this Toyota’s $59,520 base/as-tested worth). There aren’t many frills, however the Grand Highlander is aware of what its mission is and executes it extremely nicely.

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Jack Fitzgerald’s love for vehicles stems from his as but unshakable habit to Method 1.
After a short stint as a detailer for an area dealership group in faculty, he knew he wanted a extra everlasting technique to drive all the brand new vehicles he couldn’t afford and determined to pursue a profession in auto writing. By hounding his faculty professors on the College of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was in a position to journey Wisconsin in search of out tales within the auto world earlier than touchdown his dream job at Automotive and Driver. His new objective is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf.