2020 Kia Telluride Vs. 2019 Toyota Highlander
If you believe that the biggest and best adventures are the ones you can share with a vehicle full of people, you’ve probably spent a lot of time looking at the full-size crossover class. With seating for seven or eight passengers, towing capability and plenty of room for adventure gear, this segment is among the most popular for families and individuals who believe home is wherever you bring the people you care about.
The newest player in the game, the 2020 Kia Telluride has made quite a name for itself already, earning praise from every conceivable automotive publication and rising to become one of the most popular vehicles in both Kia’s line and its segment. Loaded with standard technology and designed to take down luxury SUVs that cost twice as much, the 2020 Kia Telluride is up against the 2019 Toyota Highlander today. Let’s see how they fare:
2020 Kia Telluride |
Vs. |
2019 Toyota Highlander |
|---|---|---|
| 3.8L V6 (291 horsepower) | Base engine (horsepower) | 2.7L 4-cylinder (185 horsepower) |
| 23 combined MPG | Base fuel economy | 22 combined MPG |
| 8-speed automatic | Standard transmission | 6-speed automatic |
| 5,000 lbs. | Standard towing capacity | 1,500 lbs. |
| 42.4 inches | Second-row legroom | 38.4 inches |
| 21.0/46.0/87.0 cubic feet | Cargo volume (to third row/to second row/to first row) | 13.8/42.3/83.7 cubic feet |
| 8-inch touchscreen display | Standard infotainment | 6.1-inch display |
| Standard on all trims | Apple CarPlay/Android Auto | Not available on base trim |
| 10 years/100,000 miles | Engine/powertrain warranty | 5 years/60,000 miles |
Get More Everything in the 2020 Kia Telluride
We’ve been staring at this chart for an hour trying to make any conceivable argument we can for the 2019 Toyota Highlander in this matchup and there’s just nothing we can see is an advantage over the 2020 Kia Telluride.
With the Telluride, for instance, you get a bigger and more powerful engine that can tow over 3x as much as the base engine in the 2019 Toyota Highlander. Yet, it still uses less fuel to do so. This is courtesy of the smooth-shifting 8-speed automatic transmission that is standard in the Telluride.
Inside, it’s an ocean between the two, as the 2020 Kia Telluride provides more room for stuff with every seating configuration imaginable, more room for passengers and a decadent 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto integration for drivers and navigators in the front seat.
With the 2020 Kia Telluride, Kia has produced a compelling and family-friendly model that looks, feels and operates like a luxury-class SUV without the luxury class price sticker. While the Toyota Highlander is a fine model, it can’t match the value and superiority of the Telluride.
For more information on the 2020 Kia Telluride or to schedule a test drive, contact us today!
