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Choosing a three-row family SUV can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re looking at two of the segment’s most popular options. The newly redesigned 2027 Kia Telluride and the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander both promise spacious seating, modern tech, and family-friendly features. But which one deserves a spot in your driveway? We dug into the specs, pricing, and real-world differences to help you decide.
- Toyota sold 136,801 Grand Highlanders in 2025, while Kia moved 123,281 Tellurides.
- The 2027 Telluride switches from a V6 to a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 274 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque, plus offers a hybrid version with 329 hp and 339 lb-ft.
- The Telluride comes with a class-leading 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, while Toyota’s powertrain warranty only covers five years/60,000 miles.
Price and Value Comparison
Your wallet will notice the difference between these SUVs right away. The 2027 Telluride starts at $40,735 with destination fees, while the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander starts at $41,360. That’s only a few hundred bucks separating them at the base level.
The gas Telluride’s starting MSRP is nearly $2,500 cheaper than the Toyota Grand Highlander. When you factor in comparable trims with similar features, the Kia maintains its price advantage throughout most of the lineup. The Grand Highlander Hybrid starts at $45,010, while the Hybrid Max Platinum tops out at $59,575. Kia hasn’t announced hybrid pricing yet, but the Telluride Hybrid is expected to be quite a bit cheaper than the comparable Grand Highlander Hybrid Max.
Power and Performance Differences
Both manufacturers ditched the V6 for turbocharged four-cylinder engines, but they took different approaches. The Grand Highlander’s turbo 2.4-liter four-cylinder produces 265 horsepower in its base gas model. The Kia Telluride counters with 274 hp and a healthy 311 lb-ft of torque from its 2.5-liter turbo four.
Where Toyota really flexes its muscles is in the hybrid department. The Grand Highlander Hybrid Max pairs a 2.4-liter turbo-four with electric motors to produce 362 hp and 400 lb-ft, making it the most powerful option in this matchup. But if you want a balance between performance and efficiency, the Telluride Hybrid claims up to 35 mpg combined compared to the regular Grand Highlander Hybrid’s 36 mpg combined, while the Hybrid Max only manages 27 mpg.
Space and Practicality
The Toyota Grand Highlander offers more cargo space behind the second and first rows, but the Kia has a slight edge for cargo space behind the third row. The Grand Highlander offers up to 97.5 cubic feet of maximum cargo space, giving it a clear advantage if you regularly haul lots of gear.
Both vehicles seat up to eight passengers with bench seating or seven with second-row captain’s chairs. The redesigned Telluride has 22.3 cubic feet behind the third row, 46.3 cubic feet with the third row folded flat, and 86.9 cubic feet behind the first row. The 2027 Telluride is larger than before, with a wheelbase stretched by 2.7 inches and overall length increased by 2.3 inches.
Off-Road Capability
This is where the Kia pulls ahead. The Grand Highlander can be equipped with AWD, but beyond that, it has nothing to match the Telluride X-Pro. The X-Pro features an exclusive suspension, electronic limited-slip differential, 9.1 inches of ground clearance, multiple Drive Modes including Terrain Mode, front and rear recovery points, and all-terrain tires. If you’re planning weekend adventures beyond paved roads, the Kia is clearly the better choice.
Warranty and Reliability
Toyota built its reputation on reliability, but Kia counters with a warranty that’s hard to beat. While Toyota’s reliability reputation is unparalleled, Kia offers a five-year/60,000-mile limited vehicle warranty and a class-leading 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, compared to Toyota’s three-year/36,000-mile limited warranty and five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. That’s twice the powertrain coverage, giving you serious peace of mind.
Which One Should You Choose?
The answer depends on what matters most to you. If maximum cargo space and Toyota’s reliability reputation are your top priorities, the Grand Highlander makes sense. Its 362-hp Hybrid Max powertrain offers serious punch if you need it.
But for most families, the Kia has several factors in its favor: it’s newer with a fresh, modern design inside and out, cheaper, and the upcoming hybrid appears to better balance performance, economy, and value than either of the Grand Highlander hybrids. Add in the Telluride X-Pro off-road trim and the warranty advantage, and the Telluride edges ahead for most buyers.
Both are excellent choices that will serve your family well. Test drive them both and see which one feels right for your needs.
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