2021 Toyota 4Runner vs 2021 Kia Telluride

The 2021 Kia Telluride was available in four trim levels in Canada, all equipped with standard all-wheel drive: EX, SX, SX Limited, and SX Limited Nightsky Edition. The base pricing ranged from MSRPs of $46,195 to $55,695, excluding destination charges of $1,895. The Telluride EX was noted for its value, but many opted for the SX Limited trim, which offered a luxurious feel with features like premium stitched Nappa leather, a simulated suede headliner, and heated and ventilated front- and second-row seats. The SX Limited Nightsky Edition, new for 2021, added gloss black 20-inch aluminum wheels and a unique grille insert, giving the Telluride a popular blacked-out look. The Telluride's styling was praised for its contemporary design and quality execution, with the only criticisms being the limited interior colour options and some inexpensive-looking plastic.

In contrast, the 2021 Toyota 4Runner had not seen a redesign in 12 years, maintaining a rugged and utilitarian design. While not conventionally attractive, the 4Runner's two-box body with flared fenders and trapezoidal wheel arches offered balanced proportions and timeless styling. The 4Runner was available in Trail and SR5 trim levels, with various packages like TRD Off Road, Limited, Venture, Nightshade, and TRD Pro. Pricing started at an MSRP of $46,200 for the 4Runner Trail and went up to $62,430 for the SR5 with the TRD Pro package. The interior featured hard plastic materials, a dashboard with big knobs and buttons, and manual air conditioning, reflecting its durable and straightforward nature. The 4Runner was appreciated for its simplicity and durability, appealing to those who valued a reliable and long-lasting vehicle.

The 2021 Kia Telluride was equipped with a 3.8-litre V6 engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, delivering 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. It featured Kia’s Drive Mode Select technology, offering Snow, Eco, Comfort, Sport, and Smart driving modes. The Telluride's AWD system included a low-speed Lock function for maximum traction, and its 20.3 centimetres of ground clearance allowed it to handle low-grip terrain effectively. The suspension tuning minimized head-toss, providing a smooth ride and handling. The Telluride averaged 11.5 L/100 km in combined driving, slightly above the expected 11.3 L/100 km.

The 2021 Toyota 4Runner, on the other hand, was powered by a 4.0-litre V6 engine producing 270 horsepower and 278 lb-ft of torque, paired with a five-speed automatic transmission. It featured a part-time 4WD drivetrain with a maximum towing capacity of 2,268 kilograms. The 4Runner excelled off-road, thanks to its A-Trac system, locking rear differential, Multi-Terrain Select, and Crawl Control. However, on pavement, it felt slow and clunky, with heavy steering and brakes. The 4Runner averaged 14.0 L/100 km during testing, with a range of about 620 kilometres on its 87-litre fuel tank.

The 2021 Kia Telluride offered a comfortable and spacious interior, with a 12-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and heated and ventilated front seats. The second-row captain’s chairs were also heated and ventilated, with sliding functionality for easy access to the third row. The Telluride provided 601 litres of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 2,455 litres with the seats folded. The smart hands-free power liftgate added convenience, and ample storage solutions were available throughout the cabin.

The 2021 Toyota 4Runner featured a high ground clearance, which could be challenging for shorter passengers to access. The interior was comfortable, with supportive seats and ample legroom in the rear. The 4Runner offered up to 1,337 litres of cargo space behind the back seat and 2,540 litres with the rear seat folded. The back bumper served as a convenient seating area, and the big roof rack provided additional storage for adventures.

The 2021 Kia Telluride came standard with a 10.25-inch touchscreen display, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio. It supported dual smartphone pairing via Bluetooth and included wireless smartphone charging. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with menu shortcut buttons and intuitive touchscreen operation. The SX trim featured a 10-speaker Harman Kardon surround-sound system and a head-up display with blind-spot notifications.

The 2021 Toyota 4Runner's entry-level Trail grade offered basic technology, including an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio. It included a windshield wiper de-icer system and a 120-volt AC power outlet in the cargo area. The infotainment system was easy to use, with physical shortcut buttons and knobs, and the navigation map included off-road trails.

The 2021 Kia Telluride was equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including blind-spot warning, lane-maintenance technology, forward-collision avoidance, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic emergency braking. It also featured adaptive cruise control, Rear Occupant Alert, and Safe Exit Assist. The Telluride earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and a 5-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with four-star frontal-impact results.

The 2021 Toyota 4Runner came with Toyota Safety Sense P, which included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. However, it lacked a blind-spot warning system. The 4Runner received a three-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA and a "Good" roof crush strength rating from the IIHS. Its protection for the driver in a small overlap frontal-impact collision was rated as Marginal by the IIHS.