2023 Toyota RAV4 vs 2023 Kia Telluride

During our time in Texas, we experienced the 2023 Kia Telluride X-Line and X-Pro models, which featured refreshed front and rear styling, updated headlights and taillights, and new wheel designs. The Telluride offered new paint colours such as Midnight Lake Blue, Dawning Red, and Jungle Green, along with fresh interior colours like Terracotta, Navy, and Sage Green. The X-Line model replaced the Nightfall Edition, boasting a raised suspension, unique grille design, raised roof rails, body-colour door handles, and black 20-inch wheels. The X-Pro model took it further with exclusive 18-inch wheels and all-terrain tires, enhancing its mildly aggressive off-road appearance. Inside, the Telluride's updates were subtle, with a digital instrumentation panel and a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system under a curved 24-inch piece of glass, pushing the SUV into a more modern era. The interior changes included new colours, minor trim updates, a redesigned steering wheel, and a more functional centre console. The X-Line and X-Pro trims had their names embossed on the front seatbacks, adding a touch of exclusivity.

In Canada, the 2023 Kia Telluride was available in EX, SX, SX Limited, X-Line, and X-Pro trims, with prices starting at $50,195 for the EX with standard all-wheel drive (AWD) and reaching $62,795 for the X-Pro. A destination charge of $1,950 was added to these values. The Telluride's interior was spacious, accommodating seven or eight passengers depending on the second-row seating configuration. Our test vehicles featured premium Nappa leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, and heated and ventilated front- and second-row captain’s chairs. The second row offered comfort with manual side-window sunshades, adjustable armrests, USB ports, and storage pockets. The third-row seating area was accessible and comfortable for larger adults, although it couldn't match the Volkswagen Atlas for leg support. The Telluride provided ample storage space, with a "smart" power tailgate and generous cargo capacity, offering 601 litres behind the third row, 1,304 litres with the third row folded, and 2,455 litres with both rear rows down.

The 2023 Kia Telluride retained its 3.8-litre V6 engine, delivering 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. Drivers could choose from Eco, Comfort, Smart, Sport, and Snow driving modes, with the AWD system featuring a low-speed Lock setting for even power distribution. The V6 engine provided ample motivation, with the X-Line averaging 9.8 litres per 100 kilometres during a drive that included heavy traffic, twisty roads, and highway stretches. The X-Pro was less efficient, returning 11.5 L/100 km, but this included off-roading with the drivetrain in Lock mode. Official fuel economy ratings indicated 11.4 L/100 km in combined driving. The Telluride's suspension was raised by 10 mm, improving ground clearance to 21.3 mm, approach and departure angles, and traction control for off-road performance. The X-Pro model featured 18-inch wheels, all-terrain tires, and an improved cooling system, increasing towing capacity to 2,495 kilograms. The Telluride excelled in off-road conditions, showcasing its AWD Lock mode, all-terrain tires, ground clearance, and stability. On highways, it offered a smooth ride, though the off-road tires made it feel slightly squishier in turns.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4, with its standard AWD, featured a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 203 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. While not particularly exciting, the RAV4's performance was unobjectionable, though it was noisier than some competitors. The RAV4 Trail trim, with 19-inch wheels and all-season tires, shared the same suspension setup as other RAV4 models. The RAV4's fuel efficiency and performance were adequate for its class, but it didn't stand out in terms of acceleration or refinement.

The 2023 Kia Telluride offered a spacious interior, accommodating seven or eight passengers depending on the configuration. Our test vehicles featured premium Nappa leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, and heated and ventilated front- and second-row captain’s chairs. The second row was comfortable, with manual side-window sunshades, adjustable armrests, USB ports, and storage pockets. The third-row seating area was accessible and comfortable for larger adults, although it couldn't match the Volkswagen Atlas for leg support. The Telluride provided ample storage space, with a "smart" power tailgate and generous cargo capacity, offering 601 litres behind the third row, 1,304 litres with the third row folded, and 2,455 litres with both rear rows down.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 was designed to seat five passengers. With the moonroof, it provided 958 millimetres of headroom in the front row and 1,001 mm in the back seats, offering less headroom for the driver and front passenger than the Honda CR-V or Subaru Forester, but more for rear-seat passengers. Legroom measured 1,039 mm in the front and 960 mm in the second row, placing front-row legroom in line with the CR-V but losing out to both the CR-V and Forester in the back. The back seat was narrower than those of its competitors. The RAV4 offered convenient storage options, including a shelf running the length of the glove compartment and generous door pockets. Cargo space was 1,059 litres behind the second row and 1,977 litres with the rear seats folded, placing it around the middle of the pack.

The 2023 Kia Telluride featured a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, a navigation system, and Kia Connect services. The voice recognition system performed well, though climate control adjustments required manual input. Over-the-air updates kept the system current, and Bluetooth supported pairing two devices simultaneously. The Telluride included Driver Talk and Quiet Mode, a wireless phone charger, a 10-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, and digital-key technology. A Full Display rear-view mirror and an optional head-up display with a larger viewing area were available. The Leading Vehicle Departure Alert system was a standout feature, alerting drivers when traffic ahead started moving.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 introduced a new infotainment system with an 8.0-inch touchscreen as standard, upgraded to a 10.5-inch screen for the Limited trim. The system supported over-the-air updates, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and voice command. Toyota's Safety Connect, Service Connect, and Drive Connect services were included, with some requiring a subscription. The RAV4 Trail trim did not receive the upgraded multimedia system, which was reserved for the Limited trim, along with an 11-speaker JBL Premium audio system. A 7-inch driver-information display was standard, with a 12.3-inch version for the Limited trim. Both the Trail and Limited trims featured a wireless charging pad.

The 2023 Kia Telluride offered a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including forward-collision warning, pedestrian and cyclist detection, a new junction turning system, and automatic emergency braking. Blind-spot monitoring, rear parking sensors, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centring assist were also standard. The Telluride included adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, Highway Drive Assist, and Advanced Highway Drive Assist with Lane Change Assist. Additional features included automatic high-beam headlights, a driver attention warning system, and a Rear Occupant Alert system. The Telluride earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 came with standard safety features such as lane-departure warning with steering assist, automatic emergency braking, automatic high-beam LED headlights, and a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection. Higher-end driver-assistance features like adaptive cruise control were also standard. The RAV4 was equipped with the TSS 2.5 suite of advanced driver-assistance systems, including Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control. The RAV4 earned a 2023 Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS.