2024 Kia Telluride vs 2023 Toyota Sequoia

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia was a striking presence on the road, blending the bold aesthetics of the Toyota Tundra with a newly sculpted SUV body. Its design was a matter of personal taste, but it certainly stood out more than its predecessor. Inside, the Sequoia shared much with the Tundra, featuring an industrial theme with luxurious touches in the Capstone trim, such as leather, wood, and metallic finishes. The 14-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system dominated the dashboard, and the interior was available in a cream white-over-black two-tone scheme. Despite its upscale appearance, some materials reminded occupants of its pickup truck origins.

In contrast, the 2024 Kia Telluride offered a more universally appealing design, with its good looks drawing buyers like bees to pollen. The SUV maintained its attractive proportions, and the Wolf Gray paint complemented the blacked-out X-Line styling. Inside, the Telluride boasted a premium feel, especially in the SX Limited trim with Nappa leather seats. The cabin offered various colour options, including Mahogany brown and Sage Green, which paired well with the simulated open-pore wood trim. While the Telluride's interior had some shiny plastic, it nearly met luxury SUV standards with its soft leather, artificial suede headliner, and 24-inch dual-screen digital display panel.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia was equipped with a twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre V6 engine, a 10-speed automatic transmission, a 36-kilowatt electric motor/generator, and a 1.87 kilowatt-hour nickel-metal hydride battery pack. This hybrid powertrain delivered 437 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and 583 pound-feet of torque at 2,400 rpm. The Sequoia's towing capacity increased to 4,137 kilograms (9,120 pounds) in Canada, and it achieved better fuel efficiency than its predecessor, with a rating of 11.7 L/100 km in combined driving. The Sequoia offered various driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Sport+, but its steering was slow, and the regenerative braking system felt unresponsive.

The 2024 Kia Telluride featured a 3.8-litre V6 engine producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Most Tellurides could tow 2,268 kilograms (5,000 pounds), but the X-Pro trim increased this to 2,495 kg (5,500 lbs) with heavy-duty engine cooling. The Telluride offered a smooth and refined driving experience, with responsive steering and brakes that resisted rumble and fade. It had a ground clearance of 20.3 centimetres, which increased to 21.3 centimetres in the X-Line and X-Pro trims. However, its fuel economy was less impressive, averaging 12.4 L/100 km on a mountainous evaluation loop.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia excelled on open roads, offering a comfortable cabin with soft leather upholstery, a JBL premium audio system, and a triple-zone automatic climate control system. However, the second-row captain's chairs did not slide, limiting third-row legroom. The Sequoia's cargo space was compromised by its hybrid powertrain, with only 325 litres of cargo space behind the third row, expandable to 1,387 litres with the third row folded. The maximum cargo capacity was 2,460 litres, significantly less than its predecessor.

The 2024 Kia Telluride provided a comfortable interior, especially in higher trims with Nappa leather upholstery and heated and ventilated seats. The Telluride's controls were user-friendly, and the 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system was easy to use. The SUV offered generous storage space, with 594 litres of cargo space behind the third row, expandable to 1,302 litres with the third row folded. The maximum cargo capacity was 2,463 litres, making it one of the most spacious in its segment.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia featured a new Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system, with a 14-inch touchscreen in most trims. It offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but the display suffered from glare. The system included an Intelligent Assistant and simultaneous Bluetooth pairing for two devices. The Capstone trim added a 10-inch head-up display and a surround-view camera system.

The 2024 Kia Telluride came with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, requiring a cable for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It included a Kia Connect trial subscription, satellite radio, and a 10-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. The Telluride offered thoughtful features like a blue-light filter, Quiet Mode, and a digital key function. It also had a camera-based rearview mirror and a 10-inch head-up display.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5, which included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centring assist, adaptive cruise control, and more. It also featured blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safety Connect services. While crash test ratings were not available, the Tundra, on which it is based, received high ratings from the IIHS.

The 2024 Kia Telluride offered a comprehensive suite of standard driver assistance features, including collision avoidance, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and Highway Driving Assist. Higher trims added features like front parking sensors, junction cross-traffic alert, and Advanced Highway Driving Assist. The Telluride received a five-star overall crash test rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.