Kia Telluride vs Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid

The 2025 Kia Telluride was available in five trim levels in Canada, ranging from the EX to the X-Pro, with base prices between $53,840 and $66,540, including destination charges. The X-Line trim offered increased ground clearance and a self-levelling rear suspension, while the X-Pro trim featured 18-inch wheels with all-terrain tires and a towing capacity of 2,500 kilograms. Our test vehicle, the X-Pro, came with a Midnight Lake Blue paint, raising the MSRP to $66,916. The Telluride was praised for its distinctive design and upscale details, although the blacked-out X-Line and X-Pro trims diminished some of its personality. Inside, the black-over-Terracotta interior contrasted with the blue exterior, featuring luxurious materials like chevron-pattern Nappa leather and an artificial suede headliner. However, the lower cabin plastics revealed cost-cutting measures. The dual-screen display on the dashboard was user-friendly, though some markings were hard to see in daylight.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid was offered with a standard turbocharged gas engine, a hybrid powertrain, and a powerful Hybrid Max configuration with 362 horsepower. Prices for the hybrid models ranged from $57,465 to $69,060, including destination charges. Our test vehicle, the Platinum Hybrid Max, came in Storm Cloud paint with no additional options, priced at $69,060. Toyota's design for the Grand Highlander was conservative, resembling a larger RAV4, which made sense given the RAV4's popularity. The interior prioritized function over form, with decent material quality and logically laid-out controls. The climate system was simple to use, but the infotainment interface had a tiny volume knob and lacked a tuning knob. The Grand Highlander offered a comfortable ride, though undulations in the road could cause vertical bounding and lateral rocking. Handling was secure but limited, with early tire scrub and squeal during spirited driving.

The 2025 Kia Telluride was powered by a 3.8-litre V6 engine producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard AWD. It featured Eco, Comfort, Sport, Snow, and Smart driving modes, with Smart mode adapting to driver behaviour. Despite some competitors switching to turbocharged four-cylinders, the Telluride's V6 was smooth and refined, providing ample power for road trips. It achieved a fuel economy of 11.6 litres per 100 kilometres over nearly 2,000 kilometres, aligning with the Natural Resources Canada rating. The X-Pro trim's all-terrain tires offered enhanced off-road traction but sacrificed some on-pavement grip. The Telluride's ground clearance was 20.3 centimetres, with the X-Line and X-Pro versions offering 21.3 cm. The X-Pro provided a pleasurable driving experience, though the brake pedal behaviour in traffic was occasionally sticky.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid Max emphasized performance with a turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine and electronic full-time AWD, producing 362 net horsepower. It used a traditional six-speed automatic transmission, avoiding the droning of CVTs. The Hybrid Max traded some fuel efficiency for power, with a combined rating of 8.8 L/100 km, compared to the regular hybrid's 7.0 L/100 km. It could tow up to 2,268 kilograms. During testing, it averaged 9.1 L/100 km on a city-highway route and 10.1 L/100 km on a mountainous loop. The Hybrid Max offered rewarding acceleration, with electric motors eliminating turbo lag. The ride quality was soft and isolating, though road undulations could cause vertical and lateral movement. Handling was secure but limited, with early tire scrub and squeal. Visibility was excellent, aided by available cameras, though the front camera's frequent screen takeover was annoying.

The 2025 Kia Telluride's interior was thoughtfully designed, with features like heated and ventilated second-row seats, USB-C charging ports, and smartphone storage sleeves. The second-row captain's chairs provided comfort and convenience, with ample legroom and a rear climate control zone. The third-row seat was reasonably comfortable for adults and accessible for kids. Cargo space behind the third row was 601 litres, with a hidden compartment under the load floor. Folding the third-row seats expanded cargo space to 1,304 litres, and flattening the second-row seats increased it to 2,455 litres.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander offered comfortable seating in all three rows, with a maximum cargo space of over 2,700 litres. The Platinum trim featured a Portobello interior with leather and artificial suede upholstery. The front and second-row seats had heating, ventilation, and supportive cushions. The rear doors were long and required space to open, making child seat installation challenging. The second-row captain's chairs had a removable centre console, creating a pass-through to the third row. The third-row seats were comfortable for adults and tall teens, with ample crush space behind them. Cargo space behind the third row was 586 litres, with some underfloor storage. Folding the third-row seats expanded cargo space to 1,640 litres, and folding the second row increased it to 2,761 litres.

The 2025 Kia Telluride featured a 12.3-inch digital driver display and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, with a 10-inch head-up display on higher trims. The head-up display provided blind-spot alerts, and the Blind Spot View Monitor showed live video feeds. However, the infotainment system lacked wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the data port was USB-A. The voice recognition system was basic, but the SiriusXM satellite radio and Harman Kardon audio system provided good sound quality.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander had a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, with wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio. Toyota Connected Services offered features like collision notification and a digital voice assistant. The infotainment system was easy to use, though the font was hard to see. The digital voice assistant responded well to commands, and the JBL premium audio system delivered good sound quality. The Platinum trim included a head-up display, digital rear-view mirror, and surround-view camera system.

The 2025 Kia Telluride came with standard safety features like forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control. Highway Driving Assist provided semi-autonomous highway driving, with lane-change assist on higher trims. The Telluride earned a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander featured Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, with lane keep assist and adaptive cruise control. Proactive Driving Assist was standard but could be irritating. The Grand Highlander earned a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA but fell short of the IIHS Top Safety Pick rating due to headlight performance and frontal-impact protection.