Toyota Land Cruiser vs Kia Telluride

In Canada, the 2025 Kia Telluride was available in five trim levels, ranging from the EX to the X-Pro, with base prices spanning from $53,840 to $66,540, inclusive of destination charges and fees. The X-Line trim enhanced the Telluride's off-road capabilities with increased ground clearance and a self-levelling rear suspension, while the X-Pro trim further boosted its towing capacity to 2,500 kilograms. Our test vehicle, an X-Pro, featured a striking Midnight Lake Blue paint, elevating its MSRP to $66,916. The Telluride's design was both attractive and distinctive, though the blacked-out X-Line and X-Pro trims somewhat muted its personality. Inside, the Telluride offered a luxurious feel with its black-over-Terracotta interior, simulated wood trim, and chevron-pattern Nappa leather. However, the lower cabin plastics revealed cost-saving measures. The dual-screen display on the dashboard was user-friendly, though some metallic finishes made markings hard to discern in daylight.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser, offered in two trims, the 1958 and Cruiser, presented a retro look with the base model, while the Cruiser trim provided a more modern and upscale appearance. The Cruiser trim, priced at $82,030, included critical off-roading hardware and software, and our test vehicle featured the Premium Package, bringing the MSRP to $90,603. The Land Cruiser's design maximized off-road clearances and utility, with a traditional two-box SUV look. Inside, the Cruiser trim offered a more refined interior than the 1958, with Java-coloured leather and dual 12.3-inch digital screens. However, the second-row seats lacked comfort, and the rear window design was less practical compared to the 4Runner. The Land Cruiser's cargo space was generous, though the high load floor required effort when loading heavy items.

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 offered various driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Sport, Snow, and Smart, with the latter adapting to driver behaviour. Despite some competitors switching to turbocharged four-cylinders, the Telluride's V6 was smooth and refined, delivering ample power for road trips, though it occasionally struggled at higher elevations. The Telluride achieved a fuel economy of 11.6 litres per 100 kilometres over nearly 2,000 kilometres, aligning with its official rating. The X-Pro trim's all-terrain tires provided excellent off-road traction but sacrificed some on-pavement grip. The Telluride's ground clearance varied from 20.3 to 21.3 centimetres, depending on the trim. Overall, the Telluride offered a pleasurable driving experience, though the brake pedal behaviour in traffic was occasionally problematic.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser featured Toyota's i-Force Max hybrid system, combining a turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine with an electric motor, producing 326 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque. It had a full-time 4WD system with electronic locking differentials and a towing capacity of 2,720 kilograms. The Land Cruiser's off-road capabilities were enhanced by features like Downhill Assist Control, Crawl Control, and Multi-Terrain Select. However, its real-world fuel economy of 15.0 L/100 km fell short of the official rating. The Land Cruiser excelled as a daily driver and off-road adventurer, though it struggled on twisty roads due to its suspension tuning. Its high seating position provided excellent visibility, and off-road features like the front stabilizer bar disconnect and Multi-Terrain Monitor camera views enhanced its capability. Despite its power and responsiveness, the Land Cruiser's ride motions were best suited for slow and steady driving.

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, while the third-row seat offered reasonable comfort for adults. The Telluride's cargo space measured 601 litres behind the third row, expanding to 1,304 litres with the third row folded, and 2,455 litres with the second row flattened. Although not class-leading, the Telluride's cargo capacity was sufficient for most needs.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser's interior featured SofTex artificial leather in the Cruiser trim, with ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel. The Premium Package added real leather and a power sunroof. While the front seats were comfortable, the second-row seats lacked support and comfort. The Land Cruiser's rear window design was less practical, and the centre console's cool box reduced storage space. The cargo area offered 1,062 litres of space, with a high load floor requiring effort when loading heavy items. Maximum cargo space with the rear seats folded was 2,324 litres.

The 2025 Kia Telluride featured a 12.3-inch digital driver display and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, complemented by a 10-inch head-up display in higher trims. The infotainment system lacked wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the data port was USB-A. Despite these limitations, the Telluride offered features like a Blind Spot View Monitor and a blue light filter for the touchscreen. The Harman Kardon audio system provided impressive sound quality, and SiriusXM satellite radio was available.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser's Cruiser trim upgraded to two 12.3-inch displays with the Toyota Audio Multimedia system, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and access to music accounts. The Drive Connect feature provided cloud-based navigation and a digital assistant. The Premium Package included a JBL sound system, a wireless smartphone charger, a head-up display, and digital key technology.

The 2025 Kia Telluride came with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control. Highway Driving Assist was standard, offering semi-autonomous highway driving. The Telluride earned a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser featured Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-centring assist. The adaptive cruise control and lane-centring assist provided semi-autonomous highway driving. The Land Cruiser earned a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with a three-star rollover resistance rating.