The 2024 Toyota 4Runner vs. Kia Telluride

Choosing between the 2024 Toyota 4Runner and the 2024 Kia Telluride depends on your priorities. The 4Runner excels in off-road capability, while the Telluride prioritizes comfort, features, and passenger space for everyday driving. Let’s break it down!

Price

The Telluride starts at a significantly lower price point than the 4Runner. The Telluride’s base LX trim starts at around $37,000, while the 4Runner SR5 starts closer to $42,000. This price gap widens as you move up in trims.

Performance

The 4Runner boasts a tried-and-true 4.0L V6 engine with 270 horsepower, perfect for tackling challenging terrain. It offers rear-wheel drive (RWD) standard and an optional four-wheel drive (4WD) system with low-range gearing for maximum off-road prowess. The Telluride counters with a more powerful 3.8L V6 engine with 291 horsepower, but prioritizes a smooth ride and on-road comfort. Front-wheel drive (FWD) is standard with optional AWD available.

Fuel Economy

The Telluride’s focus on everyday driving translates to better fuel economy. It achieves an estimated 20 mpg city and 26 mpg highway with FWD. The 4Runner, built for off-road capability, lags behind with an estimated 16 mpg city and 19 mpg highway for the 2WD model.

Cargo Space

 Despite its smaller size, the Telluride offers a surprising amount of cargo space behind the rear seats (around 84 cubic feet with seats folded). The 4Runner provides a decent 40 cubic feet behind the rear seats but expands to 89 cubic feet with the seats folded.

Towing

 Both SUVs offer impressive towing capacities. The Telluride can tow up to 5,000 pounds, while the 4Runner can tow up to 5,400 pounds.

Features

 The Telluride packs a long list of standard features, including a panoramic sunroof, heated front seats, wireless smartphone charging, and a suite of driver-assistance technologies. The 4Runner offers a more basic set of features on lower trims, with some amenities requiring upgrades on higher trims.

Most notably, the Kia Telluride gives you a more advanced touchscreen and synthetic leather seating, whereas the 4Runner gives you a smaller, more dated touchscreen and cloth upholstery with the base trim.

Safety

Both the 4Runner and Telluride have earned excellent safety ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and offer a comprehensive suite of airbags and driver-assistance features. However, the Telluride might have a slight edge with more standard advanced safety features on lower trims.

The 2024 Toyota 4Runner prioritizes essential driver assistance features like standard forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking and lane departure alert. Higher trims add adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert.

The 2024 Kia Telluride boasts a more comprehensive suite of standard driver-assistance features, including highway driving assist (maintains lane position and speed in traffic), automatic high beams, and driver attention monitoring. Higher trims offer even more advanced features like a surround-view camera system and navigation-based adaptive cruise control. While both prioritize safety, Telluride offers a broader range of technology to enhance driver confidence on the road.

The Verdict

If you crave off-road adventure and prioritize rugged capability, the 4Runner is your champion. However, if you prioritize comfort, features, fuel efficiency, and passenger space for everyday driving, the Telluride shines. Consider your needs and budget to determine which SUV best suits your lifestyle.