All-New Kia Telluride · A Three-Row Face-Off
Kia Telluride vs Toyota Grand Highlander
A hybrid with real muscle. Coverage that goes further. A friendlier sticker price.
Pine Belt families shopping their next family hauler tend to land on these two roomy three-row SUVs before anything else. Stack the redesigned Kia Telluride up against the Toyota Grand Highlander and it answers with twice the powertrain warranty, an 84-hp edge for its standard hybrid over Toyota’s, and a lower price to start — though the Grand Highlander claps back with more cargo room than anything else in the class. What follows is the plain-spoken version of how they compare, straight from Dean McCrary Kia Hattiesburg on US Hwy 98, right in the heart of town.
10yr/100kKia powertrain warranty
329 hpTelluride Hybrid — beats Grand Highlander’s standard Hybrid by 84 hp
$39,190Starting MSRP*
8Seats standard
5,000 lbMax towing, properly equipped
6×KBB Best Buy winner
The Short Version
Four Reasons the Telluride Comes Out Ahead
Line the all-new Kia Telluride up against the Toyota Grand Highlander and it pulls ahead on coverage, hybrid value, and sticker price — welcome news for Hattiesburg shoppers who like to compare before they commit. Here’s the quick read before the full breakdown, including the ground where Toyota still has the edge.
Coverage Leader
2×the coverage
10yr/100k vs Toyota’s 5yr/60k
Kia backs the Telluride with a powertrain warranty twice as long as Toyota’s — ten years or 100,000 miles against five years or 60,000.
Hybrid Muscle
+84hp over standard hybrid
329 hp Telluride Hybrid vs 245 hp GH Hybrid
The lone powertrain that out-muscles the Telluride Hybrid is Toyota’s costlier Hybrid Max (362 hp), and it sacrifices 8 combined MPG to get there.
Price Leader
~$2,170lower start
$39,190 vs ~$41,360 Grand Highlander LE
A lower opening price comes paired with more gear standard — a 12.3″ touchscreen and the complete driver-assist suite built into the base LX.
Trophy Case
6×KBB Best Buy
Plus World Car of the Year
World Car of the Year, MotorTrend SUV of the Year, and the top spot in J.D. Power Initial Quality — hardware the Grand Highlander hasn’t caught up to yet.
Price & Trim Lineup
Starting MSRP & Trim Range
A lower starting number and richer standard equipment go a long way when Pine Belt budgets have to cover a whole family. Toyota counters with a broader spread of powertrain choices and the roomiest cargo hold in the class.
Configuration
Kia TellurideAll-New
Toyota Grand Highlander2026
Starting MSRP*
$39,190Lower Start
~$41,360⚠
Trim Range
LX → X-Pro SX Prestige + Hybrid
LE → Platinum + Hybrid + Hybrid Max
Powertrains
Gas + Hybrid
Gas + Hybrid + Hybrid Max Toyota: 3 Options
Standard Touchscreen
12.3″Dual 12.3″ Available
Up to 12.3″⚠
Off-Road / Notable Trim
X-Line, X-Pro (9.1″ clearance, e-LSD)Real Off-Road Hardware
Nightshade (appearance package, not off-road hardware)
Drivetrain
FWD standard, AWD available
FWD standard on non-hybrid; AWD standard on Hybrid Max
Engines & Efficiency
Three Powertrain Choices vs One Strong Hybrid.
On paper, Toyota gives buyers more powertrain variety to pick from. Where it counts — the daily grind across the highways converging on Hattiesburg — the Telluride Hybrid keeps things simple with a single option that beats Toyota’s standard Hybrid on power and comfortably outlasts the thirstier Hybrid Max on efficiency.
Kia Telluride
2 Powertrain Options
- 2.5L Turbo I4 — 274 hp / 311 lb-ft
- 1.6L Turbo Hybrid — 329 hp combined, ~35 MPG
- 8-speed automatic (gas), 6-speed automatic (hybrid)
- Standard FWD, available AWD (standard on X-Line / X-Pro)
Toyota Grand Highlander
3 Powertrain Options
- 2.4L Turbo I4 — 265 hp / 310 lb-ft⚠
- Hybrid — 245 hp combined, up to 36 MPG
- Hybrid Max — 362 hp / 400 lb-ft, 27 MPG, standard AWD
Powertrain Spec
Kia Telluride
Toyota Grand Highlander
Base Gas Horsepower
274 hp (turbo)+9 hp
265 hp (turbo)⚠
Base Gas Torque
311 lb-ft
310 lb-ft⚠ — Essentially tied
Standard Hybrid Power
329 hp+84 hp
245 hp (standard Hybrid)
Hybrid Fuel Economy
~35 MPG combined
36 MPG standard Hybrid / 27 MPG Hybrid Max Toyota edges standard Hybrid MPG
Most-Powerful Hybrid
329 hp (only offering)
362 hp Hybrid Max — Toyota wins here, at a real MPG and price cost
Max Towing
5,000 lb gas / 4,500 lb hybrid
Up to 5,000 lb (Hybrid Max); standard Hybrid tows less⚠
Room, Efficiency & Peace of Mind
What You’ll Notice Day to Day
Eight seats come standard on both, enough for any Forrest or Lamar County carpool run. Cargo space is where the Grand Highlander legitimately pulls ahead; warranty depth, hybrid value, and price are where the Telluride takes it back.
Peace of Mind
100kmile warranty
vs Toyota’s 60k-mile powertrain
A decade or 100,000 miles of Kia powertrain coverage — twice the length of Toyota’s 5-year/60,000-mile term.
Efficiency & Power
329hp at ~35 MPG
vs GH Hybrid’s 245 hp at 36 MPG
Toyota’s standard Hybrid squeezes out roughly 1 more combined MPG, but the Telluride answers with 84 additional horsepower in the same powertrain tier.
Cargo Room
Toyotawins this one
Widest cargo hold in the class, per Autoblog
Fair is fair: Autoblog measured the Grand Highlander’s cargo hold as the widest among three-row crossovers, backed by a genuinely spacious 33.5-inch third row. Anyone prioritizing maximum cargo space should give Toyota real credit here.
Technology & Safety
A Deeper Standard Suite. A Real Hands-Free System.
Neither automaker skimps on driver-assist tech out of the gate, which pays off on the run down US-98 into town. Where the Telluride SX pulls ahead is genuine hands-free highway driving — Toyota’s Traffic Jam Assist only handles low-speed, stop-and-go traffic.
Kia Telluride
12.3″ touchscreen standard — available dual 12.3″ panoramic displays
Available Highway Driving Assist 2 — hands-free-ready on the highway
Available 14-speaker Meridian premium audio
Full driver-assist suite standard from base LX
Standard wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto
Available 360° camera & Blind-Spot View Monitor
10-year / 100,000-mile powertrain warranty — double Toyota’s term
Toyota Grand Highlander
Up to 12.3″ touchscreen⚠ — size varies by trim, no dual-display option
Traffic Jam Assist (Platinum only) — low-speed only, not full hands-free highway driving
Available premium audio system
Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 standard on every trim
Standard wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto
Available surround-view camera
5-year / 60,000-mile powertrain warranty; 3-year / 36,000-mile basic
Independent Recognition
Let the Hardware Speak
These aren’t verdicts from a sales floor — independent testers have been scoring both for years. The Telluride continues racking up the hardware this segment gets measured by, while the Grand Highlander has carved out its own reputation for cargo capacity.
World Car Awards
World Car of the Year
Sits alongside MotorTrend SUV of the Year and North American Utility of the Year in the Telluride’s collection.
Kelley Blue Book
Best Buy, 6 Straight Years
Named KBB’s midsize SUV Best Buy in every year it qualified — upscale feel without the upscale price.
J.D. Power · 2025 IQS
#1 in Initial Quality
The fewest reported issues in the first 90 days of ownership, leading the upper-midsize SUV segment.
NHTSA
5-Star Safety — Both
The outgoing Telluride and the Grand Highlander both carry a 5-star overall NHTSA rating. Neither the untested, redesigned 2027 Telluride nor the 2026 Grand Highlander currently holds an IIHS Top Safety Pick award, so call safety a draw until new testing lands.
Still Weighing the Grand Highlander? Get Behind the Wheel of a Telluride.
Walk our full Telluride and Telluride Hybrid stock, get a straight number on your trade-in, and judge the difference yourself — one stop, right here in the Hub City.
Telluride vs Grand Highlander — Your Questions Answered
Is the Kia Telluride better than the Toyota Grand Highlander?⌄
For most three-row families, yes. Warranty coverage tilts to the Telluride (10yr/100k powertrain against Toyota’s 5yr/60k), the price gap runs about $2,170 in Kia’s favor, and the standard Telluride Hybrid beats the Grand Highlander’s standard Hybrid by 84 hp. Toyota counters with the widest cargo hold in the class plus a Hybrid Max trim that outmuscles the Telluride Hybrid, though it costs real ground in MPG and price to get there. Check current Telluride inventory here.
Which has more power — Telluride or Grand Highlander?⌄
Comparing base gas engines, the Telluride’s 274-hp turbo beats the Grand Highlander’s 265-hp unit. Move to hybrids and the gap grows: the standard Telluride Hybrid’s 329 hp clears Toyota’s standard Hybrid (245 hp) easily. Only the costlier, thirstier Grand Highlander Hybrid Max (362 hp) tops the Telluride Hybrid on power, and it trades down to 27 combined MPG to do it, well under the Telluride Hybrid’s 35 MPG.
Does the Toyota Grand Highlander offer a hybrid?⌄
Two, actually: a standard Hybrid (245 hp, as much as 36 MPG combined) and a beefier Hybrid Max (362 hp, 27 MPG combined). The standard Telluride Hybrid splits the difference on paper but wins on value — it out-powers Toyota’s standard Hybrid at 329 hp and beats the Hybrid Max on fuel economy by a wide margin, all in one straightforward hybrid trim priced thousands below Toyota’s Hybrid Max lineup.
Is the Kia Telluride cheaper than the Toyota Grand Highlander?⌄
Yes. The Telluride LX starts at $39,190 MSRP versus about $41,360 for a Grand Highlander LE (both before destination charges) — roughly $2,170 in the Telluride’s favor, with more standard driver-assist tech built into the base trim.
What’s the warranty difference between Kia and Toyota?⌄
Kia’s coverage runs noticeably deeper: 10 years / 100,000 miles on the powertrain and 5 years / 60,000 miles limited, compared with Toyota’s 5 years / 60,000 miles powertrain and 3 years / 36,000 miles limited.
What does the Toyota Grand Highlander do better?⌄
Credit where due: Autoblog’s luggage test found the Grand Highlander has the widest cargo area of any three-row crossover, its third row offers a genuinely generous 33.5 inches of legroom, and the Hybrid Max trim out-powers every Telluride. If cargo capacity or maximum hybrid horsepower tops your list, it deserves a look. For warranty strength, starting price, and efficient hybrid power at a mainstream cost, the Telluride remains the stronger pick.
Where can I compare them near Hattiesburg, MS?⌄
Dean McCrary Kia, located at 7124 US Hwy 98 in Hattiesburg, carries the complete Telluride and Telluride Hybrid lineup and is an easy drive from Petal, Oak Grove, Purvis, Columbia, and Laurel. Stop by for a test drive and see for yourself.
Telluride vs Grand Highlander · Pine Belt
Cross-Shopping 3-Row SUVs Near Hattiesburg?
Dean McCrary Kia keeps the area’s deepest Telluride selection on hand for Pine Belt families across Forrest, Lamar, Covington, and Perry counties. Every route into town — I-59, US-49, US-98, and US-11 — converges right where we sit on US-98. Weighing the Toyota Grand Highlander too? Here’s why our Hattiesburg Kia store is worth the first stop.
- Real-time stock across every Telluride trim — LX through X-Pro SX Prestige, plus Hybrid
- An honest trade-in offer — get a value on your current SUV in minutes
- Straightforward pricing on every new Telluride
- Factory-trained Kia service, scheduled maintenance, and genuine parts
Dean McCrary Kia
Address7124 US Hwy 98, Hattiesburg, MS 39402
Sales(601) 544-4007
Sales HoursMon–Sat 8:30 AM–6:00 PM
Sources & Verification
This comparison sets the all-new Kia Telluride against the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander. Specs and pricing were compiled from manufacturer materials (kia.com, toyota.com), Edmunds, and Kelley Blue Book and reflect what was current as of publication. MSRP figures shown are base prices excluding destination, taxes, title, and dealer fees; choosing AWD, hybrid power, or a higher trim adds cost. Figures marked ⚠ come from dealer-aggregator or secondary sources that weren’t directly confirmed against toyota.com at publication time and should be double-checked before this page goes public. Horsepower, torque, towing, and payload figures are independent measurements and may not all be achievable at once. EPA fuel-economy estimates are for comparison purposes only; actual mileage will vary.
Toyota, Grand Highlander, Toyota Safety Sense, and Hybrid Max are trademarks of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. References to Kia, Telluride, and Meridian are used only for descriptive comparison purposes. Award mentions include honors earned by prior Telluride generations as well as the current one. This page reflects the dealer’s own perspective and is meant for general information, not a guarantee of pricing. Offers and pricing are subject to change — reach out to Dean McCrary Kia for current figures.
Kia Telluride vs Toyota Grand Highlander Comparison — Dean McCrary Kia, Hattiesburg MS
The redesigned Kia Telluride stacks up well against the Toyota Grand Highlander: deeper warranty coverage (10-year/100,000-mile powertrain versus 5-year/60,000-mile), a stronger standard hybrid (329 hp against Toyota's standard 245-hp Hybrid), and a lower starting price (roughly $39,190 versus $41,360). Toyota's counter is the widest cargo area of any three-row crossover tested and a 362-hp Hybrid Max option. Both models seat up to eight and can tow as much as 5,000 pounds. Dean McCrary Kia in Hattiesburg, Mississippi carries the full Telluride and Telluride Hybrid lineup and serves Petal, Oak Grove, Purvis, Columbia, and Laurel.