In the Telluride, you and your eight passengers will be able to stretch out with 178.1 cubic feet of passenger room. The Highlander, on the other hand, also makes room for up to eight riders, but it falls short with just 141.8 cubic feet of passenger volume.

With more available space in the Kia Telluride, you’ll have more wiggle room when a new bundle of joy enters your life, when your teens go through growing pains, or when you add a 4-legged friend to your family.

The Telluride’s and the Highlander’s size differences are highlighted in the following dimensions:

It doesn’t matter where you find yourself seated in the Telluride, it will provide you and your passengers with plenty of room to relax and enjoy the ride.

Although both the Telluride and the Highlander come equipped with entertainment features such as Bluetooth® wireless technology, Android Auto™, and Apple CarPlay® integration, their touchscreens differ greatly. In the Highlander, you’ll have a standard 8-inch touchscreen for choosing your next song or playlist.

However, with the Telluride, you’ll be able to use a standard 12.3-inch display. This more expansive system will be easier to use when you’re traversing the bustling open highway.

You have the whole crew on board. Everyone is chatting among themselves, and you need to quickly get their attention. How will you do it? With available Driver Talk in the Kia Telluride! With just the press of a button, your voice is amplified through the rear speakers. The Highlander goes without a comparable feature.

After a long day spent adventuring with your kiddos, you’ll want them to get some much-needed rest on the way home. With standard Quiet Mode in the Telluride, you can silence the speakers in the rear rows to help them stay asleep. Your entertainment will only be played in the cockpit. Unfortunately, the Toyota goes without a similar amenity.

In these rides, you’ll find Kia Drive Wise on the Telluride and Toyota Safety Sense™ 2.5+ on the Highlander. These are their standard safety and driver-assistance suites! Although they have their own systems, they also have many features in common, such as brand-specific versions of:

• Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (with Pedestrian & Cyclist Detection)
• Lane Departure Warning
• Lane Following Assist
• Intelligent Speed Limit
• Navigation-based Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go - Curve

In addition to top-of-the-line protection amenities, the Kia Telluride also comes standard with Safe Exit Assist. It checks your surroundings for potential hazards before you open the doors to disembark so you and your little ones can exit safely.

Unfortunately, the Toyota Highlander doesn’t have a comparable safety feature, pointing to the Telluride as the overall safer set of wheels.