The 2021 Kia Telluride and the 2021 Toyota Highlander are both Consumer Reports-recommended SUVs. The Telluride has an almost perfect road test score, as well as a perfect reliability rating and a decent owner satisfaction score. The 2021 Toyota Highlander has an excellent road-test score, as well as an excellent reliability rating and a very good owner satisfaction score. So which is better, and how can you choose between them?

The Kia Telluride’s road test score blows away the Toyota Highlander’s

Consumer Reports gives the 2021 Kia Telluride a 4/5 for its acceleration. It takes 7.2 seconds to go from 0 to 60. Its transmission scores a 5/5. Routine handling is a 3/5 and emergency handling gets a very good 4/5. The Kia Telluride’s max avoidance speed is 54 mph.

Consumer Reports gives the 2021 Toyota Highlander a 4/5 for its acceleration. It takes 7.3 seconds to go from 0 to 60. Its transmission scores a 4/5. Routine and emergency handling get a 3/5. The Toyota Highlander’s max avoidance speed is 50 mph. 

The Kia Telluride gets a perfect 5/5 for its braking. It can brake from 60 mph on dry pavement in 127 feet and 133 feet on wet pavement. The Telluride’s headlights score an excellent  4/5.

The Toyota Highlander gets a 4/5 for its braking. It can brake from 60 mph on dry pavement in 132 feet and 141 feet on wet pavement. The Highlander’s headlights score an okay 3/5.

Comfort in the 2021 Kia Telluride and 2021 Toyota Highlander is similar

As far as comfort, the 2021 Kia Telluride gets a fantastic 4/5 for its ride, as well as for noise. Front-seat comfort is very good, at a 4/5. Rear seat comfort gets a fantastic 5/5. Third row comfort is only a 1/5. Interior fit and finish get a very good 4/5. The trunk and cargo space also score a 4/5, with 47.5 cubic feet of storage space.

As far as comfort, the 2021 Toyota Highlander gets a fantastic 4/5 for its ride, as well as for noise. Front-seat comfort is very good, at a 4/5. Rear seat comfort gets a fantastic 5/5. Third row comfort is only a 1/5.

Interior fit and finish get a very good 4/5. The trunk and cargo space also score a 3/5, with 41 cubic feet of storage space.

Reliability and owner satisfaction in the Telluride is perfect

Consumer Reports gives the 2021 Kia Telluride a perfect 5/5 for its predicted reliability. The 2020 also had an excellent reliability rating, with no problem areas. The power equipment in the 2020 did get 4/5, though everything else is 5/5.

The Telluride gets a perfect predicted owner satisfaction score, at a 5/5. The driving experience gets an 86, while comfort gets a 93. Styling gets a 91, and value is a 70. 91% of people would buy the 2021 Kia Telluride again, which is more than any other SUV in its category.

Consumer Reports gives the 2021 Toyota Highlander a near-perfect 4/5 for its predicted reliability. Both the 2019 and 2020 have a 4/5 for reliability ratings. The in-car electronics in the 2020 get a 3/5. In the 2019 the fuel system and in-car electronics both get a 2/5.

The Highlander gets an excellent predicted owner satisfaction score, at a 4/5. The driving experience gets an 84, while comfort gets an 85. Styling gets a 79, and value is a 48. 78% of people would buy the 2021 Toyota Highlander again.

Although there isn’t a huge difference in the Consumer Reports ratings between the 2021 Kia Telluride and the 2021 Toyota Highlander, there is a difference. Perhaps most surprising is that Kia is offering up such a solid challenger to Toyota, which has been a longtime family favorite. If you’re in the market for a new SUV, the Kia Telluride is an excellent choice.