3 Reasons the 2023 Toyota 4Runner Doesn’t Measure Up to The Kia Telluride
The Toyota 4Runner is one of the best midsize SUVs. It’s a legend in the SUV space, but the aging Toyota falls behind some of its newer competition. Most notably, the 2023 Kia Telluride outshines the latest Toyota 4Runner model in a few crucial ways. Of course, the 2023 4Runner is still an excellent SUV, but it’s due for some upgrades.
The 2023 Toyota 4Runner is behind the times in fuel economy
Despite being one of the best midsize SUVs, the 2023 Toyota 4Runner doesn’t have great fuel economy. The vehicle offers a measly average of 16 miles per gallon in the city and 19 on the highway. By contrast, the 2023 Kia Telluride achieves a more impressive average of 20 miles per gallon in the city and 26 mpg on the highway. Though not the best fuel economy for a midsize SUV, this difference could benefit many drivers.
One would assume that the poor fuel economy would mean the 2023 4Runner might be more powerful than the latest Kia Telluride. However, that assumption would be false as the 4Runner has a 270 hp 4.0-liter V6 engine under its hood. But the 2023 Kia Telluride has a 3.8-liter V6 that has 21 extra horses. According to Edmunds, the base model of the Kia SUV is front-wheel drive, while the 4Runner is rear-wheel drive.
Additionally, the 2023 Telluride is faster than the 4Runner. The Kia SUV accelerates from 0 to 60 miles per hour between 6.6 and 6.9 seconds. For the Toyota, it’s about 7.3 to 7.6 seconds.
The 2023 Kia Telluride interior is a breath of fresh air
The 2023 Toyota 4Runner isn’t one of the best midsize SUVs regarding its interior. Though it has modern technology, it’s outdated and boring. What it has going for itself is that it’s functional. However, the 2023 Kia Telluride interior is both functional and on the line of being cutting-edge. Some would even say that it belongs on a luxury SUV.
The Kia SUV has a bold and excellently built interior that is upscale yet approachable. The midsize SUV seats up to eight and has ample room for cargo space. Regarding interior technology, the 2023 Telluride has a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen display. There is also an available 10-speaker premium car sound system by Harman/Kardon. The Toyota SUV has a standard eight-inch display.
The 2023 Kia Telluride is a safer midsize SUV than the 2023 4Runner
Both the 2023 Kia Telluride and the latest Toyota 4Runner are safe SUVs. However, the Kia SUV scores better in this regard. This is important because a safe vehicle becomes instantly more valuable to buyers. The 4Runner has four out of five stars from the NHTSA, which is perfectly fine. However, the 2023 Telluride is a top safety plus pick from the organization. The difference is that the Toyota only provides moderate protection in certain crash situations.
The 2023 Kia Telluride is on the top of several best midsize SUVs lists, and for great reason. The SUV is modern, trustworthy, and tons of fun to drive in various situations. While the Toyota 4Runner is great, it doesn’t fit perfectly into the modern world of SUVs due to its less-than-stellar fuel economy and outdated interior.
