Heavy is the head that wears the crown. Kia produces several competitive SUV models, but few have been as impactful over the last few years as the Kia Telluride. The Telluride is the quintessential midsize three-row SUV in the eyes of thousands of consumers. Kia’s midsize model clearly dominated its segment…until now. A new challenger, the Toyota Grand Highlander, has stepped up to the plate. The Telluride could lose its crown forever.

The Toyota Grand Highlander is a sales hit

If you’re Toyota Motor Company and you want to compete in the midsize three-row space, do you start from scratch or take the Corolla Cross approach and improve on a classic?

The Toyota Grand Highlander is a larger Highlander midsize SUV mixed with Toyota’s modern design language. From new tech to hybrid powertrain systems, this SUV includes all of the brand’s new tricks carefully mixed with the Highlander fundamentals consumers have learned to love over the past few decades.

At first, comparing the Telluride and Grand Highlander seemed unfair because of their price difference ($7,080). In a surprising turn of events, the Grand Highlander has been outselling the Telluride in recent months despite being significantly more affordable. Why? There are a few factors behind why the Grand Highlander is such a sales success.

Why the Grand Highlander is selling faster than the Kia Telluride

Based on the Grand Highlander’s specs, its starting price and fuel economy are average for its size. Its power output is decent, boasting an exhilarating amount of torque thanks to the turbocharged engine. Ultimately, the main reasons consumers are quickly grabbing up Toyota’s new SUV go beyond specs. It’s about the reputation that the brand has built.

The Toyota Highlander is one of the longest-lasting SUVs that money can buy. So, naturally, many drivers assume that the Grand Highlander will be just as reliable. Reliability and longevity equate to a longer ownership experience, which often means big savings for consumers in the long run.

Drivers don’t typically purchase Toyota products for speed or flashiness. The brand is such a force in the market because it consistently produces practical, affordable, and reliable vehicles for the average consumer. The Telluride may be a great midsize three-row SUV, but can drivers count on it to be as reliable as a Toyota model in the same segment?

The Toyota Grand Highlander has a bright future

ISeeCars.com claims that it takes an average of 10.7 days to sell a Grand Highlander. Furthermore, the hybrid version only spends about 9.2 days on the market.

There’s a huge demand for the Grand Highlander and Grand Highlander Hybrid. Since the nameplate is newer than the Telluride, the hype could be hard to maintain, but it seems that Toyota’s SUV has a bright future in the industry. It’s clear that the age of the midsize three-row SUV is in full swing, and Toyota came to win, not just to play.