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2023 Kia Telluride vs 2023 Toyota Highlander

Side-by-side EPA, NHTSA, and recall data. Winners highlighted in green when one car clearly leads.

Quick read
  • Best EPA combined MPG goes to the 2023 Toyota Highlander at 24 MPG.
  • Best highway MPG goes to the 2023 Toyota Highlander at 28 MPG.
Vehicle comparison: EPA fuel economy, NHTSA safety, recalls
 
Car 1
2023 Kia Telluride
Car 2
2023 Toyota Highlander

Engine & efficiency

Cylinders64
Displacement3.8L2.4L
DriveFront-Wheel DriveFront-Wheel Drive
Fuel typeRegular GasolineRegular Gasoline

EPA fuel economy

City MPG2021
Highway MPG2628
Combined MPG2324
Annual fuel cost (EPA)$2950$2800
CO2 tailpipe395g/mi370g/mi

NHTSA safety ratings

Overall5/ 55/ 5
Frontal crash4/ 54/ 5
Side crash5/ 55/ 5
Rollover4/ 54/ 5
Stability controlStandardStandard

Recalls, complaints, investigations

Recalls (NHTSA)59
Complaints filed184154
Open investigations00
2023 Kia Telluride recalls
  1. AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
    Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Telluride vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the wire harnesses for the second row seat side air bags may become damaged, causing them not to deploy in the event of a crash.
  2. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
    Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Sportage, Sportage Hybrid, Sportage Plug-in Hybrid, Niro Hybrid, Niro Plug-in Hybrid, Soul, and Telluride vehicles equipped with a digital instrument cluster containing a 4.2" LCD screen.  The instrument cluster may fail to display any information when the vehicle is started.  As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 101, "Control and Displays," and 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."
  3. POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
    Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Telluride vehicles. The intermediate shaft and right front driveshaft may not be fully engaged, which can result in vehicle roll away while in PARK.
  4. + 2 more on file at NHTSA.
2023 Toyota Highlander recalls
  1. STEERING:COLUMN
    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Corolla, Corolla Cross, Corolla Cross Hybrid, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Tacoma, 2023 Lexus RX350, RX350 Hybrid, RX500 Hybrid, 2023-2024 Lexus NX250, NX350, and NX350 Hybrid vehicles. An electrical connection inside the steering column's spiral cable assembly may be insufficiently welded, causing the connection to separate and deactivate the driver's air bag. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
  2. STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS
    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Highlander & Highlander Hybrid vehicles. During normal vehicle operation, minor impact to the front lower bumper cover may result in the cover coming loose or detaching.
  3. TIRES
    Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (GST) is recalling certain 2022-2024 model year Highlander L and Highlander LE vehicles equipped with the Blackout Package that includes 20" black alloy wheels and tires. The installed tires have an insufficient load rating. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
  4. + 6 more on file at NHTSA.

Sources: US DOT NHTSA (api.nhtsa.gov) for safety ratings, recalls, and complaints. US EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov for engine, fuel economy, and emissions data. Both are free public datasets, updated by the federal agencies that own them.

Real listings, four marketplaces

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Real listings, four marketplaces

Shop real 2023 Toyota Highlander listings

These links open a pre-filtered search on each marketplace. Compare prices and inventory in one tab each, then come back. The verdict above tells you what to ask the seller before you commit.

Outbound links may pay MotorJudge a commission via affiliate networks. Prices, availability, and dealer policies live on each marketplace. We do not control their inventory.

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