The new Telluride replaces the old V6 with a 2.5-liter turbocharged four making 274 horsepower and 311 lb-ft through an eight-speed automatic, and it adds the first Telluride hybrid, a 2.5-liter turbo hybrid producing 329 horsepower and 339 lb-ft of combined system output through a six-speed automatic.

The Grand Highlander offers three powertrains: a 2.4-liter turbo four with 265 horsepower and 310 lb-ft on an eight-speed, a 2.5-liter hybrid rated at 245 combined system horsepower with an eCVT, and the Hybrid MAX at 362 combined system horsepower and 400 lb-ft with a six-speed automatic. Towing is 5,000 pounds for the Telluride's gas engine and for both the Grand Highlander's gas four and its Hybrid MAX; the Telluride Hybrid is rated 4,500 pounds and the Toyota 2.5-liter hybrid 3,500.

Both fit a 12.3-inch touchscreen as standard equipment on the entry trim, which is not a given in this class. The Telluride pairs it with a 4.2-inch cluster on the LX, S, EX and X-Line EX and moves to dual 12.3-inch panoramic displays from the SX up, adding a 12.0-inch head-up display at SX-Prestige level.

The Grand Highlander pairs its 12.3-inch touchscreen with a 7-inch multi-information display on the LE, XLE, Hybrid LE and Hybrid XLE, and a 12.3-inch digital cluster from Limited up, with a 10-inch head-up display on the Platinum and Hybrid MAX Platinum. Both offer premium audio on upper trims, Harman Kardon on the Telluride and an 11-speaker JBL system on the Toyota.

The Telluride carries Highway Driving Assist 1.5 on the LX, S, EX and X-Line EX and Highway Driving Assist 2.0 from the SX up, alongside Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist and a standard Rear Occupant Alert that uses in-cabin radar to cover both the second and third rows.

Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 is standard on every Grand Highlander, covering the Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, Lane Tracing Assist, Road Sign Assist, Automatic High Beams and Proactive Driving Assist, with Blind Spot Monitor and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert standard as well.

The Telluride grew for its second generation, to a 116.9-inch wheelbase, and it carries 41.4 inches of front legroom, 43.0 in the second row and 32.1 in the third on gas models. Cargo runs 22.3 cubic feet behind the third row, 48.7 behind the second and 89.3 with both rows folded. Eight-passenger seating is offered on the LX and gas EX, with captain's chairs on the rest of the range and on every hybrid.

The Grand Highlander rides a 116.1-inch wheelbase with 41.7, 39.5 and 33.5 inches of legroom by row, and its cargo figures are 20.6, 57.9 and 97.5 cubic feet. Its seating rules run the other way from Kia's: the LE grades are eight-seat only, the Platinum, Nightshade and both Hybrid MAX trims are seven-seat only, and the middle grades can be either.

The Telluride measures 199.2 inches long and 78.3 inches wide, with 7.4 inches of ground clearance on most trims and 9.1 inches on the X-Pro, which also rides on 18-inch wheels with all-terrain tires. The X-Line takes the on-road route instead, on 21-inch wheels, and Kia cut the drag coefficient to 0.30 on non-X-Pro models.

The Grand Highlander is longer at 201.4 inches and matches the Telluride's 78.3-inch width, with a uniform 8.0 inches of ground clearance across every grade. Toyota offers Multi-Terrain Select on the gas Platinum and both Hybrid MAX trims, while Kia's off-road hardware is concentrated in the X-Pro.