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Are you thinking about buying either the 2023 Toyota Highlander or the 2023 Kia Telluride? The Highlander has multiple advantages in its favor for midsize SUV shoppers. Here are four reasons to buy a 2023 Highlander, not a 2023 Telluride.

2023 Toyota Highlander has higher gas mileage than the 2023 Kia Telluride

Front angle view of white 2023 Toyota Highlander
2023 Toyota Highlander | Toyota

The first reason to buy a 2023 Toyota Highlander instead of a 2023 Kia Telluride is the Highlander has higher gas mileage than the Telluride. Considering the high price of gasoline these days, a more efficient SUV translates to more savings at the fuel pump. 

The gas-powered Highlander has an estimated fuel economy of up to 22 city/29 highway mpg, compared to 20 city/26 highway mpg for the Telluride. For even greater efficiency, the Highlander Hybrid has an estimated gas mileage of up to 36 city/35 highway mpg. Unlike the Highlander, the Telluride doesn’t offer a hybrid model. 

2023 Highlander is more maneuverable than the 2023 Telluride

Front angle view of blue 2023 Kia Telluride
2023 Kia Telluride | Kia

The second reason to buy a 2023 Toyota Highlander instead of a 2023 Kia Telluride is the Highlander is more maneuverable than the Telluride. This greater maneuverability of the Highlander can mostly be credited to its tighter turning circle. It has a turning circle of 37.4 feet, compared to 38.8 feet for the Telluride. 

With the greater maneuverability, the Highlander can more effectively drive through traffic and navigate curves and corners. The maneuverability also makes it easier to park the SUV.

Unlike the Kia Telluride, the Toyota Highlander offers backup collision prevention brakes

The third reason to buy a 2023 Toyota Highlander instead of a 2023 Kia Telluride is that, unlike the Telluride, the Highlander offers backup collision prevention brakes. Many people are injured and killed each year when a vehicle backs up and collides with them. The available backup collision prevention brakes in the Highlander address this problem. They prevent a rear collision via monitoring sensors and apply the brakes as needed. 

Unlike the 2023 Telluride, the 2023 Highlander has a free maintenance plan

The fourth reason to buy a 2023 Toyota Highlander instead of a 2023 Kia Telluride is that, unlike the Telluride, the Highlander has a free maintenance plan. Routine maintenance is a pivotal part of ensuring the optimal performance, safety, and reliability of a vehicle. The ToyotaCare complimentary maintenance plan for the Highlander makes maintaining your vehicle a more affordable endeavor.

ToyotaCare for the Highlander, which is good for two years or 25,000 miles, includes:

  • Oil and filter changes
  • Tires rotations
  • Multi-point inspections
  • Topping off of the fluids

Also, there are considerably more Toyota dealerships than Kia dealerships around the country. This makes it more convenient to maintain the Highlander for more drivers.

The 2023 Toyota Highlander has advantages over the 2023 Kia Telluride for gas mileage, maneuverability, backup collision prevention brakes, and a free maintenance plan. In making a buying decision between the two midsize SUVs, these are solid reasons to buy a 2023 Highlander, not a 2023 Telluride.

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Staff Writer, Producer - SUVs

Mark Putzer

With seven years of experience writing in the automotive industry prior to joining MotorBiscuit in 2021, Mark’s work can be found on dealership websites across North America. A Bachelor of Science degree in zoology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison sent Mark into the wilderness for environmental studies. Here, he discovered a passion for driving off-road trucks and SUVs off the beaten path.

During his extensive international travels, Mark developed an affinity for foreign cars and international automotive markets. Inspired by the industry-wide push toward environmentally-friendly EVs and hybrids, Mark covers topics about recent advances in the automotive industry, in addition to everything from off-road concepts to emerging EV technology.