Comparing the 2025 Kia Telluride with the Toyota Land Cruiser near Santa Fe, NM

Let’s say you’re torn between two stout SUVs from two of the biggest car makers around. On the one hand, Kia the South Korean automotive giant produces a wide range of SUVs with qualities that appeal to you. But living  in and around Santa Fe and with a large family, it seems like the 2025 Kia Telluride looks like it might be the right fit. On the other hand, you vividly remember having a Toyota Land Cruiser in the past. That Land Cruiser was bulletproof and huge! You swore that if Toyota ever started making them again, it might make the ideal ride again. But now you have to make the best choice for not only yourself, but also a family that’s growing. You definitely need a versatile SUV with five doors with options like all-wheel drive to meet changing weather conditions in a high-altitude climate like Santa Fe. Having higher ground clearance for the occasional off-road foray, and built-in running boards to let your three kids get in and out is a must. But where do you start to compare?

Drivetrain Comparison

Let’s start with the drivetrain, the Telluride has a 291-HP direct-injected V6 running through an eight-speed automatic transmission as standard equipment. Besides boasting a 5,500 pound towing capacity, it does it all without a lot of fancy hybrid technology which many or may not break down. EPA fuel mileage figures are 18 city, 24 highway and 20 MPG overall on regular unleaded. Toyota offers the 2025 Land Cruiser with a 2.4-liter turbo four cylinder hybrid making 326 HP with two electric motors, also running through an eight speed automatic. With full-time AWD, this combination has EPA ratings of 22 city, 25 highway and 23 MPG combined on premium gas. While you don’t plan on towing a trailer anytime soon, the Land Cruiser can only tow 5K pounds. In testing both vehicles, you found yourself attracted to the smoothness and easy running of the V-6, while the Toyota quickly ran out of battery power with its hybrid drivetrain. Advantage Kia Telluride 

But the Toyota also held some advantages when you took it off-road for a short test. Like your classic Land Cruiser of years past, it seemed to get up, around and over just about every obstacle encountered. The full-time AWD system also featured 4-high or 4-low gearing that made going up and down hills quite easy. Even the styling of this new 2025 Land Cruiser reminded you of the past with an upright windshield and not too many styling tricks. That’s in contrast with the styling of the Telluride which was more futuristic for a two box design. But the Telluride lacks the locking differentials and better approach angles of the Land Cruiser for any serious off-roading. Advantage: Toyota Land Cruiser

Interior features of the Kia Telluride and Toyota Land Cruiser Near Santa Fe NM

Next comes a critical area to evaluate and one your family had some input in. Both the Kia and Toyota had nice interiors, but space was at a premium with the Toyota Land Cruiser. For one, it had only two rows of seating, and while a third row was optional, it would cut into the cargo space near the hatchback. Your kids are still relatively young, but they’re growing and they clearly liked the room of the Telluride. Three rows also make sense for shuttling an extra friend (or two) along after school or on weekends. And while the Toyota Land Cruiser had some advantages on a narrow mountain trail, the Kia Telluride seemed to have more shoulder and leg room to keep everybody comfortable on the roadway. Advantage: Kia Telluride

Safety Comparisons

Safety is always an issue with large vehicles like this and you were glad to find that both the Toyota and Kia had the latest active and passive safety systems around. For example, the Kia Telluride has 17 different driver assistance technologies and earned the IIHS Top Safety Pick for accident avoidance. The Land Cruiser countered with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0- a bevy of safety equipment that included standard automatic braking with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control and lane keeping that could help avoid accidents. Both vehicles had more airbags and crushable body areas than you could count, so passive safety was also a priority. Advantage: Draw

How much do they cost?

Cost is the 800-pound gorilla in any decision and here you found a clear winner. Before any negotiating takes place, you found the MSRP of the Toyota and Kia differed significantly. While Kia offers the 2025 Telluride in three basic trim levels (with either AWD or FWD) versions, you know AWD is right for Santa Fe. With standard equipment including LED projection beam headlights, safe exit warning and nine airbags (with two of them mounted on the second row outboard seats, the Telluride had a decided pricing advantage in their respective MSRPs. No matter how the Toyota Land Cruiser near Santa Fe NM was configured, it was almost $8,000 more expensive than the Kia Telluride in the $50-60K range. Your family also liked the entertainment options on both vehicles, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but had more enthusiasm for the 12.3” dual panoramic display in the Telluride with a more futuristic dashboard. Advantage: Kia Telluride.

When Will My 2025 Kia Telluride Arrive?

While the Toyota Land Cruiser near Santa Fe NM clearly had some advantages as an off-road vehicle, you’re glad your family doesn’t live on the side of a mountain. Residing in Santa Fe and driving through New Mexico is enough of a challenge! Having Kia’s ten year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty together with the five year, 60,000 mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, was the clincher in this battle. While there’s no definitive date of when YOUR 2025 Telluride will arrive, we expect there will usually be an abundance of choices at the Fiesta Kia dealership in Albuquerque at 7400 Lomas Blvd NE any time you decide to check.