- Base Trim Engine
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2.5L
- Base Trim Transmission
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8-speed automatic
- Base Trim Drivetrain
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All-Wheel Drive
The Kia Three-Row Hybrid That Quietly Beats Toyota’s Grand Highlander
11 minutes reading
Saturday, 15 Aug 2026 20:00 0 6 autotech
SUVs have come a long way from the body-on-frame, mud-hunting machines they once were; today, they are the go-to choice for easy family driving. Most brands make one, and the likes of Toyota have for a long time been market leaders in offering space, versatility, good fuel consumption, and reliability in one package.
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However, they are not alone today, and while the new Grand Highlander Hybrid makes for an exceptional family SUV, the new model of this Kia three-row SUV does things a bit better.
Toyota Has Had The Family Hybrid SUV Pretty Much To Itself
Toyota has nailed many things in the SUV market. Typically, they bring along bulletproof build quality; they balance versatility and low running costs; and the refined hybrid systems and powertrains they have created turn heavy machines into fuel-efficient vehicles that can be used every day.
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A lot of Toyota’s SUV lineup has gone hybrid, and with models like the new RAV4, Corolla Cross Hybrid, Crown Signia, Grand Highlander Hybrid, Highlander Hybrid, Land Cruiser, Sequoia, and 4Runner i-FORCE MAX offering everything from compact crossover to full-size, three-row hybrid off-roading capability, most other brands have their work cut out. There are a lot of hybrid SUVs in 2026, a lot that are exceptional, but Toyota has garnered a near-mythical following and trust from generations of buyers.
The New Grand Highlander Sets The Bar For Three-Row Hybrids
With a starting price of $46,705, three rows of seating for up to eight people, a tow rating of up to 5,000 pounds, up to 97.5 cubic feet of storage space with the rear seats folded away, and oodles of comfort features, the new Grand Highlander Hybrid does an awful amount well for a reasonable price.
You also get 41.7 inches of front legroom, 39.5 inches of second-row legroom, and 33.5 inches of third-row legroom, while highly configurable seating makes it easy to ship around a family on long road trips and easy to load up for camping trips. In short, most things you could ask for from a three-row family SUV, the new Grand Highlander Hybrid delivers.
Rightly so, the Grand Highlander Hybrid is highly rated on J.D. Power, at 82 out of 100 overall, 84 out of 100 for reliability, and 78 out of 100 for driving experience. Similarly, owners on Kelley Blue Book rate it 4.6 out of 5 overall, 4.7 out of 5 for reliability, 4.8 out of 5 for performance, and 4.9 out of 5 for comfort. But a new challenger has arrived, and it closes the gap in ways Toyota’s reputation alone can’t paper over.
The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid Undercuts The Grand Highlander MAX — And Outguns The Standard Hybrid
After skipping a year for a major redesign, the Telluride is back as the 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid, and is now bringing some serious competition to the Toyota-dominated hybrid three-row SUV market in the U.S. There are five trims of the new Telluride Hybrid: the EX, the SX, the X-Line SX, the SX Prestige, and the X-Line SX Prestige.
The EX has a starting price of $46,490; the SX, $51,490; the X-Line SX, $54,590; the SX Prestige, $56,590; and the X-Line SX Prestige, $57,590. While the Grand Highlander Hybrid has a lower starting price, the top-end price is $60,175, and there are some big differences between the two lineups.
The Horsepower:Fuel-Efficiency Ratio Makes Sense
The most powerful flavor of the new Grand Highlander Hybrid is the Hybrid MAX model, which is equipped with a 2.4-liter turbocharged inline-four paired with two electric motors. Horsepower output is 362, and maximum torque is 400 pound-feet. FuelEconomy.gov says the most efficient model can achieve 27 combined mpg (26 mpg city/27 mpg highway).
There is also a less powerful standard hybrid model, which gets a 2.5-liter hybrid powertrain good for 245 horsepower. FuelEconomy.gov says the front-wheel drive models of the standard hybrid are far more efficient, with a combined mpg rating of 36 (37 mpg city/34 mpg highway).
The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid is equipped with a 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-four paired with dual electric motors. Combined horsepower output is 329, and combined torque is 339 pound-feet. Front-wheel drive is standard fare, all-wheel drive is optional, and power is routed through a six-speed automatic transmission.
FuelEconomy.gov estimates the all-wheel drive can achieve 31 combined mpg (30 mpg city/32 mpg highway), and the front-wheel drive model can achieve 33 combined mpg (32 mpg city/34 mpg highway). It may be a little less powerful than the Grand Highlander Hybrid MAX, but not that much, and it is predicted to be a lot more efficient.
The Telluride Hybrid’s Cabin Borrows From Luxury SUVs — Without the Luxury Price
In recent years, the luxury and the mainstream SUV markets have been crossing over , and while the Grand Highlander Hybrid is exceptionally comfortable and nicely kitted out for a mainstream brand, the newly designed Telluride Hybrid goes a little further.
The EX gets SynTex seating, a SynTex-wrapped octagonal steering wheel, wood-inspired trim, a clean horizontal dashboard design, and plush stitching. You also get hidden door handles in the armrest, while ambient lighting adds a nice touch for the price point. The SX is a little more plush and gets a 26.9-inch panoramic display, a 14-speaker Meridian audio rig, seven USB-C ports, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The SX Prestige pushes further into luxury territory with suede across the seats, engineered wood on the dashboard and doors, and SynTex suede for the headliner instead of fabric. The X-Line SX Prestige carries those materials over while adding its own sportier design, while as you go up the trims, the tech gets fancier in the shape of a 12-inch HUD, a Full Display Mirror, and an available Ergo-Motion driver’s seat.
Kia Didn’t Turn The Telluride Into A Hybrid Compromise
It would have been easy for Kia to bring back the Telluride Hybrid with nothing but fuel savings in mind, and while it is very apparent that Kia is a long way from what it used to be in terms of efficiency and luxury, SUV usability is still at the forefront of the Telluride’s build.
There are three rows of seating as standard, with seating for up to seven people. In the first row, there is up to 41.2 inches of headroom and 41.4 inches of legroom; in the second row, there is up to 40.4 inches of headroom and 43 inches of legroom; and in the third row, there is 37.4 inches of headroom and 32.1 inches of legroom.
Behind the third row, you get 21.3 cubic feet of cargo space; behind the second row, there is 47.7 cubic feet of cargo space; and with all the seats folded away, you get 88.3 cubic feet of cargo space. You also get underfloor storage compartments and a folding luggage table as standard.
According to Kelley Blue Book rankings, it has been rated 4.8 out of 5 overall and as the number-one three-row SUV for the 2027 MY, thanks to its comfort, frugal powertrain, usefulness, and new design.
It Still Tows 4,500 Pounds When The Family Needs It
The 2027 Telluride Hybrid is only a hybrid mid-sized SUV, but not only does it pack a lot in, it can also tow. In the name of lower fuel bills, we find that a lot of newer fuel-saving SUVs aren’t cut out for a huge amount of lugging prowess. However, the new Telluride Hybrid can tow up to 4,500 pounds when you equip it with all-wheel drive and the Towing Package. It will cost you an extra $2,000 to add all-wheel drive and an extra $650 to $750 for the Towing Package.
The $52,000 Telluride Hybrid SX Makes The Most Sense Of The Lineup
The base trim offers an awful amount for the money, but if you want that little extra bit of convenience, it is the second trim in the lineup that offers the best value-for-money. At just shy of $52,000, the SX is where Kia’s pricing strategy starts to make sense.
For a relatively modest step up from the EX, you get equipment that improves the experience without paying for the most expensive additions of the upper trims, like the dual sunroofs, which let a lot of natural light into the second and third rows. The SX gets a digital key, allowing smartphones and smartwatches to be used in place of a conventional key, while the available Digital Key 2.0 System helps a little further.
You don’t get the suede goodies of the SX Prestige, but you do still get a power liftgate, rain-sensing windshield wipers, a heated windshield, and acoustic front glass. They aren’t particularly exciting features, but they do make life a bit easier when you are loading and unloading.
The Telluride Hybrid Could Be The New Family-SUV Sweet Spot
At the base level, the new Telluride Hybrid is a little more expensive than the Grand Highlander Hybrid, and there is slightly less storage room inside, but it still makes a lot of sense. We are now in the second generation of the Telluride, and with its release comes a bolder look, bigger screens, more legroom in the second and third rows, and wireless phone connectivity. They are the kind of changes that take away attention from the likes of Toyota.
iSeeCars rates the new Telluride Hybrid 10 out of 10 for safety, and ranks it the number-one three-row SUV with the most legroom (combined over three rows), the number-four safest SUV with three rows, and the number-six best crossover SUV for towing. As a model that delivers on all fronts, the Telluride Hybrid is a strong one.
Running costs have their ups and downs: CarEdge only rates it “D+” for value, saying it will cost you $59,969 over five years to own. However, FuelEconomy.gov says that it will only cost you between $1,850 a year and $2,000 a year for gas; they also say that the average fuel-tank range spans from 564 miles to 601 miles. For family road trips and avoiding the gas station, it is ideal.
The Grand Highlander has a maximum tank range of 619 miles, but that is for the less powerful standard hybrid model. It only costs $150 a year less for gas and can only tow up to 3,500 pounds, while the Grand Highlander Hybrid MAX can only achieve a gas-tank range of up to 464 miles, despite its 500-pound higher tow rating.
The Grand Highlander has a few tricks up its sleeve, but the gap is not as wide as Toyota’s reputation might suggest. The Telluride Hybrid gets close enough on efficiency while offering considerably more power than the standard Grand Highlander, and unlike the Hybrid MAX, it doesn’t make you choose between performance and a useful driving range. That matters when an SUV is meant to be a family vehicle first.
The real question is how you’ll use the third row. If it’s regularly filled, or you need maximum cargo capacity, the Grand Highlander still has the edge. However, for most families, the Telluride Hybrid is the more well-rounded package. It gives up a bit of capacity while still delivering stronger efficiency than the more favorable Grand Highlander hybrid powertrain, along with a more upscale cabin, a luxurious exterior look for its price tag, and plenty of usable space where passengers actually sit. Kia hasn’t simply matched Toyota here; it’s made a three-row hybrid SUV that strikes an exceptional balance.
Sources: Kia, iSeeCars, J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, and FuelEconomy.gov
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