2020 Highlander
03-31-20, 08:22 AM
#376
Lexus Test Driver
The Telluride wins on comfort, room, interior, ride, refinement and price. The Highlander wins on fuel economy. Looks like the Telluride is much better overall and the clear winner.
https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews...ta-highlander/
VIEW PHOTOS
MICHAEL SIMARICAR AND DRIVER
Three-row SUVs aren't boring. In fact, they're evolving so quickly that every time we check in things have changed. Mainstream brands continue to introduce new three-row SUVs that are real rivals to what premium brands are selling. Take the new 2020 Toyota Highlander and 2020 Kia Telluride, at their highest trim levels both could easily wear a Lexus or Genesis badge in both appearance and amenities.
Now, we do have to mention that these two SUVs have pretty much the same people-hauling mission as minivans. But the Telluride and Highlander's luxury bent and design gives them more flair than minivans offer. To find out which three-row is best we pitted our current class favorite and the 10Best winning Kia Telluride against the new Highlander.
The Highlander has been playing this game longer, but it is also new for 2020. The fourth-generation Highlander makes the switch to Toyota's modular platform, called TNGA, and features a more—ahem—unique exterior design than any Highlander before it. Given that even the old, outgoing Highlander was the best-selling three-row SUV in 2019, this new model has big shoes to fill.
Both of these SUVs impressed us with their driving dynamics, but for different reasons. We appreciate the Telluride's quiet and refined demeanor, it has the plush ride quality and hushed cabin of a true luxury SUV. The Highlander, on the other hand, is sportier and more responsive. There's more driver engagement as you push it into corners. It has direct steering and a firm brake pedal. But each could learn some lessons from the other, as the softer Kia would benefit from tighter body control when cornering and the less-refined Toyota could stand to be quieter when cruising at highway speeds. (Our sound-level measurement at a 70-mph cruise showed 67 decibels for the Kia and a substantially louder 69 for the Toyota.)
When you are cruising along at highway speeds, the Highlander returns better fuel economy than the Telluride. In addition to scoring higher in EPA testing, the Toyota delivered an impressive 28 mpg in our steady-state 75-mph highway fuel economy test. The Telluride managed to match its EPA highway rating in our test, delivering 24 mpg at 75 mph. Should you want even more fuel economy, the Highlander offers an even more efficient hybrid model, while the Telluride does not.
We'd much rather be a fifth, sixth, or seventh passenger in the wayback of the Telluride than the Highlander. The Kia offers a reasonably comfortable seating position even for adults, while the Toyota forces your knees into your chest. Comfort in the second-row captain's chairs is about even in these two models, and both offer chairs with a wide range of adjustability including seatback recline and slide. (Both SUVs are also available with a second-row bench seat in place of captain's chairs that ups passenger capacity to eight.) The Telluride—no surprise—also holds the advantage in cargo capacity, with 21 cubic feet behind its third row to the Highlander's 16 cubic feet.But what about you, the driver? Again, we give the nod to the Kia here due to its pleasingly simple yet rich-looking dashboard. Climate controls are logical and easy to use and the large touchscreen infotainment system features a crisp display and logically arranged controls and menus. The Highlander is a match for the Kia in terms of materials quality—both SUVs have high-quality plastics, leather trim, and even carpets—but the Toyota is a bit busier, with a number of contrasting shapes, colors, and textures. It has a similarly large touchscreen as the Kia, but its menu structure is a bit more confusing and it's not as clear in its graphical presentation. Still, both have interiors that would be at home in the premium segment.
https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews...ta-highlander/
2020 Kia Telluride vs. 2020 Toyota Highlander: A Battle for Three-Row Supremacy
Kia's new Telluride won us over from the start, but how does it stack up against Toyota's all-new and best-selling three-row SUV?VIEW PHOTOS
MICHAEL SIMARICAR AND DRIVER
Three-row SUVs aren't boring. In fact, they're evolving so quickly that every time we check in things have changed. Mainstream brands continue to introduce new three-row SUVs that are real rivals to what premium brands are selling. Take the new 2020 Toyota Highlander and 2020 Kia Telluride, at their highest trim levels both could easily wear a Lexus or Genesis badge in both appearance and amenities.Now, we do have to mention that these two SUVs have pretty much the same people-hauling mission as minivans. But the Telluride and Highlander's luxury bent and design gives them more flair than minivans offer. To find out which three-row is best we pitted our current class favorite and the 10Best winning Kia Telluride against the new Highlander.
The Matchup
You've surely heard the name Highlander before, but perhaps you've missed us shouting from the rooftops about the new Telluride. Introduced last year as a 2020 model, it's the brand's largest SUV and offers bold styling, space, and a long list of standard and optional features.The Highlander has been playing this game longer, but it is also new for 2020. The fourth-generation Highlander makes the switch to Toyota's modular platform, called TNGA, and features a more—ahem—unique exterior design than any Highlander before it. Given that even the old, outgoing Highlander was the best-selling three-row SUV in 2019, this new model has big shoes to fill.
On the Road
While some automakers now equip its three-row SUVs with turbocharged four-cylinder engines, Toyota and Kia have stuck with naturally aspirated V-6s. The Telluride's is a 3.8-liter V-6 with 291 horsepower, while the Highlander's is a 3.5-liter V-6 with 295 horsepower. Similar specs aside, the Highlander's crisper shifts had us thinking that it felt more responsive. But the data is very similar, with the Telluride just 0.2-second slower in our 30-to-50-mph passing test, and 0.7-seconds quicker in the 50-to-70-mph metric. The Toyota gets off the line slightly better, with a 60-mph time of 6.7 seconds to the Telluride's 7.1, but the Telluride gains on it from there, pulling equal at the quarter-mile, which both hit in 15.3 seconds. To 100 mph, the Telluride is ahead by a second, and keeps pulling further ahead from there. In our rolling-start, 5-to-60-mph test, which is a better gauge of the feeling of quickness in normal driving, the two are near equals, with the Kia at 7.1 seconds and the Toyota 7.2. The short version: There's no compelling reason to pick one of these over the other for reasons of acceleration.Both of these SUVs impressed us with their driving dynamics, but for different reasons. We appreciate the Telluride's quiet and refined demeanor, it has the plush ride quality and hushed cabin of a true luxury SUV. The Highlander, on the other hand, is sportier and more responsive. There's more driver engagement as you push it into corners. It has direct steering and a firm brake pedal. But each could learn some lessons from the other, as the softer Kia would benefit from tighter body control when cornering and the less-refined Toyota could stand to be quieter when cruising at highway speeds. (Our sound-level measurement at a 70-mph cruise showed 67 decibels for the Kia and a substantially louder 69 for the Toyota.)
When you are cruising along at highway speeds, the Highlander returns better fuel economy than the Telluride. In addition to scoring higher in EPA testing, the Toyota delivered an impressive 28 mpg in our steady-state 75-mph highway fuel economy test. The Telluride managed to match its EPA highway rating in our test, delivering 24 mpg at 75 mph. Should you want even more fuel economy, the Highlander offers an even more efficient hybrid model, while the Telluride does not.
The Inside View
The Kia has a boxy and classic SUV shape. There's some Volvo and Land Rover in the design and it's more pleasing to our eyes than is the Highlander. But that upright shape has the added benefit of giving the Telluride's interior a feeling of spaciousness; it's the one we'd pick for a long road trip. The Telluride has more head- and legroom in both the second and third rows, and, like in a big house, its large windows and tall ceiling exaggerate the feeling of airiness. Sitting inside the Highlander feels like entering a cramped cottage in comparison: the roofline is lower and the windows are narrower, creating a relatively claustrophobic feel and making it more difficult to climb into the third row of seats.We'd much rather be a fifth, sixth, or seventh passenger in the wayback of the Telluride than the Highlander. The Kia offers a reasonably comfortable seating position even for adults, while the Toyota forces your knees into your chest. Comfort in the second-row captain's chairs is about even in these two models, and both offer chairs with a wide range of adjustability including seatback recline and slide. (Both SUVs are also available with a second-row bench seat in place of captain's chairs that ups passenger capacity to eight.) The Telluride—no surprise—also holds the advantage in cargo capacity, with 21 cubic feet behind its third row to the Highlander's 16 cubic feet.But what about you, the driver? Again, we give the nod to the Kia here due to its pleasingly simple yet rich-looking dashboard. Climate controls are logical and easy to use and the large touchscreen infotainment system features a crisp display and logically arranged controls and menus. The Highlander is a match for the Kia in terms of materials quality—both SUVs have high-quality plastics, leather trim, and even carpets—but the Toyota is a bit busier, with a number of contrasting shapes, colors, and textures. It has a similarly large touchscreen as the Kia, but its menu structure is a bit more confusing and it's not as clear in its graphical presentation. Still, both have interiors that would be at home in the premium segment.
The Bottom Line
Fully loaded three-row SUVs like the Highlander Platinum and Telluride SX require about $50,000. If that triggers an arrhythmia, more basic versions can be had in the low-$30,000 range. In this test, the Telluride, with an as-tested price of $46,910, has a price advantage of thousands over the Highlander, at $51,112, despite being just as well equipped. Still, the Toyota offers a slightly sportier driving experience than the Kia. But the Kia is a clear winner. It looks and feels premium, it goes about its business unobtrusively and with grace befitting a more expensive vehicle, and it costs thousands less than its newest and strongest competitor.
03-31-20, 08:31 AM
#377
Lead Lap
MT did a segment review, highlander placed 5th I believe
They then published another review narrowing the field to 3, then the highlander placed 2nd behind the pilot oddly enough.
They then published another review narrowing the field to 3, then the highlander placed 2nd behind the pilot oddly enough.
03-31-20, 08:38 AM
#378
Lexus Champion
Thread Starter
Lots of good comparisons out there. Car and Driver also did this one, pitting the Pilot against the new Highlander. If I were looking now, I'm not sure what I would choose.
https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews...ta-highlander/
https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews...ta-highlander/
The Bottom Line
The Bottom Line
Both the Pilot and the Highlander nail the practicality and people hauling part of the brief—although the Highlander's third-row seats don't measure up to the Pilot's. Next to the Highlander, and despite the refresh, the Pilot feels like the older vehicle. It lacks the upmarket appeal of the Highlander's interior. If we were shopping for a loaded Pilot, we'd steer clear from the Black Edition and go for the $49,340 Elite trim level instead. The Pilot doesn't do much wrong, but despite its higher price, the Highlander Platinum seems worth it. It has Lexus-worthy interior design and materials, it's more refined and quieter as it goes about its business, and we liked driving the Highlander more than the Pilot.
So, there you have the answer to the question: Would you rather buy the priciest Honda Pilot or the fanciest Toyota Highlander? Based on our testing, we'd choose the Toyota.
So, there you have the answer to the question: Would you rather buy the priciest Honda Pilot or the fanciest Toyota Highlander? Based on our testing, we'd choose the Toyota.
03-31-20, 08:45 AM
#379
Lexus Champion
Thread Starter
3-Row SUV Comparison Test: Kia Telluride vs. Toyota Highlander vs. Ford Explorer and Six Others
3-Row SUV Comparison Test: Kia Telluride vs. Toyota Highlander vs. Ford Explorer and Six Others
The 3-row midsize SUV takes its place as the modern-era family-hauler.
3-Row SUVs: Best and Worst
9th Place Volkswagen AtlasIt's plenty spacious but has a ride that will make kids carsick. VW needs to improve its family SUV's suspension.
8th Place Ford Explorer
It's new to market, but the Ford seems like it was built ages ago. Its price ladder doesn't speak well to value.
7th Place Mazda CX-9
Great power, ride, and handling, but that's not why folks buy people haulers. It's short of the traits that make a true family vehicle.
6th Place Chevrolet Traverse
A strong SUV just three years ago, the Traverse has suffered at the hands of the newer players in the segment. A rental car feel at a high price.
5th Place Toyota Highlander
The segment sales leader arrived with a cool new design, but a cramped third row and a thrashy powertrain hurt.
4th Place Hyundai Palisade
A smart value, the Palisade raises eyebrows at school plays and soccer practice. Ride is stiff for kids, though.
3rd Place Honda Pilot
The smartly packaged Pilot scores highly with its responsive suspension and direct steering feel.
2nd Place Subaru Ascent
It's oddly styled, but once you see how spacious and capable it is, the Ascent checks many boxes. Plus: value.
1st Place Kia Telluride
Eye-catching design, an elegant interior, and excellent value. The Telluride doesn't disappoint. A class above.
03-31-20, 08:48 AM
#380
Lexus Champion
Thread Starter
Another Motor Trend comparison:
Which of these three best-selling 3-rows should you buy?
If you haven't added up the golf scores yourself, where the lowest number wins, here's how it played out: Honda Pilot (4), Toyota Highlander (9), and Ford Explorer (11). It really wasn't a close call. After reading the shared evaluation notes, what started as a slow swell of support for the Honda grew into a wave as our evaluation loops progressed. Credit Rechtin for identifying the running theme of this story with this quote, "Just because it's old doesn't mean it's bad." And he's right. Do something right the first time, and it tends to be its own reward down the road. In my notes, I wrote, "Honda is so good at packaging, suspension tuning, and driveline integration that even a four-year-old Pilot can still impress and, I believe, has a shot at winning."
We're also pleased to see that Honda listens to criticism and included an audio system volume **** and addressed the Pilot's transmission woes. Seabaugh summed it up bluntly when he wrote, "Honda's [nine-speed automatic] is far from perfect, but the suck has generally been tuned out of the car. You'll still catch the transmission half asleep when you call for sudden acceleration—like to pass a big rig on the highway or to zip out ahead of traffic from a stoplight—but generally speaking, it's fine now. Not good. Not bad. Just fine."
Second Place: Toyota Highlander
The Toyota Highlander was deemed a bag of hits and misses. We expected its driveline to be more refined and less present, but in the end, it just didn't feel very Toyota of Toyota. It's out of character, and that was off-putting. Also, it was off the mark with the lack of room inside—except for prioritizing its second row—a critical factor for this now-booming segment. When the others went big, the Highlander went small. Finally, its interior presentation and storage solutions were solid, but there were a few ergonomic and functional missteps for such a new vehicle. From its most-standard but sometimes-glitchy active safety systems to its dashboard layout, there just seems to be a lack of diligence in the Highlander.
Third Place: Ford Explorer
Once the pioneer and now the follower, the Explorer is riding on its brand name. The base-level Ford is, indeed, very roomy, and most comfortably seats six, but when there are mid- and top-level seven- and eight-passenger 3-row SUVs available for the same cost, it's just no longer competitive. The Explorer's driveline and chassis were outclassed by a comparatively ancient Honda. In what should have been a resounding victory, the Explorer fell short of expectations as well as segment norms for a 3-row SUV in terms of advanced safety systems, fuel economy, and performance.
The Honda Pilot wins with its real-world advanced safety systems, almost-always stellar driveline, superior chassis, and industry-leading packaging. There was little doubt, once the loops were concluded, that the 2020 Honda Pilot was the one to beat. We can't wait to see what comes next.
https://www.motortrend.com/cars/hond...mparison-test/
Three-Way 3-Row SUV Comparison Test: Honda Pilot vs. Ford Explorer vs. Toyota Highlander
Three-Way 3-Row SUV Comparison Test: Honda Pilot vs. Ford Explorer vs. Toyota Highlander
Which of these three best-selling 3-rows should you buy?
First Place: Honda Pilot
If you haven't added up the golf scores yourself, where the lowest number wins, here's how it played out: Honda Pilot (4), Toyota Highlander (9), and Ford Explorer (11). It really wasn't a close call. After reading the shared evaluation notes, what started as a slow swell of support for the Honda grew into a wave as our evaluation loops progressed. Credit Rechtin for identifying the running theme of this story with this quote, "Just because it's old doesn't mean it's bad." And he's right. Do something right the first time, and it tends to be its own reward down the road. In my notes, I wrote, "Honda is so good at packaging, suspension tuning, and driveline integration that even a four-year-old Pilot can still impress and, I believe, has a shot at winning."We're also pleased to see that Honda listens to criticism and included an audio system volume **** and addressed the Pilot's transmission woes. Seabaugh summed it up bluntly when he wrote, "Honda's [nine-speed automatic] is far from perfect, but the suck has generally been tuned out of the car. You'll still catch the transmission half asleep when you call for sudden acceleration—like to pass a big rig on the highway or to zip out ahead of traffic from a stoplight—but generally speaking, it's fine now. Not good. Not bad. Just fine."
Second Place: Toyota Highlander
The Toyota Highlander was deemed a bag of hits and misses. We expected its driveline to be more refined and less present, but in the end, it just didn't feel very Toyota of Toyota. It's out of character, and that was off-putting. Also, it was off the mark with the lack of room inside—except for prioritizing its second row—a critical factor for this now-booming segment. When the others went big, the Highlander went small. Finally, its interior presentation and storage solutions were solid, but there were a few ergonomic and functional missteps for such a new vehicle. From its most-standard but sometimes-glitchy active safety systems to its dashboard layout, there just seems to be a lack of diligence in the Highlander.
Third Place: Ford Explorer
Once the pioneer and now the follower, the Explorer is riding on its brand name. The base-level Ford is, indeed, very roomy, and most comfortably seats six, but when there are mid- and top-level seven- and eight-passenger 3-row SUVs available for the same cost, it's just no longer competitive. The Explorer's driveline and chassis were outclassed by a comparatively ancient Honda. In what should have been a resounding victory, the Explorer fell short of expectations as well as segment norms for a 3-row SUV in terms of advanced safety systems, fuel economy, and performance.
The Honda Pilot wins with its real-world advanced safety systems, almost-always stellar driveline, superior chassis, and industry-leading packaging. There was little doubt, once the loops were concluded, that the 2020 Honda Pilot was the one to beat. We can't wait to see what comes next.
03-31-20, 09:01 AM
#381
Lead Lap
yup thats the one. Thanks!
03-31-20, 09:24 AM
#383
Lexus Test Driver
03-31-20, 09:43 AM
#384
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
disappointing to see in that review (telluride vs highlander) that highlander is noisy on the highway.
03-31-20, 09:46 AM
#385
From a purely objective paper facts standpoint sure. But if someone thinks the Telluride is hideous, well they more than likely aren't going to buy it no matter how much more third row leg room it has or how posh it is inside. Like I said, plenty of solid vehicles to choose from these days. It's hard to go wrong.
03-31-20, 09:55 AM
#386
Lexus Test Driver
From a purely objective paper facts standpoint sure. But if someone thinks the Telluride is hideous, well they more than likely aren't going to buy it no matter how much more third row leg room it has or how posh it is inside. Like I said, plenty of solid vehicles to choose from these days. It's hard to go wrong.
03-31-20, 09:59 AM
#387
2020 Kia Telluride vs. 2020 Toyota Highlander: A Battle for Three-Row Supremacy
High-ride Telluride smites Lowlander
Last edited by Hoovey689; 03-31-20 at 10:07 AM.
03-31-20, 10:19 AM
#388
Lexus Champion
Thread Starter
03-31-20, 10:25 AM
#390
Lexus Champion
Thread Starter