2025 Kia Telluride vs 2024 Land Rover Defender

The 2024 Land Rover Defender presented a unique blend of classic and contemporary design elements. Its exterior maintained a traditional boxy silhouette, complemented by modern touches like angular headlights that linked it visually to other Land Rover models. Inside, the Defender diverged from its siblings, offering a rugged and adventure-ready cabin reminiscent of a Jeep Wrangler or Ford Bronco, yet with more refined materials. The Defender was available in three body styles: the two-door 90, the four-door 110, and the extended-wheelbase four-door 130, each with various trims. Our test drive of the Defender 110 S, featuring the County visual package, highlighted its retro appeal with white wheels and vintage graphics, while standard features included 19-inch alloy wheels, heated front seats, and a panoramic glass roof.

In contrast, the 2025 Kia Telluride was a striking SUV with a distinctive design and upscale details. The SX Prestige X-Pro package, which we tested, included a Midnight Lake Blue paint and Terracotta Nappa leather upholstery, enhancing its luxurious feel. The Telluride's interior was thoughtfully designed, offering heated and ventilated front and second-row seats, USB-C charging ports, and a lumbar massage function for the driver. The spacious cabin accommodated teenagers comfortably with reclining captain's chairs and ample legroom. Cargo space was generous, with 21 cubic feet behind the third row and up to 87 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded. Despite the blacked-out X-Line and X-Pro treatments diminishing some of its personality, the Telluride stood out in a crowded SUV market.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender offered a range of powertrains, starting with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the P300, producing 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Our P400 test model featured a mild-hybrid turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six, delivering 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. The Defender also offered two supercharged 5.0-liter V8 options, with the P500 generating 493 hp and the P525 producing 518 hp. All engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time active four-wheel drive. The Defender excelled in off-road capabilities, with features like adaptive air suspension and Terrain Response 2 system, making it a formidable choice for rugged terrains. The P400 model provided ample power for highway driving, though it exhibited slight lurching at low speeds.

The 2025 Kia Telluride was powered by a 3.8-liter V6 engine, producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive was standard on most trims, while all-wheel drive was available for others. The Telluride offered Eco, Comfort, Sport, and Smart driving modes, with the latter adapting to driver behavior. Despite some competitors switching to turbocharged four-cylinders, the Telluride's V6 was smooth and refined, delivering a respectable 20.2 mpg over 1,200 miles. The X-Pro package's all-terrain tires provided excellent off-road traction but sacrificed some on-road grip. The Telluride's suspension absorbed impacts well, making it a comfortable choice for both city streets and rugged trails.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender balanced luxury and functionality with soft-touch materials, grip handles, and rubberized floors. It offered seating for five to eight passengers, depending on the configuration. The Defender 110 had an optional third row, while the Defender 130 provided three seats in the third row, though space was limited. Cargo capacity varied, with the Defender 130 offering up to 76.1 cubic feet with seats folded. The Defender 110 provided 78.8 cubic feet in the two-row version, while the two-door Defender 90 offered up to 58.3 cubic feet. The cargo area featured hard plastic surfaces, making it practical and easy to clean.

The 2025 Kia Telluride's interior was thoughtfully designed, with heated and ventilated front and second-row seats, USB-C charging ports, and a lumbar massage function for the driver. The second row featured reclining captain's chairs with ample legroom, while the third row was reasonably comfortable for adults. Cargo space was generous, with 21 cubic feet behind the third row and up to 87 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded. The Telluride's interior was spacious and accommodating, making it a practical choice for families.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender came equipped with a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and an 11.4-inch touchscreen. While the touchscreen seemed small compared to competitors, it was simple and utilitarian, featuring navigation, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Defender also included Bluetooth, satellite radio, HD radio, and a 10-speaker Meridian stereo system. The straightforward setup provided a blend of refinement and utility, with home buttons for easy navigation.

The 2025 Kia Telluride featured a 12.3-inch digital driver display and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system under a single piece of glass. The SX Prestige trim added a 10-inch head-up display. The Telluride's infotainment system lacked wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the data port was USB-A. Despite these drawbacks, the Telluride offered a Blind Spot View Monitor and a blue light filter for the touchscreen. The Harman Kardon audio system delivered impressive sound quality, and the SiriusXM satellite radio provided entertainment in areas with limited cell service.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender included a comprehensive list of standard driver assistance features, such as forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Other safety tech included traffic sign recognition, automatic high beams, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and a 360-degree parking camera system. The lane-departure and lane-keeping assist systems were overly sensitive, but they could be deactivated. As of this writing, the Defender had not been crash-tested by the IIHS or NHTSA.

The 2025 Kia Telluride came with Kia's Drive Wise suite of advanced driver assistance systems, including forward collision warning, pedestrian and cyclist detection, intersection assistance, and automatic emergency braking. It also featured blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear automatic braking. Highway Driving Assist was standard, providing semi-autonomous highway driving. The Telluride earned a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.