2025 Toyota Sienna vs 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid

The 2025 Toyota Sienna attempted to break away from the traditional minivan mold with its trapezoidal grille and upswept body lines, yet it still retained the quintessential minivan silhouette. Despite Toyota's efforts to add flair with hidden sliding door tracks and swollen rear fenders, the Sienna's design remained practical, prioritizing interior space over style. The Platinum trim introduced new flower-petal wheel designs and a fresh Magnetic Gray paint color, but the overall aesthetic still leaned heavily towards functionality. Inside, the Sienna's updated interior featured a new woodgrain finish, though opinions on its appeal varied, with some younger passengers finding it less than impressive.

In contrast, the 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid embraced a bold design that could polarize opinions. Its flat, wide grille and body-colored vertical strakes gave it a distinctive look, with variations in appearance depending on the color and trim level. The X-Line and X-Pro models offered unique grille designs and amber accent lights, adding to the Telluride's striking presence. The interior was less controversial, featuring a simple horizontal dashboard layout and a modern, buttonless appearance. The Hybrid SX Prestige trim, with its two-tone palette, exuded a luxurious feel reminiscent of a Volvo, though some found the labeling on the buttons challenging to read. Overall, the Telluride's design was a daring departure from the norm, appealing to those seeking a standout SUV.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna was powered by a hybrid system combining a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), delivering a net horsepower of 245. While this might seem modest for a vehicle seating up to eight and towing 3,500 pounds, the electric motor's torque provided a responsive feel, especially in city driving. The Sienna's hybrid powertrain prioritized fuel economy, achieving an EPA rating of 36 mpg in combined driving, though real-world tests showed an average of 26.3 mpg. Handling was predictable but not particularly engaging, with a smooth ride and excellent impact isolation, though the CVT could become noisy under hard acceleration.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid, on the other hand, featured a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with electric motors, producing a combined output of 329 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque. This setup provided ample power and a quiet ride, with seamless transitions between electric and gas modes. The Telluride Hybrid's ride was tuned for comfort, with the X-Pro Prestige trim offering a surprisingly smooth experience despite its off-road suspension. The vehicle remained composed on winding roads, though the brake pedal required some acclimation. Overall, the Telluride Hybrid delivered a powerful and refined driving experience, with the added benefit of all-terrain capabilities in the X-Pro trim.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna excelled in form and function, offering power-adjustable, heated, and ventilated front seats, though long drives revealed some discomfort. The Platinum trim's second-row captain's chairs with ottoman-style leg rests were a hit, and the third-row seat accommodated adults comfortably. Cargo space was generous, with 33.5 cubic feet behind the third row and a maximum of 101 cubic feet. However, the Sienna's inability to remove second-row seats limited its cargo capacity compared to rivals. Storage solutions were plentiful, though finding secure spots for large water bottles proved challenging.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid provided ample space for adults in all three rows, though the low-mounted seat cushions reduced thigh support. The Hybrid SX Prestige trim featured power-adjustable second-row seats with heating and ventilation, offering business-class comfort. Cargo capacity was competitive, with 22.3 cubic feet behind the third row and up to 89.3 cubic feet with seats folded. The Telluride's towing capacity reached 5,000 pounds, or 4,500 for the Hybrid. Storage solutions were well thought out, with ample bins and trays for personal items.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna's higher-spec models boasted a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 12.3-inch touchscreen for the Toyota Audio Multimedia (TAM) system. The Platinum trim featured a four-zone automatic climate control system, a 10-inch head-up display, and a camera-based digital rearview mirror. The TAM system offered five connected services plans, with varying subscription periods, and a capable digital assistant. The 12-speaker JBL premium audio system, however, produced excessive bass and sounded muddy. The four-zone climate control system was appreciated, though the HUD lacked blind-spot warnings.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid came equipped with a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, and a 5-inch touchscreen for climate controls. The infotainment system was user-friendly, though some delays and hard taps were required. The middle climate control screen was challenging to use while driving, but physical temperature control buttons were available. The Telluride offered customization options for the infotainment screen, and the 14-speaker Meridian premium audio system delivered powerful bass and clear tones. Supporting trims featured an eight-speaker system.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna featured Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) 2.0, which included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, and adaptive cruise control. The Sienna also had automatic high-beam headlights, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The new rear-seat reminder technology was a thoughtful addition, though the Sienna's crash-test results were mixed, with a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA but lower scores in frontal impact tests.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid's safety features included frontal collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, parking proximity sensors, highway driving assist, and rear passenger sensors/reminders. Higher trims offered a surround-view camera system, blind-spot camera system, side parking proximity sensors, and automatic reverse braking. The driver attention monitor had some operational issues, but the highway driving assist was particularly helpful on longer trips. Crash test scores were not available at the time of writing.