For enhanced safety, the front, middle and rear seat shoulder belts of the Toyota Sequoia are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Kia Telluride doesn't offer height-adjustable middle or rear seat belts.

Both the Sequoia and the Telluride have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available four-wheel drive.

The Toyota Sequoia weighs 1290 to 1888 pounds more than the Kia Telluride. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The Sequoia's 5 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the Telluride runs out after 100,000 miles.

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Sequoia for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Kia doesn't pay scheduled maintenance for the Telluride.

There are over 59 percent more Toyota dealers than there are Kia dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Sequoia's warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it's being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Sequoia's reliability 20 points higher than the Telluride.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Sequoia second among large suvs in their 2019 Initial Quality Study. The Telluride isn't in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates' 2019 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota second in reliability, above the industry average. With 18 more problems per 100 vehicles, Kia is ranked 10th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports' December 2018 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in reliability. Kia is ranked fifth.

The Sequoia's 5.7 DOHC V8 produces 90 more horsepower (381 vs. 291) and 139 lbs.-ft. more torque (401 vs. 262) than the Telluride's 3.8 DOHC V6.

As tested in Car and Driver the Toyota Sequoia is faster than the Kia Telluride:

The Sequoia has 7.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the Telluride (26.4 vs. 18.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

For better stopping power the Sequoia's brake rotors are larger than those on the Telluride:

The Sequoia's standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Telluride are solid, not vented.

For better traction, the Sequoia has larger tires than the Telluride (275/65R18 vs. 245/60R18).

The Sequoia has a standard full size spare tire so a flat doesn't interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn't available on the Telluride, it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

The Sequoia offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Telluride's suspension doesn't offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Sequoia's wheelbase is 7.8 inches longer than on the Telluride (122 inches vs. 114.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Sequoia is .7 inches wider in the front and 1.5 inches wider in the rear than on the Telluride.

The Sequoia's front to rear weight distribution is more even (50.4% to 49.6%) than the Telluride's (55.7% to 44.3%). This gives the Sequoia more stable handling and braking.

For better maneuverability, the Sequoia's turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the Telluride's (38.1 feet vs. 38.8 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Sequoia Platinum has a 1.6 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Telluride (9.6 vs. 8 inches), allowing the Sequoia to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Sequoia's minimum ground clearance is 2 inches higher than on the Telluride (10 vs. 8 inches).

As tested by Car and Driver while under full throttle, the interior of the Sequoia Platinum 4x4 is quieter than the Telluride SX 4x4 (71 vs. 75 dB).

The Sequoia has 3.6 inches more front hip room, 4.8 inches more front shoulder room, 1.9 inches more rear hip room, 4.4 inches more rear shoulder room, 3.9 inches more third row legroom, 6.7 inches more third row hip room and 10.4 inches more third row shoulder room than the Telluride.

The Sequoia's cargo area provides more volume than the Telluride.

The Sequoia's cargo area is larger than the Telluride's in almost every dimension:

The Sequoia's rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the liftgate door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The Telluride's rear cargo window doesn't open.

The Sequoia's minimum standard towing capacity is much higher than the Telluride's (7100 vs. 5000 pounds).

The engine in the Sequoia is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Telluride. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

The Sequoia's instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often 'idiot lights' don't warn you until damage has been done. The Telluride does not have an oil pressure gauge.

If the front windows are left open on the Sequoia the driver can close them at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can also lower the windows the same way. The driver of the Telluride can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The Sequoia has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Telluride doesn't offer headlight washers.

The Sequoia Limited/Platinum/TRD Pro has standard automatic dimming rear and side view mirrors which automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Telluride offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don't dim.

The Sequoia has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won't have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the Telluride EX/SX.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Toyota Sequoia and the Kia Telluride, based on reliability, safety and performance.