Can't-Miss Hiking Trails near El Monte, CA: A Local Guide for Every Adventure Level

Ask anyone who's lived in Southern California long enough, and they'll tell you a story about spotting someone famous grabbing coffee or walking their dog like a regular person. That's just life in Los Angeles. The city runs on star power, and it shows up in unexpected corners of daily life, not just on red carpets. Below are six public places in Los Angeles where stars congregate, along with what you can realistically expect if you visit. Why Los Angeles Is a Hotspot for Celebrity Sightings Los Angeles built its identity around the entertainment industry, and that shapes the city down to its neighborhoods and daily routines. Film sets, television studios, and record labels are scattered across town, so the people who work in front of and behind the camera end up woven into ordinary life. Add in mild weather that makes outdoor dining and hiking appealing year-round, plus a steady calendar of premieres, award shows, and industry parties, and sightings start to feel almost routine rather than rare. Celebrities in LA don't just appear at exclusive events. They shop at the same grocery stores, walk the same trails, and eat at many of the same restaurants as everyone else, and that overlap is exactly what makes certain spots around the city so consistently reliable for a sighting. The Grove and Farmers Market: Star-Studded Shopping and Dining Sitting at Third and Fairfax, The Grove and the Original Farmers Market are technically two separate complexes, but walking between them feels seamless, almost like one connected village. The Grove, developed by Caruso, brings a modern open-air shopping experience with a dancing fountain and vintage trolley, while the Original Farmers Market next door has been slinging fresh produce and prepared food since it opened in July 1934 with more than 100 vendors. That mix of old and new LA is part of the charm. This pairing has quietly become one of the best places to catch a celebrity in town. Justin Bieber has been spotted browsing at American Girl, and Niall Horan has turned up at Crate and Barrel. Julianne Hough and Brooks Laich have been seen shopping at J.Crew, while Selma Blair has stopped by the Nike store. Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel have made appearances at Whole Foods, and Angelina Jolie has been known to stop into Gelson's for groceries. Dylan's Candy Bar and Nordstrom round out the draws for both shoppers and stargazers. If you're coming from the San Gabriel Valley, expect roughly a 30 to 40 minute drive depending on traffic. Nobu Malibu: Oceanfront Dining Favored by A-Listers Perched right on the coast at 22706 Pacific Coast Highway, Nobu Malibu pairs Japanese-Peruvian cuisine with ocean views that make it one of the most photographed dining rooms in the city. The setting alone explains part of its appeal, but the food and the level of privacy the restaurant affords its guests keep A-listers coming back. Victoria and David Beckham, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, Miley Cyrus, and Selena Gomez have all dined there. Leonardo DiCaprio and Jason Statham have also been linked to the restaurant, along with members of the Kardashian-Jenner family. If you're planning a visit, reservations book up fast, especially on weekends, so calling ahead is worth the effort. Malibu sits about an hour from El Monte depending on traffic on the 10 and Pacific Coast Highway, making it a solid full-day outing rather than a quick stop. Runyon Canyon Park: Where Celebrities Hike and Unwind Runyon Canyon Park covers 160 acres in the eastern Santa Monica Mountains, with its main southern entrance at the north end of Fuller Avenue in Hollywood. The Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks manages the trails, and roughly 90 of the park's 160 acres allow off-leash dogs, which makes it a favorite for locals with pets. Its location, tucked right against the Hollywood Hills, means plenty of celebrity residents treat it as their backyard hiking spot. Natalie Portman and Channing Tatum have been spotted on the trails, along with Kathy Griffin and Alexander Skarsgård. Elle Macpherson, Charlize Theron, and Matthew McConaughey have also made appearances. Hiking Runyon Canyon is practically expected of anyone chasing both a good workout and a shot at a celebrity spotting. Morning visits tend to improve your odds since that's when many locals fit in exercise before their day starts. Griffith Observatory and Griffith Park: Scenic Star Sightings Set on the south slope of Mount Hollywood, Griffith Observatory offers free admission and sweeping views of the Los Angeles skyline and the Hollywood Sign. The surrounding park includes miles of trails and picnic areas, plus the walk-up Trails Café for a casual bite after exploring. The observatory gained even more attention after appearing in the 2016 film La La Land, starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, and Mila Kunis attended a Burberry event called "London in Los Angeles" held there in April 2015. Beyond film history, the trail system around the observatory is a quietly reliable place to run into someone famous, since it offers a peaceful escape without the density of a place like Runyon Canyon. Bring a jacket even in summer, since it can get breezy up there in the evenings, and parking fills up quickly on weekends. Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills: Luxury Shopping with Celebrity Crowds Rodeo Drive has been synonymous with luxury since the 1960s, when Gucci first opened its doors, and the later arrival of high-end retailers like Chanel and Cartier further cemented its reputation as the shopping destination in Beverly Hills. The three-block stretch remains one of the most recognizable strips in the city for a sighting, and it's easy to see why once you're standing among the storefronts. House of Bijan, often described as one of the most exclusive stores in the world, has counted Michael Jordan and Tom Cruise among its visitors. Chanel has been associated with sightings of Gwyneth Paltrow, Margot Robbie, and Keira Knightley, while John Legend and Chrissy Teigen have been seen simply strolling the street. Just nearby, Erewhon has become its own celebrity hotspot, drawing Miley Cyrus, Kaia Gerber, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Bella Hadid. This is a district built around high-end retail, so expect a polished, formal shopping atmosphere rather than a casual browse. Soho House West Hollywood and the Sunset Strip: LA Nightlife Hangouts Soho House West Hollywood occupies a 20,000-square-foot space on Sunset Boulevard, complete with Hollywood Hills views, dining rooms, and private screening rooms for members. Robert Pattinson and Daniel Kaluuya have been named among its members, but it's worth being upfront here: Soho House is a private, members-only club, so the building itself isn't open to the public. What you can access is everything around it. The Sunset Strip surrounding Soho House West Hollywood is packed with venues open to anyone, including Whisky a Go Go, Rainbow Bar & Grill, and the Viper Room, each with deep roots in LA's music history. Bootsy Bellows sits just across the street at 9229 West Sunset Boulevard. Even without club access, walking the Strip on a weekend night puts you in the middle of a stretch of LA that's been drawing famous faces for decades. Tips for Celebrity Spotting Around Los Angeles Knowing where to look is only half the equation. Timing and etiquette matter just as much if you want a genuinely good experience rather than an awkward one. Best Times to Visit These Hotspots Early mornings are your best bet at Runyon Canyon Park, since many locals fit in a hike before work starts. If you're hoping to catch someone near a studio-adjacent neighborhood, weekday mid-to-late afternoons tend to work better, since that's often when taping wraps for the day. Weekends bring bigger crowds to shopping destinations like The Grove and Rodeo Drive, which means more foot traffic but also more competition for a clear view. Respecting Celebrity Privacy and Space A little courtesy goes a long way. Give people space rather than approaching directly, and skip photos unless someone clearly consents. Don't block a hiking trail just to get a better angle, either. Staying off private property is non-negotiable, even if a residence backs right up to a public trail. Most celebrities are simply going about their day, and the best interactions happen when fans stay relaxed and respectful rather than pushy. If you're mapping out a day, pairing nearby spots makes sense logistically. The Grove and Rodeo Drive, for example, sit close enough together that you can reasonably hit both in an afternoon. Comfortable shoes matter more than you'd think, especially if Runyon Canyon or Griffith Park is on your list, and sun protection is worth packing no matter the season. Keep some cash on hand too, since valet and parking fees add up fast in Beverly Hills and West Hollywood. Explore Los Angeles in Style with Longo Toyota A day spent chasing sightings across Los Angeles covers a lot of ground: the Malibu coastline, the hills above Hollywood, the shops of Beverly Hills. Having a comfortable, dependable vehicle makes all the difference. Longo Toyota makes it easy to browse new Toyota models suited for exactly this kind of Southern California day trip, whether you need cargo space for a hike or a smooth ride for cruising Sunset Boulevard. If you have questions about financing, leasing, or finding the right fit, reach out to our team, and we'll help get you on the road. Photo by Sebastian Coman Travel on Unsplash

Compact electric SUVs have gotten a lot more interesting lately, and two of the more compelling options for Southern California drivers are the 2026 Toyota bZ and the Chevrolet Equinox EV. Both promise solid range, modern tech, and a reasonable price of entry into EV ownership. We've put together a side-by-side comparison that looks past the spec sheet and into what actually matters for daily driving around El Monte and the greater LA area. You can also browse our new Toyota bZ inventory while you read to see what's available right now. 2026 Toyota bZ vs. Chevrolet Equinox EV: Two Compact Electric SUVs, One Clear Winner The 2026 Toyota bZ vs Chevrolet Equinox EV matchup comes down to a handful of real differences: how easily each one charges, how it actually performs day to day, what's built into the interior, and what ownership costs look like a few years down the road. The Equinox EV wins on headline front-wheel-drive range, and we'll say that plainly. On price, though, the two are much closer than the advertised numbers suggest, and the bZ actually comes in lower once destination charges are counted on both sides. Add charging infrastructure, standard features, and Toyota's reliability reputation, and the bZ pulls ahead in the categories that matter most once you own the vehicle rather than just when you're shopping for it. We'll walk through each vehicle's strengths individually before getting into the head-to-head comparison that decides this one. 2026 Toyota bZ: Distinctive Features and Strengths Toyota rebuilt the bZ from the ground up for 2026, fixing some of the shortcomings that held back the outgoing bZ4X. The lineup now spans three trims: XLE, XLE Plus, and Limited, with pricing from $36,350 for the XLE FWD up to $46,750 for a fully loaded Limited AWD. Toyota's own figures put the redesigned bZ at roughly 25% more range and 50% more power than the outgoing model, and the trim-by-trim numbers back that up. Range, Efficiency, and Real-World Performance The XLE FWD Plus leads the lineup at an EPA-estimated 314 miles, while the Limited FWD is rated at 299 miles, the XLE AWD reaches 288 miles, the Limited AWD comes in at 278 miles, and the base XLE FWD is rated at 236 miles. Efficiency on the XLE FWD Plus checks in at 130 MPGe combined, or 144 city and 117 highway, the strongest rating in the lineup. Power ranges from 168 horsepower on the base XLE and 221 horsepower with a roughly 8.0-second 0-60 mph time on the XLE Plus, up to 338 horsepower and a 4.9-second sprint on any AWD model. Real-world testing has been kind to the bZ. In one independent range test, an XLE FWD Plus covered 331 miles on a single charge, roughly 17 miles past its 314-mile EPA rating, while consuming about 23.3 kWh per 100 miles against an EPA estimate of 26. A standard heat pump and battery preconditioning on every trim are a big part of why the bZ holds its numbers together in everyday conditions. For anyone tired of watching an EV's range estimate collapse the moment the climate control kicks on, that's a welcome surprise. Charging Speed and NACS Supercharger Access The bZ ships with a native NACS port on every trim, meaning it plugs directly into Tesla Supercharger stations without an adapter. Toyota rates DC fast-charging at up to 150 kW, taking the battery from 10% to 80% in about 30 minutes under ideal conditions, and one independent test at a Tesla V3 Supercharger completed that same charge in 26 minutes. Pair that with a standard 11-kW onboard Level 2 charger that fills the pack in roughly seven hours at home, and the bZ covers both daily commuting and longer road trips without much friction. For El Monte drivers heading out toward the desert or up the coast, being able to pull into a Supercharger without fumbling for an adapter is worth more than the spec sheet lets on. 2026 Chevrolet Equinox EV: Trim Lineup and Highlights Chevrolet keeps the Equinox EV lineup simple with three trims: LT1, LT2, and RS. Pricing runs from $34,995 for the LT1 up to $44,095 for the RS before an $1,800 destination charge, which works out to $36,795 through $45,895 as delivered. GM built the Equinox EV on the battery architecture it originally branded Ultium, and the lineup delivers strong range figures right out of the gate, which has made it a popular choice among value-focused EV shoppers. LT1, LT2, and RS Trim Overviews The LT1 is the value play, with FWD and a 220-horsepower motor producing 243 lb-ft of torque and an EPA-estimated 319 miles of range, a figure shared by every front-wheel-drive trim in the lineup. Step up to LT2 or the sportier RS trim and you get the option of AWD with 300 horsepower and 355 lb-ft of torque, though range drops to 307 miles and 0-60 mph times land around 6 seconds. Heated front seats aren't standard until the LT2 trim, and features like ventilated seats, heated rear seats, and a head-up display require the $3,100 Convenience Package II, an added cost worth factoring into any features comparison. Pricing and Value: Which EV Delivers More for Your Money The two are closer on price than the advertised figures suggest, because those figures aren't always measured the same way. Chevrolet's $34,995 LT1 price excludes an $1,800 destination charge, while Toyota's widely quoted $36,350 for the bZ XLE FWD already includes its $1,450 destination charge. Line them up the same way and the bZ comes out ahead on both counts: $34,900 versus $34,995 on base MSRP, and $36,350 versus $36,795 as delivered. Step up to the XLE FWD Plus at $39,350 delivered and you get an EPA-estimated 314 miles, which keeps the bZ squarely competitive on price per mile of range against a $36,795 LT1, before any current Toyota incentives are applied. Incentive amounts change month to month and vary by region, and the federal clean vehicle tax credit expired on September 30, 2025, so it no longer applies to new EV purchases. State, local, and utility programs may still be available depending on your situation, so we'd recommend confirming current numbers with our finance team before you buy. You can get pre-qualified online to see what your numbers look like before you ever step onto the lot. Technology, Interior Comfort, and Everyday Livability Inside, the Equinox EV brings a bigger footprint with a 17.7-inch touchscreen running Google built-in, but it drops both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto entirely, a gap that's likely to frustrate phone-first shoppers in this segment. The bZ's 14-inch touchscreen is smaller on paper, but every trim comes with standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto plus dual wireless phone chargers, so day-to-day connectivity clearly favors the Toyota. Cargo space runs close between the two, and the bZ has the edge where most people actually use it. Toyota lists 27.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats against the Equinox EV's 26.4, and with the seats folded the two are effectively tied at 56.9 cubic feet for the bZ and 57.2 for the Chevy. The bZ measures 184.6 inches long, 73.2 inches wide, and 65 inches tall, with 8.2 inches of ground clearance against the Equinox EV's 6.4, which is a meaningful difference on steep driveways and rougher trailheads. The Limited trim adds a panoramic glass roof, SofTex upholstery, ventilated front and heated rear seats, and a digital rearview mirror, features that come standard rather than bundled into an optional package. If you want to get a feel for the cabin before visiting us in person, our virtual test drive tool is a good place to start. Safety, Reliability, and Warranty Confidence Reliability comparison is where Toyota's reputation carries real weight. Consumer Reports rates the Equinox EV's predicted reliability as "Average," noting scattered 12-volt battery and charging issues. IIHS testing on the bZ shows a Good rating in the side-crash test, an Acceptable rating in small and moderate overlap front tests, and Good marks for front crash prevention systems and LATCH ease of use. As of April 2026, NHTSA and IIHS have not yet published crash-test results for this generation of the Equinox EV, so we can't compare that data directly, and we'd caution against assuming either outcome until results are released. Warranty coverage is one area where the two are close but not identical. The bZ carries a 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty, a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty, and an 8-year/100,000-mile battery warranty, plus 2 years or 25,000 miles of free scheduled maintenance and 2 years of roadside assistance. The Equinox EV matches the 8-year/100,000-mile coverage on its battery and EV components, so buyers get similar peace of mind on the parts that matter most for long-term EV ownership. Side-by-Side Spec Comparison Table For a quick side-by-side comparison, here's how the two lineups stack up on the specs that matter most: Spec 2026 Toyota bZ 2026 Chevrolet Equinox EV Starting price (incl. destination) $36,350 $36,795 Powertrain/Motor Single or dual motor, 74.7 kWh (Plus/AWD/Limited) or 57.7 kWh (base XLE) Single or dual motor, ~85 kWh Drivetrain FWD or AWD FWD or AWD Horsepower/Torque 168 hp (base XLE), 221 hp (FWD Plus/Limited), 338 hp (AWD) 220 hp/243 lb-ft (FWD); 300 hp/355 lb-ft (AWD) EPA Range 236-314 mi (EPA-estimated) 307-319 mi (EPA-estimated) DC Fast-Charge Speed Native NACS, ~150 kW peak, 10-80% in ~30 min CCS1 (NACS adapter required), ~150 kW peak Cargo Volume 27.7 cu ft (behind rear seats), 56.9 cu ft (folded) 26.4 cu ft (behind rear seats), 57.2 cu ft (folded) Ground Clearance 8.2 in 6.4 in Frequently Asked Questions Which EV has more usable range, the bZ or Equinox EV? The Equinox EV has the longest headline range at an EPA-estimated 319 miles across its front-wheel-drive trims, edging out the bZ's XLE FWD Plus at 314 miles. In practice the gap is small, and independent testing has seen an XLE FWD Plus beat its EPA figure and cover 331 miles on a charge, so the two land in similar territory in everyday driving. Is the Toyota bZ more reliable than the Chevrolet Equinox EV? It's difficult to say definitively, since Consumer Reports predicts about average reliability for the Equinox EV and hard 2026-specific data is still developing for both models. Toyota's broader track record for reliability across its lineup gives the bZ an edge in consumer confidence, and the bZ builds on a battery and drivetrain architecture Toyota has been refining in this segment since 2022. Which SUV charges faster on road trips? The bZ has a practical advantage here because every trim uses a native NACS port that plugs directly into Tesla Superchargers, with independent testing showing a 10-80% charge in as little as 26 minutes. The 2026 Equinox EV uses a CCS1 port and needs a separately purchased adapter to reach the same Supercharger network. Chevrolet is adding a native NACS port for the 2027 model year, so anyone shopping current 2026 inventory should budget for the adapter. The Verdict: Why the 2026 Toyota bZ Comes Out on Top at Longo Toyota When we look at the full 2026 Toyota bZ vs Chevrolet Equinox EV comparison, the Equinox EV genuinely wins on headline FWD range, and we think shoppers deserve to know that upfront. On price the bZ actually starts lower once destination is counted on both sides, and it pulls further ahead with native NACS charging, standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, more cargo room behind the rear seats, more ground clearance, real-world range that holds up under actual driving conditions, and Toyota's long-standing reliability reputation. Add those up and you get a stronger overall ownership experience, especially for anyone doing regular road trips out of Southern California. Visit Us in El Monte, CA As the world's largest Toyota dealership, we carry the inventory and service capacity to back that up, whether you're comparing trims, weighing financing options, or just want to sit in both vehicles before deciding. Stop by our showroom in El Monte, take the bZ for a spin, and contact our team when you're ready to talk numbers. We're here seven days a week to help you make the right call.

Three-row SUV shoppers in North Texas have two strong options this year, but they're not equally matched. The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander vs Kia Telluride comparison comes down to hybrid maturity, documented safety data, and standard equipment Toyota includes from the base trim up. The specs below show why the Grand Highlander comes out ahead. If you want to skip ahead, you can browse our current Grand Highlander inventory right now. 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander vs. 2027 Kia Telluride: At a Glance The 2026 Grand Highlander is a carryover year for us with no major non-hybrid changes, while the Telluride skipped 2026 entirely and returns for 2027 as a fully redesigned second generation. Spec Grand Highlander (Gas) Grand Highlander (Hybrid MAX) Telluride (Gas) Telluride (Hybrid) Engine 2.4L turbo 4-cyl Turbo 2.4L + electric motor Turbo 2.5L 4-cyl Turbo 2.5L 4-cyl + 2 electric motors Drivetrain FWD standard, AWD available AWD only FWD/AWD FWD/AWD Transmission 8-speed automatic 6-speed automatic 8-speed automatic 8-speed automatic Horsepower/Torque 265 hp 362 hp / 400 lb-ft 274 hp / 311 lb-ft 329 hp / 339 lb-ft Fuel Economy 21/28/24 mpg 26/27/27 mpg 22 combined FWD (20 city/26 hwy), 20 combined AWD (18 city/24 hwy) Up to 35 mpg combined (EX FWD), 31 mpg AWD Towing Up to 5,000 lb Up to 5,000 lb Up to 5,000 lb 4,500 lb Grand Highlander's hybrid lineup has established output figures and a proven fuel economy track record. We'll dig into that further below. Meet the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander LE, XLE, and Limited: Everyday Value and Comfort The LE trim starts things off with 18-inch wheels, LED head and taillights, a power liftgate, wiper de-icers, and keyless entry and start. Fabric-trimmed three-row seating comes standard, along with an 8-way power driver seat and a 4-way manual passenger seat. Every Grand Highlander, including the LE, gets a 12.3-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard, no upcharge required. Step up to the XLE and you'll find heated front seats, a wireless charger, second-row sunshades, and synthetic leather upholstery. An available 8-seat bench configuration and 18-inch silver alloy wheels round out the upgrades. The Limited trim adds a memory driver seat, heated and ventilated front seats, and 20-inch wheels. LE pricing starts at $42,260, XLE from $45,030, and Limited from $49,760. Platinum and Hybrid Trims: Efficiency Meets Luxury Hybrid powertrains are available across LE, XLE, Limited, Nightshade, and Platinum trims, so efficiency isn't locked behind a premium price tag. The standard hybrid pairs a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with an electric motor through a CVT, producing 245 hp with FWD or AWD availability. For drivers who want more muscle, the optional Hybrid MAX combines a turbocharged 2.4-liter engine with electric assist for 362 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque, paired exclusively with AWD. Platinum and Hybrid Nightshade trims add heated and ventilated second-row seats. The top Hybrid MAX Platinum brings a panoramic roof, a 10-inch head-up display, a digital rearview mirror with HomeLink, and Traffic Jam Assist through a Drive Connect trial or subscription. AWD adds $1,600 across the lineup and comes standard on Platinum. Meet the 2027 Kia Telluride Kia skipped the 2026 model year entirely, moving from the 2025 version straight to a redesigned 2027 model with a bigger, boxier body and a more functional third row. The LX starts at $39,190 before a $1,545 destination charge, with a 12.3-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, cloth upholstery, and a second-row bench for 8-passenger seating. The S adds captain's chairs at $42,090, and the EX starts at $43,790. Eight-passenger seating is not offered across the full lineup, which narrows Kia's family-hauling flexibility next to the Grand Highlander's broader bench availability. Higher trims move toward luxury and capability, with the X-Pro adding 9.1 inches of ground clearance, all-terrain tires, and a standard tow hitch. Pricing tops out at $56,790 for the X-Pro SX Prestige, and the LX is up nearly $3,000 over the outgoing generation. Exterior Design, Size, and Capability Compared The redesigned Telluride grew to a 116.9-inch wheelbase and 199.2 inches overall. The Grand Highlander runs a 116.1-inch wheelbase and stretches to 201.4 inches, making it the longer vehicle of the two by more than 2 inches, with that length going into the third row and cargo hold. Towing favors Toyota's hybrid lineup. Both the gas and Hybrid MAX Grand Highlander are rated at 5,000 lb, while the Telluride's hybrid drops to 4,500 lb. For North Texas families towing a boat to Lake Lewisville, the Hybrid MAX means no trade between capability and fuel savings. Interior Space, Comfort, and Cargo Room Cargo capacity is where the Grand Highlander separates itself once you start loading up. It offers 20.6 cubic feet with all seats up, 57.9 with the third row folded, and a maximum of 97.5 with all rear seats down, enough to stack seven carry-on suitcases behind the third row. Kia lists the gas Telluride at 22.3, 48.7, and 89.3 cubic feet, with the hybrid a cubic foot lower at each measurement. The Telluride holds a small edge with every seat occupied, but the Grand Highlander opens up more than 8 additional cubic feet when you fold everything flat. The third row tells a similar story. The Grand Highlander gives back-seat passengers 33.5 inches of legroom against the Telluride's 32.1, with headroom within a fraction of an inch. Toyota also offers eight-passenger bench seating across more of the lineup. If your third row carries adults regularly rather than occasionally, the Grand Highlander is the one built around that. Powertrain Performance and Fuel Efficiency Grand Highlander's standard gas engine is a 265-hp turbocharged four-cylinder paired with an 8-speed automatic, running FWD standard with AWD available for $1,600 more. FWD models return 21 mpg city, 28 highway, and 24 combined. The Telluride's gas engine is a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder producing 274 hp and 311 lb-ft, which is 17 hp less than the prior generation's 3.8-liter V6 but 49 lb-ft more torque. Reviewers have split on how that trade plays out in practice, with some noting the extra torque arrives early and others finding the four-cylinder less eager than the old V6 at higher revs. Toyota's 265-hp turbo four sits in the same neighborhood on output, and buyers who want real acceleration have the 362-hp Hybrid MAX available without leaving the lineup, an option Kia does not match on either powertrain. Why the Grand Highlander's Hybrid Advantage Matters Grand Highlander's standard hybrid delivers 245 hp with an EPA-rated 37 mpg city, 34 highway, and 36 combined on the FWD XLE, a fuel economy figure built on years of proven hybrid engineering. The Hybrid MAX pushes output to 362 hp and 400 lb-ft while still returning 26/27/27 mpg, giving drivers a genuine performance option without leaving efficiency behind. Kia's Telluride hybrid pairs its turbo 2.5-liter engine with two electric motors for 329 hp and 339 lb-ft, reaching up to 35 mpg combined in the best-case EX FWD trim or 31 mpg with AWD. Those numbers look competitive on paper. What's new is the combination: this turbo-hybrid powertrain is making its debut in a first-year redesign, and it's the first Kia hybrid assembled in the United States, at the company's West Point, Georgia plant. That means there is no model-specific reliability data for it yet. Toyota's hybrid system, by contrast, has been refined across multiple generations, and Consumer Reports singled out the Grand Highlander Hybrid as a standout performer in its 2026 reliability survey. Toyota also backs the hybrid battery for 10 years or 150,000 miles. That combination counts for something if you're commuting across North Texas daily or planning a long road trip with three rows packed full of gear. Technology, Safety, and Driver-Assist Features Every Grand Highlander trim, starting with the LE, comes standard with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The 12.3-inch touchscreen with voice control is standard across the board too, so you're not paying extra for baseline safety and connectivity. IIHS has put the Grand Highlander through the full battery, and the results are on the record. It earned good ratings in passenger-side small overlap, moderate overlap, and updated side impact, plus superior marks for daytime and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention. An acceptable driver-side small overlap rating keeps it out of Top Safety Pick contention, though the dummy measurements showed no elevated injury risk to front occupants. The redesigned 2027 Telluride has not been crash-tested by IIHS or NHTSA at all. One side has a published picture, the other has nothing yet. Pricing, Reliability, and Long-Term Value On paper, the Telluride's LX starts lower at $39,190 (before destination) compared to the Grand Highlander LE's $41,360. The Telluride S starts at $42,090 and the EX at $43,790, compared to our XLE at $44,130 and Limited at $48,860. Reliability is where the long-term math shifts firmly in Toyota's favor. Consumer Reports ranked Toyota the #1 most reliable brand for 2026 with a reliability score of 66, ahead of Subaru at 63 and Lexus at 60. J.D. Power's dependability studies consistently place Toyota and Lexus at the top of the industry. Kelley Blue Book's expert reviews also point to the Grand Highlander's strong resale value, tied directly to Toyota's reliability reputation. When it comes to Kia Telluride vs Toyota Grand Highlander reliability, the data favors Toyota's track record over Kia's brand-new hybrid system with no history yet. Final Verdict: Why the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Wins Line up the Toyota Grand Highlander vs Kia Telluride specs side by side, and the Grand Highlander wins on the factors that matter most for long-term ownership. Grand Highlander offers broader 8-passenger seating availability across the lineup, a hybrid powertrain with a proven track record and documented fuel economy, standard safety technology backed by real IIHS crash-test data, and reliability rankings that lead the industry according to Consumer Reports and J.D. Power. The Telluride brings bold styling and strong base-trim value, but Kia is asking buyers to sign on for a redesign with no crash-test results and a first-generation hybrid system. For families comparing Highlander vs Telluride or Grand Highlander vs Telluride options in North Texas, the Grand Highlander delivers verified performance where the Telluride is still asking buyers to take it on faith. Test Drive the Grand Highlander at Longo Toyota of Prosper We'd rather you experience these numbers firsthand than just read about them. Longo Toyota of Prosper operates from a $25 million, 15-acre facility at 2100 West University Drive in Prosper, Texas, and we've proudly carried the title of the nation's #1 volume Toyota dealership for over 55 years. Explore a virtual test drive from home, or browse our current Grand Highlander inventory to find the trim that fits your family. When you're ready to talk specs, financing, or scheduling a visit, contact our team and we'll get you behind the wheel.