The dominant narrative surrounding the industry is the increasing push towards electrification. But internal combustion vehicles can still surprise and delight the automotive press. We may never see a truly revolutionary gasoline product again, but that doesn’t mean a company can’t shake up a segment every once and a while. Such is the case of the Kia Telluride, Motor Trend’s 2020 SUV of the Year. It’s not exactly a game changer. Just an extremely solid offering that elevates the brand and the segment it competes in. Given the relatively high prices the Telluride is commanding, dealers are probably busting out the champagne.
According to Cox Automotive, the Telluride is resonating with customers. As of August, the Kia spends about ten days on the lot before finding a buyer. Kia will probably sell about 60,000 this year, a figure that makes it competitive with a lot of the more established three rows despite not even being available for all of 2019. And in terms of monthly sales, it’s settled in at around 6,000, a figure that places it right in line with the Subaru Ascent and Volkswagen Atlas, both of which had about a year’s head start on the Korean.
What does the Telluride’s $40,000+ average transaction price tell us about its success? It might not be competing primarily on price. You can easily get any mainstream three row above that threshold. The Koreans earned a reputation for building vehicles that offered value through low sticker prices and robust standard equipment. The Telluride is different. It seems to be speaking to customers who want feature-based value in an upscale package. It’s selling with an average discount of less than one percent of MSRP, so its not like Kia has to throw some incentives on the hood to get people in the door either.
The company really seems to have hit the segment sweet spot. It’s got a competitive powertrain that offers decent acceleration and competent driving dynamics. Auto critics liked the Kia’s upscale appearance inside and out. And the Telluride offers passenger room and cargo capacity that’s at or near the top of the class. It does all that without the stratospheric price tag of ostensibly more premium competitors like the Buick Enclave and Cadillac XT6. Put simply, the Kia is dressed for success.
Kia dealers must be thrilled with the Telluride. It’s by far their most mainstream $40,000ish vehicle. They do offer a surprising amount of products at that price point, but they’re all pretty niche. If Kia can spread the Telluride’s “essence” to its future product offerings, they may become the brand to be reckoned with.
Kia’s relatively upscale design language isn’t a new phenomenon. Peter Schreyer, formerly employed by Audi, has been working at the Korean automaker for over a decade. But the Telluride really seems like the first Kia to take his work and transform it into a product that shifts the brand’s paradigm away from rock bottom prices. Luxury accoutrements at a mainstream price? That just might be Kia’s way forward.
A special thanks to Jim Klein, who provided the “real world” pictures of the Kia Telluride.
Though unscientific at best, I will say I have been seeing a lot of these on the roads, both in Illinois and Texas where I spend most of my time. And they do look more upscale than the price point would suggest. Frankly, I think Cadillac should be embarrassed–I’d argue that this Kia (and the Hyundai Palisade) come across as just as nice, or nicer, than the supposedly upscale Cadillac XT6, which has a far higher MSRP.
I just did a quick check on the Caddy XT6 sales numbers, and they are sadly low–merely 4,390 sold from April through the end of Q3. By contrast, Hyundai sold 17,814 Palisades from June through October.
There was an XT5 or XT6 ahead of us in traffic, and we both thought it was an oversized Forester at first. Very blah.
I can go you one better, or worse, as the case may be. I caught sight of an XT6 for the first time in a color and at an angle that emphasized the thick, clunky roof pillars and thought it must be some sort of pre-production development model. Not one of Cadillac’s stronger efforts.
“There was an XT5 or XT6 ahead of us in traffic, and we both thought it was an oversized Forester at first. Very blah.”
Yes, with the Aviator running around I would be deeply embarrassed to have been an influential part of Cadillac’s product planning and design teams.
Ford sells about 20 thousand explorers a month. Lol. It has no competition
Through September of this year, the Explorer sold 120,000 plus 15,000 Police versions for about 135,000 total. I don’t have the October and November figures.
Through that same time period, the Toyota Highlander, also a 3rwo crossover that plays in the same space sold 178,000 units to the public. October and November added another 38,800 units and for the last five years December has been the best sales month of all.
This is a very attractive SUV, and it just goes to show that if you build a compelling vehicle, folks will pay good money to have it.
If I were in the market for this class of car, this would likely be at the top of my list. But it’s too big for us. If I had to replace the TSX in the foreseeable future, it would likely be the 2021 RAV4 Prime. Perfect for driving all-electric around town, and on gas for the long road trips.
I went three-row shopping in June, as this vehicle was just becoming available. I settled on a Mazda CX-9, which to me had better styling (I know, subjective) and a good reliability record. My main reason for passing on the Kia was that as a brand-new model, it had no reliability record at all.
Ironically, my base reason for picking the Mazda was that it offered a lot of luxury for 40k; i.e.; the Telluride’s selling point. I’d say the CX-9 punches about 10k above its weight; about even with the CPO Acura MDX I also considered, but rejected as not worth 48k.
Frankly I’m baffled why folks are flocking to the Telluride while the CX-9 sells at about one-third the rate, even though it’s a proven performer with an equal value equation.
The Mazda is the darling of the car magazines, too. It wins or nearly wins in comparison tests based on its superior road manners and handling. Personally, I think the Mazda is probably the best looking 3 row crossover.
The Kia presents itself nice but ultimately it’s the Mazda that is the true luxury gem in this segment. My sister bought one last year and the interior is nicer than what’s in the Acura MDX. I know because I got to compare both vehicles at my local auto show in March.
The Mazda also handles like a much smaller SUV, which is great for such a large vehicle.
That being said, the Kia definitely seems like it will shake up the segment.
The CX-9 is very nice but it’s not as roomy inside as the boxy Telluride, esp. the 3rd row. A key criteria for many 3-row shoppers.
Very true. I thought about that but decided to get it anyway, for the reasons above and its handling dynamics.
My only concern – its a 2.5 turbo in a large SUV. While like the car itself, the engine punches above its weight (it’s got over 300 lb. ft. of torque), I wonder about long-term durability, because I keep cars a long time. time will tell. OTOH, the MDX’s otherwise excellent 6 cylinder has a deactivation function. While I have not heard of any problems, that gave me pause; I’m old enough to remember the GM 8-6-4 fiasco in the 80’s.
Something the Kia has going for it is that it’s become the hot choice right now, which drives more sales. Maybe it’s all those NFL game ads. . .
Modern cylinder deactivation is so much more advanced than the nearly 4- decade old “V8-6-4,” they are not really comparable. Today’s engine computer is vastly more powerful. The V8-6-4 had central throttle body injection instead of port or direct injection. One can only imagine what happened to the fuel-air mixture trapped in the dead-end intakes of the deactivated cylinders. Honda’s V6 has had cylinder deactivation since 2005 or so. It’s well proven.
Mazda is a romantic, engineering-driven company that refuses to compromise driving pleasure for utility. This endears them to enthusiasts but is often detrimental to sales.
Honda’s Variable Cylinder Management has a long track record of ruining Honda’s low-tension piston rings. It is a very sad phenomenon that has turned off many a long-time and repeat Honda owner. Next time, I’ll consider Toyota for the first time, by which I mean I’ll buy a Toyota or Lexus because everyone else is beset by fuel-saving at the expense of durability.
Add in the Kia 10 year warranty. First 5 is bumper to bumper with roadside assistance. That makes it a viable choice when all else is close.
If you are leasing, then the other choices may offer a more stylish or luxurious choice, but after 3 years, are you comfortable with having to shell out for repairs if anything goes wrong on a Mazda, Acura, or other brand?
According to Consumer Reports, Mazda is now No. 2 in reliability after Lexus, and the CX-9 is one of their more reliable models. Since I always buy and not lease (I put on too many miles to lease), I always eventually run up against the end of the warranty. I know the Kia has a longer warranty, but for me it’s about more than having repairs covered; it’s about not needing repairs in the first place. A car that is in the shop too often is a pain, regardless of whether the repairs are covered.
Not dissing on the Kia here; I just had no information due to it being a completely new model. As an aside, Ford is apparently having reliability problems with the brand-new Explorer.
Honda used to have superior reliability, but our 1999 Odyssey (the first year of the “big” model that wasn’t a rebadged Isuzu) was a disaster. After that, no more first-year models for me. Since I had to buy something this year, waiting wasn’t an option.
The first-gen, pre-minivan Odyssey wasn’t a rebadged Isuzu; the Isuzu (Oasis) was a rebadged Honda. Honda and Acura did rebadge some Isuzu SUVs around that time though.
You were one smart cookie. Currently my Telly has been back & forth to the dealer. This is the third trip in which the coils are mis-firing. Their fix (this trip) is to replace all of the fuel injectors. This is NOT the only main malfunction I have had. The forward collision warning system they boast so proudly of in commercials has locked my brakes and slid my vehicle on more than 5 occasions with NO reason to be concerned or alarmed. This could have potentially caused a very serious accident to myself, my children or other drivers. You made the right call. I am disgusted just looking at it now.
I guess I’ve been lucky, first released 2011 Optima 115,000.miles traded for a 2016 Sorento, currently 75,000 miles. And son has a 2013 Forte Coupe 100,000, never had to do anything but change oil&filter and tires. Sorry to hear about your luck, Probably wait for the 2021 Telluride….hopeing links will be taken care of by then.
“Frankly I’m baffled why folks are flocking to the Telluride while the CX-9 sells at about one-third the rate, even though it’s a proven performer with an equal value equation.”
Interior packaging is probably part of it, as others have noted.
I also wonder if something I’ll term *marketplace momentum* is the other, larger factor. Kia has been on a decade-long serious upswing in product desirability and public perception. Whatever they put out is more likely to get noticed versus a perpetually-struggling brand like Mazda. Sure, Mazda has changed their taglines and their tacks, but they’ve been around forever so the badge raises no curiosity and their trajectory remains flat and nearly invisible in the public eye. Hard to break away from the pack when you’re already invisible.
Mazda seems to be the “hidden” car company in the USA. They make good products but most folks don’t really know about them except for Miata.
Looking at Mazda’s site, they seemed to have named all their SUVs CX-something or another and they all seem to look alike so that might confuse possible buyers
The Telluride does not look like another SUV in KIA’s lineup and is actually named with a name and not some letter and number series. Look at the top 10 best selling SUVs of 2018, all of them had names and not some letter/number combo (like Q195678).
I got a chance to test drive one and found it a comfortable vehicle to drive.
The only thing I don’t like is the huge Telluride name on the rear. They could have made the badging a bit smaller but that would not stop me from buying one.
KIA and Hyundai have stepped up their game in the last 15 years and make a good product. I have been impressed with my Hyundai
Plus the long warranty gives a lot of folks piece of mind. They might not need it at all but it is sure good to have it. I have had my car in for a couple of warranty issues. Both were small and did not cause any issues(I waited to get them done at an oil change) but I was treated with respect each time and the things were quickly done. I would have no problem recommending a Hyundai or KIA product to a friend or a stranger.
Mazda had some serious rust issues about a decade ago. It wasn’t uncommon to see a Mazda 3 with rust bubbles on the quarter panel around the rear wheel arch in Pennsylvania.
This was on a car that was only a few years old. Perhaps that stigma lingers in some regions…?
Because a 4 banger, turbo or not, is not conducive to providing a luxury feel. I test drove the CX9 and while beautiful, the swell of torque downlow that quickly tapered off about 3 to 4 rpm was a let down. I even asked if it was being run on premium gas for maximum hp. I went with MDX A-Spec. I wish i would have waited for the new turbo 6 dropping next year in it.
I also eagerly await more details about the RAV4 Prime.
Even the non-plug-in RAV4 Hybrid is a compelling product. Many publications state that the hybrid “premium” is $2,200, but that’s compared to the FWD RAV4. Correctly compared to the AWD RAV4 the price premium is only $800. At that price the hybrid is a no-brainer. Granted it’s not a true “off-road” AWD, but the electric rear axle provides the additional snow/ice traction that most customers are looking for, while incurring almost no parasitic drag in FWD mode. No wonder it’s the best selling hybrid in the US.
Depending on governmental incentives it may actually make more sense to purchase the Prime than the standard Hybrid, that is the case in several states depending on your tax situation, bringing the out the door cost below that of the non-plug-in.
Yeah the plug in will have some federal tax credit and if your state has some of their own the Prime could be cheaper than the standard non-hybrid version.
Yes. Waiting for more details on the RAV4 Prime: Actual pricing … extent of compromise in interior volume (if any), presence of spare tire, etc.
Compared to the AWD RAV4 the price premium is only $800 *at MSRP*. There’s cash on the hood of IC-only RAV4s right now, while the hybrid has a long waiting list which means no discounts. Expect Toyota to adjust production volumes as quickly as they can and, no doubt, plan for a heavier mix of Primes than they might otherwise have.
While I disagree about the styling of the Telluride the upcoming plug-in RAV-4 should be a huge hit. The EV range will cover many people’s daily needs while the ICE provides the range much more conveniently and economically than a oversized battery and fast charging.
At the end of the day, it’s still a Kia. It just comes across as a knockoff.
I am far from a Kia fan boy but this Telluride is pretty appealing as far as a big SUV goes. I would argue it is one of the most distinctive and better looking SUVs. Far from a knockoff.
Is there some auto brand that has proprietary rights to large three row utility vehicles? That’s like dismissing any new sedan as a knockoff of other sedans.
Hello past Mazda customer
I had a Mazda for 10 years, I was shopping for a Mazda SUV with a third row . Mazda cx-9 third row isn’t has comfort or spacious as the Kia telluride . So I decided on the Kia for the value , interior and space.
Spend some time around one, m, and then come back and tell us about it. I don’t know but you leave the impression that you are working from Kia’s reputation of 8 or 10 years ago. They have moved out of “cheap car” for low bucks to nice car for reasonable bucks.
A knockoff of what?
A knockoff as in Kia is the automotive equivalent of fast fashion; trendy, inexpensive, and disposable. Yes Kia had come along way, but they are still no Toyota. They are for the value shoppers because “Hey look at all you get and it’s cheaper.” Just basing this off my most recent experience with Kia.
Getting more for less sounds pretty good to most people. We have a Toyota. It’s very nice. I don’t know if it was necessarily worth thousands more than a Kia or Hyundai at this point in time. We also had a Mercedes SUV, again costing more than the Toyota. Looking back I don’t think that was worth the extra expense…Sometimes the less expensive option is the better option, price is not always directly related to quality.
The Kia isn’t trying to hide what it is, it’s not like the badge isn’t front and center. Knockoffs generally don’t have a label.
While I’m not a fan of its styling (and if it were between the two, I find the Hyundai Palisade the more attractive of the duo), objectively-speaking, the Telluride’s formula is pure gold.
1) It is a type of vehicle (3-row CUV) that’s high in demand.
2) It offers a stylish interior with generally high-quality materials/finishes.
3) It is a tremendous value – Low-$40,000s for an essentially fully-loaded large 3-row CUV is exceptional, especially considering its superior fit-and-finish compared to most rivals. It’s a lot of car for the money.
4) While subjective, I’d say it is styled aggressively enough that makes it stand out and appeal to traditional SUV buyers, shaking the appliance image associated with many of its competitors.
Can’t say I’m much of a fan of the front-end styling of either the Telluride or Palisade. But if you can get past the looks, both seem like a good value for a larger SUV.
@Brendan, I can’t argue with any of your points. GM, with its craptacular Consumer Reports rankings with the Traverse, and Ford with their expensive and poorly launched Explorer had better be looking in their rear view mirrors, Hyundai Motor Group is looming large.
When the US domestic names started shedding sedans like mink coats at a PETA convention, three things went through my mind:
*Good or bad, they are giving up a lot of brand and platform equity.
*They are killing the current de facto entry level segment and its ability to attract and cultivate future loyal move-up buyers.
*In the short term search for immediate higher margins, they completely lost their minds not thinking that when all players begin to fill their ranks with SUV’s and crossovers that the competition would bring margins on these vehicles back to earth. HMG is proving this point (it’s on the cover of the January 2020 MotorTrend if anyone at GM or Ford would like to read up on it).
HMG is still playing hard in the sedan segment, has done decently in smaller crossovers and is now moving into the higher margin sphere of large SUVs. I wonder what the US domestic strategy of combating this will be?
I knew the Telluride would be a hit.
As Paul noted, it looks good. Big plus.
Korean cars are perceived as being inexpensive.
“Honey, that Telluride looks good, and it should be inexpensive, let’s check it out”. Bingo.
The push toward electrification is pushed by intellectuals, purportedly environmentalists, the elite, the mainstream media, and even the deep state.
If it’s such a great idea, it will happen on it’s own merits. No one is forced to buy a smartphone.
But, even with progress in batteries, I don’t see it happening. It will be ‘sold’ as a ‘good idea’ that can do ‘great things for the planet’, but only if we all ‘help it a little’. This help will be subsidizing the electric auto by taking from most to enable the few at first, and some later.
Collectively, society may be getting wealthier (though you can’t grow forever. For one thing, there is only so much space for us!). But per capita, it is getting poorer.
Society’s leader’s need to manage this carefully, so society does not degenerate into civil disorder or implode.
One way to do that is reduce the relatively unlimited personal transportation options most Americans have enjoyed since the 1950s. The Telluride is an example of that.
Here is a big vehicle, that only works in North America. Demographers tell us there are few large families, yet this has lots of room. Lots of power. And it burns (RELATIVELY speaking) lots of fuel.
It’s Korean, but it probably will never be offered to Korean buyers in South Korea.
The best way to manage the drop in freedom of private, personal transport, is electric.. It’s easier for the state to control and regulate where you go and what you pay. Electric facilitates that. That’s why it gets so much press.
As I said, if it’s so great, why aren’t more people buying EVs? Why hasn’t the charging infrastructure sprung up?
“Society’s leader’s need to manage this carefully, so society does not degenerate into civil disorder or implode.
One way to do that is reduce the relatively unlimited personal transportation options most Americans have enjoyed since the 1950s. The Telluride is an example of that.”
I’m not following your point. How would government artificially limiting personal transportation options prevent civil disorder and implosion?
My comment was rambling and not well-written, I concede. Small screen, no drafts here…. so, I’ll try to re-state
Telluride is very nicely done example of a genre of vehicle that is not accessible to middle class drivers outside North America, due to space constraints and fuel costs. Does Kia even offer the Telluride in Korea?
So, we have a hit car, the Telluride, yet it seems EVs get a disproportionate share of coverage.
The point I meant to make was, with regards to the first sentence “dominant narrative is electrification”, in an increasingly resource-constrained society, electric vehicles might offer a better OVERALL transportation solution, hence the press coverage (because EVs might save money and the environment).
But, IMO, there will be a ‘cost’. Many individuals will have diminished personal mobility options, aka less ‘freedom’.. Mark below got it.
Your rambling, illogical, political and incoherent comment is pushing up against our commenting policy. You might want to re-read it. And take off your tinfoil hat. 🙂
The console between the dash and seats looks too wide for relaxing manspreading while cruising down the highway. That’s the only negative I can think of for this ride.
+1 @Paul
Well I happen to agree with him. How can one ignore the degenerating civil liberties much of the world has faced in the last couple of decades?
I have myself argued that electricification is a stealth control mechanism.
Throw self-driving into the mix and it won’t be to long before
they become defacto mandatory, too. How? By insurers refusing to insure “unsafe” humans driving “gross polluters”
Johnny Cab will scan your social credit score and make sure you haven’t said something .gov doesn’t like before you set off.
“I’m sorry Dave, I can’t take you there, we’re going to the detention center instead ”
“….and by the way Dave, your debit card balance is much too high for your what you earn, we’ll be doing a civil asset forfeiture on the excess surplus”
How far should it go?
To this?
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/watch-chinese-man-interrogated-criticizing-police-social-media
Don’t think it can’t happen outside of China, eventually.
Automobile insurance companies aren’t in existence to refuse coverage for any particular situation, they exist to make a profit. If humans cause accidents that cost $X then as long as the insurance company charges at least $X+1 both they and their investors are happy. If on the flip side they insist on perfect computerized vehicular control (if such a thing is even ever possible) with zero incidents or accidents and never have to pay another claim then their rates would fall as well and there’d be no point to having them in the first place. Without risk there is no insurance market. So by your logic there shouldn’t be any transportation whatsoever. There isn’t a vehicle built that my insurer would refuse to cover me on, the rate however will relatively accurately reflect the risk.
Who’s worried about JohnnyCab decades down the line? One would think that currently you’d be more concerned with the agent of the state with a badge and a gun that can pull you over for any or no reason currently and take you to the detention center as it stands if the state so chose. Or just gun you down right there if you twitch the wrong way.
And how is electrification of vehicles itself a “control” mechanism? It’s not like AI can’t be (and isn’t currently being) fitted to gasoline cars. It’s not a huge robotic task to refuel a gasoline vehicle without a human, electrification is a non-event.
You guys…
Whenever I see “mainstream media” or “deep state” in an online discussion, it’s like a skip-forward button to the next comment.
Good call. Maybe those phrases can just be added to the spam filter. Why can’t people just enjoy the show without unloading their garbage in the aisle?
I think the styling is awful. While I do appreciate that it’s a more traditional SUV shape than the egg shaped cuteUV crossovers, the narrow Headlights and taillights and the bulging grille and tailgate make it look bloated, and let’s not even get into the taillight shape itself, yuck. It looks overall like a scaled down Escalade knockoff with some Jeep elements thrown in, and the kitted our version in the title picture looks like a blatant knockoff of a Jeep display. The interior is nice, but I feel like I’ve seen that exact dash before. Par for the course Kia though, just copy everything everyone else makes and people will buy them.
It isn’t pretty. But it’s distinctive and competitive, like the rest of the car.
Yeah but you’re the guy with the “existential hatred towards crossovers” so not a shocking revelation 🙂
“But I’ve developed such an existential hatred towards crossovers I begrudgingly am more embracing of sedans, no matter how lumpy and gaudy they get.”
If the styling on this one is awful, which one is good, comparatively speaking?
Yep, I am 🙂
But crossover =/= SUV. I like some SUVs, mostly old ones, but some current ones too(4 runners, Grand Cherokees), boxy styling and high ground clearance being key traits, and I give the Telluride credit since it carries that traditional SUV profile pretty well for a crossover, I simply find the front and rear styling really bad.
Up front, I am a Kia guy. And surprised to be one. But after 8 years and 85k miles on our Sedona, the company has proved to me that it can handle the main tasks of engineering and building a credible vehicle. I loved my Ford Club Wagon, but that 1994 model (built at a modern peak in Ford quality) cost me waaaaaay more repair money than my Sedona, which has been positively Honda-like on this metric.
In my view, their big problem has been one of visual appeal. Many of their cars just look a little off. But their modern materials feel much nicer than those in my van (although mine has proved quite durable inside). The Teluride nailed “the look” – what people want their crossover to look like. The rest of the package presents nicely and they make the sale. No mystery.
Kia has done a good job of value these days. They are not the place to go for bargain basement cheap anymore, but they still give you more for the money than most competitors. And a really good warranty. And after my experience, I would feel better putting my money on one of these than anything from Ford, GM or Chrysler, much as it hurts me to say so.
Having visited Telluride, Colorado a few times, which if you haven’t, know it is the playground of the extremely wealth and many trust fund babies. The idea of having to admit your new SUV is a Kia to the denizens of that tony village would be anathema.
If it isn’t a Range Rover or a Mercedes-Benz G, well…
This doesn’t resonate with me personally, but only because $40K crossovers don’t resonate with me. Kia has delivered a vehicle with solid, perhaps unimpeachable fundamentals and added a premium lather to it without making customers pay anything more for the privilege.
This same tactic applied to a vehicle segment I *do* care about would probably prompt me to pay MSRP as well. Kia seems to deserve a lot of credit here.
I’m trying to think of another mainstream trendy value play similar to this, but my brain’s slow today. MKIV VW Jetta, before everyone found out they were pieces of crap?
I actually don’t mind these. I quite like how these look, and if I were in the market for a 3-row SUV, this is what would be my second option. The fact that I see them all the time must tell me that Kia is doing something right. A blatant copy of the Suburban for a lower price, half the size, and better fuel economy? That’s pretty tempting for a lot of people, myself included.
After 10 years I would trust a Honda pilot over a Kia telluride, in the long run you get what you pay for and that is longevity.
Kia has smaller and cheaper SUVs for people who actually want a Pilot.
Absolutely no one who is considering a new Kia Telluride would want to drive a 10-year-old Honda Pilot, or any other 10-year-old car. They don’t want to drive a 10-year-old car today. It’s stupid to think they’d want to drive a 10-year-old car in 10 years.
This web site’s comment section is like Consumer Reports if it were written by hillbillies.
The name Telluride is very original, creative and evokes a sense of solidity, poise, form and function. I think the Telluride is positively jaw dropping gorgeous inside and out. It’s one of the most beautiful vehicles made, and the build quality is over the moon sensational. GM, Ford and Chrysler should be extremely embarrassed with their crop of fleet line quality in their vehicles. KIA deserves an A++ for its efforts.
The one I would want to give a test drive is the one I seldom see in inventory or on the road. Mid trim S model with 8 passenger seating (center row bench instead of captains chairs) AWD and tow package. That would ring in a bit below $37K.
This would be because if you want captains chairs in the second row you really need a van. I want my CUV to be as wagon like as possible.
I did a lot of research on the Telluride and found it checked almost every box and did so without breaking the bank. Reliability is very important to me so that is why I chose to lease. If its reliability holds up as a first-year model, I plan on purchasing at the end of the lease. I thought about a CX-9 but much preferred the style of the Telluride. My last car was a Land Rover Discovery Sport SUV and I thought the Telluride’s styling was somewhat similar and I prefer a boxier style over the CX-9 styling. So far I love the car!
I think you’ve nailed one big reason for the T’s popularity – it does a fairly good external impression of a Range Rover and in the dark might be momentarily mistaken for one.Ford I think sold more than a few copies of the prior-gen Explorer for the same reason.
As for my selection of the CX-9; I knew I was giving up utility for styling and road manners, but that was a trade-off I was willing to make. I wanted more room than my last vehicle (a Mercedes GLK) offered, but as an empty nester who will only need threes rows and carrying capacity occasionally (but who still wants it available NOW if I need or want it)), the CX-9 was the right choice.
CX-9 or MDX seems to be a dilemma that many shoppers face.
While the value is there, it helps that Kia (and Hyundai) really nailed the styling of these vehicles. To me, they have the spirit of a full-size GM car designed under Bill Mitchell – very well-executed with good detailing. They have a real “presence” on the road.
If Mitchell were still around and in charge of the GM styling studios, I could see him greenlighting something like this for a large Buick crossover.
Does absolutely nothing for me, just another SUV in an overcrowded market. But, then again, I`ll never need an SUV. A coupe will do fine for me and my needs.
I like this wagon, and thought it would be high on the list to replace my wife’s JX35. Unfortunately, I believe that in the nicer trim versions it comes only with captain’s chairs in the second row, disqualifying it for us. Along with nearly useless factory roof racks, this seems to be a CUV trend these days.
Here’s an actual off-road test drive by Popular Mechanics.
https://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/car-technology/a27372481/kia-teluride-2020/