2020 Kia Telluride first drive review: A big, bold SUV with great value

Don’t be fooled by the Kia Telluride’s huge, boxy form and accessible seating for eight passengers. Kia’s newest and biggest performs within the extremely aggressive midsize crossover class, with the Chevrolet Traverse, Honda Pilot,Subaru Ascent and different mainstream SUVs squarely in its sights. Kia goes all in on the boxy look. You’ll solely discover a number of curves throughout the SUV’s sheetmetal. A large grille, broad hood, vertically stacked headlights and an upright windshield lend to this large-and-in-charge stance, whereas extra rakish particulars just like the curved taillights with LED components strike a particular signature out on the highway. The newest SUV Available in LX, EX, S and SX trims, each Telluride is powered by a naturally aspirated, 3.8-liter V6 engine, with 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. An eight-speed computerized transmission handles shifting duties, and whereas front-wheel drive is customary, all-wheel drive could be added to any mannequin for an additional $2,000. The V6 may appear unremarkable on paper, however it does an important job of getting the Telluride in control shortly, and there is loads of midrange punch for passing — although the engine is moderately loud at full throttle. The computerized transmission works properly, largely fading into the background. Downshifts might stand to be slightly snappier, however most drivers will not discover the transmission’s motion too off-putting more often than not. The Kia Telluride seems to be proper at house in its namesake state of Colorado.
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At a relaxed tempo by the mountains of Colorado (the place else would Kia launch the Telluride?), this SUV is a stable performer. All Tellurides include adjustable drive modes: Comfort, Sport, Eco and Smart (assume: adaptive) are discovered on each mannequin, however you probably have all-wheel drive, Snow and Lock settings are added. Like a number of Kias I’ve pushed, there is a noticeable uptick in throttle and transmission response after I change to Sport mode, whereas the Telluride is a fairly cool-and-collected affair within the different settings. The steering would not provide a lot suggestions however it’s pretty direct and properly weighted, whereas the SUV’s total trip high quality is cool and calm, absorbing uneven pavement with aplomb. All-wheel-drive Tellurides truly act as front-wheel-drive fashions more often than not, with torque being despatched rearward when demanded. Sport mode adjusts the driveline to a normal 65/35 entrance/rear torque break up, and if you happen to go for Lock mode, the Telluride will maintain a 50/50 energy distribution. Kia says the Telluride ought to obtain 21 miles per gallon mixed with all-wheel drive, which places it ever so barely behind opponents just like the Honda Pilot, Subaru Ascent and Toyota Highlander. Stick with front-wheel drive, and Kia says you must see 23 mpg mixed. Value packed The Telluride comes with an enormous checklist of ordinary driver’s aids, together with blind-spot monitoring, ahead collision warning with pedestrian detection, lane-departure mitigation, rear cross-traffic alert and adaptive cruise management with stop-and-go performance. Step as much as larger trim ranges and you may add a head-up show, in addition to a nifty blind-spot view monitor that tasks a digital show of what is beside you within the gauge cluster. Plenty of driver’s aids and luxury options make the Telluride stand out in a crowd.
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A brand new little bit of driver help tech comes within the type of Kia’s Highway Driving Assistant, which is automated, hands-on-the-wheel system, just like Nissan’s ProfessionalPilot characteristic. My check route on Colorado’s mountain roads would not permit for a radical check of this tech — it is meant that will help you whereas commuting in stop-and-go visitors on the freeway — however it performs properly sufficient through the brief cases the place I can activate the system. There’s much more tech inside, the place an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system is customary. Personally, I would improve to the non-obligatory 10.2-inch infotainment suite with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Kia’s UVO infotainment system works as properly right here because it does in some other mannequin, with clearly labeled icons and fast responses to inputs. Parents will respect the Telluride’s cabin tech, which features a microphone to mission your voice rearward, and the choice to mute the audio system within the second and third rows, to let sleeping children snooze. Kia additionally suits the Telluride with customary rear-seat alert, so you do not go away a part of your brood behind the automotive on accident, in addition to safe-exit alert, so the little darlings do not attempt to open the rear doorways into the trail of an oncoming automotive or bicycle. The Telluride is properly appointed and classy total, with huge, comfy seats and non-obligatory heating and cooling within the first and second row. Cargo room is ample, with 21 cubic toes of space for storing behind the third row, which expands to 46 cubic toes with the way-back bench folded. With each rows folded flat, the Telluride affords 87 cubic toes of area, which is about equal with the Subaru Ascent. Only the Volkswagen Atlas affords extra cargo room — a whopping 97 cubic toes. Affordable pricing The neatest thing in regards to the Telluride is that each one of this comes at a really aggressive value: $31,690 to start out. My absolutely loaded SX AWD tester with the non-obligatory Prestige pack is available in at $48,860, together with $1,045 for vacation spot. That’s a small discount in comparison with the VW Atlas, which does not provide practically as many options and might simply crest $50,000. Even the favored, barely cheaper Subaru Ascent cannot match the Telluride’s checklist of ordinary and accessible tools, even when it tries to make up for it with a bevy of cup holders. Kia’s Telluride affords huge, daring model and wonderful worth throughout all trims. I do not assume it will have any hassle discovering its method towards the highest of the midsize SUV class. Editors’ observe: Travel prices associated to this characteristic have been coated by the producer. This is frequent within the auto trade, as it is extra economical to ship journalists to automobiles than to ship automobiles to journalists. While Roadshow accepts multiday automobile loans from producers in an effort to present scored editorial opinions, all scored automobile opinions are accomplished on our turf and on our phrases. The judgments and opinions of Roadshow’s editorial crew are our personal and we don’t settle for paid editorial content material.