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Is Kia Telluride a Good SUV?

Is Kia Telluride a Good SUV?

I have added 14 aspects of Kia Telluride that you should know before purchasing it.

It has the best reviews from automobile journalists and is an award-winning vehicle with some complaints and problems.

Is Kia Telluride a Good SUV? Kia Telluride is known for its excellent performance and reliability. This mid-size SUV ranks among the top luxurious vehicles because of its upscale interiors, spacious cargo area, and relaxing drive with a powerful 3.8-L V-6 engine of 287-hp and 18 mpg fuel economy.

Kia Telluride is three-row, well-grounded, and a pack of high-quality materials with superior standard features and comfort driving.

Is Kia Telluride a Good SUV?

The Kia brand has a reputation and respect for their outclass vehicles, and this model has raised their standard to a greater extent.

An SUV of appropriate size, smooth driving experience, stylish look, spacious seats, and modern technologies is what everyone wants to have.

Examples of Kia Telluride SUVs with their weight, size, and engine power

Kia Telluride Models Weight in pounds Weight in kg Weight in tons Size/dimensions in inches

L X W X H

Engine power Cost
2020 Kia Telluride 4200 pounds 1905 kg 2.1 tons 191 x 73 x 64 inches 286 hp $30,500
2021 Kia Telluride 4300 pounds 1950 kg 2.15 tons 192 x 74 x 65 inches 288 hp $32,100
2022 Kia Telluride 4350 lbs 1973 kg 2.175 tons 193 x 75 x 66 inches 287 hp $33,000

Brief history

The company gave the concept of Kia telluride in 2016 but started its production in 2019.

Its first model came on the market in 2019 with the name model 2020.

They have launched its latest 2022 model in 2021 summers with advanced features and the most extraordinary appearance.

It is the largest vehicle among all Kia models and is made especially to ride on the dangerous paths of telluride town.

Where are Kia Telluride SUVs made?

America is the place of manufacture of these SUVs, and their purchase value is highest in this country.

Telluride is a small town in the USA, and the makers gave this name to their superb conceptualized vehicle.

Is Kia Telluride a reliable SUV?

Reliability is an essential aspect of a vehicle, and they are generally reliable automobiles.

It ranks top on the reliability chart and gets a ranking of 80/100 for its reliability.

Performance

It is an SUV with a 3.8L V6 turbocharged 4-cylinder engine of 287 hp, 258 pound-feet torque, 24 mpg mileage on the highway. 

It changes speed quickly with good power on the highway and is available in 4WD and AWD.

It is a small-size vehicle with lightweight steering which works efficiently in high traffic areas.

A good suspension absorbs shocks and bumps on the road smoothly with 20 inches tires.

The off-road performance is exceptional and has better ground clearance and stability control.

It has four driving modes depending upon the path: innovative, sport, eco, and comfort.

An advanced driver talks feature with a command and control touchscreen.

Warranty

Kia company gives with 5-years warranty for bumper to bumper drive and 10 years warranty for the powertrain.

For mileage, there is a 60000 to 100000 miles warranty for the drive and powertrain.

Does Kia Telluride have good interiors and a high comfort level?

No vehicle is good until it has high-quality interiors, comfortable seating, and a soothing feel inside. Look at these features and examine that whether it is a good SUV or not.

Seating arrangement and quality

It offers three-row seating with an average accommodation of 6 to 7 persons, while few variants have two captain’s chairs in the middle row instead of a typical bench seat.

Both first and second seat rows are soft and supportive, while the third row does not have as much support as the others but is comfortable enough for shorter traveling.

The upholstery fabric varies in different versions, but leather is the first choice, either synthetic or original.

Two options are available in different models: One is the manually adjustable standard option, and these seats have synthetic leather upholstery.

The other option provides high-quality original leather seats with power-adjustable and heating and ventilating features on the front and second rows.

The vehicle ensures child protection with latch connectors on second and third-row seats and an additional belt for the middle seats.

Interior quality

Kia Telluride has the most stylish and luxurious interiors because the makers spend more on the material and technology.

The designs are clean, trimmed, and modern with high-quality materials like crisp metal, plastic, and leather with neat stitching.

There is sufficient storage space for small items like cellphones and other essentials in all rows.

The company does not compromise on the quality of material, even in the cheaper trims.

There is no unnecessary styling and designing in the interiors, and everything is refreshing, attractive, and easy to feel.

Overall the look is decent and subtle with the addition of microfiber liners on the roof.

Cargo space

On average, the Kia Telluride of 2021 has a cargo space of 80 cubic feet behind the first row.

The space behind the second and third row is 35 and 28 cubic feet, enough to place handbags and other small items.

Technologies

The dominating technologies in Kia Telluride latest versions (2021, 2022) are:

  • Push-button start
  • Ceiling-mounted climate control
  • Automatic headlights
  • Wireless device chargers
  • Power-folding side mirrors
  • Reclining third-row seats

Does Kia Telluride has a good infotainment system?

The infotainment features have increased in the SUV from 2020 to 2022. Also, the entertainment facilities vary in the different trim where LX and S are on the top. 

The only function it lacks is the presence of a WiFi hotspot. On the base level, it offers the following features:

  • 8 to 10-inches display
  • Six speaker stereo
  • HD radio system
  • Five to six USB port
  • Bluetooth connectivity
  • Power handsfree access
  • Android auto
  • Apple Carplay

Does Kia Telluride has enough safety features?

The safety of passengers is the concern that everyone looks for before purchasing any SUV.

“It has got 5/5 stars on safety rating by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and got the highest rating by Highway Safety Insurance Institute.”

Its safety features include:

  • Forward collision warning
  • Automatic emergency braking
  • Rear and front parking sensors
  • Cruise control
  • Alerts for driver
  • Back-seats alerts for kids
  • Blindspot monitor
  • 360 degrees Parking camera system
  • Cross-traffic warning
  • Lane-centering and lane-departure warning and assistance
  • Highway driving assist

What trim level does Kia Telluride have?

The 2021 Telluride has four trims LX, SX, EX, and S, and all these have slight differences in the technology, interiors, seating, and safety features.

However, there is no doubt that LX trim is the most affordable trim in others, with standard technologies.

Kia Telluride LX

The trim is most expensive, safe, and powerful a 3.8 L V6 engine horsepower of 285 hp.

An 8-speed automatic transmission, 18-inches wheels, synthetic leather upholstery, satellite radio, front skid plate, and front-wheel drive are the prominent features of LX trim.

Kia Telluride EX

The trim has 4WD, and front-wheel drive options with 10.5 inches touch display, navigation system, and original leather upholstery.

In addition, the premium version comes with 20-inches wheels, rear sunshades, and a captain’s chair.

The 2021 model has come with a NightFall edition, having glossy black exteriors and black wheels with a towing package, and is most costly.

Kia Telluride SX

SX trim has both front-wheel drive and AWD versions and is a premium package with 10-speaker stereo, automatic high-beam headlights, and a panoramic sunroof.

It comes with heated and ventilated seating rows and a head-up display, and a feature to sense rain, making it the most expensive among all.

Kia Telluride S

The trim comes with a few features and luxuries and is a 7-seat layout with 18 to 20 inches wheels.

In addition, it has a power sunroof and roof rails of low profile with silver finishing.

Is Kia Telluride an affordable SUV?

The starting price package of this vehicle is around $30,000, which is affordable for most people.

The cost varies with the trim, and the most expensive trim is SX with a $42,000 price. 

A Kia telluride will take around $8000 maintenance and repair costs in 10 years.

On a ground note, you have to spend $450 annually on your vehicle for repair, which is relatively less than other SUVs.

Moreover, its insurance cost per year is $1700 if you take a high insurance package.

High rankings and awards

The thing that makes it a popular vehicle is its award-winning performance and exceptionally high ranking in the automobiles ranking platform.

The 2021 model ranks number 1 in the mid-sized SUVs and number 4 in the crossover SUVs list.

Its other achievement is getting the first position in the category of 3-rows family SUVs, while it was a finalist of the price category of 3-rows SUVs.

Moreover, the average scoring rate of Kia Telluride evaluated from multiple kinds of research and data is 8.9 out of 10.

Is a Kia Telluride durable SUV?

The durability of a vehicle is the miles it can go with you without any trouble and breakage. 

Fuel consumption

The average mileage ranges between 190800 miles to 200200 miles, but it depends upon the level of maintenance it receives.

Moreover, 14000 to 16000 miles per year is the average mileage of these SUVs, with some miles less or more.

There is no rusting or corrosion on the vehicle for up to a year unless you confuse it with rail dust.

This rail dust appears on the frame during transportation, and cleaning can immediately wipe it off. Clay bars application is another effective technique to prevent this issue.

Brake pads

Its brake pads will not wear or tear before the use of 25000 miles, but they will start wearing after 70000 miles.

However, this is not an exact value, and you can encounter tearing of these brake pads.

Tires

The life of tires of an SUV depends upon driving, which means more rotation and turning will result in early wearing of tires.

On average, they may last between 29000 to 4900 miles when maintained with better air pressure. However, many people complain that its tires are expensive.

Transmission and spark plug

The transmission system is in good condition unless there are any burning smells, noise, or leaks.

It can last up to 250000 miles while it works up to the life of a vehicle in some cases, and you will never feel the need to change it.

The spark plugs do not last long and result in slow performance.

What is the towing capacity of Kia Telluride?

The average towing capacity of these vehicles ranges between 4500 to 5000 pounds which are good enough to tow multiple structures.

It can tow anything less than this limit, including RV, camper, light trailers, pop-up trailers with the advanced tow package in the 2021 model, having tow hitch, bumper cover, and harnesses.

It has an average payload capacity of 1300 to 1600 pounds which is suitable for heavy cargo.

Did Kia Telluride make any recalls?

There were some issues in the model in 2020 and 2021. As a result, the company had to recall some versions to correct the faults.

There was also a recall of the model 2022 because of some electrical system. So collectively, there are four recalls of Kia Telluride until now:

l The first was in 2019 for the model 2020 due to faulty seat belts that could not ensure safety.

l The second was in 2020 for the model 2020 due to a fault in brake lights. It occurs when connected to a trailer and issues with smart-cruise control.

l The third was in 2021 for the model 2021 due to a fault in the occupant classification and detection system.

l The fourth was in 2021 for the model 2022 due to an issue with the LCD screen.

What are the buyer reviews about Kia Telluride?

On an online rating scale of 5, it has an average rating of 4.4, of which 75% of people gave it 5 stars.

At trucksauthority.com, we surveyed 200 participants, of which 90% participants were males while 10% were females.

After interpreting all data, we got the result in which 95% of survey participants gave it 5/5 stars, and the average rating concluded at 4.8 stars.

The results are as follows:

Specs Rating (out of 5)
Interiors 5
Exteriors 4.9
Comfort 5
Reliability 4.8
Performance 4.9
Money value 4.6

The consumer reviews and feedback were exceptionally good with the following comments:

I love the combination of a luxury look with smooth driving at a reasonable cost. I am too happy with the roomy Kia Telluride as it is 100% suitable for a family tour.

Another owner posted:

The best SUV at the best price and outstanding features. It works very well on the highway and in the city. The safety features and superior reputation has made it worth buying.

One more review by an owner is:

I purchased Kia Telluride S-trim half a year ago. I drive it up to 12k miles and concluded that it serves as an easy and enjoyable drive. I also like interiors and is all according to my need.

Despite the excellent rating, Kia Telluride has some problems about which some owners complain.

Usually, these problems revolve around technologies and electrical features. 

The complaints were:

Windshields and wipers were frustrating many owners, which cost around $450 to repair. Also, it starts to crack after some time due to the chips or maybe temperature.

Powertrain issues are another major problem with almost 12 online complaints. The owners reported that their SUVs do not accelerate to the highway speed.

Twenty-five owners complained that the exterior lights do not illuminate at night, which is dangerous to hear.

The electrical system also causes a disturbing bell and whistle, and the blind spot detectors stop working suddenly.

An owner complained:

I like Telluride, but it has some problems with cruise control, lights, wiper motor, horn, and security system, and they are declining my interest in the SUV.

Another wrote:

My front windshield cracked entirely within 24 hours, and my Kia Telluride is only a few months old.

All these problems become big and irritating when not corrected even after several repairs.

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