Kia’s 3-row 2024 Telluride AWD SUV has been a hit for the carmaker in that it offers styling, interior space, has best resale value and is a top safety pick.
What’s strange is that Hyundai’s (Kia’s parent company) Palisade 3-row SUV, shares essentially the same platform as the Telluride, but the latter has outsold it. Maybe because car buyers like the forward styling or maybe they like the name Telluride, especially if they’re skiers and have skied that popular western mountain.
Telluride is offered in LX, S, EX, EX X-Line, SX, SX X-Line, SX X-Pro, SX Prestige and SX Prestige X-Line. We were privileged to test the latter. And what an SUV it is.
As the top-line model, the X-Line denotes a more rugged stance on 20-inch Michelin tires, a bold grille and roof rails for strapping on kayaks or other outdoorsy gear.
Telluride’s interior is upscale and snazzy with Nappa leather seating plus sueded ceiling and pillars. A curvy-shaped dash encompasses a 12.3-inch infotainment display on one side, and a 12.3-inch all digital instrument cluster on the other.
The infotainment display serves a host of functions like Harmon-Kardon audio, satellite radio, navigation, climate selections, a rearview, side view, overhead and revolving view cameras, voice memo’s and more. Aside from the typical tach and speedometer on the instrument cluster, it displays features, functions, modes, alerts, plus left/right blind side cameras. There’s also an adjustable 10-inch head-up-display that provides constant driving data.
Within the navigation system is a nifty nav-based smart cruise control system that incorporates speed adjustment based on road conditions. There’s also a free 12-month subscription to Kia Connect services for real time traffic conditions.
With three rows, Telluride is rated to seat eight with a second row bench seat, or seven with captain’s chairs in the second row. And ingress/egress is a low 19-inch step-in. Third row access is surprisingly good and they can actually seat two short statured adults. The front seats are heated/cooled, heavily padded and nicely supportive. The second row has gobs of leg and head room and have their own HVAC controls located on the ceiling above the seats. They’re also heated as are the third-row seats. Regarding the third row, Telluride has Driver Talk that sends the driver’s voice through the rear speakers for conversation or to scold unruly kids in the rearmost seats.
Telluride’s console houses the gear selector for the 8-speed automatic transmission, a phone charging pad and mode selection switch for Comfort, Sport, Smart, Eco, Snow and AWD Lock modes. The latter offers added traction when getting stuck in deep snow or mucky mud. It’s an important feature to have and one that even more expensive SUVs don’t’ offer. Kudo’s to Kia for having that.
Back in the cargo area that has an automatic opening/closing liftgate provided the fob is on the person, it’s a nice assist to have the hands and arms are loaded with packages. The liftgate door opens when approaching the door, and closes when walking away.
With the third-row seats upright, there’s 21 cubic feet of cargo space that measures 19.5 inches deep by 47 wide and 32 high. Flip them and space increases to 46 cubic feet for 50 inches of loading depth. Flip the second row and there’s 87 cubic feet for a whopping 84 inches (7 feet). And lift-over onto the cargo floor is an easy 29.5 inches. Beneath the cargo floor is a 3-inch deep, full-width bin for small item storage.
Telluride gets its grunt from a 3.8-liter V6 that generates 291-hp and 262 lb/ft of torque for EPA mileage estimates of 18 city, 24-highway mpg. When coupled to the 8-speed trans, it can tow up to 5,500 pounds in the X-Line model. So powered, Telluride has excellent acceleration from a standing stop and during passing maneuvers. Select Sport mode and the gauges turn red and white and shifts points are held longer for quicker acceleration and performance.
As for ride and handling, Telluride is smooth and ultra-quiet. In sharp, tight turns, it remains planted and the steering offers good road feel. And it’s a nimble and easy to park SUV.
Telluride SX Prestige X-Line carried a base price of $52,185 generously equipped with a host of safety features such as forward collision avoidance (cyclist, junction turning), blind spot collision warning, rear cross traffic collision-avoidance assist, reverse parking collision avoidance assist, safe exit assist/highway driving assist, smart cruise control w/stop-go, and more. On the options side, Wolf Gray Paint ($495), carpeted floor mats ($225), cargo cover ($155), carpeted cargo mat w/seatback protection ($115) and delivery ($1,365) took the bottom line to $54,540.
An impressive price for this much content in a good-looking SUV. Kia figured it all out, and put it together in an impressive 3-row.
Telluride X-Line came with top government safety ratings of a full five stars for an overall score, four each for driver/passenger frontal crash, five for front/rear seat side crash and four for rollover. In addition, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave it their Top Safety Pick-Plus award. All compelling reasons to consider a 2024 Telluride.
Telluride comes with a generous 10 year/100K powertrain warranty, 5/60K basic warranty and a 5/60K roadside assistance coverage.
After spending a week in the Telluride, I can say it’s the best 3-row AWD SUV we’ve tested to date.