2024 Kia Telluride nonetheless units the benchmark

Regardless of new and up to date competitors, no SUV has but dethroned the Kia Telluride.

The American-made, South Korean-engineered three-row crossover SUV continues to high the category with nice packaging, operating gear that units it aside from the pack, and styling together with supplies that punch above the worth and sophistication. 

With a TCC Score of 7.2 out of 10, the 2024 Kia Telluride outranks each competitor besides its new electrical sibling, the EV9. It’s not excellent: it has no electrified powertrain choices and its outdated second-row fold-away mechanism might be improved. These are minor flaws in a car we’ve chosen, yr after yr, as among the many finest automobiles to purchase. 

Inside a day of spending per week with the 2024 Kia Telluride shuttling the children round city I used to be immediately reminded why it’s been named The Automobile Connection Greatest Automobile To Purchase 2020 and received numerous TCC awards all through the years. It comes all the way down to a number of execs, and only a few cons.

Professional: Kia Telluride options nice packaging

It’s not simply the truth that the Telluride’s three rows of seats are large enough to carry a 5-foot-10 grownup (me). No, in an period of small glass, swooping rooflines, and excessive beltlines the Telluride stays a spacious breath of recent air. Squared-off styling offers technique to a tall greenhouse that includes huge panels of glass across the cabin together with a big rear window. The low-set dashboard and raised seating place offers a commanding view of the highway forward, and the blind spots are smaller than these within the Honda Pilot or Toyota Highlander. 

Con: Kia Telluride’s second-row seats can’t slide and tilt

Kia’s caught with the older, clumsier, and fewer family-friendly method of accessing the third row. Pushing a button on the seat again flips the seatback ahead and the seat backside then slides ahead on rails. This makes it so the third row can’t be accessed simply with two automotive seats or a booster seat in each second-row seats. The Nissan Pathfinder, and even bigger Ford Expedition, each characteristic second-row seat mechanisms that slide and tilt the seat with out the necessity to transfer a automotive seat.

Professional: Kia Telluride can lock and degree up

The Kia Telluride includes a lockable heart differential for its obtainable all-wheel-drive system. This implies on the push of a button the facility is cut up between the entrance and rear axles for higher traction in slippery conditions. That contrasts with techniques with open differentials that should wait till the wheels slip earlier than they struggle determine the place to ship the facility, like in a Subaru Ascent. 

With the tow bundle the Telluride will get a set of self-leveling rear shocks, which can increase the rear finish when a trailer or heavy load is being hauled. This makes the car safer, simpler, and extra secure to drive. Apart from the Telluride’s cousin, the Hyundai Palisade, no competitor can do that besides the Jeep Grand Cherokee L when geared up with a extra sophisticated and costly four-corner air suspension.

Con: Kia Telluride isn’t electrified

Most of its smaller siblings supply electrified powertrains; the Telluride can solely be had with a 291-hp 3.8-liter V-6. It’s paired with an 8-speed automated transmission and is a easy operator, however it’s not terribly environment friendly. Over the course of 188 miles of combined suburban driving the Telluride averaged 17.3 mpg, which is slightly below its 18 mpg metropolis, 24 mpg freeway, 20 mpg mixed rankings. It was solely about 25 levels all through the week, so climate performed an element. The Telluride shares its platform with the Sorento, which is accessible with a hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrain. With a plug-in hybrid Toyota Grand Highlander within the wings it’s time for a hybrid and or plug-in hybrid Telluride.

Professional: Kia Telluride punches above its class

The Telluride prices $37,355 together with a $1,365 vacation spot payment, however my loaded SX-Status X-Line tester had a sticker value of $54,540. That seems like a deal. With a shade head-up show, nappa leather-based trimmed seats with beautiful stitching, and an inside that’s screwed collectively higher than automobiles costing way more, the Telluride seems like a drum-tight deal. Not like in a GMC Sierra Denali Final that prices practically twice the worth of the loaded Telluride, the suede headliner matches the suede-covered sunroof cowl. My son was obsessive about the actual fact the rear seats even had a cooling perform noting that’s often restricted to these up entrance, “which isn’t truthful.” Kia’s touchdown in a category a full rung above the Toyota Grand Highlander and Honda Pilot within the Telluride’s high trim.

Con: Kia Telluride hasn’t gone wi-fi

Regardless of the refresh for 2023 bringing twin 12.3-inch screens to the dashboard underneath a single pane of glass, the Telluride nonetheless lacks wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. In a car that was simply refreshed and includes a wi-fi smartphone charging pad it’s a perplexing miss. The system nonetheless requires a USB-A wire to make the most of the telephone projection system. 

A notable replace for 2024 is the return of the distinct and attention-grabbing amber LED daytime operating lights. Initially obtainable solely on the highest journey, the amber shade disappeared completely with the 2023 refresh. Now each Telluride will get the amber daytime operating lights for 2024.

Years later and the competitors nonetheless appears to be unable, or unwilling, to repeat Kia’s Telluride homework. The blueprints have been proven to the world, but Kia’s nonetheless setting the benchmark for big three-row crossovers. 

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2024 Kia Telluride SX-Status X-Line V-6 AWD

Base value: $37,355, together with $1,365 vacation spot

Value as examined: $54,540

Powertrain: 291-hp 3.8-liter V-6, 8-speed automated transmission, AWD

EPA gas economic system: 18/24/20 mpg

The professionals: Nice packaging, locking heart differential, self-leveling rear finish, sturdy worth

The cons: Outdated second-row folding mechanism, not electrified, wired telephone projection