2021 Kia Telluride Review

　　

2021 Kia Telluride Review

byReese CountsVehicle Test Editor

　　Reese Counts has worked in the automotive industry since he started as an intern at zzdcar in 2015. He has written or edited thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Reese is a vehicle test editor at zzdcar and has also contributed to Autoblog. Reese has also been featured on Yahoo! Finance, Engadget and AOL reviewing cars and covering automotive technology, auto shows and more. Reese learned to drive in his father's C4 Chevrolet Corvette and now owns his grandfather's 1999 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG. A love for cars runs deep in his family.

　　The Kia Telluride has deeply impressed us since its debut just last year. This is Kia's biggest SUV and, like most three-row midsize SUVs, it seats up to eight passengers. Yet in just about every other aspect, the 2021 Telluride does things a little better than the rest. Its cabin is luxury-like in its quality, for instance, and the third-row seat can comfortably fit adults. The Telluride also rides smoothly and is abundantly equipped with the latest technology and safety features.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Kia Telluride LX 4dr SUV (3.8L 6cyl 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.04 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$167/mo  for Telluride LX

　　Telluride LX

　　LX 4dr SUV (3.8L 6cyl 8A) - $32,190 MSRPLX 4dr SUV AWD (3.8L 6cyl 8A) - $34,190 MSRPS 4dr SUV (3.8L 6cyl 8A) - $34,590 MSRPS 4dr SUV AWD (3.8L 6cyl 8A) - $36,590 MSRPEX 4dr SUV (3.8L 6cyl 8A) - $37,590 MSRPEX 4dr SUV AWD (3.8L 6cyl 8A) - $39,590 MSRPSX 4dr SUV (3.8L 6cyl 8A) - $42,490 MSRPSX 4dr SUV AWD (3.8L 6cyl 8A) (Most Popular) - $44,390 MSRP

　　vs

　　$229/mo

　　Avg. Large SUV

　　That you get Kia's great warranty and competitive pricing almost seems like an unfair advantage over other automakers. Granted, it'll still be worth your while to check out the competition. In addition to the mechanically similar Hyundai Palisade, the Telluride is up against class stalwarts such as the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander. All are capable SUVs. But the Telluride is our favorite.

　　

What's it like to live with?

At zzdcar we've been testing a 2020 Telluride SX V6 AWD as part of our long-term test fleet. It's proved to be comfortable, capable and a dependable family hauler, and, if anything, our fondness for the Telluride has only grown after several thousand miles behind the wheel. Check out our Telluride 20,000-mile long-term test to learn more about what it's like to own and live with.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Great

　　8.4

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.0/10

　　How does the Telluride drive? The Telluride is a satisfying SUV to drive. Its V6 engine is responsive, though outright acceleration is ultimately average for a three-row SUV. In zzdcar testing, our Telluride test vehicle sprinted from 0 to 60 mph in 7.5 seconds, which is similar to the acceleration of the Honda Pilot and Hyundai Palisade. The brakes are strong and can bring the Telluride to a halt in a hurry. They're also easy to modulate for consistent and smooth stops.

　　The steering is light at parking-lot speeds and weights up naturally in turns. The Telluride is stable when going around turns and doesn't exhibit excessive body roll. We also like that the engine's fuel-saving stop-start feature works smoothly and quietly.

　　

Comfort

9.0/10

　　How comfortable is the Telluride? The Telluride is quite comfortable. The seats are supportive and nicely contoured, with almost pillow-like headrests. Outside noise barely makes it way inside, making for a luxury-car-quiet cabin even at freeway speeds. Engine noise is present, but it's never unpleasant or intrusive. For a three-row SUV, the Telluride is generally smooth-riding, although it can get a little rough over uneven pavement.

　　The climate control system is easy to use and properly regulates temperature in all three rows. While the seat heating and ventilation aren't the strongest on the market, it's nice to see them available for both first- and second-row passengers.

　　

Interior

8.5/10

　　How’s the interior? The Telluride offers a very roomy and upscale-feeling cabin with easy access to all three rows. Passenger space is excellent in both the second and third rows. The space feels more open thanks in part to the abundance of large windows. Only front-passenger knee room is a little tight.

　　The controls are clearly labeled and grouped logically. However, the driver has to stretch to reach the infotainment screen. Visibility is excellent thanks to plenty of large windows. The camera systems and parking sensors are helpful extras.

　　

Technology

8.0/10

　　How’s the tech? All Tellurides come with numerous collision avoidance and mitigation systems as well as adaptive cruise control that operates down to a stop. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto also come standard, and numerous USB ports are spread across all three rows, although only one can transmit data. The optional wider infotainment screen (EX and up) looks sharp, and it comes with navigation that offers several useful features.

　　Our SX test vehicle also had the head-up display and rear-seat intercom features; both are useful. The upgraded 10-speaker sound system is also excellent. The turn-signal camera display in the gauge cluster is less impressive. It's small, low-res and mostly redundant given the regular blind-spot monitoring system.

　　

Storage

8.0/10

　　How’s the storage? Cargo space is generous, with 21 cubic feet behind the third row and 87 cubes with both rows folded down. The hatch opening is wide and accommodating, and there's also a useful underfloor compartment, too. With 5,000 pounds of max towing capacity, the Telluride matches class leaders.

　　Small-item storage is a weakness: While there are several options for organizing small items, there's much less space for personal effects than in some competitors. Got small children? Child safety seats fit easily, and the car seat anchors are easy to find.

　　

Fuel Economy

7.0/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The Telluride's EPA-estimated fuel economy is slightly below average at 21 combined (19 city/24 highway). On the plus side, our test Telluride achieved about 23 mpg on our 115-mile mixed driving evaluation route, indicating that the EPA's numbers are realistic. You can run the V6 on regular gas, unlike some rival SUVs that require premium gas to return their rated power and fuel economy numbers.

　　

Value

8.0/10

　　Is the Telluride a good value? The Telluride might be the best value in the class for what you get. From the driving experience to the interior to the standard and available features, at every price point you just get a little bit extra, and in top trims you get a near-luxury experience. Overall, we are very impressed with the quality of the Telluride. You also get Kia's impressive 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.

　　

Wildcard

9.0/10

　　It seems like Kia went hard for a "baby Land Rover" feel, and it nailed it without the Telluride coming across as a knockoff. It's bargain luxury in a good way, and the Telluride's space, design and driving experience are a step above competitors.

　　

Which Telluride does zzdcar recommend?

Most people will be happy with the base Telluride LX. It's a great value that includes plenty of standard features, including all the latest safety features and tech, such as automatic climate control and a 10.25-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration. If you're looking for more features, the EX model adds leather upholstery, ventilated front seats and a power liftgate yet remains relatively affordable.

　　

2021 Kia Telluride models

The 2021 Kia Telluride is available in four trim levels: LX, S, EX and SX. Each comes standard with a 3.8-liter V6 (291 horsepower, 262 lb-ft of torque) paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard, though all-wheel drive is optional on all four trims. Highlighted features include:

　　LX

　　Starts you off with:

　　18-inch wheels Eight-passenger seating Rear heating and air conditioning controls Simulated leather upholstery An 8-inch touchscreen Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration A six-speaker audio system One USB media port and five USB charging portsAll Tellurides also come with these standard safety features:

　　Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Telluride and the car in front) Blind-spot monitoring (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane is in your blind spot) Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) Lane keeping assist (steers the car back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker) Rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle behind you is about to cross your vehicle's path while in reverse)S

　　The midlevel S trim builds on the base LX, adding:

　　20-inch wheels A sunroof Roof rails A power-adjustable driver's seat Heated front seats Second-row captain's chairs (seating for seven)EX

　　The EX trim reverts back to the second-row bench and 18-inch wheels but adds even more features, including:

　　Hands-free liftgate Leather seating A power-adjustable passenger seat Ventilated front seats Second-row window sunshades Dual-zone automatic climate control A 10.25-inch touchscreen display with navigation A wireless phone chargerYou can add the EX Premium package to get:

　　20-inch wheels Second-row captain's chairs LED headlightsSX

　　The top-level SX includes all of the LX's standard and optional features listed above plus:

　　Dual sunroofs Bigger information display in the instrument cluster Upgraded driver's seat with memory settings A 10-speaker Harman Kardon audio systemAn optional SX Prestige package tops it all off with:

　　Premium leather upholstery Automatic windshield wipers Heated and ventilated second-row seatsAn optional Towing package available for the EX and SX includes:

　　Self-leveling rear suspension Tow hitch with trailer wiring harness connectorFinally, the new Nightfall package for the EX and SX adds:

　　Unique black-painted 20-inch wheels Revised black-painted exterior trim

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2021 Telluride Highlights

Trim: LXSEXSXLX

　　

Base MSRP	$32,190
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	23 MPG
Cost to Drive	$167/month
Seating	8 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	21.0 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	5 years / 60,000 miles