Kia Telluride ('23 refresh added)
Pole Position
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,354
Likes: 553
From: fl
The front looks like a stretched out Ford Explorer to me - the grille, the lettering above the grille, etc. Given the design and placement of the headlights it almost looks like someone who gets too much plastic surgery around their eyes and their face ends up looking like it's been pulled back too much.
That being said, I still like it.
That being said, I still like it.
Pricing announced
Pricing
Source
The base, two-wheel drive LX starts at $31,690, plus $1,045 for destination, totaling $32,735. That's $5,400 more than the three-row Sorento, which is noticeably smaller. In relation to competitors, the Telluride's price is $310 more than the 2019 Toyota Highlander, $240 more than the 2019 Honda Pilot, $155 less than the Subaru Ascent.
As is Kia's wont, there's a lot of standard equipment in that base spec. The LX comes with eight-row seating done up in Sofino synthetic leather, an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment and USB charge ports for all three rows, smart key with pushbutton start, park distance warning in reverse, and 18-inch wheels. Standard safety features include forward and rear-cross-traffic collision avoidance, blind spot monitoring, smart cruise control with stop and go, rear occupant alert, and second-row safe exit assist.
The S trim level starts at $35,035. It swaps eight-row seating for seven seats thanks to the second-row captain's chairs, and rides on 20-inch wheels. The driver gets a 10-way power seat, both front passengers get heated front seats and a power sunroof, and everyone gets "upgraded interior trims."
The EX brings genuine leather, but goes back to eight-passenger seating and 18-inch wheels. The infotainment screen grows to 10.25 inches, both front seats get heating and cooling, the passenger gets eight-way adjustability, and there's a power liftgate in back.
The top-model SX starts at $42,535, and hops back over to seven-passenger seating and 20-inch black wheels. Premium touches include LED headlights, dual sunroofs, a digital instrument cluster, Harman/Kardon audio, and a 360-degree outside-view camera. A $4,000 Prestige Package for the SX adds all-wheel drive, Nappa leather with premium headliner and trim, a head-up display and heated steering wheel, and climate-controlled second-row captain's chairs.
Before the obligatory minor options and accessories, a loaded Telluride will cost $46,935. Every trim gets the 3.8-liter V6 with 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, shifting through an eight-speed automatic transmission. When equipped with all-wheel drive and a trailer hitch, the Telluride can pull 5,000 pounds. Since the Sorento offers all-wheel drive on the LX and EX models as well, we expect the Telluride to do the same. On the Sorento, AWD comes as a standalone option for $1,800.
Kia's new challenger goes on sale this spring with limited availability.
As is Kia's wont, there's a lot of standard equipment in that base spec. The LX comes with eight-row seating done up in Sofino synthetic leather, an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment and USB charge ports for all three rows, smart key with pushbutton start, park distance warning in reverse, and 18-inch wheels. Standard safety features include forward and rear-cross-traffic collision avoidance, blind spot monitoring, smart cruise control with stop and go, rear occupant alert, and second-row safe exit assist.
The S trim level starts at $35,035. It swaps eight-row seating for seven seats thanks to the second-row captain's chairs, and rides on 20-inch wheels. The driver gets a 10-way power seat, both front passengers get heated front seats and a power sunroof, and everyone gets "upgraded interior trims."
The EX brings genuine leather, but goes back to eight-passenger seating and 18-inch wheels. The infotainment screen grows to 10.25 inches, both front seats get heating and cooling, the passenger gets eight-way adjustability, and there's a power liftgate in back.
The top-model SX starts at $42,535, and hops back over to seven-passenger seating and 20-inch black wheels. Premium touches include LED headlights, dual sunroofs, a digital instrument cluster, Harman/Kardon audio, and a 360-degree outside-view camera. A $4,000 Prestige Package for the SX adds all-wheel drive, Nappa leather with premium headliner and trim, a head-up display and heated steering wheel, and climate-controlled second-row captain's chairs.
Before the obligatory minor options and accessories, a loaded Telluride will cost $46,935. Every trim gets the 3.8-liter V6 with 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, shifting through an eight-speed automatic transmission. When equipped with all-wheel drive and a trailer hitch, the Telluride can pull 5,000 pounds. Since the Sorento offers all-wheel drive on the LX and EX models as well, we expect the Telluride to do the same. On the Sorento, AWD comes as a standalone option for $1,800.
Kia's new challenger goes on sale this spring with limited availability.
Lead Lap
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 4,892
Likes: 14
From: Virginia
Given all that content, I think the pricing is pretty attractive. Under $47K all in?? And yes, expect some discounts and incentives as is the norm these days. That's just under the current Highlander Limited Platinum and with way more in terms of luxury, convenience and technology.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,058
Likes: 67
From: TN
Very competitive pricing. As another data point, the loaded Telluride is $10k less than the MSRP of my 17 MDX Advance which was $57k. One of the things I have always liked about the MDX is the value. May have to look at other options when my lease is up next year.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 13,195
Likes: 1,844
From: WA
I can't wait to see one in real life, as I think the pictures are making it look bigger than it is. Looks like the size is between the Pilot and the CX-9.
Telluride
Length: 196.9"
Width: 78.3"
Wheelbase: 114.2"
Pilot
Length: 196.5"
Width: 78.6"
Wheelbase: 111.0"
Highlander
Length: 192.5"
Width: 75.8"
Wheelbase: 109.8"
CX-9
Length: 199.4"
Width: 77.5"
Wheelbase: 115.3"
Telluride
Length: 196.9"
Width: 78.3"
Wheelbase: 114.2"
Pilot
Length: 196.5"
Width: 78.6"
Wheelbase: 111.0"
Highlander
Length: 192.5"
Width: 75.8"
Wheelbase: 109.8"
CX-9
Length: 199.4"
Width: 77.5"
Wheelbase: 115.3"
I can't wait to see one in real life, as I think the pictures are making it look bigger than it is. Looks like the size is between the Pilot and the CX-9.
Telluride
Length: 196.9"
Width: 78.3"
Wheelbase: 114.2"
Pilot
Length: 196.5"
Width: 78.6"
Wheelbase: 111.0"
Highlander
Length: 192.5"
Width: 75.8"
Wheelbase: 109.8"
CX-9
Length: 199.4"
Width: 77.5"
Wheelbase: 115.3"
Telluride
Length: 196.9"
Width: 78.3"
Wheelbase: 114.2"
Pilot
Length: 196.5"
Width: 78.6"
Wheelbase: 111.0"
Highlander
Length: 192.5"
Width: 75.8"
Wheelbase: 109.8"
CX-9
Length: 199.4"
Width: 77.5"
Wheelbase: 115.3"
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,218
Likes: 220
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
The CX-9 looks smaller because it is more aero-styled, with fewer large, shared-off panels. Blocky, chunky styling often tends to make a vehicle look larger outside, and, in some cases, actually be larger inside, with space-efficiency.