Car Reviews
Kia’s Telluride X-Line – ASCENT TO POWER
Kia’s Telluride X-Line
ASCENT TO POWER
The Kia Telluride is a compelling package with the
goods to satisfy families, as well as those seeking
a premium SUV at a mainstream price. Car and Driver
Santa Clarita, CA – In our return to Southern California, we were joined by close family in a 2-night stay near the Hearst Castle at San Simeon. From Santa Clarita, which sits about 20 miles north of Burbank’s airport, the Cavalier Resort – just 5 minutes from the Hearst ‘hood – is 210 miles, and 3+ hours. And while Kia’s EV9 was on my test schedule the previous week, and Kia’s EV6 would hit my drive the following week, an abundance of caution suggested we do the roughly 500 miles of driving without the worry of recharging. And so I reserved Kia’s highly acclaimed Telluride, a 3-row crossover that has essentially elevated the perception of Kia from mainstream automaker to an almost-premium player.
Of course, much of the fanfare surrounding today’s auto industry is centered on the EV, and while there’s excitement at what is the most significant development in the industry over the last century, there’s also the attendant apprehension. That anxiety is centered on recharging, but encapsulates a host of unknowns, including the availability of minerals necessary for battery production, an EV’s long-term reliability and – of course – China’s aggressive push into the EV marketplace.
If not wanting to saddle yourself with any of these concerns (cue George Costanza: Serenity Now!), a 3-row crossover with a conventional drivetrain is the go-to strategy, and Kia’s Telluride sits at the very top of this automotive specification. Since its launch in 2019 as a 2020 model, Kia’s newest – and largest – 3-row crossover hit the ground running, garnering critical acclaim and, in short order, waiting lists on virtually all of Kia’s new car showrooms.
The Tellluride’s appeal was obvious. A clean, almost minimalistic design – no obvious affectations, and minimal front and rear overhangs – enclosed spacious accommodation for six (with 2nd-row captain’s chairs) or seven, a generous greenhouse provided unrestricted visibility, and a base version was both well-equipped and available at an accessible, still-in-the-$30s price point. In short, what’s not to like? Now in its 5th model year – following a modest refresh in 2023 – the Telluride is still swinging for the fences, with few real rivals offering its specific menu of highlights.
That said, our test vehicle’s Prestige X-Line trim pushes the Telluride’s window sticker north of $50K, and while that figure isn’t far removed from the elevated price point of most new cars (now in the high $40s), it’s some distance from the base Telluride, still in the (high) $30s. Of course, if you spend more you can expect more, and the X-Line provides a host of comfort and convenience features those with Lexus tastes (and a Toyota budget) often prefer.
Outside you’ll enjoy 20-inch alloy wheels, dual sunroofs, LED projection headlights, roof rails and what Kia calls a ‘smart’ power liftgate, which I’ll touch on later. Inside, you’re greeted by 12+ inches of panoramic display with navigation, surround view monitoring, a head-up display and Harman/Kardon premium audio.
Beyond what you see is where you sit. Nappa leather covers the seats, while both front row and 2nd row seats are heated and ventilated. And if accessing the third row, know that our 19-year old nephew was reasonably comfortable for short periods of time.
Under the Telluride’s hood is 3.8 liters of normally aspirated V6 producing a competitive 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, driving all wheels through an 8-speed automatic. The end result is responsive acceleration (Car and Driver arrived at 60 in under seven seconds), but I found initial throttle tip-in somewhat tepid, as did the magazine. Once rolling, however, performance is better than the Telluride’s three rows and 4,500 pounds would suggest; steering is well connected, suspension is well controlled, and its down-the-road aplomb is almost sublime. Our 200+ miles – with four adults and too much luggage – driving to San Simeon could not have been easier.
If there’s a hitch in this git-along, it’s the absence of any electrification with the Telluride platform. The normally aspirated V6, in its essential simplicity, should provide years of long-term reliability. But its EPA estimate of 18 City/24 Highway/21 Combined falls well short of what Toyota delivers in its Grand Highlander Hybrid; those numbers are 32 City/36 Highway/34 Combined. On an annual basis the EPA calculates $2700 per year in gas outlay for the Kia, and just $1500 per year for the Toyota. In a $50K transaction that $100 per month may or may not be important, but it might be a part of your calculation.
And the ‘smart’ power liftgate? If the hatch is raised and you walk away with the key in your hand or pocket the liftgate will automatically close. That’s fine if you’re walking away, less fine if your spouse is still unloading the cargo compartment. I doubt my wife would have been decapitated by the hatch, but a lowering hatch while still reaching for bags is disconcerting at best, dangerous at worst. There is an override – and Kia owners would learn of it – but in this instance ‘smart’ doesn’t seem so smart.
Now in its 5th model year Kia’s Telluride is probably due for a redesign. I like the current offering a lot – and will hope they don’t screw up the next one.
