Grand SUVs have always found a soft spot in every American's heart. Maybe this is why there isn't a single manufacturer left out of the SUV business. Adhering to this notion, the Korean carmaker - Kia has come up with the 2020 Telluride and given it some good old American bulk as a major design trait. Eyeing the 7 seater SUV clientele, the Telluride looks to patch the Kia Sorento’s sales graph decline. Though the latter was a perfect and reliable SUV, the Sorento's cramped third-row space and small cargo capacity were a couple of factors that dragged its sales numbers down.
The 2020 Telluride represents the Summit of Kia's SUV lineup
Now when Hyundai saw this happening with their sister, they loaned one of its recently developed SUVs - The Hyundai Palisade, to Kia so that they can rectify their mistakes. Kia did their part very well. They learned from their mistakes, corrected them and even bested the Hyundai’s Palisade with the all-new 2020 Kia Telluride. So, this Kia carries forward that was already a hit for Hyundai and improvised even further. Now, that is some good teamwork right there. However, can this Korean mammoth make some space in the rather crowded segment? Read on to find out!
Vehicle images are guides only and may not reflect the model's exact specifications/features– exact specifications/features should be confirmed with the seller.
The 2020 Kia Telluride is the largest vehicle to walk out of the Korean's production chamber. It has a massive road presence and sports a typical SUV silhouette. As brawny as it looks on the outside, the Kia follows a subtle and calm theme inside. There's no complain on the feature front either, but that's already expected off a Kia. Loaded with some best-in-class features and a potent powertrain under the hood, the Kia Telluride surely means serious business.
If you're worried about the build quality and reliability, let's not forget that the Kia Telluride has been awarded the "World Car Of The Year 2020". As evident, with the Telluride, Kia has come all guns blazing into the segment. It takes the battle directly to the likes of Honda Pilot, Chevrolet Traverse, and its own cousin - the Hyundai Palisade. With prices starting at $31,460 for the base Telluride, can Kia make a name for themselves in the big SUV business? Let’s move ahead and find out.
The Telluride flaunts a chrome Kia Tiger Nose Grille
The tailights of the Kia Telluride are very character defining
9.1/10 Features
6.1/10 Engine and Performance
4.0/10 Fuel Economy
7.0/10 Exterior
7.0/10 Safety
2020 Kia Telluride Features
9.1/10
Treading on the same lines as the Palisade, Telluride is offered in four trims, namely, LX, S, EX,and the top-trim SX. Each of these trims can be either mated to a front-wheel-drive system (FWD) or an all-wheel (AWD) one. What makes this Kia stand out, however, is the fact that it offers a host of features as standard across the lineup.
Various optional paint schemes offered for the 2020 Kia Telluride
The base trim “LX” flaunts various standard features like Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Rear Blind-Spot Collision system, Auto-dimming rearview mirror, and much more. Though, some upscale features such as the more premium 20-inch alloy wheels with black finish and Voice Control system have been reserved for the top-end trim only.
While you might be hesitant to consider the base variant, let us remind you that the Koreans are quite generous in offering standard features in their vehicles. Hence, the base trim “LX” has been well-loaded with everything, starting from entertainment and comfort needs all the way to some best-in-class safety tech.
Trim
LX
S
EX
SX
MSRP (FWD)
$31,890
$34,290
$37,290
$41,790
MSRP (AWD)
$33,890
$36,290
$39,290
$43,790
Key Features
18-inch Alloy Wheels
Adds/Upgrades to LX
Adds/Upgrades to S
Adds/Upgrades to EX
8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment
20-inch Alloy wheels
18-inch Alloy Wheels machine finished
20-inch alloy wheels finished in black
Automatic Projector-Beam Headlamps
LED positioning lights
Ventilated front seats
64-color mood lighting
Adaptive Cruise Control
Reverse Parking distance warning
Leather seats
Blind Spot view monitor
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Leather-wrapped steering wheel
Enhanced navigation system
High beam assist
Sound-absorbing windshield glass
Dual chrome exhaust tips
Smart powered liftgate
Harman Kardon 10-speaker audio system
Second-row Captain Chairs
10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment
7.0-inch infotainment in the meter console
Which trim to go for?
The second-to-top trim, “EX” makes the best value for money. You get everything with the SUV and more. However, depending on your priorities, if you are going to spend most of your time with the Telluride on well-paved roads, we’d suggest you go with the optional 20-inch wheels which certainly do justice to the massive road presence of the car. Furthermore, the optional Harman Kardon 10-speaker set will only make the Telluride’s personality more inviting.
2020 Kia Telluride Engine and Performance
6.1/10
The similarities between the Palisade and Telluride run deeper than the skin. Under the bonnet of the 2020 Kia Telluride resides the same 3.8-liter, naturally aspirated V6 pumping 291 hp of power and 262 lb.-ft. of torque. All that power form the V6 is sent to the front two-wheels by default but you can opt for the all-wheel-drive unit. That optional drivetrain does not affect performance by much but definitely makes handling the Telluride much easier.
The Kia Telluride's 3.8L V6 engine is not going to appeal to the aficionados
While the numbers sound intriguing, we hate to break it to you that the Telluride isn't. There is definitely enough power to entertain yourself but that is about it. The engine in the Telluride is more inclined towards being calm and composed rather than being eager to rev. But it gets the job done together with the eight-speed automatic transmission, which is quite precise. The AWD setup makes overtaking more fun as opposed to the standard FWD.
Models
2020 Kia Telluride
2020 Honda Pilot
2020 Chevrolet Traverse
2020 Hyundai Palisade
MSRP
$31,890
$31,550
$30,995
$31,550
Engine
3.8L, Naturally Aspirated V6
3.5L Naturally Aspirated V6
3.6L Naturally Aspirated V6
3.8L, Naturally Aspirated V6
Drivetrain
FWD/AWD
FWD/AWD
FWD/AWD
FWD/AWD
Transmission
8-Speed Automatic
6-Speed Automatic
9-Speed Shiftable Automatic
8-Speed Automatic
Power
291 hp @ 6,000 rpm
280 hp @ 6,000 rpm
310 hp @ 6,800 rpm
291 hp @ 6,000 rpm
Torque
262 lb-ft @ 5,200 rpm
262 lb-ft @ 4,700 rpm
266 lb-ft @ 2,800 rpm
262 lb-ft @ 5,200 rpm
Since Hyundai and Kia share the same powertrain, we really cannot say who is better. The Traverse, however, trumps the Korean cousins with the maximum power and torque figures. The Honda Pilot comes out to be the most underpowered one here. That said, the story might change once the weight factor is considered.
How quickly can the Kia Telluride go from 0-60 mph?
Like already mentioned, the Kia Telluride surely feels like it could use an extra helping of torque. This SUV is big and heavy. So getting off the line in a jiffy is a bit far fetched. The 2020 Kia Telluride can accelerate from 0-60 mph in a span of 7.2 seconds and can clear the quarter-mile mark in 15.4 seconds. The sprinting figures are definitely not something that may rejoice you. However, the only upside here is the fact that there is no turbo-lag. Consequently, inputs are met with a proportional response. Only, the responses are not as instant as one might like.
2020 Kia Telluride can go from 0-60 MPH in 7.2 seconds
Thankfully, the eight-speed automatic gearbox is a boon. It is always judicious with shifts and knows what cog to grab and when. Hence, the Telluride definitely starts to feel more lively as the revs start to climb. Thus making it a competent highway rider.
Models
2020 Kia Telluride
2020 Honda Pilot
2020 Chevrolet Traverse
2020 Hyundai Palisade
0-60 MPH
7.2 Sec
5.9 Sec
7.1 Sec
6.9 Sec
Quarter Mile
15.4 Sec
14.4 Sec
15.5 Sec
15.1 Sec
Top Speed
141 MPH
133 MPH
130 MPH
130 MPH
Engine
3.8L, Naturally Aspirated, V6
3.5L, Naturally Aspirated, V6
3.6L, Naturally Aspirated, V6
3.8L, Naturally Aspirated, V6
Emission
(Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)
7.6
8.4
8.8
8.4
Both the Koreans share the same powertrain. Still, the Palisade comes ahead of the Telluride, going from 0-60 in 6.9 seconds. This results from the Telluride’s extra weight. That said, the Honda Pilot emerges as the crown bearer here. It is the lightest contender of the lot and accelerates accordingly. Talking about weight, the heaviest SUV here, Chevrolet Traverse, finishes last in a quarter-mile drag.
How quickly can the Kia Telluride stop from 60-0 mph?
For a vehicle tipping the scales at over 4,000 pounds, braking becomes a necessary concern. Impressively enough, the Kia Telluride has got that completely sorted. Sure, the way it picks up speed would make an enthusiast cringe but they would not be complaining once they set the other foot on the brake pedal. The Kia Telluride decelerates from a 60-0 mph in a distance of 120 feet. This figure is really surprising for such a heavy vehicle, however, it's the big set of brake rotors doing their wizardry here. The Kia Telluride gets 13.4-inch front brake rotors and 12-inch ones at the rear.
2020 Kia Telluride SUV gets a 13.4-inch front brake rotor
The brake pedal is wide and flat. It practically feels like a foot-board. Even the bite from the rotors is healthy and gradual. However, during a panic stop, this behemoth dives like a dolphin. The Telluride's soft suspension setup is primarily focused on providing a relaxed ride.
How well can you expect an over 4,000 pound, 8-seater Kia to handle? Well, let's just say that it is better suited to those who are yet to measure the depth of their accelerator pedal. Throw the Telluride around a twisty and you’ll understand what we are talking about. You’ll be juggled around the seats, and if you still continue with it, you might even get motion-sickness!
The Kia Telluride is not meant for cornering frenzies but provides a comfortable ride quality
However, Kia has nailed the comfort counterpart of the ride quality in Telluride. It feels planted on a straight line and the steering feedback is fairly balanced too. The suspension is inclined towards a softer side, though. As big as the Telluride might be on the outside, this feeling completely changes if you get behind the steering wheel. It feels easy to navigate and the visibility outside is just phenomenal. Utility coupled with luxury and tech is what sums up the Kia Telluride.
The 2020 Kia Telluride, in an FWD configuration, churns out 20 MPG in the city and 26 MPG on the highway. The AWD variant of the Telluride squeezes the numbers down to 19 MPG and 24 MPG in the city and on the highway respectively. Summing up these figures, the Kia Telluride gets a combined mpg of 23 MPG in the FWD setup and 21 MPG in AWD. Lesser gear shifts and clutch applications enable better fuel efficiency for the Kia Telluride. However, the same cannot be said about the all-wheel-drive Telluride.
With a total range of 432 miles, the 2020 Kia Telluride can take you far away from the urban jungle
Its AWD variant consumes more fuel than the former for very obvious reasons that the V6 on this one drives all four wheels. However, Kia's priorities have been clear since the beginning. The 3.8L motor under the Telluride's hood was never developed to challenge anyone for a drag race which is why it isn't really eager to get off the line either. This unit is refined, maintains a calm composure, and barely makes any noise despite the V6 setup.
Model
2020 Kia Telluride
2020 Honda Pilot
2020 Chevrolet Traverse
2020 Hyundai Palisade
MPG (City)
20
20
18
19
MPG (Highway)
26
27
27
26
MPG (Combined)
23
23
21
22
Fuel Capacity (Gallons)
18.8
19.5
N/A
18.8
Range (City/Hwy/Combined) (mi)
376/489/432
371/527/449
N/A
357/489/396
The Telluride, in spite of a V6 engine, manages to surpass most of the rivals here. It gulps the least fuel of the lot. In fact, its Korean twin is also pushed back to the second position. The Honda comes in at third but its larger fuel tank improves overall range quite significantly.
2020 Kia Telluride Interior
The massive dimensions of the Telluride translate to an equally spacious environment inside. Kia has outfitted it with plush seats surrounded with large bolsters. The Dashboard sports a clean, luxurious look which certainly plays a big part in swaying customers towards it. The dash has been well put-together with premium fitments enhancing the whole lux appeal of the cabin.
The 2020 Kia Telluride's dash is one of the classiest in the segment
The ones on the top-trims are even wrapped in leather. The large bolsters effectively contain the body roll, but that’s only limited to a certain extent. They won’t be of much use when this Kia is driven with intent. That said, the front seats are spacious and encourage occupants to spend hours on them. The heating and ventilation just add to the comfort forte of the Kia Telluride's interior.
The Kia Telluride gets comfy seats surrounded with large bolsters
The other two rows are equally matched. They are easy to access and surprisingly, there is enough room for the third-row passengers as well, which is a rare sight. Furthermore, the large doors and the low-slung height of the footstep enable easy ingress and egress for the passengers.
How feature-loaded is the Kia Telluride's Infotainment system?
Kia has incorporated two different systems in the Telluride lineup. The base trims feature an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system which is just at par with the rivals. It comes mated to an 8-speaker setup which is again just mediocre.
Kia Telluride gets a 10.25-inch infotainment panel that runs Kia's UVO system
The real deal is the bigger 10.25-inch unit that features high-definition colors and is more intuitive than the former. This one has been limited to the top-trim only and is mated to a 10-speaker unit from Harman Kardon. That said Some outstanding features of the infotainment system are :
Android Auto
Apple CarPlay
Display for the rear-view camera
Bluetooth music streaming
Voice-recognition system
6 speakers
Steering-wheel mounted audio controls
Radio data system
Wireless phone connectivity
SiriusXM AM/FM/Satellite with seek-scan
How much Cargo Capacity does the 2020 Kia Telluride have?
The Telluride is amongst the toppers in this segment. It sports a massive cargo-carrying capacity which further maximizes when the second and third rows are folded down. Even if you want to utilize all of the seats, you can still use a volume of 21 cu.ft in the cargo area with the third row up. That, simply put, is best-in-class.
Not traveling light this time? Fret not, Kia Telluride has got you covered
This 21 cubic feet of cargo space is more than sufficient to carry the luggage of your entire family for a weekend getaway. However, in times when you are not really traveling light, the Kia Telluride's cargo volume to seat 2 can come to the rescue and can help you with 46 cubic feet of space at your disposal. Fold-down the second row as well and you end up with 87 cubic feet of space with is an exceptional figure.
The Telluride is Kia’s first attempt in making a large SUV blown up to such big dimensions. Though they had the Palisade’s help in their homework, some of the design cues have been very well introduced by Kia themselves. In fact, this time, the Palisade can learn a few things about exterior design from Telluride.
The Telluride follows a typical SUV-like silhouette with the upright C-pillars and a big, big hood at the front. Clearly, Kia seems to have studied American priorities very well. The LED DRLs and the bi-xenon projector lamps look handsome. The upright front grille also adds to the overall presence.
The Kia Telluride gets black bodyside cladding, that further accentuate its SUV vibe
Come to the side and it has that baller SUV look. It is long, has big wheels arcs, and stands upright. The chrome outline around the glass-panes really escalates the lux-appeal of the car. All in all, we do not have any complaints about the exterior design of the Kia.
Model
2020 Kia Telluride
2020 Honda Pilot
2020 Chevrolet Traverse
2020 Hyundai Palisade
Curb Weight (lbs)
4,354
4,036
4,362
4,231
Length (in)
196.9
196.5
204.3
196.1
Width (in)
78.3
78.6
78.6
77.8
Height (in)
68.9
70.6
70.7
68.9
Ground Clearance (in)
8.0
7.3
7.2
7.9
Wheelbase (in)
114.2
111.0
120.9
114.2
The Traverse with its massive dimensions outshines every other rival here. The Telluride and the Palisade stack up head-to-head with each other, thus, leaving the Honda Pilot at the last.
What are the Kia Telluride's most noticeable exterior features?
The Telluride is a handsome SUV that flaunts a lot of special touches to its exterior. Some of them that really set it a class apart are:
LED projector-beam headlights
Dual Sunroofs
20-inch Alloy wheels
Dual chrome exhaust tips
Shark-fin antenna
Sound-absorbing front windshield
Satin chrome surround around windows
Rear lip spoiler
Body-colored front bumper with black rub strip
Bodyside cladding
Wheel well moldings
Metal-look grille
Turn signal indicator mirrors
Black rear bumper with metal-look rub strip
2020 Kia Telluride Safety
7.0/10
Being the latest addition to the Kia family, the NHTSA is yet to inspect the build quality of the Telluride. IIHS, on the other hand, has tested it and as expected from any Kia, Telluride has performed well. It has obtained “Good” ratings in most of the parameters. This results from the long list of safety features in the Telluride that are offered as standard across all trims. Some of them, however, which are exclusive to the top trim are more than what you could ask for. Some of these features include:
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
Vehicle Stability Management (VSM)
Hill-start assist control
Downhill brake control
Forward Collision Warning
Blind Spot View Monitor
Lane Departure Warning
Lane Keep Assist
Rear cross-traffic alert
Adjustable front head restraints with tilt
Remote activated perimeter/approach lights
Side-impact bars
Four-wheel ABS brakes
Traction control
Daytime running lights
ABS
7 airbags
Panic alarm
Brake assist
Tracker system
2020 Kia Telluride Competition
Kia Telluride vs Honda Pilot
Honda has garnered immense love for their products over a long period of time. The Pilot is among the most favorites and why not? It brought a perfect 7-seater utilitarian with Honda's unmatched reliability for a friendly price bracket. While the Sorento struggled to catch Pilot’s attention, we believe that the Telluride is here to change things. This Kia is larger, spacious and a better utilitarian of the two. Further sweetening the deal is the price of the Telluride. While the base trim prices are quite similar, the Pilot tops out at around $50,000 and the Telluride offers the same features and then more in under $45k. We believe that the Kia is the better option between the two.
2020 Honda Pilot
Kia Telluride vs Chevrolet Traverse
The 2020 Chevrolet Traverse is a pretty capable SUV that offers more space than any of the rivals in the segment. Yes, not even the Telluride is as big as this humongous Chevy. It is miles longer and wider than the Kia and also the Chevy Traverse packs quite a punch under the hood. The gearbox on the Kia is slightly better though. That said, the Traverse’s interiors depict American ruggedness while the Telluride’s interiors follow a more subtle design language. If you just need to spend most of the hours cruising at constant speeds and could not care less for what's under the hood, we believe that the Telluride should be your pick over the Traverse.
2020 Chevrolet Traverse
Kia Telluride vs Hyundai Palisade
The Korean twins have been brought up together, with the Palisade just inching ahead by a year for the “elder” tag. Telluride has been completely based on the Palisade with some mistakes that the Palisade made, corrected. The Kia offers a better fit and finish inside, gets good fuel economy, has more features and a lot of additional techs too. However, the Palisade has the advantage of a more friendly price tag. If you don't mind the extra premium over the Palisade’s MSRP, we think that the Kia is a better pick out of the two.
2020 Hyundai Palisade
2020 Kia Telluride Final Verdict
Kia has spent quite some time in understanding the SUV preferences of the American market. While they thought the Sorento could give its rivals a run for their money, the plan went otherwise. Now with Hyundai’s help, and after some more R&D, we believe that the Telluride is bang on point. The Telluride, for the price it demands, offers more than what you could ask for. As much as we think it is a perfect value for money, the petrolheads might think otherwise, which holds true. The Telluride isn’t meant to go bonkers on a drag strip. If performance is what sways you, then the Telluride is not what you are looking for. For everything else, the Telluride is the answer.
2020 Kia Telluride FAQs:
Does the Kia Telluride come with Apple Car Play and Andriod Auto?
Yes, Apple Car Play and Andriod Auto are standard across the board and it does not matter if you go for the lower trims with the 8-inch infotainment or the top-of-the-line variant with the 10.25-inch infotainment, both the systems have support them.
How far can the Kia Telluride go on a single tank of fuel?
The Kia Telluride is equipped with an 18.8-gallon fuel tank and can offer up to 488 miles of range when driven efficiently motorways, but in bumper to bumper traffic or city driving the range drops down to 357 miles due to reduced fuel efficiency.
How much boot space does the Kia Telluride offer?
The Kia Telluride offers 21 cubic feet of space behind the third row but the folding seats mean that space can be increased drastically on demand. With the third row of seats folded down, it offers 46.0 cubic feet of space and with both the second and the third row folded down, the Palisade offers 87 cubic feet of cargo space.
Pros - Acceleration is good, cost to own, spacious
Cons - Headlights are not bright enough
Overall Review
10 /10 Overall Rating
One thing is sure I was not expecting it to be this good. Not gonna lie, I bought it just for the looks. Ride quality and power were not even on my mind and what a great surprise it was. Yes, looks are still the best but the whole driving experience is not far behind in that list.
One thing is sure I was not expecting it to be this good. Not gonna lie, I bought it just for the looks. Ride quality and power were not even on my mind and what a great surprise it was. Yes, looks are still the best but the whole driving experience is not far behind in that list.
by Daryl M. Bradbury
10
User Overall Rating
SUV that does it all
Good acceleration and linear power delivery with no jerks whatsoever makes it the perfect vehicle for traffic as well as highways.
by David M. Cuthbert
10
User Overall Rating
Smooth and fun
Smooth and comfortable. These two words perfectly sum up the driving experience of Telluride.
by Steve M. Silvia
9
User Overall Rating
Great SUV at all fronts
SUV that has all-performance, looks, design, and practicality. If we are talking strictly on the driving experience it is pure FUN! I was not expecting it to be so good. Handling is already superb and add this lane keep assist and adaptive cruise control to the equation and it is the best SUV for all family and solo trips short and long.
by Tonya M. Hawkins
1
User Overall Rating
Kia Telluride is a LEMON
Doesn't matter how it drives. I have 840 miles on it and already changed the windshield once. While driving at 30 mph on I-95 coming back from Dan's Place, the windshield started to crack from top without anything hitting it whatsoever. Within 10 minutes, it had spread to the far right side like a web. I went to the dealership rightaway and they denied it cracking on its own and kept saying someth...
