2020 Kia Telluride Review

The Telluride SX AWD is an upmarket version of the Telluride that's bound to be a strong seller, given the vehicle's luxury-oriented design and SUV shoppers' general interest in the finer things. Powered by Kia's familiar 3.8-liter V6 engine, the SX AWD includes (you guessed it) all-wheel drive, plus a number of desirable luxury features. But can that aging V6 compete with the more modern engines in rival SUVs, many of which include turbocharging for superior low-end response? More broadly, do the Telluride's dynamic capabilities match the premium vibe of its styling?

We took the Telluride SX AWD to the Edmunds Test Track to put it through its paces. Read on to see all of the numbers and information from our proprietary testing process, plus exclusive driving impressions from the best testing crew in the business.

2020 Kia Telluride SX AWD Performance Testing Results

Price as tested: $46,860
Date of test: 6/3/2019
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Odometer: 2,968
Powertrain: 3.8L V6 | 8-Speed Automatic | AWD
Horsepower: 291 hp @ 6,000 rpm
Torque: 262 lb-ft @ 5,200 rpm

2020 Telluride Acceleration

"On the key-up run the Telluride takes a beat to get moving off the line. The V6 feels a little less punchy then I anticipated in this scenario. In sport with traction control still on and power-braking to 2000 RPM, the traction control system was intrusive enough to stall the car for about a half second before leaving the line. Power-braking with traction control off doesn’t have quite the same hiccup, but it's still slower than the key-up run. Fourth try was best, with sport mode, traction off and just mashing the gas. There’s no wheel spin and it’s the smoothest way to get the transmission and drivetrain engaged. Manual mode does not improve the run."

2020 Telluride Braking

"In casual use the Telluride's brakes feel nice and easy to be smooth with. At maximum braking the pedal gets progressively firmer the harder and faster you press it. This appears to promote smoothness under hard braking in the Telluride's case. Braking noise is nicely isolated out of the cabin, and feels more premium than many vehicles in its class. Nose dive is pretty mild and the steering tracks pretty straight on, with mild wiggles."

2020 Telluride Handling

"Fairly competent body management here. It’s not sporty, but it doesn’t trip over itself. The body is pretty sensitive to changes in throttle, so you get quite a bit of weight transfer front to rear when you come off the throttle, which makes the car feel a little lively, but also not as stable. Stability control is surprisingly less intrusive in this environment."

2020 Kia Telluride SX AWD Vehicle Details

Drivetrain
Drive Type: All-Wheel Drive
Engine Type: Conventional Gasoline                                                                 
Engine Configuration: V6                                                              
Engine Displacement (liters): 3.8                                                             
Engine Induction Type: Naturally Aspirated                                                      
Indicated Redline: 6,500                                                               
Actual Redline (rev limit): 6,250                                                               
Fuel Type: 87 octane                                                                    
Transmission Type: Automatic                                                                
Transmission Speeds: 8
Paddle Shifters: No                                                            
Downshift Rev Match/Throttle Blip: Yes                                     
Holds Gears at Rev Limiter: No   

Curb Weight and Weight Distribution
Curb weight as tested (lbs): 4,435                                                           
Weight L/F (lbs): 1,212                                                                 
Weight L/R (lbs): 1,013                                                                 
Weight R/F (lbs): 1,256                                                                 
Weight R/R (lbs): 954                                                                   
Weight distribution, front (%): 55.6                                                      
GVWR (lbs): 5,917                                                                                 

Brakes
ABS Type: Full ABS                                                           
Brake Rotor Type - Front: 1-Piece Disc                                              
Brake Rotor (other) - Front: Vented                                                                   
Brake Caliper Type - Front: Sliding                                                                    
Brake Pistons - Front: 2                                                                
Brake Rotor Type - Rear: 1-Piece Disc                                                              
Brake Rotor (other) - Rear: Solid                                                             
Brake Caliper Type - Rear: Sliding                                                             
Brake Pistons - Rear: 1                                                                 
Parking Brake: Button                           

Tires
Tire pressure spec - Front: 35                                                                 
Tire pressure spec - Rear: 35                                                                  
Tire Make: Michelin                                                            
Tire Model: Primacy Tour A/S                                                                 
Tire Tread: Asymmetrical                                                              
Tire Type: Low Rolling Resistance                                                         
Tire Season: All-Season                                                               
Tire Size (sidewall) - Front: 245/50 R20 102V                                      
Tire Size (sidewall) - Rear: 245/50 R20 102V                        
Spare Tire Type: Temporary                                                                   
Tire Treadwear Rating: 540                                                                    
Tire Temperature Rating: A                                                                     
Tire Traction Rating: A      

About the Driver
From radar guns to GPS-driven data loggers, Jonathan has been pushing cars to their limits (for science!) since 2005. Today, he helps manage Edmunds' testing dream team.

It really is hip to be square — at least if you're an SUV. The all-new 2020 Kia Telluride is the company's largest crossover to date, and it's a big block of a machine. With its wide stance, tall roof and sharp edges, it seemed almost as towering as the Colorado scenery we drove it through. But even though it looked like a motorized mountain, the Telluride rolled through canyon roads and the narrow streets of the ski town for which it was named with ease and precision.

Automakers have been trying to solve the puzzle of how to make a crossover look as rugged as a truck, be as family-friendly as a minivan, and offer the comfort of a luxury sedan while still being affordable. Who would have expected that Kia would be the one to crack it?

You Tell 'Em

The 2020 Telluride is wider, longer and taller than Kia's other big-ish SUV, the Sorento. That means it can fit seven or eight passengers and give those passengers enough room for their legs and their heads, even in the back row. Yeah, that sounds like a joke, but any of you who've been crammed in the third row of a typical midsize SUV know it's often more of a suggestion of seating than a usable space. Not so in the Telluride. The comfort of the front seats carries through to the second and third row. Even the middle seat in the back isn't a total punishment. 

It's also much easier to access that third row thanks to a one-button press that folds and slides the second-row seats up in one smooth motion. Kia says it tested the Telluride with child seats installed in the second row, and third-row passengers still have plenty of entrance and exit room. As you move forward in the cabin, it gets even better. The second row offers multiple phone charging options, including a household-style 110-volt plug. The optional second-row captain's chairs can even be ordered with heating and ventilation. 

All that comfort isn't just reserved for passengers. The driver's seat is well-designed and has just the right mix of firm and squish for a long drive. It's adjustable enough that both short and tall drivers will be able to find a comfortable driving position, although those who are height-challenged may find that reaching for certain dashboard controls requires a stretch.

The front seats are roomy. The low center console provides plenty of elbow room, but it still offers cupholders, a phone charging pad, USB ports and the controls for the driving modes and AWD lock for enhanced traction. Base Tellurides get leatherette upholstery, and top-trim SX buyers can get quilted leather in a variety of colors, including the gorgeous, but totally impractical for a family vehicle, white premium leather that was in our test car.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, even on base trims. And if you step up to the EX and SX levels, Kia swaps out the standard 8-inch display for a 10.3-inch touchscreen. SX buyers get a 10-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, which can be taken full advantage of because the Telluride's engineers must have been working overtime on eliminating road noise.

Go Tell It (Quietly) on the Mountain

Choosing the high altitude and twisty mountain roads of Colorado for the vehicle launch was a bold move from Kia, as nothing highlights a drivetrain's inadequacies like thin air and steep grades. Yet we were surprised by the Telluride's capabilities on such a challenging test ground. It's not that we wouldn't like just a smidge more passing power from the 291-horsepower 3.8-liter V6, but the few times we did need to get around a slowpoke, the Telluride was capable, even on the uphill sections. The eight-speed transmission seems well-matched to the engine. It only noticeably hunted for gears once or twice on our journey, and even then, quite subtly.

Subtle seems to be the key word for the Telluride's powerplant — it's quiet enough to go full throttle in a library without prompting even one "shush" from an angry librarian. There's also very little wind and tire noise. But don't think that means the Telluride is a numb, dead ride. Steering, braking and throttle are balanced and predictable. There's nothing grabby or delayed in any of the controls, and the Telluride feels like a much smaller vehicle from the driver's seat.

The turning radius is impressively tight, and we got a good test of tight-quarter maneuvering when we arrived at the tiny ski town of Telluride, Colorado. Parking is a breeze, as the square-body design makes it easy to see the edges of the hood. And even if it didn't, sensors, a rearview camera and a 360-degree parking camera system help you avoid plowing into snowy curbs or snow-blind skiers.

Tell It to Me Straight

The Telluride is available in four different trim levels: LX (starting at $32,735, including destination), S, EX and SX (starting at $42,535). All come with the same engine and eight-speed transmission, and all can be outfitted with all-wheel drive (AWD), which is a $2,000 option. The EPA estimates the Telluride returns 23 mpg in combined city/highway driving from the front-wheel-drive versions and 21 mpg with AWD. Both figures are above-average for the three-row crossover SUV class.

One thing you don't need to pay more for is safety. Many of Kia's Drive Wise safety features come standard, even on the base LX trim. And it's not just expected safe-driving tech such as airbags and stability management, but also selectable drive modes, pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, lane keeping assist, and reverse parking sensors. Forward parking sensors are an option, but as mentioned, it's pretty easy to see out of the Telluride, so even LX buyers who don't step up to the optional safety add-ons won't miss them.

Kia also has some family-specific safety including warnings if people or pets are left in the back seat, and Safe Exit Assist, which can detect when a car or bike is coming up behind a parked Telluride and automatically lock the rear door so passengers don't step out into oncoming traffic. An option for higher trim levels with the 10.3-inch display is Quiet Mode, which mutes the speakers in the second and third row so phone calls and death metal don't wake the kids sleeping in the back. That's sort of the vibe of the Telluride: rockin' out in the front, sleeping baby in the back.

Everybody Has a Tell

During our time with the Telluride, we kept trying to find something to dislike about it. In the end, all that we had was a mild complaint about shorter drivers' ability to access all the controls, the minimal noticeable difference between the normal and Sport driving modes, and a dearth of interesting exterior paint colors. Hope you like 50 shades of gray (actually three shades of gray, black, white and gray-green).

Kia clearly took a look at the competition and said: "We can make something with plenty of interior cargo space and adult-worthy passenger room plus all the safety features without looking like a blob." And then the carmaker did it. The Telluride we drove was a fully loaded SX AWD model, with an MSRP of $46,860. While it was delightful, buyers who choose the less-swank versions can outfit up a heck of a good family vehicle for a heck of a good price. Tell your friends.

The 2020 Kia Telluride, an SUV aimed right at the adventurous heart of the outdoorsy American, debuted today at the Detroit Auto Show. Yes, we've seen this vehicle before, but only in specialized off-road-concept cladding, with ladders on the sides and snorkels on the roof. Those exterior bits, though, say a good deal about this vehicle and who Kia's intended buyer is, as does the name.

Telluride, aside from being the name of this Korean crossover, is also a city in Colorado that started life as a mining town but is now a skiing destination. And if snowy mountain slopes don't stir up your desire to buy a three-row SUV and explore the outdoors, nothing will. Thankfully, it looks like it's more than just a name because the Telluride holds true to our first impression as a rugged, stylish entry into the three-row crossover segment. It's missing the metal brush guard and the leather luggage straps on the outside, but it still looks good.

Made for America

The Telluride, designed in California specifically for American buyers, sits at the top of Kia's lineup and stands as the automaker's largest vehicle. Just like the Hyundai Palisade that it shares a platform with, the Telluride gets a 3.8-liter V6 with 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. That V6 is paired with Kia's eight-speed automatic transmission, and front-wheel drive is standard. (All-wheel drive is optional.) The Telluride will have four trim levels: LX, EX, S and SX. Depending on equipment, it'll have a maximum tow rating of 5,000 pounds. Those are typical power and towing numbers for the class.

What Comes Standard and What's Optional?

Standard features include remote start, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, five USB ports, Bluetooth connectivity, forward collision warning, lane departure warning and mitigation, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality, a drowsy driver warning system, and rear parking sensors.

The Telluride has an impressive list of options, some of which are state-of-the-art safety features. For example, there's Kia's Safe Exit Assist, which will keep rear doors from opening if a car is passing nearby. Essentially this system is intended to keep children in the back seat from opening the rear door in traffic. The door can be opened once it detects that a car has passed. Then there's the Rear Occupant Alert, which uses in-car sensors to detect a child or pet left behind, setting off the car alarm as a distinct reminder. Highway Driving Assist is Kia's autopilot-adjacent mode, which uses in-car radar to read lane markings and then control steering, along with braking and acceleration. With all these modern safety features, the Telluride has some serious family appeal.

Other more typical options include automatic high beams, LED taillights, a head-up display, front parking sensors, a 360-degree parking camera, a heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated first- and second-row seats, a reclining third row, leather and wood interior trim, an additional USB port (bringing the total to six), wireless smartphone charging, a 10-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, and a 10.3-inch center touchscreen.

Pricing and Availability

Currently, the Edmunds top-ranked three-row midsize SUV is the Honda Pilot, with the Mazda CX-9 and the Volkswagen Atlas hot on its heels in second and third place, respectively. All three are spacious and comfortable with a unique set of virtues. But with its rugged exterior and high-tech interior, the Kia Telluride should stand a fighting chance against each of these strong rivals.

Pricing details haven't been released yet, but Kia's current three-row crossover, the Sorento, starts around $27,000 and can land around $50,000 with options. We expect the Telluride to be priced in a similar manner. The 2020 Telluride will go on sale later this year, but be sure to check back as we'll have all the pricing and trim-level details closer to its release.

The all-new 2020 Kia Telluride made its first public appearance on designer Brandon Maxwell's runway at New York Fashion Week. The Telluride is an eight-passenger SUV that Kia says will be several inches longer and wider than the midsize Sorento. In fact, the Telluride is the first large SUV from Kia since the short-lived Borrego back in 2008. It will compete with three-row family SUVs such as the Chevrolet Traverse, Ford Explorer and Toyota Highlander.

The Telluride at fashion week was a special one-off version inspired by Maxwell's 2019 Texas-themed spring/summer clothing line, which pays homage to the designer's East Texas upbringing. Notable flourishes included saddle-inspired double-stitched leather accents, natural wood trim, custom 20-inch wheels, a spare tire mounted to the rear hatch, and several off-road accessories.

The Telluride's runway outfit gives some idea what the vehicle will look like when it is released. The exterior will have the traditional boxy look that many SUV buyers gravitate toward these days, while the interior is a relatively upscale affair punctuated by a letterbox-shaped infotainment screen.

The Telluride production model will officially debut at Detroit's North American International Auto Show in January 2019. It should hit showrooms a few months later. Just don't count on the fancy leather, fording snorkel, roof ladder or strapped-on spare tire making it to dealer lots.

Kia announced in New York that there will be a "V6-powered option," which suggests the base engine will be a four-cylinder — a common offering in competing vehicles. One possibility is the 2.4-liter four found in lower trims of the Kia Sorento, which would likely feel underpowered in the larger Telluride. We're hoping that Kia's more capable 2.0-liter turbo-four will be in the mix.

The 2020 Kia Telluride was designed at the carmaker's U.S. design studio and will be assembled at Kia Motors Manufacturing in West Point, Georgia.

We'll have more detailed information after the Telluride's formal introduction in Detroit. Stay tuned for driving impressions soon after.