The Kia Telluride and its cousin, the Hyundai Palisade, changed the game when it came to three-row crossovers with their handsome looks, easy driving dynamics, upscale interiors and lots of tech and creature comforts. For 2024, the Telluride remains a class leader. The only drawback is average fuel economy.
Base Price: $53,185
As Tested: $55,540
Horsepower: 291
Mileage: 18 mpg city/24 mpg highway/20 mpg combined
The Telluride was introduced for the 2020 model year and immediately raised the bar for midsize crossovers. It got refreshed for 2023 with updated styling and some more trim levels. The Telluride gets some additional minor styling updates for 2024.
The 2024 Telluride comes in five trims: LX, S, EX, SX and SX Prestige. Starting prices range from $35,990 to $53,185. Front-wheel drive is standard and all-wheel drive is available on all trims for $2,000, except the SX Prestige which comes standard with AWD.
The EX, SX and SX Prestige trims are available in X-Line versions. The SX and SX-Prestige are available in X-Pro versions. X-Line and X-Pro add some special trim touches and some features for off-roading, including standard all-wheel-drive, slightly more ground clearance, enhanced traction control system, and 20-inch wheels with all-season tires. The X-Pro on the SX and SX Prestige trims also has those features but gets increased towing capacity from 5,000 to 5,500 pounds, off-road suspension tuning, and 18-inch wheels with all-terrain tires.
There’s room for seven or eight passengers, depending on whether you get captain’s chairs or bench seating in the second row.
All trims have the same powertrain, a 3.8-liter V6 that makes 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
The Telluride feels capable with enough power for everyday driving, even when loaded with passengers and cargo. Acceleration is decent from a stop and there’s enough oomph for merging and passing at freeway speeds. The eight-speed shifts quickly and smoothly. The ride is smooth with the suspension soaking up bumps. The Telluride stays planted when cornering with little body lean, and the turning radius is fairly tight, which makes the Telluride easy to pilot in busy city traffic and tight parking lots. Visibility is good all the way around. Like most three-row crossovers, the Telluride isn’t thrilling to drive, but it’s very pleasant which is what you want in a family hauler.
Fuel economy is average for a midsize SUV. EPA ratings for my AWD tester are 18 mpg city and 24 mpg highway with a combined rating of 20. I got 21 mpg during my week with a mix of city and highway driving. Front-wheel drive models do slightly better at 20 mpg city and 26 mpg highway with a combined rating of 22.
When properly equipped, the Telluride can tow up to 5,500 pounds.
The X-Line and X-Line Pro models are suitable for light off-roading such as a camping trip on a dirt trail.
The cabin is roomy and upscale with top notch materials. The upper trims rival high-end brands with leather seating and microsuede and wood trim. Adults in the first two rows enjoy lots of leg- and headroom with comfortable and supportive seats. Adults will even be comfortable in the third row.
Standard features include push-button start, remote start, proximity keyless entry, rearview camera, dual-zone automatic climate control, synthetic leather upholstery, manually adjustable front seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel, infotainment system with 12.3-inch touchscreen, navigation, six-speaker audio system, satellite radio, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, five USB ports, Wi-Fi hot spot, and automatic high-beam headlights.
Available features include a surround-view camera system, head-up display, auto-dimming rearview mirror, leather upholstery, Nappa leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats with lumbar support, heated and ventilated first- and second-row seats, heated steering wheel, 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, 10-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, wireless device charging, an additional USB port, two 120-volt household-style power outlets, rear-seat entertainment system with two screens, in-vehicle intercom system, ambient LED interior lighting, universal garage door opener, sunroof, panoramic sunroof, rain-sensing windshield wipers, digital keycard, and digital rearview mirror which streams a view of what’s at the rear of the vehicle to the rearview mirror.
Standard driver assistance technologies include forward collision warning, forward automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, Highway Driving Assist (adaptive cruise control with lane centering), traffic-sign recognition, pedestrian and cyclist detection, rear cross-traffic alert, rear parking sensors, driver-attention monitoring, and rear-seat alert.
Available driver assistance technologies include blind-spot cameras (which streams video of what’s in the blind spot when the turn signals are activated), reverse collision warning and front parking sensors.
The infotainment looks great and is user-friendly. The large touchscreen angles toward the driver and it’s easy to see and reach. Graphics are sharp and the system responds quickly to touch and voice commands. The infotainment system flows into the available digital gauge cluster, giving a cohesive look. Physical controls make it easy to adjust audio and climate settings.
Cargo space is above average for the class. There are 21 cubic feet with all three rows of seating in place, 46 cubes with the third row folded, and 87 cubes with both rows folded. Making a Costco run or going camping? You’ll have plenty of room for all your purchases and/or gear. There’s some additional space under the cargo floor for smaller items. A manual liftgate is standard and a hands-free power liftgate is available.
The good:
Handsome looks
Pleasant driving dynamics
Upscale, spacious cabin
Lots of room for passengers and cargo
Many standard and available features and tech
User-friendly and good looking infotainment system
Standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
The not-so-good:
Fuel economy is just average
Pricing info:
My tester starts at $53,185. Wolf Gray paint is $495. Carpeted floor mats are $225. Cargo cover is $155. Carpet cargo mat with seatback protection is $115. Delivery fee is $1,365 bringing the grand total to $55,540.
Bottom line:
The 2024 Kia Telluride is at or near the top of the heap when it comes to midsize SUVs. It’s the whole package – attractive looks, decent handling, upscale cabin, lots of tech, and plenty of room for passengers and gear. Plus it’s great value for the money. You just can’t go wrong if you choose the Telluride.
