Kia’s vice president of sales operations.Īlthough Kia has a trio of impressive electric cars in the Soul, Niro, and EV6, it is still going all-out on internal-combustion SUVs. Kia’s US$1.8 billion plant in West Point, Georgia, which produces the Telluride and Sorrento crossovers, as well as the K5 midsize sedan, has churned out 3.5 million vehicles since 2009, according to Production capacity has been raised for 2023. The model is experiencing growing popularity, with 75,120 sold in the U.S. I suspect as more enter Kia’s dealer pipeline they’ll go quickly and we’ll see more and more Tellurides out there.ĭrivetrain: 3.That’s why we get a Telluride with plenty of subtle updates. Kia’s latest is a winner, looking good- and driving well-enough to stand out in a jam packed segment, and the plush interior looks and feels as good as much-more expensive crossovers. It’s like Honda’s LaneWatch but shows in the instrument cluster a camera view along both sides whenever the turn signal is turned on. There’s a bunch of other tech here, though one I think is particularly cool is the available blind-spot camera on both sides of the car. There are smart, eco, sport and comfort driving modes, adjusting as labeled the powertrain and steering effort and such. The acceleration is borderline snappy in the upper revs above, say, 3,000 rpm with the eight-speed automatic offering imperceptible shifts. But no, the Telluride just feels right: It’s super quiet going down the road with a smooth ride, good body control (for a 5,000 pound crossover/SUV), and linear steering with decent weight.
I was afraid it would be soft and wallowy like a minivan, or like many other three-row crossovers. I’m impressed with the way the Telluride drives from the get-go. The direct-injected 3.8-liter V6 operates on the Atkinson cycle, so low-end torque is nothing to write home about but it does help fuel economy: City/highway/combined is 20/26/23 for the front-drive model and 19/24/21 for all-wheel drive. Kia’s Telluride and its platform twin the Hyundai Palisade (due this summer) ride on a Sonata-based unibody chassis. The graphics on the touchscreen are excellent and it’s easy to learn, while the leather buckets and driving position are comfortable after a day saddled up. The Telluride’s tiger-nose grille (Kia’s name for it) “stands out in a nice way in this age of grilles that look like they want to eat both you and your house pets,” according to west coast guru Mark Vaughn.Īgain, subjective, but the interior in my top-line SX model is very nice both in design and materials/fit and finish.
Looks are obviously subjective, but I think the Kia is a handsome bugger, its big, boxy shape and long hood make it look tough. Our Opinion: At 196 inches long, 78 wide and 70 high (with roof rails), the Telluride is about 3 inches all around bigger than a Highlander and almost exactly the same size as Ford’s new-for-2020 Explorer. It can seat up to eight and has a 291-hp, 3.8-liter V6, an eight-speed automatic and available on-demand all-wheel drive. market (designed in California, built in Georgia) and the largest Kia yet. Highlights: After Kia’s Telluride concept rocked the 2016 Detroit show, the automaker introduced the handsome production version at the 2019 Detroit show last January, saying it’s the first Kia designed specifically for the U.S. Key Competitors: Toyota Highlander, Chevrolet Traverse, Ford Explorerīase Price: $44,535 As-Tested Price: $46,860įull review: 2020 Kia Telluride first drive The SX trim level sits atop the range and has oodles of standard equipment including dual sunroofs, a Harman Kardon 10-speaker surround sound stereo, a 7-inch TFT instrument cluster and mood lighting in a choice of 64 colors! Toyota’s Highlander leads the three-row crossover class with the Ford Explorer and Chevy’s Traverse hot on its heels.
What is it: The Kia Telluride is another three-row crossover in a vast sea of three-row crossovers.
0 kommentar(er)
