2021 Kia Telluride

The Telluride is a freshman entry in the midsize SUV category, having debuted for the 2020 model year, but it’s already set a high bar for mixing premium looks with unsuspecting value. Kia packed in a ton of features to keep the price under $50,000, even when fully equipped. That’s a tremendous value and works with the Telluride’s super-premium interior to make for one special vehicle. 

There are four trims in the Telluride lineup: LX, S, EX and SX. All-wheel drive is offered on every model. New for 2021 is a Nightfall appearance package that adds 20-inch black wheels, grille and badging and comes in a slew of different colors, including Wolf Gray, which has a 4Runner TRD-esque look and is exclusive to the package. It’s available on the top EX and SX models with all-wheel drive for $1,295 (the EX requires the purchase of a $1,695 Premium package). It gives buyers another styling option, a plus when there already are so many of them on the road.

The Kia and Hyundai’s Palisade share much of their underpinnings and engineering, but they look and feel very different in everyday operation. Kia engineered and designed the Telluride to look sporty and tough, and its suspension tuning is stiffer as a result. The Palisade offers a smoother, more relaxed ride and appearance. Both interiors use top-shelf materials and boast precise build quality, however, the Telluride’s cabin edges the Palisade’s in beauty and intuitiveness.

Just one powertrain is available for the Telluride, but it’s a gem. The 3.8-liter V6 makes 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque and sends that power to the front or all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. Without a turbo, the Telluride’s acceleration won’t raise any heart rates, but there’s more than enough power for in-town grocery runs and long-haul road trips. The engine’s harmony with the eight-speed gearbox truly helps it shine in its refinement and smoothness; it never seems to be caught off guard despite a mediocre throttle response. 

Since the Telluride’s suspension leans to the sporty side, stretches of rough road can cause it to feel unsettled. An optional towing kit adds self-leveling rear suspension, which helps with carrying heavy cargo loads. 

Capability aside, Telluride is a people hauler at its core. It can haul up to eight people when configured with 60/40-splitting second-row bench that comes standard on the base LX and EX. Captain’s chairs for the middle seating are optional on the EX and standard on the S and SX. Regardless of seating arrangement, all passengers can keep their devices charged with the five USB ports that are standard across the lineup (the SX gets six). A 110-volt inverter is optional on the top SX trim. The third row has 31.4 inches of legroom, which is mid-pack in the three-row midsize category. Volkswagen Atlas outshines the bunch with 33.7 inches of legroom. The Telluride comes close to the third row of the Honda Pilot, which has 31.9 inches in legroom.

The space behind the third row of seats offers a decent 21 cubic-feet of storage—top of class for the segment. Other leaders are the Chevrolet Traverse (23 cubic-feet behind the rear seats) and the Volkswagen Atlas (also with 21 cubic-feet). 

With the second row folded, storage expands to 47.5 cubic-feet. The cabin could stand to offer a few more small-item storage spaces, especially since families are the Telluride’s target buyer. Overall, the interior is useful and comfortable for all passengers. Adding to its all-around usability, the Telluride can tow up to 5,000 pounds, which is more than enough for a small boat or camper trailer. To off-set hauling demands, the top three trims come equipped with standard roof rails. 

The Telluride’s lavish interior defies the vehicle’s price tag. It’s easily as nice as anything from Europe costing $10,000 or more. The top-shelf SX gets rich leather upholstery and woodgrain accents with stainless steel trim, and optional heated and ventilated second-row seats. 

From the driver’s seat, the cabin is as intuitive as it is beautiful, and despite its size, the Telluride manages a solidly driver-focused interior. Kia’s digital gauge cluster offers blind-view cameras when a turn signal is activated, and the large, 10.25-inch screen is easily visible from all angles. 

Kia’s infotainment software is simple above all else, but what it lacks in flash, it more than makes up in usability and user-friendliness—a must when hauling kids and their endless distractions. The S and SX trims get navigation, a Harman Kardon 10-seaker sound system and wireless device charging. Many buyers will be satisfied with the standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto interfaces. The physical knobs that surround the screen are clearly labeled and easy to find while keeping eyes on the road. 

The 2021 Telluride landed a Top Safety Pick designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), which includes Good and Superior ratings across the board, except for headlights. They earned either an Acceptable or Poor rating, depending on the Telluride model. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration rated the Kia five stars overall.

Kia also has made the bulk of its Drive Wise suite advanced driver-assistance safety tech standard across the lineup. It includes a rear view monitor with parking sensors, a reverse parking distance warning, forward collision warning as well as blind spot and forward collision avoidance assist, lane departure warning, lane centering and keeping assistance, rear cross-traffic collision avoidance assist and adaptive cruise control with stop and go capability. What the automaker calls “Highway Driving Assist,” which is a combination of lane keeping assistance and adaptive cruise control, is reserved for the EX and SX trims. A forward parking distance warning is standard on the top SX.