Kia’s flagship SUV has been in the market for five years and has consistently received critical acclaim from consumers and motor geeks like myself. Why? Because it simply delivers on what it proposes. A well-styled, well-equipped, midsize SUV that can hold up to eight passengers, achieve decent fuel economy with satisfactory performance and is available in a wide range of trim levels for a reasonable MSRP.
The Kia Telluride has filled trophy cases with awards since it hit the market. It won Car of the Year in 2020, five consecutive 3-Row Midsize SUV Best Buy awards from Kelley Blue Book and was most recently voted Best Family Car of 2024 by Cars.com. The first time I drove a Telluride in 2019, I remember being impressed by the amount of car you got for your money. Five years later, I’m driving a 2024 Kia Telluride, and my opinion still stands.
This 2024 Kia Telluride SX-Prestige X-Pro is a fully loaded example with an orchestra of bells and whistles. The names within its trim level hierarchy are confusing and verbally cumbersome, which is one of its few criticisms. It starts with the LX, then the S and EX and starts to resemble a conga line: SX X-line, SX X-Pro, SX Prestige, SX Prestige X-Line, ending with the model shown, the SX Prestige X-Pro, which sounds like a high-level ranking in a pyramid scheme sales pitch.
Every variation of the Telluride uses the same engine, a naturally aspirated 3.8L V6 producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission distributes the engine’s power to the front wheels or optional all-wheel-drive, available across the entire lineup.
Three driving modes come as standard: Comfort, Eco and Sport. Kia has always done a fine job of letting you “feel” the difference between Eco and Sport, aided by the visual change in its 12.3-inch panoramic digital screen as it turns the digital instrument layout from a cool blue to race-ready red. Kick the throttle and brace for the sudden rush of g-force as the Telluride scampers like a scared cat off the line with a six-cylinder growl.
One of the many reasons the Kia Telluride wins popularity contests is its pleasing styling. Inoffensive and contemporary, the midsize SUV looks upscale without being smug. Meanwhile, the interior features cushy Nappa-leather trimmed captain’s chairs in the front and second row, with the latter providing an effortless mechanism to move the seats forward and provide generous access to the third row.
The SX-Prestige X-Pro includes heated and ventilated seats for the front and second-row passengers. The premium Harman/Kardon audio system kept me in sync with my favorite music. Other popular options include stop-and-go cruise control and carpeted floor mats that feel plush to the touch.
The X-Pro package caters to those who want versatility, giving the Telluride a little lift in its standard eight inches of ground clearance up to 8.4 inches. A heavy-duty cooling system increases its max towing capacity from 5,000 pounds to 5,500 and includes a towing drive mode. Self-leveling rear suspension and 18-inch alloy wheels dressed like Johnny Cash help the Telluride X-pro trim level stand out from the pack. One feature I found incredibly useful off-road is its backup camera, projecting a 360-degree bird’s eye view track of every corner of the vehicle.
Kia has a reputation for safety, evidenced by the Telluride’s five-star overall crash test rating by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Peace of mind for those on board comes in the form of a full-length side curtain airbag and outboard side airbags mounted in the seats. Moreover, the Telluride is more American than you may think. Only 30 percent of the SUV’s parts are made in South Korea, while more than half of its components, like its engine, were made in North America and assembled in the state of Georgia.
Fuel economy, with all-wheel drive, is rated at 18 in the city and 24 on the highway for a combined average of 20 mpg, which is fair for a non-turbocharged V6 pushing over 4,000 pounds of SUV. Pricing is another positive attribute, as the 2024 Kia Telluride starts at $36,000 and stays under $60,000 by the time you reach the summit of the lineup. However, I’ve heard horror stories of people paying close to $80,000 at dealerships, which defeats the purpose of buying a Kia. I know dealers need to make a profit but that’s an expensive amount of undercoating rust-proofing. So be wary because vehicles in high demand are blood in the water for sharks with gold fountain pens.
Engine: 3.8L V6
Transmission: 8-speed automatic transmission
0 to 60: 7.0 seconds
Starting Price: $36,190 (LX)
Price as Shown: $55,540 (SX-Prestige X-Pro)
Jesus Behind the Wheel 