I’m less enamored with the column-mounted, twisty nub gearshift that we’ve seen in other Kias, including the EV9. Yes, it frees up console space, but it’s a little awkward to use, and I found myself bumping it with my leg from time to time. I am 6-foot 4-inches (2 m) tall, though, so your mileage may vary.
The second row is plenty roomy for kids or adults, and the third row was a bit cramped for me. But for normally sized humans, it’s usable. Ingress and egress from the third row is helped by the new electric tilt feature for the second-row chairs. Cargo room is ample at 48.7 cubic feet (1,379 L) with the third row dropped or 22.3 cubic feet (631 L) of space with the third row up—though that’s for internal combustion models. The hybrid Telluride sacrifices a few feet of cargo space, but it’s still plenty usable for those IKEA and Costco runs.
All mod cons
Kia
Kia’s native infotainment system is unobjectionable.
Kia
Kia
Cooling for the twin wireless charging pads would be welcome.
Kia
Kia’s native infotainment system is unobjectionable.
Kia
Cooling for the twin wireless charging pads would be welcome.
Kia
Being a new Kia, the Telluride’s technology—safety, convenience, and infotainment—is excellent and largely standard. Features like adaptive cruise control, active lane keep assist, and automatic emergency braking work to make Kia’s Highway Driving Assist system very nice to use in traffic, while the vehicle cameras make maneuvering in parking lots easy, thanks to their good resolution.
The infotainment system is standard Kia fare, with includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The stereo sounds good, if not great, and the dual wireless charging pads work well, though I wish Kia had included a dedicated A/C vent to prevent overheating, as other manufacturers have.
The original Telluride was a hugely important and hugely successful vehicle for Kia, and the 2027 model improves upon it in nearly every way. It’s stylish, comfortable, capable, well-equipped, and, in a world where seemingly everything is $50,000 or more, has a very reasonable starting price of $39,190 (plus a $1,545 destination fee), with AWD versions starting from $44,090. The hybrid Tellurides start at $46,490 for FWD and $48,490 for AWD. The Telluride is further proof that Kia no longer has to skate by on low price alone; it’s a serious contender that should make even near-luxury brands nervous.
The 2027 Kia Telluride is on sale now.