Kia Telluride - The ultra-spacious eight seat SUV

Content

Kia Motors has ventured back into the large three-row SUV segment with the Telluride. Named after a town in Colorado, the Telluride is available in seven and eight-seat options. The SUV was showcased earlier this year at the 2019 Detroit Auto Show and was first presented as a concept in 2016. The production-ready version of the SUV continues with its clean, pure and minimalistic design philosophy. The 2020 Telluride SUV offers more space and a powerful engine over the Sorento.

The Telluride gets an angular silhouette complete with LED projector beam headlights and 20-inch sporty black alloy wheels.
The large grille dominates the face of the Telluride while the headlamps sit on the edge of the face and complement the overall look of the face. Despite the large size, the face looks clean and minimalistic. In profile, the heavily flared wheel arches and large overhang at the rear do well to add to the old-school stance that is expected from vehicles of this class, pedigree and segment of the market. However, the roofline, which tapers towards the front, add a modern touch to the overall look of the Telluride. There is a vertical symmetry to the rear design and your eyes tend to travel from the top to the bottom of the vehicle when you gaze at it. 

There is a sense of luxuriousness when you enter the massive cabin of the Telluride and thanks to the 5.0-metre length, there is oodles of space all around. Its feature list quite massive with the highlights being the quilted nappa leather seats, 10.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system that is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as multi-zone climate control system. The dashboard has wood inserts while all around there are large swathes of chrome which do well to boost the premium feel of the interiors. 

The SUV is not just big on space, but also comes with a potent 3.8-litre V6 engine that comes mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission that generates 287bhp of power and 353Nm of torque. The Telluride offers an optional all-wheel drive transmission and a self-leveling rear air suspension setup.

Driving around in a Telluride is a breeze considering the fact that it is offered with driver-assistance feature that includes blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, and rear parking sensors.  Safety being a priority, the SUV gets sensors to detect children or pets left behind in the back seat, additionally it also offers a lockout feature for the rear doors in the event of a fast moving object approaching too close.

The new SUV from Kia is a value for money package from Kia Motors that will soon lock horns with the likes of the Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander, and Ford Explorer.  The SUV is available in four trims – LX, S, EX and the SX, which offers something for everyone and meets individual requirements.