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1955 Ford Crown Victoria2021 Kia Telluride Review
After surprising everyone with the SUV last year, Kia has added more features, more refinement, and lost none of what we love in the 2021 Kia Telluride.
2021 Kia Telluride – media.stellantisnorthamerica.com | Shop 2021 Kia Telluride on Carsforsale.com
What’s New for the 2021 Kia Telluride?
Introduced little more than a year ago, the Telluride gets a slew of small but meaningful upgrades in 2021. The Nightfall package adds special 20-inch wheels and dark exterior trim while the towing package gets a new 7-pin adapter as opposed to last year’s 5-pin. Remote start equipped vehicles get a button on the fob to activate it. There are also a couple of excellent new paint options called Sangria and Black Copper. The Telluride might be young, but it’s growing up fast.
The Breakdown
Incredibly strong warranty coverage
Best-looking SUV on the market
The All-wheel-drive version is great
No fuel efficient options
Body roll is noticeable
Hoping for a more powerful engine
2021 Telluride Specs
- 291 horsepower from base engine
- 262 lb-ft of torque from base engine
- 4 available trims
- Towing capacity of 5000 lbs
- 21 cu-ft. of cargo capacity
- 87 cu-ft. of cargo capacity with seats down
- Both touchscreens are large and featureful
- Standard adaptive cruise control is a great addition
- 10-year powertrain warranty dominates all others
2021 Kia Telluride Powertrain
All 2021 Kia Telluride models come with the same drivetrain in terms of engine and transmission. The only option is if you want a front-wheel-drive or an all-wheel-drive Telluride. The V6 makes 290 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. That’s enough to get around town without worry and feels like a good choice for the large SUV. Nevertheless, it would be outstanding to see a more potent mill that could compete with more powerful options. Nevertheless, this Kia reaches 60 mph in just 7 seconds, so it’s not exactly slow either.
Overall, the Telluride does make good use of the power it has. Towing is no problem for the Telluride and unlike many other SUVs, this one has enough ground clearance (8-inches) to keep going when the road runs out. For those opting for the towing package with the air-ride shocks, the SUV can even more easily do the job. The 8-speed transmission isn’t as sophisticated as some others and can cause the vehicle to feel a bit sluggish at lower speeds, but it’s still smooth and responsive once you’re moving. Steering is solid and the ride is comfortable. Back seat passengers might feel it’s a bit rough, but getting it with optional air suspension should quiet those concerns.
2021 Kia Telluride Fuel Economy & MPG
The numbers cited above are for the all-wheel-drive 2021 Kia Telluride and, while they’re a bit lower than some, they’re still solid numbers for a vehicle this large. The front-wheel-driven SUV gets better numbers, attaining a rating of 20 city/26 highway and 23 combined. The only similar vehicle that really blows the Kia away is those with hybrid powertrains like the Toyota Highlander.
Interior, Comfort, & Cargo Space
If you brought a person from the early 2000s to the present and sat them down in this vehicle, they’d think that you’d simply stuck the Kia badges onto a serious luxury brand like BMW, Audi, or Cadillac. This SUV really is that good. Take a moment to appreciate two major details, the fit and finish, and the material quality. These two features usually spell the doom of many lower-end brands trying to pass along their Econo cars as upscale, but Kia hits these and all other features of the interior so far out of the park that they could’ve cleared the far walls of the Polo Grounds.
The heads-up display is big and bold which makes it so easy to use effectively. Napa leather seats are a welcome addition and they’re heated as well as ventilated. There’s so much space in here that most adults can actually fit in the 3rd row without issue. In terms of cargo space, the Kia continues to shine with some 87 feet of total cubic space with everything folded down. With the seats up there’s still more than ample room for a family’s luggage.
Entertainment & Technology
Base Telluride owners will get a responsive and robust 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system while all others get bumped up to a 10-inch display that largely functions the same aside from an added navigation system.
Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard across the range, but you’ll have to get the top-of-the-line SX model to option the excellent heads-up display. There is a bevy of USB ports throughout the vehicle for charging. A premium audio system is also available on the SX model. Really, this is perhaps the only area where the Kia is notably not far advanced compared to others at a similar price point. Yes, the touchscreen is better, but after that, the gap isn’t as large.
Safety Features
The NHTSA has awarded the 2021 Kia Telluride with a 5-star crash test rating and it’s also managed to achieve a top safety rating from the IIHS. Combine those accolades with the excellent complement of active and passive safety features throughout the Telluride and this is one of the best options available compared to its competition. Every Telluride regardless of trim level is going to come with adaptive cruise control, rear-cross-traffic alert, forward collision mitigation, blind-spot monitoring, and more. . Combine those accolades with the excellent complement of active and passive safety features throughout the Telluride and this is one of the best options available compared to its competition. Every Telluride, regardless of trim level, is going to come with adaptive cruise control, rear-cross-traffic alert, forward collision mitigation, blind-spot monitoring, and more.
2021 Kia Telluride Trims & Pricing
LX – $33,160
The base Telluride will impress most passengers if they’re used to the base level of many rival SUV options. A big and bold 8-inch touchscreen, 18-inch wheels, and simulated leather all stand out. Add to it rear heating and air as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
S – $35,560
When buyers bump up to the S they’ll get more fitting 20-inch wheels, a sunroof, second-row captain chairs, and heated front seats. Keep in mind that with those captain’s chairs owners lose a seat for good.
EX – $38,560
The EX is a fascinating way forward because to get there you go back to a bench seat and 18-inch wheels, but you add quite a lot of technology. Wireless charging, ventilated front seats, a hands-free lift-gate, and second-row sunshades become standard. In addition, a larger 10.2-inch touchscreen takes over for the smaller 8-inch display. The seats are real leather and if you want some of those lost options like the 20-inch wheels you can get them with the “Premium” package.
SX – $43,360
At this price point the 2021 Kia Telluride might be the best value despite also being the most expensive option. Owners will love the 10-speaker Harmon & Kardon premium audio, heads-up display, heated and ventilated seats in both the first and second-row seats, and the dual sunroofs. Additional packages like the towing option add air-ride shocks to the Telluride.
Warranties
Kia provides a 10 year or 100,000 mile coverage period on the 2021 Kia Telluride. They also include 5 years or 60,000 miles for the limited warranty, which is the same term for roadside assistance. Perforations due to corrosion are under a 5-year/100,000-mile warranty term. There is no complimentary scheduled maintenance included in the Telluride warranty.
What We Think
2021 Kia Telluride – kia.com | Shop 2021 Kia Telluride on Carsforsale.com
Frankly, if you’re looking for a high-quality 3-row SUV and athletic power and handling isn’t high on your list of priorities, then there’s really nothing else that makes more logical sense than the 2021 Kia Telluride. Its Hyundai brother the Palisade is also a great choice, but actually loses some interior space and frontal features like fog lights. This is likely the best value-for-money 3-row SUV on the market today. What’s even better is that Hyundai has positioned itself as a company that’s only growing in popularity, so it’s unlikely that an investment in the Telluride will face the same dip in value that most other SUVs will.
