2021 Kia Telluride
- Bold SUV styling stands out in a crowd
- High-quality interior gives off a luxury vibe
- Strong V6 power with smooth 8-speed automatic transmission
- Plenty of room for up to eight passengers
- Pricing starts at $31,890 (plus $1,170 destination charge) | Price yours
- On sale now | See Autotrader listings right here on KBB.com
Last year’s Best New Model returns atop the 3-row SUV category as the 2021 Kia Telluride remains a hot commodity. This spring’s production shutdown strained already tight supplies, although Kia is working overtime to refill the pipeline of this popular model.
On top of that, Kia decided not to mess with success as there are few changes in store for 2021. Among them are upgrading the optional 4-pin wiring harness on the trailer package to a 7-pin plug, adding a remote start feature to the key fob, and joining the competition in offering a dark appearance package. Called Nightfall, the trim includes black wheels and dark trim bits.
We were greatly impressed by the all-new Telluride last year on many fronts, including its design, comfort, utility, and value. Let’s take them in order.
As far as the looks go, the 2021 Kia Telluride makes no bones about being a large, muscular SUV with its chiseled sheetmetal, large grille, and boxy profile. This look contrasts with other 3-row SUVs that are a bit softer in their approach with more of a car-inspired or, to be more specific, tall station wagon aesthetics. The orange frame-shaped daytime running lights also help to announce the Telluride’s arrival.
The Telluride is not only rugged-looking, it also benefits from a shape in which form follows function. The flat roof and squared-off sides translate into plenty of headroom and cargo space inside. While the Telluride is tall and bold, it’s not as intimidating as some full-size pickups.
Upscale appointments
A striking feature of the 2021 Kia Telluride is the luxurious look of the interior. While the Telluride competes in a volume-oriented market segment, the cabin looks like it would be equally at home in a vehicle wearing a luxury badge. There’s plenty of soft-touch materials, brightwork, and wood accents that give the Telluride a cut-above character. The top SX trim level, which features Nappa leather, rivals or exceeds the look, quality and feel of the competition.
The front bucket seats are comfortable and supportive, and the dash layout features a larger center touchscreen with easy-to-use redundant controls and buttons. There’s a large center console that’s home to a traditional shift lever and a roomy center bin offering plenty of storage for your devices.
We currently have a long-term Telluride with the 7-passenger seating configuration with second-row captain’s chairs. The seats are comfortable thanks to their fold-down armrests, and they provide a center pass-through to the rear 3-position bench. Eight-passenger models come with a second-row bench that slides forward to ease access to the rear. That rear bench has snug legroom, but adults can ride in relative comfort, though for longer trips that space is best left to smaller children.
With the rear seat folded flat, the Telluride has ample cargo room with a large hatch opening and relatively low liftover. Drop both second and third rows and you have 87 cubic feet of space. Thoughtfully, Kia has added some below-floor storage that adds to the flexibility and utility of the load area.
Power Galore
All Kia Telluride SUVs feature the same powertrain. The 3.8-liter V6 puts out 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. Depending on trim level, that output is sent to the front axle or all four corners through available all-wheel drive (AWD). An 8-speed automatic transmission provides smooth, seamless gear changes. The drivetrain, which is covered by a stellar 10-year/100,000-mile warranty, is good for 20 mpg city/26 mpg highway in front-drive, while the AWD version delivers 1 mpg city and 2 mpg highway less.
The Telluride is equipped to tow up to 5,000 pounds. In addition to carrying plenty of passengers and their luggage, the large SUV is up to pulling a decent-sized camper or boat. There are several drive modes to choose, including Eco, Comfort and Sport, as well as a Snow mode on AWD versions. We find the Smart setting does a great job in adjusting throttle response, shift points, and other parameters to your driving style.
Active safety is standard
Many 3-row SUVs offer driver and safety assists, and the Telluride delivers on this score with blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. In addition to the blind-sport alerts (which are loud and clear), higher trim levels feature side camera views that appear in the center of the instrument cluster. These images show the respective right and left sides of the vehicle when the turn signal is activated.
A value proposition
The 2021 Kia Telluride is our Best Buy 3-Row SUV not just because of all the bells and whistles available here, but that many of these features come with such an affordable price tag. The base price for the Telluride starts at $33,060. That’s below the average transaction price of all new vehicles. That’s pretty remarkable when you consider the size of the Telluride and the class in which it competes.
Even when you move higher in the line, the Telluride has an affordability advantage over its rivals. A fully loaded top-spec model still comes in shy of $48,000. Among the items you can expect are a large 10.25-inch touchscreen, premium Harman Kardon audio, Nappa leather seating, 20-inch wheels, and a full-color head-up display. That’s on a 3-row SUV that would look at home if it were parked next to a $65,000 luxury SUV. Factor in a standard 5-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, Kia’s ability to deliver on both quality and resale, and that the Telluride is made in Georgia, and it’s no wonder it stands out as a Best Buy in the 3-row SUV category.
Photo Tour: 2021 Kia Telluride
More 2021 Kia Telluride
Build and price your own 2021 Kia Telluride to see this week’s Fair Purchase Price, 5-Year Cost to Own, and more, or see Autotrader listings right here on KBB.com.
