2025 Kia Telluride

No matter the metric, the 2025 Kia Telluride fires on all cylinders. Value, ride quality, utility, and space are just some of the Telluride’s assets. Since it rolled onto the North American stage for 2020, we’ve been amazed by its competence, quality, and capability. It has picked up Kelley Blue Book awards like a blue suit attracts lint. Its latest accolade is our 3-Row Midsize SUV Best Buy Award winner of 2024.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of midsize 3-row SUVs, including the Kia Telluride.

For 2025, the Telluride provides second-row side airbags as standard across the entire lineup. Also standard throughout is Highway Driving Assist 1.5 — an advanced driver assistance feature incorporating adaptive cruise control and lane centering to maintain the Telluride’s position in traffic by braking, accelerating, and steering. The X-Pro trim with all-wheel drive (AWD) can tow an additional 500 pounds for a total of 5,500 pounds. All X-Line and X-Pro trims gain some cabin upgrades.

If we were shopping for a Telluride, we could be quite satisfied with the base LX trim. However, taking a step up to the S version puts you into one of the trim levels preferred by more buyers. This and the SX Prestige X-Line are the most sought-after trims.  If our budget allowed, we’d pick the SX for its rich array of standard features. If you don’t need so much room and would prefer a lower starting price within the Kia family, we suggest the Sorento or Sportage.

Rivals include the Hyundai Palisade (based on the same platform as the Telluride, but reaching a higher level of luxury), Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander and bigger Grand Highlander, Mazda CX-90, Subaru Ascent, Ford Explorer, and Chevrolet Traverse. They all start in the mid-to-high $30,000 region. The CX-90 and Ascent have all-wheel drive as standard.

Before buying a new Telluride 3-row SUV, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should be paying.

Award-Winning Resale Values

The Telluride took the Kelley Blue Book Best Resale Value Award for its class in 2022 and was outperformed in 2023 only by the closely related Hyundai Palisade. There’s every reason to assume the Telluride will make a similarly strong showing as we determine the award for 2024 and 2025. Recouping more money when selling a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on the next one.

The Telluride SUV is propelled by a smooth, refined, and naturally aspirated (no turbochargers or the like) 3.8-liter V6 delivering a more-than-respectable 291 horsepower. No one wants to scare the rest of the family with drag-race launches, but the Telluride can zip from standstill to 60 mph in about seven seconds. What’s more important is that this 3-row SUV will get up to freeway speeds effortlessly and without stress.

Comparing engine output with the competition, the Telluride is one of the most powerful. At the top of the class horsepower contest, the Chevy Traverse has 328 horses, while an optional engine in the Mazda CX-90 makes 340 horsepower.

The 20-inch wheel/tire combination of some higher trims affects ride quality to a degree, but generally the Telluride is comfortable with the right amount of control and a pleasant weight to the steering. An optional self-leveling rear suspension brings even more cushioning. Lovers of high driving positions will adore the Telluride, and everyone can appreciate the excellent outward vision.

All-wheel drive is naturally part of the Telluride SUV mix. It comes with Snow and AWD Lock modes for trickier weather and road conditions. All versions enjoy a standard and comprehensive set of driver assistance features that includes navigation-based adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and assistance when turning left at intersections.

Fuel Economy

The Telluride midsize SUV with front-wheel drive achieves 22 mpg in combined city/highway driving. When all-wheel drive is present, mileage dips slightly to 20 mpg combined. The slightly smaller Toyota Highlander does better by a few miles per gallon, while most other rivals are at the same level as the Telluride or slightly thirstier.

Although the Telluride is not noticeably frugal in its use of gasoline (regular is fine), it does have an 18.8-gallon tank, enabling a range of around 400 miles. It really is a great vehicle for road trips.

The Telluride features a modernized dashboard with contemporary technology. A dual-screen unit is now available, bringing a digital instrument cluster to accompany the standard 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen. At least five USB-C ports are installed throughout.

The rest of the interior is comfortable and spacious, with decent-quality materials and the ability to accommodate up to eight occupants (with a cup holder for each one). The Telluride has what’s known as stadium seating, where each row is a little higher than the one in front. But there’s still more than enough headroom to go around. Adults of average size can also fit in the third row and not complain.

Like most 3-row SUVs, some Telluride variants have captain’s chairs in the second row, lowering the occupant count by one but enhancing comfort and improving movement into (and out of) the third row. Higher trims also add luxury items like fine Nappa leather and a Harman Kardon surround-sound system.

Behind the third row is a relatively spacious luggage area of 21 cubic feet (about the size of a refrigerator). With that row folded down, there’s 46 cubic feet. Fold down row two as well to achieve a maximum cargo volume of 87 cubic feet. These dimensions aren’t quite class-leading, but they’re (a) still really generous and (b) in a vehicle that has a lot of other great things going for it.

Two small details we really like: Driver Talk puts the driver’s voice through the rear speakers, so there’s no need to shout at those in the third row (unless they’re being especially mischievous). And Quiet Mode allows those up front to enjoy the radio or whatever with just the front speakers.

The Telluride has an imposing yet appealing chunkiness to it. The X-Line pushes the rugged envelope a little further with its own take on the grille and roof rails, plus exclusive 20-inch wheels. The X-Pro takes that attitude and makes it muddier, fitting 18-inch alloy wheels and all-terrain tires.

Navigation-based smart cruise control
This takes adaptive cruise control a step further by communicating with the navigation to anticipate when the road curves — it will then adjust speed if necessary. This is standard across the Telluride range, as is the partially autonomous Highway Driving Assist system.

Connected Routing
Among the features provided with the free 12-month subscription to Kia Connect Ultimate is Connected Routing, which enhances the standard navigation with real-time and predicted traffic levels. It determines the best route using AI (artificial intelligence) learning.

Smart Power Liftgate w/Auto Close
Available in the S trim and up, this powered cargo door not only offers hands-free opening, it also has a self-closing function.

Digital Key
Coming in at the SX level, the Telluride can be accessed by authorized users’ smartphones or smartwatches. If the funds allow, we think an SX version is an excellent pick because it has so many great features.

Dual-screen dashboard
Also found in SX and higher Telluride trims, this is similar to screens found in Mercedes-Benz vehicles. It contains two 12.3-inch displays — one for driver information, the other for infotainment — set into one elegant curved unit.

Head-up display
This 10-inch display projects crucial information onto the windshield directly ahead of the driver. It comes standard in SX Prestige models.

There’s just one engine for the entire Telluride lineup, a 3.8-liter V6 developing 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. This connects to an 8-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive (FWD) is the standard configuration, with all-wheel drive on the options list — or standard in the X-Line and X-Pro variants.

The Telluride’s maximum towing capacity is 5,500 pounds, achieved by the X-Pro model. The rest of the range can tow 5,000 pounds, which is typical among midsize SUVs.

Class-Leading Warranty

Along with the Hyundai Palisade, the Kia Telluride enjoys the best warranties in its class. Bumper-to-bumper coverage is five years or 60,000 miles, whichever happens first — this includes roadside assistance. Powertrains are covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles.

Safety Ratings

The Kia Telluride has received the highest accolade of the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) — Top Safety Pick+ — as well as gaining a maximum overall 5-Star score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).