2024 Kia Telluride: Performance, Features, Specs, and Pricing

The Kia Telluride was launched as an all-new crossover in 2020 aimed at the heart of the midsize crossover and SUV segment. While it is the largest vehicle that Kia manufactures here in the United States, it still has a lot in common with the Hyundai Palisade. After just a few years on the market, Kia refreshed the Telluride for 2023, which included a new exterior look, the more rugged X- trims, and some new tech.

The Telluride isn’t your hardcore off-roader, but it’s also more than just a family car. It’s the perfect blend of high-riding goodness that brings both worlds together in a way that there’s little compromise. With competitors like the Honda Pilot and Chevrolet Traverse, the Kia Telluride does face some rivalry in the market, though, it’s been well loved by auto journalists and with more than 110,000 examples sold in the U.S. in 2023, one could argue that consumers love it too.

In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources, including Kia, Fueleconomy.gov, NHTSA, and IIHS.

What’s New For 2024

If you were to look at the refreshed 2023 Kia Telluride alongside the 2024 model, you wouldn’t notice any changes – something that’s not surprising given the refresh in 2023. However, Kia has made just a few changes for this year, including amber-colored daytime running lights as standard across the lineup and new glossy black trim on the X-Line and X-Pro, which the dark metallic accents seen on these models in 2023. Outside of this little changes, the 2024 model carries over unchanged.

In 2023, however, the Telluride received an updated front grille, new front fascia, and completely redesigned headlights. The interior saw an influx of technology with a new set of dual 12.3-inch display screens that share the dash to serve as the instrument cluster and infotainment system. The latter is obviously a play taken from the luxury segment, where this layout is becoming more and more commons. It should be noted, however, that while the 12.3-inch infotainment display is standard, the 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster is off-limited below the SX trim. Starting in 2023, the Telluride also comes standard with the Wi-Fi hotspot and navigation.

Highlights

• Great standard safety features
• Digital key available on upper trim levels
• Dual-Zone and rear automatic climate control standard
• 10-year warranty
• Sliding second-row seats
• 12.3-inch infotainment system standard

Exterior Dimension

Engine Specifications And Performance

The Kia Telluride is powered by a 3.8-liter, naturally aspirated, V-6 that delivers a respectable 291 horsepower. That’s not quite as much as models like the Chevy Traverse, which has a turbocharged four-cylinder, but with more than 260 pound-feet of torque, the Telluride is still highly capable and competent on the road. Shifting duties are handled by an eight-speed automatic, with optional AWD being available on the LX, S, EX, and SX trim levels. All other trim levels come with AWD and the center-looking differential with snow mode as standard.

TopSpeed’s very own journalist, Lyndon Conrad Bell spent some time with the Telluride SX-Prestige X-Line, and he was mighty impressed.

“My SX-Prestige X-Line V6 AWD trimmed Telluride was also equipped with all-wheel drive. I saw seven-second runs to 60 with that powertrain.”

For a midsize crossover that is geared toward family and some off-roading, a seven-second run to 70 mph is pretty impressive, but that’s not the only thing that led to the Telluride getting TopSpeed’s seal of approval. According to Bell, Tthe Telluride presented a firm, though not uncomfortable, quality of ride.” The self-leveling airbag suspension operated as well as you’d expected, and we even notced that directional stability remained good regardless of what road conditions were encountered. Throttle response wasn’t the greatest, but braking was great and steering response was on point.

Towing And Off-Roading

The Kia Telluride really is a jack of all trades. You can drop the kids off at practice Saturday morning, hit the dusty trails before lunch, then help your buddy move with its 5,000-5,500-pound towing capacity in the afternoon. Certain models, from the EX up can either be option with or come standard with tow mode, a special driving mode that helps to improve efficiency when towing. The self-leveling rear suspension also plays a big role here.

Now, the Telluride is more than capable of handling the occasional trip off the beaten path, but, even the X-Line and X-Line Pro with their raised suspension and more rugged look won’t compete with the Jeep Wranglers of the world.

Though, after testing the Prestige X-Line, we can say with confidence that the Telluride will handle just about anything the average person can and will throw at it.

Fuel Economy

The Kia Telluride might be offered in a total of 10 different trims, but under the skin, all 10 models are powered by the same V-8 engine, which means the only difference in fuel economy comes from your choice of FWD or AWD. Models equipped with FWD are cable of getting up to 26 mpg on the highway while the AWD Telluride is a bit more expensive with a maximum EPA-rated fuel economy of 24 mpg on the highway. Annual fuel costs range between $2,300 – $2,550.

Interior Technology And Comfort

The exterior of the Kia Telluride might be bold, but the interior is a different animal altogether, especially in the upper trim levels. During our time with the Telluride, we found it to not only be comfortable, but also very well put together. The base LX trim and the EX trim come standard with a second-row bench, which contributes to the Telluride’s ability to carry eight passengers. If you opt for any other trim, you automatically get the second-row captain’s chairs, which decrease passenger capacity to seven but improve second-row comfort and make accessing the third row a bit easier. Naturally, getting back into the third-row isn’t the easiest thing in the world, but that’s also to be expected in a midsize crossover.

“Build quality is first-rate, with fit and finish rivaling that of far more costly product. The material choices are pleasing to the eye, while the layout of the controls and switchgear is reflective of considerable thought.”

Technology

On the technology front, the Telluride has two very distinct personalities, and how much you pay determines which personality you get. Kia proudly boasts the dual 12.3-inch displays that are nearly identical to what you find in more expensive luxury cars (just like from of the Telluride’s other appointments), though, if you want that setup, you need to go up four trim levels, to the SX trim. Otherwise, the LX, S, EX, and EX X-Line trims all come with a “normal” instrument cluster that has a 4.2-inch digital display. The 12.3-inch touchscreen with navigation, however, is standard across the lineup.

The good news is that regardless of what trim you choose, you’ll find that software is intuitive and easy to use. Menus are laid out in a thoughtful way that makes adapting to a new system easy and prevents you from having to take your eyes off the road when making adjustments.

“Everything is simple and straightforward to use. In other words, you won’t spend hours thumbing the Telluride’s instruction manual to figure out how to pair your smartphone.”

Other useful features include the head up display that also lets you view your blind spots for additional safety, satellite radio, and a 10-speaker Harman/Kardon audio system. Wireless smartphone charging, Wi-Fi, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also on the list of goodies.

Interior Dimensions

Safety And Reliability

The Kia Telluride comes with a long list of driver safety assistance features marketed under the moniker Kia Drive Wise. This suite of technologies includes just about everything you can think of in terms of safety tech right from the base model LX. However, it should be noted that there’s a clear split between the EX X-Line and everything from the SX on up in how advanced some of these technologies are.

As an example, all trim levels of the Telluride come with blind spot collision warning technology, however, from the SX trim up, this technology also includes what Kia calls “Parallel Exit” which essentially gives you an audible and visual warning when you’re leaving a parallel parking spot. It’s the same story for the forward collision avoidance assist system, which in base form detects pedestrians, cyclists, and junction turning. From the SX trim and up, it also includes lane change oncoming and side detection as well as evasive steering assist. Trims from the SX on up also get the parking collision avoidance in reverse along with the surround view monitor, smart cruise control, and highway assist that can actually handle automatic lane changing and machine learning functions.

Safety Ratings And Crash Testing

The Kia Telluride has passed the IIHS’ safety evaluation and crash testing with flying colors, earning a “Good” rating (the best you can get) across the board. It’s even listed as a Top Safety Pick + for 2024. In NHTSA testing, the Telluride also performed quite well. It received a five-star overall rating, though, it only scored four out of five starts for frontal crash testing and rollover testing.

• Recalls: 2 – one recall for an issue with the driveshaft and another for an issue in which the engine’s valve springs may break and cause catastrophic damage to the engine.
• NHTSA Investigations: None
• NHTSA Consumer Complaints: 40 – mostly in regard to the electrical system and back over prevention system.
• Awards: 2024 IIHS Top Safety Pick +

Warranties

Kia honestly offers one, if not the best, warranties available today. The basis of this warranty is the 10-year, 100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty. This also includes 5-year basic and anti-perforation warranties as well as a 60,000-mile roadside assistance plan. This warranty comes standard across every single trim level of the Kia Telluride.

2024 Kia Telluride Versus Its Competitors

As a three-row crossover with some off-road chops, the Kia Telluride isn’t exactly a rarity in the midsize crossover and SUV segment. However, we’ve found that it best competes with models like the Honda Pilot and Chevy Traverse, both of which offer three rows of seating, are capable of some mild off-roading, and coming in around the same in terms of fuel-economy. More important than this, they all serve as reliable and effective family cars that excel in delivering what any average family would need or want in a midsize crossover. In short, that is what makes comparing and cross shopping these models so hard, as all three are great at being exactly what they were designed to be: midsize crossover that don’t flinch in the face of long road trips or random adventures on the way.

How The Kia Telluride Compares To The Honda Pilot

• 	2024 Kia Telluride	2024 Honda Pilot
  Model	Kia Telluride	2024 Honda Pilot
  Engine	3.6L V-6	3.5-Liter V-6
  Transmission	8-Speed Automatic	10-Speed Automatic
  Horsepower	291@ 6,000 RPM	285 HP
  Torque	262 LB-FT @ 5,200 RPM	262 LB-FT
  Driveline	Front Engine, AWD	2WD | AWD
  MSRP	$36,190	$37,090 – $52,480
  Towing Capacity	5,500 Pounds	3,500 – 5,000 Pounds

Looking up the phrase “jack of all trades but master of none” should result in at least one image of the Honda Pilot, because that’s the easiest way to describe it. It’s a great, midsized family-oriented crossover that is nice and comfortable for long road trips, reliable, and can handle some trekking into the woods or desert. It won’t, however, take you over rocks or compete well with more off-road oriented models like the Jeep Wrangler or the Ford Bronco.

Under the hood of every Honda Pilot in the current generation resides a 3.5-liter, naturally aspirated V-6 that’s good for 285 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. It can manage to deliver 22 mpg consistently with combined highway and city use. It can also tow up to 5,000 pounds. All of these figures put the Honda Pilot in the same playground as the Kia Telluride. The Pilot does start out a bit more expensive than the Telluride, but the range-topping elite model is just a bit cheaper. While the Telluride has enough trims to cater to just about anyone, the Honda is more conservative with just six trims, which can make the buying process a bit simpler.

How the Kia Telluride Compares To The Chevrolet Traverse

• 	2024 Kia Telluride	2024 Chevrolet Traverse
  Model	Kia Telluride	Chevrolet Traverse
  Engine	3.6L V-6	2.5-Liter Turbocharged Inline-Four
  Transmission	8-Speed Automatic	Eight-Speed Automatic
  Horsepower	291@ 6,000 RPM	328 HP @ 5,500 RPM
  Torque	262 LB-FT @ 5,200 RPM	326 LB-FT @ 3,500 RPM
  Driveline	Front Engine, AWD	FWD | AWD
  MSRP	$36,190	$38,995 – $57,995
  Towing Capacity	5,500 Pounds	5,000 Pounds

The Chevrolet Traverse is quite literally the newest midsize crossover that we’ve discussed in this guide, with the current generation launching for the 2024 model year. The Traverse has a rugged appearance, even in base form, though the Z71 off-road trim makes it look, arguably, more competent off-road than it really is. With that in mind, it’s important to note that the new Traverse is, by far, the most capable to ever wear the name, and that’s despite the fact that it’s powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder. Turbocharging works wonders, however, and that’s why the Traverse is more powerful than not only the Kia Telluride but the Honda Pilot as well.

That 2.5-liter engine pumps out 328 horsepower and 326 pound-feet of torque, which is an improvement over the previous generation’s V-6 and quite a few points up on the Telluride. The biggest benefit, however, really comes in the form of fuel economy, which comes in at as much as 26 mpg with highway cruising. The Traverse features an eight-speed automatic transmission, and while FWD is the base offering, AWD is available across the lineup. It can also tow 5,000 pounds, which is on par with every competitor in this segment. The Traverse, however, is on the more expensive side of the equation, starting at $38,995 with FWD or $40,995 with AWD and climbs to as high as $57,595 for the range-topping RS AWD.

How Much The Kia Telluride Costs

With so many trim levels, one could argue that the Telluride lineup features at least a couple of redundancies, which models like the SX X-Line and SX X-Pro being separated by just $1,000 or the SX Prestige being just $505 more expensive than the SX X-Pro. Be that as it may, the Telluride also sits on the cheaper side of the midsize segment with a starting price for the base LX coming in at $36,190.

Making A Case For The 2024 Kia Telluride

The midsize crossover segment is ripe with offerings, but the Kia Telluride stands out thanks to its bold design, affordable entry price, and overall capability. If you’re a brand loyalist, then the Telluride may not be the right choice for you, but if you’re looking for something new, want a vehicle that is safe, reliable, and so well appointed that it feels a class up, then you really can’t go wrong with the Telluride. On-road performance won’t blow you away, but the comfort and cabin space will, and you can still venture down paths unknown without being too worried, especially if you opt for the AWD system. With such a diverse range of trims, there aren’t a whole lot of options to choose from, but in a sense this is better, because it’s generally cheaper to move up to the next trim level than it would be to option a specific package for one thing you really want.