 | Positives: Refreshed exterior ups the refinement, interior is fresh and original, roomy for all occupants, composed and smooth on pavement, Land Rover-like cabin details |
 | Negatives: So-so fuel economy, a single engine choice, infotainment lacks responsiveness, no power-folding third row seats. |
 | Bottom Line: The updated Telluride continues the model's huge draw for families who need space, top safety marks, room, and style. It's one of the best three-row SUVs on the planet. |
Driving Experience
It's hard to make a big SUV drive well since weight and center of gravity tend to betray it, but the Telluride does quite well, and time spent behind the wheel provides some satisfaction, if not actual thrills.
Ride Quality: The Telluride is smooth and composed but not mushy, just the way we like it. It has no problem managing bumps and undulations even with the big 20" alloy wheels.
Acceleration: The naturally-aspirated V6 provides sufficient power to make the Telluride feel potent. 0-60 comes in a hair over seven seconds, which isn't bad for the segment. The 8-speed automatic shifts well and had no problem dropping down gears when needed.
Braking: The Telluride has great brakes. Pedal feel is excellent, and there's progressiveness to the system. Braking distances are class-leading, too.
Steering: The Telluride has a steering feel like few other crossovers in that it's light but nicely increases in effort while turning. There's not much feedback, but the precision and on-centeredness are very good.
Handling: For a crossover this size, we were surprised by the minimal body roll. The Telluride feels composed and balanced in turns.
Technology
Kia did the right thing by giving the Telluride two big screens for instrumentation and infotainment. They're vivid, attractive, and easy to use. The infotainment system isn't as responsive as the Ford Sync 3 (then again, what is), but it's one of the better systems out there. We like the way the instrument cluster changes when you change drive modes.
Infotainment System: The Telluride SX V6's screen is clear and has no visibility issues. We still seem to have trouble advancing music from our iPhones (whether connected via Bluetooth or Apple CarPlay) with Kia and Hyundai vehicles. Features like the hands-free standard liftgate and the intercom for the third row are great additions to the standard set, as well.
Controls: The clean row of metallic-like infotainment buttons is large and sits below the horizontal HVAC vents. They're easy to press while driving, and the steering wheel controls are some of the best around. We also like the traditional gearshift knob, unlike the pushbutton system found on the sister Hyundai Palisade. The seat heat/ventilations switches on the grab handles are perfectly placed too.
Styling
The Telluride gets some important but not very apparent changes to the exterior that provide a nice refresh. The result is a more refined front fascia, despite the loss of those nifty square amber DRL that were very much part of the Telluride signature.
Front: The black mesh grille with a more squared-off look and a new pattern delivers a more rugged and sporty look. The lower fascia has is now a larger black insert with rectangular quad fog lamps instead of the smaller round ones from last year. Most notable is the elimination of the amber square DRLs, replaced by smaller vertical units at the base of the headlight cluster. It's not as bold as before, but it does make the front end look a bit more refined. is a nice change from the slenderized looks from so many other crossovers.
Rear: The hook-shaped LED taillights lose the backup lighting element, now paired with the reshaped reflectors. The shape of the exaust ports have been changed to look more like the sibling Hyundai Palisade's.
Profile: The Telluride looks like a poor man's Range Rover (who are we kidding, it's just as nice). Sporty details like the scalloped front door, black window trim, and black wheels look great from the side.
Cabin: The Telluride's interior s a melding of sport and luxury. The reshaped dash trim has a nice crease now due to the larger infotainment screen.
Comfort
Personally, we'd kill for a Telluride for our own large family. There's plenty of room in all three rows, and the ergonomics and materials are excellent. Sure, there's still some hard plastic in there, but it's all well-placed.
Front Seats: The seats are big and well-cushioned. The premium Nappa leather and soft headliner are also up there with the pricier brands. .
Rear Seats: Plenty of legroom and headroom for adults, and the optional Captain's chairs are great. The rear seats are both heated and ventilated, too, not something you find in SUVs costing way more.
NVH (noise/vibration/harshness): Sound deadening is very good, as is the management of highway wind noise. Build quality is also excellent.
Visibility: Unlike so many other SUVs, the Telluride has big windows and well-managed pillar size, lending to great visibility all around. The cameras and optional Surround View monitor also work very well to manage tight spaces.
Climate: The big vents (three in the center stack alone) move air well. The heated and ventilated seats are responsive but not as powerful as we'd like.
Safety
The Telluride scores with excellence in crash tests and also comes with great standard features including accident avoidance technology. It's one of the safest three-row SUVs for sale today.
IIHS Rating: The Top Safety Pick+ rating thanks to "good" in all crash tests and "superior" front crash prevention.
NHTSA Rating: The Telluride earns a full five stars from the federal government.
Standard Tech: The list of standard features is about as long as your arm. The Telluride comes with Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist-Rear, Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist, Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Highway Driving Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Parking Distance Warning-Reverse, Smart Cruise Control w/ Stop & Go, Rear Occupant Alert, Surround View and Blind-Spot View Monitor, and Safe Exit Assist.
Optional Tech: None.
Storage/Cargo
The Telluride has ample, usable cargo space, but the in-car small item storage could use improvement. It's not bad, but we expect a bit more storage space in the front row for a vehicle like this.
Storage Space: There's a binnacle at the base of the center stack, and a small cubby in front of the cupholders. The armrest is decently sized, as well. The presence of a shift knob compromises some storage opportunities, unlike the Hyundai Palisade which has a pushbutton transmission.
Cargo Room: Cargo space behind row three is a generous 21 cubic feet, and the back gets 87 cubes with both rows folded down. The cargo hold opening is wide, the floor is nicely flat, and there's even a storage compartment under the load floor. The Telluride can also tow 5,000 pounds, which is as much as the new Honda Pilot
Fuel Economy
The V6 isn't exactly miserly, and that comes as no surprise. It's too bad there are no hybrid or PHEV powertrain choices for the Telluride, which would widen its appeal even more. The V6, however, provides ample power, and the transmission shifts smoothly and without issue. We drove mostly in Sport mode, which seriously reduced our fuel efficiency.
Observed: 15.2 mpg
Distance Driven: 183 miles
Audio
The SX-Prestige X-Line gets upgraded audio with the excellent Harman Kardon premium surround sound system. It provides strong sound with great bass and clarity.
Final Thoughts
The Telluride continues to be a truly compelling family SUV. The changes to the interior and exterior make it even more attractive, despite the fact that it's on the thirsty side and isn't as engaging to drive as the Mazda CX-90 or even the Toyota Grand Highlander. It is, however, supremely safe and remarkably roomy. It's a vehicle we would consider for our own family.