2024 Kia Telluride Changes, Engine, Electric – Since its debut in 2024, the 2024 Kia Telluride three-row crossover SUV has earned our Best Car to Buy title and others. It competes with vehicles such as the Honda Pilot, Ford Explorer, and Hyundai Palisade.
2024 Kia Telluride Redesign
For the award-winning Telluride, little has changed. All versions will feature a 10.3-inch touchscreen and automatic climate control in 2024, while the LX and Seditions will feature adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality. The elegant 2024 Telluride is the perfect combination of angles and curves with a form that effortlessly transitions between rugged and sophisticated. The body is pleasing; the cabin is a cut above even that, especially with the SX’s quilted Nappa leather and wood trim.
While performance may not reach the same heights, the Telluride’s 291-horsepower 3.8-liter V-6 engine works well with the eight-speed automated transmission to deliver adequate acceleration via the front or all four wheels. The Telluride’s ride quality is outstanding, especially compared to the outmoded Pilot and the too-taut Explorer: it silently smothers bumps and road seams while simultaneously towing up to 5,000 lb. Gas mileage is average, and there is no hybrid model available.
Interior
Due to the 2024 Kia Telluride length and width, accommodating up to eight passengers is not difficult. It’s a 9, for comfort, because it’s well constructed and rigged, with ample luggage space to boot. The Telluride is nearly identical in size to the Hyundai Palisade, with a 114.2-inch wheelbase and a 196.9-inch overall length. The base crossovers have manually adjustable synthetic leather front seats. The S model has an eight-way motorized driver seat, which is only found on the S model.
The Telluride EX and SX SUVs include leather upholstery and a power passenger seat, with the SX offering Nappa leather upholstery as an option. We’ve been delighted with the driving position and space surrounding the front passengers in each Telluride we’ve driven—as well as the small-item storage for keys and smartphones. The second row is available with a bench seat or two captain’s chairs. In either event, the Telluride comfortably accommodates large adults.
The seats fold and glide forward to improve access to the third-row seat, which also accommodates adults on shorter excursions. The rear seat has the same amount of space as some minivans; we apologize if we revealed the Telluride’s hidden objective without providing a trigger warning. Behind that third row, there is around 21 cubic feet of cargo space. With the seat pulled down, the Telluride offers 46 cubic feet of cargo space. When the middle seats are folded away, the volume expands to 87 cubic feet.
Kia screws the Telluride together with evident care and lines it with well-chosen materials that make the interior appear more expensive than it is. The Telluride SX takes it a step further with chrome, wood, and leather—at the top of its game, with a suede headliner and Nappa hides—and in the process, makes some very costly vehicles appear chintzy.
Engine
The Telluride’s 3.8-liter V-6 engine produces 291 horsepower and is shared with the Hyundai Palisade. When paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, it can provide power to the front wheels or all four axles. For top trims, the curb weight is roughly 4,500 pounds; as physics dictates, this results in effortless acceleration, not ferocious forward momentum. It performs better on mid-speed passes; the automatic transmission is always prepared for a quick and crisp shift, but switching to sport drive mode degrades the already-mediocre fuel economy. Kia’s V-6 lacks the rich growl of a Honda V-6, but it is also masked by thick glass.
The Telluride is superior in terms of towing capacity and traction. It can tow up to 5,000 lb with all-wheel drive, and with its all-wheel-drive system locked in a 50:50 power split at speeds up to 40 mph, it’s an excellent weapon for carving up winter roads when necessary. The ride is the reason to admire the Telluride, even when equipped with the standard 20-inch wheels on practically every version. Base models (which we haven’t tried) may do better at high-velocity bump-snuffing, but the Telluride SXs and EXs we’ve driven cut down on severe pavement ripples with ease. At first, Telluride maintains its composure and is largely unconcerned. We wouldn’t mind if the steering took the lead: in some drive modes, it gains weight without providing adequate input.
2024 Kia Telluride Release Date and Price
The Telluride LX starts at $34,015 and includes seating for eight, power features, a 10.3-inch touchscreen, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay. We’d opt for the $39,015 Telluride EX with its leather upholstery, motorized tailgate, sunroof, and ventilated front seats—but the $43,915 Telluride SX is enticing.