2024 Kia Telluride Electric, Engine, Specs – Since its launch in 2020, the 2024 Kia Telluride three-row crossover SUV has garnered several accolades, including our Best Car to Buy award. It has competition from the Honda Pilot, Ford Explorer, and Hyundai Palisade.
2024 Kia Telluride Redesign
Telluride, the award-winning ski resort, has remained mostly unchanged. By 2024, all variants will include a 10.3-inch touchscreen and automatic climate management, while the LX and S trim levels will incorporate adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capabilities. The sleek 2024 Telluride is the ideal balance of angles and curves, with a design that seamlessly flows between rugged and urbane. Although the outside is lovely, the inside is even more so, especially with the SX’s quilted nappa leather and wood trim.
While performance is not comparable, the 2024 Kia Telluride 291-horsepower 3.8-liter V-6 engine works well with the eight-speed automatic gearbox to provide enough acceleration via the front or all four wheels. The Telluride’s ride quality is exceptional, especially when contrasted to the antiquated Pilot and the too sensitive Explorer: it smothers bumps and road seams while towing up to 5,000 lb. The fuel economy is mediocre, and there is no hybrid variant available.
Interior
The Telluride’s length and width make it easy to accommodate up to eight passengers. It’s a 9 for comfort, since it’s well-built and rigged, with enough baggage space to boot. The Telluride is virtually equal in size to the Hyundai Palisade, with a wheelbase of 114.2 inches and a total length of 196.9 inches. While the entry-level crossovers come standard with mechanically adjustable synthetic leather front seats, the S model adds an eight-way power driver seat.
The Telluride EX and SX SUVs come standard with leather upholstery and a power passenger seat, with nappa leather upholstery available on the SX. We’ve been pleasantly surprised by the driving position and space available to front passengers in each Telluride we’ve driven—as well as the small-item storage for keys and smartphones. Second row seating options include a bench seat or two captain’s chairs. In either case, the Telluride fits large adults comfortably.
The seats fold and glide forward to make access to the third row easier. The third row seat may also accommodate adults for brief outings. The back seat is comparable to that of certain minivans; we regret not offering a trigger warning when revealing the Telluride’s secret objective. There is approximately 21 cubic feet of cargo capacity below the third row. With the seat folded down, the Telluride has a load capacity of 46 cubic feet. The storage increases to 87 cubic feet when the middle seats are folded down.
Kia assembles the Telluride with apparent care and lines it with well-chosen materials that give the interior the appearance of being more expensive than it is. The Telluride SX takes it a step further with chrome, wood, and leather—at the pinnacle of its game, with a suede headliner and nappa hides—and in the process, makes other really expensive vehicles feel childish.
Engine
The Telluride’s 3.8-liter V-6 engine, which is shared with the Hyundai Palisade, delivers 291 horsepower. When coupled with an eight-speed automatic transmission, it is capable of powering either the front wheels or all four axles. The top trims have a curb weight of around 4,500 pounds, which, as physics dictates, provides an easy acceleration rather than a violent forward velocity.
It performs better on mid-speed passes; the automatic transmission is always prepared for a quick and snappy shift, but activating sport drive mode worsens the already-mediocre fuel economy. While the V-6 in the Kia lacks the deep growl of the Honda V-6, it is also obscured by thick glass.
In terms of towing capability and traction, the Telluride is better. It has a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds 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 a terrific weapon for slicing up snow-covered roads when necessary. The ride is what makes the Telluride so appealing, even when paired with the standard 20-inch wheels found on almost every variation.
While lower versions (which we have not tested) may be more adept at absorbing high-velocity bumps, the Telluride SXs and EXs we have driven neatly eliminate unsightly pavement ripples. On the other hand, Telluride maintains its poise and appears mainly unaffected. We wouldn’t mind if the steering took the lead because it gets heavier in different drive modes but doesn’t give us the feedback we need.
2024 Kia Telluride Release Date and Price
The Telluride LX is priced at $34,015 and comes equipped with seating for eight, power features, a 10.3-inch touchscreen, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay. We’d choose the $39,015 Telluride EX, which has leather upholstery, a motorized tailgate, a sunroof, and ventilated front seats—but the $43,915 Telluride SX is also appealing.