Is The Kia Telluride Worth The Hype?

The Telluride has truly outdone itself this year. It’s managed to break records in the automotive industry, earning three of the most noteworthy awards in 2021, including MotorTrend SUV of the Year, Car and Driver 10 Best, and North American Car of the Year. With such great success, you can’t help but wonder how this SUV came to be. How has it really outshined an ambitious group of competitors in such a short period of time? While we certainly don’t second-guess its eminence (not even for a minute), we do crave more understanding of its instant success. Read on to learn the two factors that have fueled the hype around the Kia Telluride this year.

Safety + price powers the Kia Telluride

In the past, the Telluride has landed on our list of most comfortable cars and best SUVs for families. It’s wide-ranging recognition is mostly in part to its affordable entry price and Kia Drive Wise Driver Assist Technology. Advertised as “hassle free, delightful driving”, this top-rated Kia model benefits from all the technologies under this system. We’re talking:

• Forward Collison-Avoidance Assist
• Forward Collison Warning
• Blind-Spot Collision Warning
• Lane Departure Warning
• Lane Keeping Assist
• Smart Cruise Control
• Highway Driving Assist
• Lane Following Assist

On top of that, the Kia Drive Wise program sets aside advanced technologies for visibility, known formally as Visibility Assist. Select Kia Telluride trims come equipped with High Beam Assist (HBA) and Low Beam Assist-Dynamic (LBA-D). The high beam feature senses oncoming traffic and surrounding property to effectively control light intensity. As a result, Telluride drivers can enjoy excellent visibility without causing potential harm to other drivers.

The Low Beam Assist-Dynamic works wonders at illuminating the road ahead by positioning its light in accordance with the steering wheel. Therefore, if you turn your wheel to the left, the LBA-D safety feature will accurately illuminate in that direction. This gives drivers a better vantage point of any curvatures in the road, including nearing hazards ahead.

All said and done, a Telluride driver is getting some of the best safety standards that the automotive industry has to offer. Knowing you have innovative safety at a fair price point in today’s market is an overall win.

Trim options to compare

Choosing the trim is essentially the time to customize your purchase. Telluride buyers have a four options, starting with the base model LX. With an MSRP of $32,790, the LX model does not disappoint in price nor standard features. Drivers can enjoy top-of-the-line safety features, including automatic emergency braking, blind-spot detection, and advanced cruise control.

The S, starting at $34,590, elevates the driving experience a bit with heated seating, power sunroof, and 20-inch wheels. Bump up to the EX trim and you’ll experience luxury at its finest with wood grain interior accents, leather trim seating, and Smart Power Lift gate. In addition, the EX is packed elegant lighting features, including rear combination LEDs and an auto dimming rearview mirror.

At last, the SX trim with a MSRP of $42,690, will offer all the bells and whistles of every trim along with interior mood lighting, Harman Kardon 10-speaker audio system, second-row captain’s chairs and front fog lights for safer driving. With data from Kelley Blue Book suggesting the average new car buyer spends close to $40,000-45,000, the Kia Telluride is a superb option for the money.

Kia Telluride: the SUV of choice

The fanfare surrounding the Kia Telluride is backed by legitimate reasoning. Apart from its exceptional safety, the Telluride oozes sophistication and interior excellence. It really is one of the best vehicles for the money. We don’t blame some naysayers for questioning all the hype. However, there is no denying this sport utility vehicle is lighting the automotive industry on fire. We predict its momentum will not stop anytime soon. In fact, demand is so high that even used Telluride models are selling above its new car sticker price.

Ready to take the plunge? If you’re convinced the Telluride lives up to all its glory, here’s a detailed look at all the features to you’ll get to enjoy for the 2022 model year: