Kia’s flagship family SUV, the Telluride has an impressive interior that keeps up with the biggest names in automotive luxury.
The Kia Telluride is one of the most popular sport-utility vehicles on the market. In 2020, Kia’s SUV was named the “World Car of the Year” by the World Car Awards, Motor Trend‘s Best SUV of the year, and the North American International Auto Show’s Vehicle of the Year. It hits all of the right selling points in an SUV. It’s a great size and has plenty of cargo space with decent fuel economy to boot.
Cracking over 20 miles per gallon in the city and up to 26 miles per gallon highway is an impressive feat for any SUV. Furthermore, the Telluride is available with a towing package that allows you to tow up to 5,000 pounds. Combine all of these great assets with its capable all-wheel-drive system and adequate ground clearance, and you’ll find that the Telluride is prepared to go just about anywhere you’re bold enough to take it.
As with many SUVs and crossovers, it’s a safe wager that the majority of them are run around daily drivers for families. It’s hard not to be attracted to Telluride’s competitive base price of $32,000, putting it on par with the likes of the Ford Explorer and Chevy Traverse.
However, one of the major selling points of the Kia SUV is its remarkable interior features. Inside, even the base Telluride is close to offering the quality of high-end luxury brands.
Over the past couple of decades, Kia has grown into an automotive powerhouse that seems to believe that high-quality automotive experiences should not be reserved only for those with fat wallets. A prime example of this is the remarkably high-quality interiors Kia has been producing in recent years.
Lately, it seems Kia is the comparative standard when it comes to walking the line of affordability and quality. Let’s take a close look at the Kia Telluride’s interior features and options to show you what we mean.
Kia Telluride’s Luxury Interior
While most people associate a cheaper car with cheaper interior materials, the Kia Telluride doesn’t fit that mold. Despite the starting price being around half that of the cheapest available Mercedes GLS, the Telluride’s interior reflects a no-compromise approach that gives the impression the interior development had no monetary limitations. In fact, along with its many accolades mentioned earlier, Kia also landed on Wards’ 10 Best Interiors List of 2020.
Inside, you’ll immediately notice a lack of cheap, finicky plastics. Instead, the majority of materials you interact with are carefully wrapped in leather. This includes the steering wheel across all Telluride models, which stands out compared to similar SUVs in the same price range like the Ford Expedition, Honda Pilot, and GMC Yukon. While many of the buttons on the dash and steering wheel for HVAC and radio controls are indeed plastic, they still are high quality.
The interior materials are as plentiful as they are high quality. Currently, the 2021 Kia Telluride is offered with nine different choices for interior hues. Standard leather choices include Espresso Brown, Butterscotch, Gray, and Black.
Stepping it up a bit are the Nappa leather options, which bring a more refined and softer feel than standard leather. These options include Dune Brown, Gray, and Black. Finally, Black and Gray Sofino synthetic leather trims are offered, as well.
The high-quality materials found inside the Telluride, even on base models, have seen massive critical acclaim. Many of which share the sentiment that the Telluride interior outshines that of its competitors in material quality.
For example, a base model Ford Explorer has cloth seats and a plastic dashboard. However, the materials are only a part of the story here. Kia’s flagship SUV has a whole lot more to offer inside for all occupants, drivers, or passengers.
Loaded With Remarkable Features
The Telluride has a surprising list of standard features found inside. The use of these features spans across everyone inside, from driver-assist features and steering wheel controls to easy sliding second-row seats for easy rear passenger access.
First on the list is the eight-inch standard touchscreen infotainment system. All models are equipped with Android Auto and Apple Car Play connectivity. Additionally, an upgrade to a 10.25-inch touchscreen display is available for higher trim models EX and SX. A Harmon Kardon sound system is standard on the highest trim level, the SX.
However, all other Tellurides still come with a remarkable six-speaker sound system to complement the touchscreen options.
Also standard is keyless entry with push-button start and a host of driver assists. Lane following assist, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, forward collision warning, and forward collision avoidance with pedestrian detection work to keep all vehicle occupants safe, no matter what scenario is presented to the driver.
Further driver comforts include an optional head-up display and power driver seat memory positions on the top trim SX model.
While the interior is a great place to be for the driver and front passenger, Kia has worked to ensure the rear passengers also get the full luxurious experience.
Telluride’s Standard Features
A host of standard features on the Telluride make for a great ride-along experience. Clearly, just judging by sheer space and comfortable-sized interior, the Telluride is marketed towards families with plenty of people and cargo to bring along for the adventure.
So, it only makes sense that Kia would provide a comfortable experience for the rear occupants. Not only do the materials used in the rear seats match the high quality found up front, but they also have the option to pack the same features.
Heated and ventilated second-row seats are available. Both the second and third-row seats recline for passenger comfort. Remarkably, the second row has an astonishing 42.4 inches of legroom, meaning even the tallest adults can sit comfortably. Both rear seat rows fold down to allow for maximized cargo space, as well.
Throughout the Telluride, there are up to six available USB ports for charging mobile devices. One USB port is also capable of media transfer so that occupants can play music from their favorite device via USB cable.
Additionally, all Telluride models are standard with three twelve-volt power outlets (formerly known as cigarette lighters) for additional charging and power supply needs. A 110-volt power inverter is available as an option on the top trim SX models, too.
Standard on all models is Kia’s Rear Occupant Alert system that reminds drivers to check rear seats when exiting the vehicle. If a child or pet is left behind and the interior motion sensors detect movement, the alarm will sound, and a notification will be sent to the owner’s phone via Kia’s application.
Telluride: A Roadtrip Ready Machine
One shortcoming of the 2020 Kia Telluride is the lack of an available rear-seat entertainment system. This oversight was one of the more criticized points of the Telluride.
However, Kia took the criticism well. The 2021 model years now have an available rear-seat entertainment system with video screens for rear passengers. It includes two monitors with USB ports. app connectivity, and two remote controls. The option, however, does cost an additional $1,500.
LED interior lighting is standard. However, the SX trim is available with LED mood lighting that allows occupants to choose from 64 different color options.
Standard are power door locks with speed-sensing locking technology to ensure everyone remains where they’re supposed to when the vehicle is moving.
Additionally, the door locks have a collision detecting feature that automatically unlocks in the event of a crash, preventing passengers from being trapped inside in the event of an accident.
Even with all three rows of seats standing, the Telluride has 21 cu. ft. of cargo room. Folding down the third-row seating doubles that number and then some, bringing the total available cargo space to 46 cu. ft.
Finally, folding both rows of rear seats down allows for 87 cu. ft. of cargo space. With 50/50 and 60/40 folding seats on the second and third rows, the Telluride offers the opportunity to bring just about anything you need with you, even with passengers in the rear seats.
Finally, all Telluride models have dual-level cargo floor areas for hide-away cargo storage.
SX models also offer a dual sunroof setup, allowing both front and rear occupants to have an open-air experience on those nice, sunny days.
Telluride Offers Upper-crust Luxury at Everyman Prices
The Telluride interior experience is a step above competitors in a similar price range regarding materials used and standard features. In fact, it even rivals some more luxurious SUVs in some ways, though it comes in at a fraction of the cost.
When looking for a family SUV that everyone is going to enjoy spending time in, the Telluride is tough to beat. It has an absolutely perfect balance of features, safety equipment, and interior perks. Even if you can’t splurge on a brand new model or the highest trim available, you are bound to be blown away by the Telluride’s interior experience.
It’s also worth noting that the Telluride comes with Kia’s astonishing warranties. The basic warranty, often referred to as a “bumper to bumper” warranty, trounces the competition at five years or 60,000 miles.
As if that isn’t enough, Kia’s powertrain warranty spans 10 years or 100,000 miles. Furthermore, Kia provides a five-year or 60,000-mile roadside assistance plan, offering peace of mind on road trips.
Telluride pricing starts at $32,190 for 2021 LX (base) models. Jumping to the highest trim, the SX puts the starting MSRP at $42,490. Of course, used car shoppers can look to certified pre-owned options to retain the Kia warranty.
Overall, if you are in the market for a newer family SUV, the Telluride absolutely must be on your list for consideration. Many people still carry a negative outlook toward Kia, but we assure you interacting with a Telluride in person will change your mind faster than you can imagine.
Photos: Kia
