Kias have gotten to be stylish rides, and the Telluride three-row SUV is no exception. Well-received by auto journalists, this upscale full size SUV packs a ton of luxury at an affordable price, making the Palisade/Telluride twins best-sellers for Hyundai/Kia. Right now, Kia is pushing a number of incentives to move existing Telluride inventory as it approaches its first total redesign. You could get an amazing price on a brand new SUV.
Kia landed in the United States in the mid-nineties guns abalzing, with the compact Sportage SUV and the highly affordable Sephia. Years of embarrassment in the lives of schoolchildren whose parents could not afford a new Ford Explorer or Taurus ensued. Times have changed, however, and as with its corporate partner Hyundai (which owns a controlling stake in Kia), Kias have gotten to be great cars that are even the subject of envy. Despite a corporate rebrand that confused leagues of customers who did not know what the new Kia logo said, it’s a sharp upgrade for the brand as it looks to the future; Hyundai/Kia have become the World’s third largest automaker after Toyota and Volkswagen Group. Kia now brings all the bells and whistles of upscale luxury vehicles to an affordable price point for Americans of all classes.
One of Car and Driver’s 2023 “10 Best”, the formidable Telluride is a large size SUV with room for seven or eight, starting at just $36,190 msrp. Sharing its platform with the equally stylish Hyundai Palisade, the Telluride is an IIHS top safety pick. The Telluride comes in nine dazzling colors, including wolf gray, jungle green, glacial white pearl, dawning red, midnight lake blue, ebony black, dark moss, gravity gray, and everlasting silver. A whopping 14 seat and interior trim combinations exist, helping to exhibit the amount of styling and effort that has helped catapult Kia to the top sales charts. Highlights include optional terracotta Nappa leather, sage green Nappa leather, or mahogany leather trims, outside of standard gray and black leatherette base trim.
Standard equipment on the entry-level Telluride LX is quite generous. It includes LED headlights, 9 airbags with second row airbags in-seat, and a cornucopia of of collision avoidance and safety systems. Kia’s corporate 291 horsepower V6 engine is standard, offering up to 5500 lbs of towing capacity. A 12.3 inch touchscreen displays navigation directions and connects to all phone models (unless you have a Nokia brick from 20 years ago). Other standard features include a leather-wrapped steering wheel, faux leather trim, 5 USB-C charging ports, dual zone auto climate control with rear vents, 18 inch alloys, push button and remote start key, parking sensors, one touch sliding and folding second row seats, and all the power options we’ve come to expect as standard equipment like locks, mirrors, and windows.
If you want to wrap your head around all the trims of the Telluride, you are going to need to take notes. Popular upgrades include heated seats, ventilated seats, real leather trims (both regular leather and Nappa leather), sunroof, and a locking differential, amongst other choices. The S trim starts at $38,090 msrp and adds 20 inch alloys, roof rails, 2nd row captain’s chairs, heated front seats, and wireless phone charging. EX trim, $41,790 msrp, adds sunroof, smart power liftgate with auto closing, leather seats, power passenger’s seat, ventilated front seats, seating for 8, LED taillights, power folding mirrors, and sound absorbing window glass. EX X-Line, $46,085 msrp, has all-wheel drive with center locking diff, X line 20 inch wheels, X-line styling, more ground clearance, towing mode, self-leveling rear suspension, and X-line interior trim and seats. The SX, $45,990 msrp, has 12.3 inch dual panoramic displays, Harmon Kardon audio, dual sunroofs, , and other options. A host of other trims mix and match options, such as SX X-Line, SX X-Pro, SX Prestige, SX Prestige X-Line, and the range topping SX Prestige X-Pro, msrp $53,385, which includes all but the kitchen sink.
Right now Kia has a host of great incentives on the current 2024 Telluride. These include lease deals on Telluride S in either front wheel drive or all wheel drive. There is also an owner loyalty bonus for existing Kia customers, and Kia also has a $500 military discount. Be sure to consult local dealers for most detailed pricing and offers available.
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