When Kia introduced the Telluride for the 2020 model year, it proved beyond any shadow of a doubt that the brand no longer deserved to be a punchline for late-night comics. Oozing style and value, the 2020 Telluride was powerful and practical, and provided entry-luxury design, materials, and technology for a great value MSRP.
It was an instant success, garnering it the nickname “Selluride” in the halls of the automaker’s North American headquarters. Early on, the West Point, Georgia, assembly plant struggled to meet demand. Years later, consumer fever for the Telluride had cooled, but it remained a top-seller for Kia and within its segment—and it’s a tough one, because it includes the Toyota Highlander, the Hyundai Palisade, and the Honda Pilot, among others.
A midsize SUV with three rows of seats, the Telluride is larger inside and out than the Kia Sorento. It comes in several trim levels, and those at the top of the lineup have interiors suitable for a luxury SUV if not for the hard and glossy plastic covering the lower portions of the cabin. In addition, the more expensive Tellurides offer thoughtful features uncommon for the class.
Kia’s generous warranty provided original owners with peace of mind, but as with many brand-new models, first-year reliability wasn’t impressive. Across all model years, the Telluride is generally average in this regard, but based on information gathered by CarComplaints.com, the 2020-21 Tellurides are the most troublesome.
Kia Telluride Buying Guide: Cost, Reliability, and the Best Years to Buy
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Kia Telluride Pros and Cons
- Kia Telluride Generations
- First Generation (2020 to Present)
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Kia Telluride years are the best?
Kia had resolved some of the Telluride’s early issues by 2022, when it also received the new Kia emblems and some of its most impressive technology was added to the lower trim levels. A refresh arrived in 2023 with subtle styling modifications and a new line of more rugged-looking X-Line and X-Pro versions.
What are the worst Kia Telluride years?
Owners of 2020 Telluride models have logged many issues with CarComplaints, and while the 2021 Telluride isn’t as troublesome, it still isn’t as problem-free as the 2022 and newer models. The best technologies are more widely available on the later models, too.
Is a used Kia Telluride a good deal?
Tellurides hold their value better than some alternatives in the segment but not as well as others. So, just as they offer average reliability, they’re average value as a used SUV. We recommend a newer, lightly used model, and for extra confidence, consider choosing one backed by Kia’s certified used vehicle program.
Kia Telluride Pros and Cons
Pros
- Stylish design
- Spacious interior
- Impressive technology
Cons
- Cheap interior details
- No hybrid powertrain availability
- Irritating lane-keeping assist system
Kia Telluride Generations
First Generation (2020 to Present)
The first-generation Kia Telluride went on sale in 2019 for the 2020 model year. The largest Kia to date, it served as a flagship model for the automaker, joining the Stinger grand touring car and the K900 luxury car. That trio helped to elevate the Kia brand in the eyes of consumers, and the Telluride was the most successful of the three.
With an upscale design, a modern cabin, compelling technology, and a roomy interior, the Telluride gave Kia a properly competitive three-row midsize SUV. In addition to its eight-passenger capacity, the cargo space expanded from 21 cubic feet behind the third row to 46 cubes behind the second row. Maximum cargo volume measured 87 cu-ft.
Under the hood, a 3.8-liter V6 engine whipped up 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, fed to the front wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. Buyers could replace the standard front-wheel drive with an all-wheel drive system, and the Telluride offered a Snow mode and an AWD differential lock setting to evenly split power to the axles. The Telluride’s towing capacity was 5,000 pounds, and a self-leveling rear suspension system improved the towing experience. EPA city, highway, and combined fuel economy figures were 20 mpg, 26 mpg, and 23 mpg for the front-wheel drive model, and 19 mpg, 24 mpg, and 21 mpg for AWD versions.
The 2020 Kia Telluride trim levels are LX, S, EX, and SX, each with a generous list of standard equipment. Highlights for the Telluride LX included 18-inch alloy wheels, heated exterior mirrors, artificial leather upholstery and a leather-wrapped steering wheel, remote start, rear climate control, an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and lots of advanced driving assistance systems under the Kia Drive Wise banner, including blind-spot collision warning and rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance assist, among plenty of others.
Upgrading to the Telluride S added 20-inch wheels, satin chrome exterior trim, roof rails, and a power sunroof. This model also gained LED interior lighting, an eight-way power driver’s seat, heated front seats, and second-row captain’s chairs.
The Telluride EX switched back to 18-inch wheels but added many appealing features. Highlights included subtle upscale detailing, such as simulated wood interior trim and artificial leather on parts of the interior, genuine leather seats, a power passenger seat, triple-zone automatic climate control, rear window sun shades, and a hands-free power liftgate. A larger infotainment screen, a wireless phone charger, and Kia’s sophisticated Highway Driving Assist semi-autonomous driving assistance system were also standard with EX trim.
Many customers wanted the Telluride SX, which was a surprise for Kia. It was arguably the best-looking model, but it also came with dual sunroofs, improved instrumentation, 64-color ambient interior lighting, and a Harman Kardon premium audio system. This version of the Telluride also had a camera-based blind-spot monitoring system called Blind-Spot View Monitor and a surround-view monitor system. An SX Prestige option package made the Telluride look and feel like a luxury model.
In 2021, new paint colors debuted, and a Nightfall Edition arrived with blacked-out exterior detailing for a custom look. In 2022, Kia added its new corporate logo to the grille, trunk, and other areas, and made the SUV’s larger infotainment screen, automatic climate control, and Highway Driving Assist available with LX and S trim. The adaptive cruise control also added an automatic curve speed reduction feature.
In response to customers seeking a more rugged look and added off-roading capability, the refreshed 2023 Telluride lineup added X-Line and X-Pro trim packages. That meant you could get an EX X-Line, an SX X-line, and an SX Prestige X-Line, while Kia reserved the Telluride’s latter treatment for SX X-Pro and the SX Prestige X-Pro. The Telluride X-Pro models featured all-terrain tires for improved grip off-road, and both the Telluride X-Line and the X-Pro got a boost in ground clearance from eight to 8.4 inches.
The new SX Prestige trim added elements of the previous SX Prestige package, such as premium Nappa leather upholstery, a simulated suede headliner, heated and ventilated second-row seats, and more. Kia also upgraded the 2023 Telluride’s technology. For example, a more sophisticated dual-screen dashboard included a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 12.3-inch touchscreen display. In addition, access to a Wi-Fi hotspot, digital key technology, and a head-up display became available. Highway Driving Assist 2 enhanced the Telluride’s driving assistance technology with a new lane-change assist function.
There were further styling tweaks for the 2024 Telluride, including standardizing the SUV’s signature amber tail lights across all models. Kia updated the SUV’s color choices and made other minor changes in 2025.
According to CarComplaints, Kia resolved many of the Telluride’s issues by the 2022 model year. Still, other sources rate the 2022 Telluride as average in reliability and show a slight decline in 2023, the same year Kia updated the SUV’s technology.
Finding a used Telluride with low miles is easy. Older examples with less than 70,000 miles start at around $22,000, while newer Tellurides with under 10,000 miles can go for over $50,000. Regardless of which one you choose, it’s smart to get a vehicle history report to be sure it hasn’t been in a wreck or suffered some other major problem.
