Here’s Why the Telluride Is One of Kia’s Most Important Cars of the Decade

The Korean automaker recently teased one of its most successful cars as of late and this is why we’re excited for it.

Top-down view of a sleek, modern car roof with two large sunroofs and a small antenna fin.

Published 3 hours ago

·

Kia just dropped teasers for one of its most anticipated cars of the decade: the second-generation Telluride. The current model is about to crest six years old, meaning it’s coming to the end of its production lifecycle.

That, of course, means there’s a new generation coming out. Here’s exactly why we’re excited for it.

The Telluride put the industry on notice

Blue mid-size SUV with black grille and wheels parked on a dirt path with trees and hills in the background. — The Kia Telluride stole the midsize SUV segment when it debuted in 2020.

When the Telluride launched in 2020, it became an absolutely instant hit. Not only did it immediately scoop up MotorTrend’s highly coveted SUV of the Year award that year, it also stole the World Car of the Year award.

Nearly every automotive publication, big and small, including us here at the GP Motoring desk, echoed the same sentiments. Since then, it has remained a chart topper, even as it aged and after the competition introduced newer rivals.

Blue Kia Telluride SUV parked on dirt with trees and dry grass in the background. — Even while turning six years old, the Kia Telluride remains one of the best midsize SUVs on the market.

The Telluride is one of those extremely rare cases where it is almost impossible to find any glaring fault. And if there were any faults, they’d be extremely critical and reaching thoughts.

It’s so good, you don’t have to be a car enthusiast to recognize how excellent it is. There are a lot of great cars out there, and there are hardly ever any obviously terrible ones.

Blue Kia SUV driving on a road with purple flowering trees in the background. — The Telluride just checked all the boxes that make for an exceptionally designed and well-built vehicle.

But there are very few that do everything in an extremely well-rounded manner and at such a competitive price point.

Kia got it all so right, the Telluride put the rest of the industry on notice. It simply raised the bar on how much car and value you can get for your money, while making it appealing on all levels.

It’s basically a poor man’s Range Rover, in the best possible way

The Telluride’s abundant standard equipment and tech, and upscale interior vibes make it feel far more expensive than it actually is.

Kia Motor America

What makes the Telluride so compelling isn’t because it’s an eye-catching or heart-pumping sports car. It’s because it checks all the boxes for most people who just want a great, practical, everyday vehicle that isn’t so boring or soul-sucking, it makes you resent the fact that you drive it.

The Telluride isn’t for people looking for a thrill. Rather, it appeals to families who appreciate quality engineering, execution and value.

Blue Kia SUV with illuminated amber headlights driving on a rural road with greenery and hills in the background. — The Telluride raised the bar on overall value and execution.

Looks are generally subjective. But its boxy and simple styling gives the Telluride a very rugged and authoritative appearance.

Its shape and larger, midsize proportions mean it’s comfortable and roomy for everyone. It’s also incredibly quiet and refined, both to ride and drive in.

Gray Kia SUV with illuminated amber headlights driving on a coastal road with mountains and ocean in the background. — Its boxy shape and simple design draw the same sort of visual appeal that catches the eyes of Range Rover buyers.

The Telluride isn’t out to win pink slips or red-light drag races. But its 3.5-liter V6 is as delightfully smooth and powerful as they come.

And while it’s no tire-shredding Stinger, the Telluride’s masterfully tuned ride and handling compromise makes it just absolutely pleasant to drive.

Tan leather car seat with "X Pro" embossed on the headrest area. — You need to experience a Telluride to understand how excellent it is.

Add excellent build quality, great seats, tons of standard equipment, modern tech, flawless execution and smart attention to detail, and the Telluride just feels way more expensive and premium than its mainstream price suggests.

Looking at the wider picture, it does it all without requiring one to shell out a ginormous amount of hard-earned money for it.

The Telluride has some ginormous shoes to fill

Front view of a dark SUV with illuminated vertical yellow LED headlights in a dimly lit setting. — The new Telluride looks like it’ll shape up to be another winner.

Because the Telluride was so impactful, it leaves a lot of anticipation for the next-gen model. How does one follow up such a great act and without fixing what isn’t broken?

Well, Kia just provided a recent teaser of what we can expect from the new model.

We can see the boxy, rugged shape remains. But it’s edgier and more chiseled, similar to its platform cousin, the Hyundai Palisade.

Dark green and black Hyundai Palisade SUV driving on a desert highway under a clear blue sky. — The Telluride’s platform cousin, the Hyundai Palisade, launched a few months ago.

From what can be deciphered, the Telluride will retain its upscale and poor person’s Range Rover vibe. And being a Kia, it’ll be jam-packed with essentials, extra amenities and tech that you’d expect to find in a vehicle that costs twice the price.

We can’t wait to see what this second act brings us.

About the Author: Chris Chin is an associate editor at Gear Patrol, covering cars, trucks and anything else with four wheels. He has over a decade of experience writing news and reviews but considers himself an enthusiast first, with a passion for classics and European cars. His daily driver is a 1987 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL with nearly 250,000 miles (87,000 are his).

Want to stay up to date on the latest product news and releases? Add Gear Patrol as a preferred source to ensure our independent journalism makes it to the top of your Google search results.