2021 Kia Telluride Review: Kia's Golden Goose | CarGurus

The Kia Telluride debuted to huge sales. But what's new for 2021?
Shop for the 2021 Kia Telluride on CarGurus: cargur.us/FvW_N
At Kia, the Telluride's come to be called the "Selluride." Dealers don't need to discount these three-row SUVs to move them off the lot--in some states, it seems that buyers line up around the block. So what new features have the Korean automaker added to the 2021 model? Well for one, there's the new Nightfall Edition.
For more information on the 2021 Kia Telluride, read Christian's full review on CarGurus: cargur.us/FvWZG
Presenter: Christian Wardlaw
Cinematography: Dan Sharp
Written review: Christian Wardlaw
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0:00 Introducing the 2021 Kia Telluride
0:49 Exterior Overview
1:29 Pricing
2:48 Interior Details
3:53 Infotainment System
4:27 Rear Seats and Cargo Space
6:05 Driving Impressions
8:22 Final Thoughts

[@robertstoler7209]

Chris.... once again, your review makes me ponder that I may need this SUV. ♥️

[@cornbread70s4]

Chris! Long time no see! Great review. Love your reviews. Honest and detailed.

[@gab4690]

Great review on the awd and off road capabilities.

[@raydavies3278]

lm pleasantly surprised as one of the hardest critic's on the tube,thanks.

[@gree9963]

because Hyundai engine is crap.

[@jed8375]

@@gree9963 Well.. new 3.5 isn't that bad

[@basilbcf]

I bought the SX Nightfall but without the Prestige package. I got the butterscotch leather which is the only interior color that comes with a black headliner - which I love.

[@stevedoyel]

Just got my 21 SX Prestige a month ago. Fantastic vehicle.

[@stevedoyel]

It’s truly an amazing vehicle. Kia knocked it out of the park. I think my wife wants one now. Dark Moss / Black Nappa here.

[@californialove4316]

Good choice brotha👍👍👍

[@myopinion1461]

Lucky you. I’m waiting for S package.

[@julierosenson6007]

how quiet or noisy is the ride?

[@stevedoyel]

@@julierosenson6007 It's quiet and smooth.

[@johnmccarthy2152]

Excellent video. Very entertaining and informing.

[@amigatommy7]

Still cannot make enough.

[@opalbeauty1578]

Too bad most dealerships are sticking it to the customer by jacking up the prices way above MSRP.

[@Ss-21-16]

Seriously. I’ve noticed that

[@opalbeauty1578]

I was at a local KIA recently and overheard a employee tell someone that the demand justifies the current prices and then he said 5-8 grand above MSRP, then got off the phone. He was so arrogant about it. It's just a car! Never pay above MSRP, especially that much and for a KIA. It's not worth it.

[@horsepowerequineaz]

They’re not sticking it to the customer. There’s huge demand for SUVs and not a lot of supply. It’s how economics works… Your fellow brethren willing to pay over MSRP are to blame, not the dealerships.

[@RJKK]

A Giant SUV + Giant reviewer, both with great personalities👍

[@marcelstanford430]

Kia's tend to make nicer exteriors and the sister vehicle at Hyundai tend to have nicer interiors. The Telluride and Pallisade are true to form in my opinion.

[@factsmatter6980]

10 Most Dangerous Vehicles In America 9. Kia Rio (2015-18) 7. Kia Forte (2015-18) 6. Hyundai Elantra (2011-16) 2. Hyundai Accent (2012-2017)

[@Enarjay7891]

@@factsmatter6980 those were tiny cars and thank god it’s not 2018 anymore

[@li_love_life]

@derek flint well... I'm a female and I prefer the look of the Telluride!! ;-)

[@philippoon8879]

The Telluride has more of a rugged facade, while still traditional looking it still bears a tasteful interior. The Palisade has a softer facade and looks bit more techy. For me I would go for the Telluride but for those north of the border like myself (Canadians), I would settle for the EX or SX (non-Captains Chairs) for the price, features I would go SX Limited. We in Canada start at the EX equal to your S Trim in the US. However we get the large screen with Navi across the board. Our EX boasts synthetic leather though. Nightshade for us is strictly for SX Limited.

[@imhs81]

I need those amber DRL's!! too sad not avail in home country Koreaㅠㅠ

[@Sami.the.auto.advisor]

C’mon Kia this is 2021, you need to put in LED headlights on all the trims.

[@dann5515]

u mean projector LED headlights

[@braetonwilson4296]

Kia Telluride is a great value for a premium 3 row family SUV which is why it's in such high demand. However, many Kia dealers nationwide are charging up to $10,000 over MSRP for a new Telluride SX. Such huge dealer mark-up is ridiculous and we shouldn't encourage this crass display of greed by buying a Telluride. As luxurious as the interior is, the Telluride is not worth 10K or even 5K over MSRP.

[@Sami.the.auto.advisor]

Only fools pay markups.

[@gary.s7759]

Its hard not to pay what the dealer is asking. The dealers are adding features to these cars specific to the sales region to validate a price increase. They add bigger rims, AWD, tow packages, etc. A customer can't remove these items from the cars on the lot. Your choice is to pay what they're asking or order a vehicle and wait up to 6 months for delivery🤷‍♂️

[@Sami.the.auto.advisor]

@@gary.s7759 those are not considered markups... they’re just charges for additional accessories.

[@gary.s7759]

@@Sami.the.auto.advisor true but you can't remove those accessories therefore you will pay more than what the starting price should be for that vehicle. A base LX Telluride should be 32k but you're not likely to find one for that price. The forced accessories boost the price up to 35k+.

[@stephenhendricks103]

Adding second "market adjustment" stickers to Tellurides is not a universal practice. My KIA dealer in the the Seattle metro area, for example, sells Tellurides (and all other KIA's) at MSRP (or below MSRP for less popular models.) That practice reflects the dealer's belief that building a loyal customer base will pay off in terms of service and future purchases. As far as I'm concerned, he's right. The downside from a customer's point of view is that my dealer's waiting list for Tellurides (especially top trim SX/PP models) is significantly longer than dealers who look for a quick buck with a second sticker. But regardless of a dealer's sales strategy the source of the problem lies with the age old law of supply and demand. If consumers aren't willing to pay second sticker prices, dealers won't put them on the window.

[@tanzab]

Getting my SX in a week. Can’t wait! Thank you for providing a great and strong evaluation of the car.

[@JBrown-go8ru]

One downside to this vehicle, is the performance. I have a family of four, and we drove my brother's AWD Telluride, up to Yosemite National Park. Something we frequently do. The vehicle had two adults, two kids, and camping gear. It performed terribly going up the mountains. We decided not to buy one after thanking my brother for the test drive. I'm sure it's fine for everyday driving, but if you're a family that needs strong performing SUV, I'd look elsewhere.

[@ronnieburson5422]

@@JBrown-go8ru 290 hp and struggled?

[@JBrown-go8ru]

@@ronnieburson5422 You do realize that 290HP, in a heavy ass SUV, hauling a family and equipment, is under powered, right? There are family sedans with more horse power (Camry/Avalon). The fact is, KIA should be ashamed of themselves for gimping the performance in this SUV.

[@GrotrianSeiler]

I think there are a ton of these on the road because of the value. It has what everyone wants, all at a reasonable price.

[@rolfbeers3494]

You should mention the service interval for oil changes. Kia recommends that if you live between the Mississippi River and the Rockies or between Texas and the Dakotas you should service your vehicle per the SEVERE maintenance schedule and change your oil and filter at 3750 miles. Kia bases this not on how you drive but where you live. I will send a copy of Kia corporate letter regarding above if requested.

[@trading1790]

Nice rivew

[@tigerjonn]

It finally feels like they are selling a car in the USA, that all the other countries want...I remember always wanting cars that they sell in other countries but not in the US. So that's how it feels like..!

[@cuuppaajoe]

I haven’t test driven one but a couple of reviewer‘s have said there is a slight lag before the torque kicks in. I wonder why this is considering it is not a turbo.

[@SirGregory]

4K video? Looks a bit soft.

[@haze1123]

Love your reviews. Love this vehicle. Especially with the blacked-out chrome.

[@marylandflyer5670]

Don’t like that thick lcd panel sticking up on the dash. That should be at least 1/2 the depth, and should have glass front.

[@e.conboy4286]

I want to see the drivers door opened and the entrance, please .

[@dirtywheels1]

Nice suv but dealers here in PA/NJ are gouging 3k - 10k over msrp. No thanks

[@Alrounderrrr]

Anyone here can let me know how is the ownership experience? What is reliability like?

[@robbierabby1848]

is it me or is the seat coming apart above his hand at 3.22?

[@frankmoore3598]

Only thing I'm not pleased with is the lack of fog lights on my S . Even my sports trac XLT came with fog lights .

[@atl3630]

You bought a low trim. You don’t get things.

[@kayhyde2161]

Best SUV .

[@glenglene8473]

KIA should replace the steering wheel with the one used in the new minivan.

[@paulm6481]

That is a good looking car. No doubt. At 40k these are decent deals. At 50k it begins to compete with Tahoe which really is not in same class, I take Tahoe at 50 but at 40 this creams the competition.

[@braetonwilson4296]

There is no "deal" with these new Kia Tellurides. Either you pay full MSRP or you pay thousands more than full MSRP. If you want the top Telluride SX AWD trim (you know, the one with the nice interior), then expect to pay over $50,000 when you include taxes, dealer fees, and registration. That doesn't even include dealer mark-up which will make the Telluride about 60K.

[@stephenhendricks103]

Sorry, but the claim that "At $50K (the Telluride) begins to compete with the Tahoe..." is simply not true. Comparably equipping a Tahoe versus a top trim SX/PP Telluride amounts to a difference in MSRP of at least $17,000. (Based on Chey's "Build and Price" website.) Even if one assumes that an actual transaction price of a Tahoe is significantly below MSRP and the Telluride may command a "market adjustment" second sticker, there's very likely to be at least a $10,000 difference in transaction prices. And unless one opts for a version of the Tahoe with few if any options AND a substantial dealer discount getting a Tahoe for $50K is a pipe dream. That same $50K will get a top trim fully loaded Telluride at my local KIA dealer.

[@braetonwilson4296]

@@stephenhendricks103 Yes but the Tahoe is a lot bigger and can tow a lot more than the Telluride. Even if the Tahoe is slightly more expensive (realistically about 5K more expensive when you consider Telluride dealer mark-up and Tahoe dealer discounts), it still makes much more sense to buy that Tahoe.

[@stephenhendricks103]

@@braetonwilson4296 It's certainly the case that the Tahoe has a significant advantage when it comes to serious towing. (Over 8000 lbs rated vs 5000 lbs.) But that advantage is a major priority among a tiny percentage of 3 row SUV purchasers who plan to tow VERY large loads. And yes, the Tahoe is a fullsize SUV compared to the Telluride in the midsize category. But there's a reason that midsize SUVs far outsell fullsize SUVs. When 90% or more of the miles one puts on a vehicle is in suburban traffic and as a daily driver, a midsize vehicle is far more likely to meet most buyers' needs. Finally, I seriously doubt that you can find a Chevy dealer discount a Tahoe to such an extent that you can purchase a vehicle comparable in features to a Telluride for a price difference of only $5000. I may be wrong, of course. Tahoe sales for 2020 are down 26% compared to 2019 so perhaps you can find a desperate dealer.

[@garrettharding8817]

@@braetonwilson4296 ordered my telluride and there was no dealer mark up. Anybody paying more than msrp needs their head examined

[@iBJanky]

Looks like a fantastic vehicle. I'm going to wait 3 years and buy a pre-owned one at 60% of its original MSRP. I'll let the first owner eat the steep depreciation cost.

[@atl3630]

Ive had mine for two years. It has depreciated 12%.

[@DaWAFFLES1]

@@atl3630 that’s becuase overall demand for the vehicle is still very high

[@gbarassi]

Wind noise on the driver's side. Real issue that hasn't been addressed. Beware!!!! I own a 2021 nightfall edition EX awd, 2k mile.

[@silentmajority2028]

There will be a lot of upside down preowned in a couple of years … it’s crazy that people are buying 10k over MSRP..

[@Rickster1965]

Anyone know if Kia’s are reliable long term? I’m looking to replace a 2006 Acura MDX with 220K miles that has been very reliable at some point so I’m doing my research

[@edkelly145]

My wife has the 2016 Optima .Top trim. It's our 3rd one. Almost no issues with any of them. One had a sticky gas door release. One had a brake sensor failure. All covered under warranty.I am waiting on my Telluride SX..should be about 15 more days until it goes into production.. It will be the 2022 model, my dealer tells me. It's the exact color combo in the video. I still have time to change colors, I think I will leave it with the Everlasting Silver. Thought about the upgraded Glacier White with the Dune interior. Best of luck.

[@vicchecksitout9537]

My optima ex is at 205k miles no issues, granted its mainly highway driven

[@youdollpete]

apparently CarGurus does not have access to a tripod.

[@takozamtbtrailscout7106]

The Kia Telluride has become to expensive to my liking. Seriously considering it but The Explorer XLT 4WD is now cheaper than this one with almost the same amount of features.

[@HishamMahmudinOC]

Sure, but KIA is far more reliable than Ford

[@robertporter1984]

I See them on the road ill agree but i see more Ford Explorers than Tellurides...also the Dealership near me has alot on the lot and not many moved... i hear alot of reviews saying they cant keep up with demand but if there still alot on the lot as you said is that statement accurate??

[@Retiredmco]

Depends on your location.

[@Sami.the.auto.advisor]

It’s mostly the higher trims that sell quickly.

[@oneblach]

You’re correct. It’s not accurate. Reviewers rarely say what they really think deep down. But people know better and numbers don’t lie.

[@naturalLin]

But you what’s funny? They sell at or higher than msrp

[@stephenhendricks103]

When KIA introduced the Telluride and planned production they estimated they would sell about 50,000 Tellurides in the first calendar year and planned production accordingly. As it turned out, they sold over 70,000 vehicles and still couldn't keep up with demand. Furthermore, KIA dealers severely underestimated the popularity of the top SX trim, not believing there would be such high demand for a KIA with an MSRP close to $50,000. Dealers overordered lower trims and KIA complied making the supply problem even worse. KIA struggled to produce enough top trim vehicles in their plant in West Point, Georgia, the only facility on the planet that produces the Telluride. As they began to catch up with demand in the second quarter of 2020, the COVID pandemic shut down the plant for several months and has hampered production ever since. The waiting list for the SX trim here in the Seattle metro area for the SX/PP trim was about 7 months when the Telluride was introduced and remains three to four months. It's certainly true that Ford sells many more Explorers than KIA sells Tellurides. (Roughly 160,000 in the first 3 quarters of 2020 vs 47,000 Tellurides.) But about 1/3rd of all Explorers are fleet sales, a larger proportion of which go to public agencies such as police and fire departments compared to virtually no such sales of Tellurides. And the huge Chicago plant where Explorers are built is both larger than KIA's Georgia plant. Furthermore, the Telluride shares production with the Sorento and the K5 while the Chicago Ford plant builds only Explorers and the closely related Lincoln Aviator. Even more more importantly, there are over 3,000 Ford dealers in the US compared to 755 KIA dealers. With 4 times as many outlets for sales, it's hardly surprising that more vehicles are sold. The bottom line is that any Ford dealer would happily trade places with a comparable KIA dealer in terms of Explorer versus Telluride sales.

[@mattwbenn]

This guy tells his family to get some sleep, they have a big day tomorrow

[@jennd9728]

Just put a deposit on mine will be here 3/9/21

[@plixie1]

SX fully loaded was going for 65k+. My Ex loaded was 51k. Had a 5k market adjustment

[@user-ox8cd7ic4k]

Omg 😍😍😯

[@CRVgarage]

Those amber drls are awful. Hope no other manufacturer follows suite.

[@philipc239]

😍😍😍😍😍

[@nenepinolero5427]

Warning: your kia could catch on fire!

[@dobettergetbetter2538]

Is that an accurate report?

[@kenedtsu]

2022 MDX for great design, reliability and holding value.

[@gary.s7759]

Its also more expensive than a Telluride. Acura and Kia will depreciate at the same rate.

[@braetonwilson4296]

@@gary.s7759 Is it more expensive? With the huge dealer markup that a lot of these greedy Kia dealers are demanding, not much difference between an MDX and Telluride. I would choose MDX anyday.

[@gary.s7759]

@@braetonwilson4296 I would choose the MDX too. I might trade in my Telluride if it is a better vehicle but I doubt that dealers will be selling them at MSRP. The MDX will also sell for higher than MSRP because it will be the hot new vehicle on the lot. My 2021 Telluride EX was 47k out the door because. Dealers are ordering with adding accessories that can't be removed like 20in rims, tow package, AWD, paint color, etc. If you don't want the ones on the lot and decide to order one from KIA then the wait is up to 6 months.

[@bradleyscarreviews]

@@braetonwilson4296 well they don’t really comepete. That’s a semi luxury vehicle. But this does compete because this feels just as luxurious. Dude you need to get Kia’s history out of your mind.

[@looking511]

I test drove and had a rough ride and that was doing 25 miles an hr dealers are asking 6,000 more for this vehicles no bargain you couldn’t sell it your loan would be upside down I pass you should do the same

[@atl3630]

Rough ride? It’s critics say the ride is to soft.

[@myopinion1461]

First I heard of this. I saw plenty of videos and test drove and didn’t experience what you noted.

[@mutotalamb7802]

I have a 2020 Telluride so if it was a rough ride something's wrong with it. That is NOT normal.

[@chriswright4252]

I’m a Kia fan and I just don’t like those front lights!

[@morrisf3957]

Ah not bad still think CX9 the best.

[@axvarela]

I disagree, too low, expensive and with a soccer mom look...

[@stephenhendricks103]

Very, very few consumers agree. The CX9 is the WORST selling midsize mainstream SUV in the US by a WIDE margin. At 199.4" long its size is exceeded only by the Dodge Durango and the Chevy Traverse and nearly 3" longer than the Telluride. Yet its 135.1 cubic ft of passenger space is at the bottom of the category. (The Telluride ranks near the top with 157.1 cf) Even worse, the CX-9's 71.2 cubic ft of total cargo space is not only the least in the category, it's less than a Honda CR-V! The current generation CX-9 was introduced in 2017 with very few updates since. The marketplace has moved on.

[@braetonwilson4296]

Yep plus Mazda is ranked top in reliability along with Toyota and Lexus. Kia is ranked way down LOL.

[@stephenhendricks103]

@@braetonwilson4296 Ah, yes....the old "reliability" issue. It's considerably more complicated than it looks. There are several problems with citing BRAND RANKINGS as a measure of "reliability." In the first place consumers don't purchase a "brand"; they purchase a particular vehicle and there's no guarantee that a particular vehicle matches the overall reliability of the brand to which it belongs. Second, newly designed and new generations of existing vehicles nearly always suffer from "teething problems" that take at least a year or more to iron out. Like it or not, even the best automakers count on their customers as "beta testers" of new models. That's why Consumer Reports recommends that those who want to avoid reliability issues to avoid vehicles with new technology and components such as infotainment systems and transmission designs. The current generation CX-9 was introduced in 2017 and has had very few updates since. Most of its major components were already carryovers from the previous generation and by no are seriously long-in-the-tooth. Or as Consumer Reports puts it, "One factor boosting Mazda's scores: It hasn't invested heavily in modern infotainment systems, which tend to generate complaints about flaws." They could have said the same about the CX-9's elderly engine and transmission. Furthermore, "rankings" say nothing about the relative incidence of problems or their severity. A horse that comes in second by 17 lengths is just as much a second place finisher as one that loses by a nose and vice versa. And the fact is that well over 90 to 95 percent of purchasers of new vehicles in 2021 will drive them five to seven years (the average life of a vehicle owned by a new buyer) without experiencing a single significant reliability issue regardless of the brand. That says a lot about the improved reliability of almost every brand over the last few decades and the shuffling of most brands up and down from year to year suggests just how close the actual incidence of issues is. Toyota/Lexus traditionally occupy the top spots of reliability rankings. That's because maintaining the reputation of reliability is a higher priority than virtually every other design and engineering factor. Thus, they avoid turbocharged engines in their vehicles sacrificing the advantages of more power from smaller displacement engines but avoiding even a slight risk of placing more stress on their engines. There is nothing wrong with Toyota's business strategy. It amounts to a significant marketing advantage but it sacrifices innovations in design and engineering while obscuring the actual incidence of reliability issues by focusing exclusively on "rankings." Finally, the most cited and largest publicly available ratings of automotive reliability come from Consumer Reports. It's a huge sample but it is not a scientifically drawn random sample of owners. Rather, it comes from volunteered responses of CR readers (like me). As such, it is only as accurate as the readers of CR are an accurate sample of owners. And that is certainly NOT the case. Alternatively, JD Power bases their ratings on random samples drawn from complete lists of owners supplied by manufacturers. Contrary to what one might expect, automakers have no incentive to bias those lists because they purchase detailed results from JD Power to get an accurate independent picture of owner experiences for their own vehicles and those of other automakers. That's where JD Power derives their revenue so they have no incentive to fake the results, either. And as any statistician will tell you, a much smaller RANDOM sample can reliably be generalized to a universe while a non-random sample, no matter how large, cannot. With that in mind, it's worth looking at JD Powers "Reliability and Quality" results for 2020. For midsize SUVs, the KIA Sorento earns a score of 86, tied with the Dodge Durango in first place. The Telluride ranks 6th with a score of 82 and the CX-9 comes in 11th place with a score of 77. As the scores suggest, the true differences from one to another vehicle are often small. But there's no denying that the vehicles from KIA earn significantly higher scores than the CX-9 www.jdpower.com/Cars/Ratings/Quality/2020/Upper-Midsize-SUV

[@ELGlueckert]

@@braetonwilson4296 No they're not, they're ranked 3rd overall in reliability. Where did you get your bogus info?

[@masonlovesroblox]

Who else HATES the name Kia and their logo?

[@kfx3907]

Why would you have to 'hate' them?

[@JBrown-go8ru]

One downside to this vehicle, is the performance. I have a family of four, and we drove my brother's AWD Telluride, up to Yosemite National Park. Something we frequently do. The vehicle had two adults, two kids, and camping gear. It performed terribly going up the mountains. We decided not to buy one after thanking my brother for the test drive. I'm sure it's fine for everyday driving, but if you're a family that needs strong performing SUV, I'd look elsewhere.

[@parislark6402]

You driving there every day?

[@silentmajority2028]

There will be a lot of upside down cars a couple of years to choose from…

[@MikeRepluk]

I can't believe you are promoting Kia. Does it also include a fire extinguisher?

[@bradleyscarreviews]

What’s wrong with that? Dude, these new Kia’s are amazing! And the 6 cylinder engines had no issues.

[@yesdvt]

This SUV is over hyped, I did not like the build quality it felt cheap to me. I have settled for Chevy Traverse insted.

[@trent7080]

Lower trims aren't as good as the competition.

[@rugbyrick]

what is up with the pronounciation of Gurus....is that on purpose?

[@adventuretraveling8957]

Kia telluride sexy looks & boxer style but for sure no reliability

[@braetonwilson4296]

Yep. Kia & Hyundai are known for throwing a lot of features (heated seats, cooled seats, digital key, smart park etc.) to impress gullible people but not much substance underneath. It's like adding a lot of whipped cream and cherries on top of feces and expecting to impress people. I'm sure you've heard of all the Kia/Hyundai engines exploding too.

[@juneaaahn6826]

Do you think car experts do not know abt cars ? How did Telluride get all the car awards like Car of the Year, Car of the North America to name a few and 1 year after its release it still gets all the claps n kudos from consumers n experts.

[@bradleyscarreviews]

@@braetonwilson4296 yea not all of em. The 6 cylinder engines from Kia/Hyundai are known to be bulletproof.

[@bradleyscarreviews]

@@braetonwilson4296 oh please dumbass. Do you look at specs dumabss.

[@HishamMahmudinOC]

If there's supposedly "no reliability", KIA really putting themselves into a bind by dishing out 10 year/100k powertrain & 5 year/60k everything else warranties 🤔

[@HM-vm8fh]

They must change those ugly narrow Headlights

[@da3592]

A kia is a kia..after two or three years may be start problems..

[@HaruHaruman]

You talking about VW, Rand Lovers?

[@arosas267]

Kia will always be garbage. Nice review though.

[@joeschmomofo5020]

It’s a Kia = low quality Korean made vehicle. People buys these cars because their cheap

[@aznrobot9637]

Not anymore

[@kfx3907]

Did you saw the price tag of the Kia Hyundai? They are not really cheap now

[@kfx3907]

Plus , it's a hight quality unlike their 90s.

[@bxallstar723]

They are manufactured in America

[@joeschmomofo5020]

@@bxallstar723 sorry, engineered in Korea. Low end, economy cars stay away from unless you like throwing $$ down the drain