Kia Telluride Review: Is It the BEST 3-Row SUV?

Let’s test drive and review the 2024 Kia Telluride SX Prestige X-Pro!
In America, the Telluride’s story begins with the Kia Borrego, a 3-row, 7-passenger SUV. The Borrego featured Kia’s first-ever V8 engine, and that V8 made 337 horsepower, and Kia said how successful the company was looking for it to be. But the Borrego came at the exact wrong time: 2009, the Great Recession. Kia discontinued the car in the United States due to poor sales after one year. For many Americans, the price of gas was too high to justify the V8 Borrego.
The modern Kia Telluride nameplate came around in 2016, when Kia brought a Telluride concept to the Detroit Auto Show. The official production Kia Telluride came for the 2020 model year, and it was the largest vehicle Kia had ever built. (Its third row isn’t huge, but it fits an adult.) The Telluride’s sibling is the Hyundai Palisade.
The Telluride had a 3.8-liter V6 engine with 291 horsepower and an eight-speed automatic transmission. That’s the only engine option on the car still; no hybrids are in the Telluride lineup yet. But Telluride reviews still glowed. The Telluride started flying off dealership lots. The SUV sold so well that in early 2020, Kia nicknamed the car with a play on its pronunciation: the “Sell-u-ride.”
On the American market in 2024, the Kia Telluride comes in 10 trim levels. The base Telluride is called the LX, and it starts at $36,000. Then come trims like the S, EX, SX, EX X-Line, SX X-Line, SX X-Pro, SX Prestige, and SX Prestige X-Pro. The SX Prestige X-Pro starts at $52,000 and comes with standard all-wheel-drive (AWD), and it’s the car I drove. My SX Prestige X-Pro loaner had four options: $495 Wolf Gray paint, $225 carpeted floor mats, a $155 cargo cover, and a $115 carpet cargo mat with seat-back protection.
In this Telluride review, we’ll cover everything: how it rose to greatness; its front, second-row, and rear seats; trunk space; electric SUV options like the Kia EV9; owner experiences and how hard it’s been to buy the Telluride compared to other new cars; future reliability; trunk space; infotainment system; which are the best options to get and which to skip; why I love the Kia Sorento Hybrid; and more.
Thanks for watching my KZbin channel. Enjoy the drive (and the video)!
#cars #kia #kiatelluride #telluride #suv #suvs #suvreviews #suvreview #kiasuv #kiaborrego #automotive #carreview #carreviews #alanisking
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[@iabarrera]

A buddy of mine had to wait over a year and a half for one of these to get it at MSRP. These things are so popular! 🚗

[@AlanisKing]

WOW. That’s so long!

[@jauffins]

your presentation, editing and production values are top notch, alanis!

[@AlanisKing]

Appreciate you always being here ❤️ editing and filming is all husband - he’s so good at it

[@zacharysampiere7362]

My dad was the Service Manager at a Kia dealer, he’s dealt with quite a few of those Tellurides. He really had some good things to say about it. Really good review to Alanis!!

[@AlanisKing]

Thank you 🤠🤠

[@JEndless2025]

I'm old enough to remember when Kia was a punch line brand. It amazes me that Kia managed to turn things around and win the American market in a big way. And yet other automakers like Mitsubishi or Alfa Romeo never learned from Kia.

[@AlanisKing]

I talk about that in depth in my Genesis G70 video, actually!

[@jswizzlestick]

Hyundai/Kia, being a huge conglomerate, is way more vetically integrated than i think any other manufacturer. Hyundai cars are built with Hyundai steel, transmissions, etc. Once they established good fundamentals they can outpace pretty much anyone else because they can scale better than anyone and integrate new ideas/technology faster than anyone as suppliers are on the same page as the business as a whole

[@FordEnthusiast413]

KIA and its parent company Hyundai are rolling pieces of junk plagued with problems and having service departments that are difficult to deal with. They need to learn from Subaru and Ford on what the word service means! Warranty is another word as Hyundai/KIA will not honor the warranty on their vehicles!!

[@Andrew_S97]

The 2016 concept looked amazing! The actual Telluride is one of my favorite looking SUV’s though

[@AlanisKing]

It’s so cool

[@chasesportscards5087]

I have a 21 telluride in wolf grey. Best car I have driven and while getting gas on the way home from Vegas, someone pulled up next to me and complimented me on color (wolf grey) and asked how I liked it. Told him I loved it and will probably buy it when his lease expires!

[@AlanisKing]

Ahhh I’m so glad! Good choice!

[@SterlingWheel]

Not a car I would be interested in, but it's amazing to see how much KIA has improved over the years. Decent price and features, especially when compared to the competition that is just too spendy. Great review, Alanis!

[@AlanisKing]

Thank you for watching. Appreciate you always being here!

[@DrummerBoi1993]

I remember that Boreggo! Kia's first V8 and it seems like it was mixed emotions...only to be cut the next year, that's a shame, but I'm glad Kia was able to bounce back! Excellent job Alanis! Also, I think this one of the few times that we have more than two Alanises in the trunk! Lol!

[@AlanisKing]

Hahahaha thank you for watching! The Borrego is so fun to discuss

[@tedadamgreen]

Solid review! We love my daughter’s Telluride and hers has been rock solid for many years now as she was one of the first who actually walked on the lot and bought one without a wait . Thanks for another great review 👊🏻😎

[@AlanisKing]

I'm so glad she got one! Thanks for watching, Ted

[@CollinMac96]

My mom got one of these last week. Very comfortable ride

[@AlanisKing]

People love them (rightfully so!)

[@andrewneal7615]

Kia Telluride: When mom needs something bigger than her Nissan Rogue. The highway is a sea of gray Tellurides, these things are EVERYWHERE.

[@AlanisKing]

Literally everywhere

[@kurtstephan7039]

Once again, you got me to watch a video on a vehicle I'm not the market for...and I learned some things. Who knew the Telluride had an interesting backstory? I hadn't even heard of or seen a Borrego. That 2016 Telluride concept is also new to me, and yeah, it's very cool. The production Telluride is a classy-looking thing, but too bad they didn't go with the concept!

[@AlanisKing]

Thank you for watching 🤠 I’m so glad it was informative! The Borrego is such a little fun fact about American auto history

[@Harko-]

Awesome review of a car I had never heard about. Thanks Alanis!

[@AlanisKing]

Thank you for watching 🤠🤠

[@carypyke935]

Alanis. We really enjoy your content...so fun while also very informative ❤

[@AlanisKing]

Thank you so much 🤠

[@adamthompson4072]

"I don't think it's worth it to pay $500 for another form of gray." How does it feel to be so controversial and yet so correct?

[@AlanisKing]

Honestly, it feels great

[@jumbowana]

It's a really handsome car with a well done interior and decent 3rd row seating. Throw in a good price when compared to American offerings and more better reliability, it's no wonder it took off. Two hats today! 11/10 hat score.

[@AlanisKing]

Two hats! Just for you!

[@F-Man]

Commenting for the algorithm - and because Alanis is awesome.

[@AlanisKing]

Thank you so much. The algorithm is eating this one up!

[@MarcTheWatchman]

Awesome video as always, keep up the good work! Kia has sure come a long way.

[@AlanisKing]

Thanks Marc 🤠

[@MarkOliveras215]

Can’t believe I happened to overlook this video like a jackass. That Borrego makes me think of former Spurs assistant coach James Borrego. You are so good at what you do on this platform Alanis! Looking forward to the next video!

[@AlanisKing]

Omg! This is such an honor. Thank you!

[@MarkOliveras215]

@@AlanisKing You got it!

[@carypyke935]

Another fun and informative video..Alanis you rock !!!❤

[@AlanisKing]

Thanks for being here 🤠

[@ACCELER8TV]

so much detail! great videos!!

[@AlanisKing]

Means the world coming from y’all ❤️ adore you

[@minnethreat]

We've had one for four years now. Nearly 80k miles on it with nary an issue except for the windshield keeps delaminating around the A pillars and it keeps self-cracking around the rearview mirror attachment points. Also, it gets better than EPA mileage would suggests. My moms drive consistently about 70-flat on the highway and with two dogs, and two of them in the car it returns mid 30s on the highway.

[@AlanisKing]

Heck yeah

[@Kerleem]

Ah yes, I remember the great Kia Telluride shortage of 2020. I couldn’t believe that a freakin’ KIA had a shortage. But everyone non-car person I knew talked so much about them! KIA simply hit it out of the park with this one

[@AlanisKing]

It was WILD. A Telluride shortage!

[@Ride_Runner]

I'm consistently surprised by KIA. They've definitely come a long way.

[@AlanisKing]

Yes!

[@jeffsong5653]

I went to buy Telluride in November 2022. The markup was $7000 at the time, which was insane. I really wanted it, but the markup was a deal breaker. I walked out, saw a Mazda dealer next door, went in there to just see the Mazda cars, and then I ended up buying a CX-9 below MSRP. It wasn't my first choice, but I love it now.

[@AlanisKing]

That is a WILD markup. I'm glad you found a car you love!

[@JPro_Is26.3]

Dude, totally relate to the random U2. I didn’t know where it came from until you said this 😅

[@AlanisKing]

Hahahahaha it’s awful!

[@reclusive78]

I like your "horn test". Its a funny tidbit in your video. I thought it was a one off thing when i saw it in your previous video however i guess the "horn test" is a thing now!!

[@AlanisKing]

We’re going to try to do it in most videos 🤠🤠

[@saranrathakrish8468]

You should review more 3 row SUVs

[@Tom.Jeffries]

In France, the biggest Kia for sale is the Sorento, and it's pretty big for us 😅

[@AlanisKing]

The Sorento is big! America just looooves huge cars

[@Francisco.Alvarez98]

Kia needs to add recliners to the second row so you can have your leg rests Alanis!

[@AlanisKing]

It always makes me smile to hear from you, Francisco. Thanks for your constant support!

[@robinjack3531]

Hey Alanis. Kia on the rise. Looking forward to another insightful and engaging review.

[@AlanisKing]

Thanks for being here 🤠

[@davidc6341]

Was Toyota, now Kia Telluride. Drove 11 Toyotas, as a mechanic I dislike turbos, and small 4cyl, and hybrids. Listening Toyota? Happy with my Kia, after one year, all good experiences.

[@AlanisKing]

Glad you're loving it!

[@0214falcon]

It came down to buying the 2025 Telluride or Hyundai Santa Fe hybrid for me. Both autos were great value and have great warranties. The Santa Fe hybrid 231 hp gets 36/36 combined mpg compared to the Telluride 291 hp V6 at 20/26 mpg. Both had 3 rows of seating and plenty of passenger & cargo room. Both come with either AWD or FWD. The 2025 Santa Fe hybrid turbo inline 4 cylinder and electric motors had 231 hp which was great combo to go with the 36/36 mpg. I choose the 2025 Santa Fe hybrid. The Santa Fe brown pecan interior with Bronze exterior paint was better than the Telluride design colors. If the Telluride had a hybrid option then it would be a toss-up decision.

[@AlanisKing]

Nice choice! I’m sure you’ll love the Santa Fe

[@hoyster184]

Not that cheap. Just bought SX X-Line in Edmonton for $76k. Felt weird buying a KIA because it's reputation when I began driving 35 years ago was horrendous. They have come a long way and convinced me to pick one up! Best warranty in the business.

[@AlanisKing]

I hope you love it!

[@AarmOZ84]

I remember seeing the Telluride being trucked in almost weekly because they were being bought before reaching the dealership. I think for a while they were the highest scoring vehicle on Consumer Reports. Now I know they aren’t overrated (minus captain set foot rests).

[@AlanisKing]

Need the footrests!

[@JoeEngineer]

Peter and the Wolf in the soundtrack 🤌

[@AlanisKing]

🫡🫡

[@cinthe3]

The EV 9 has front row leg rests! I cant wait till you review that one. Maybe compare too?

[@AlanisKing]

I had an EV9 recently! Our audience is not super hot on commuter EVs, so we’re not doing as many right now. I think that’ll change over time. I’ll write about the EV9 for InsideEVs instead!

[@samcrane5273]

Always vaule these reviews

[@AlanisKing]

It’s fixed! We were up at 2 a.m. finishing this due to some issues with the platform’s music-detection system. Had to re-edit the audio three or four times

[@minnethreat]

Also, I predict the Telluride will move upmarket, with the Sorento climbing the ranks, too. I also predict it might get a new name, or do you think it will keep the name, much like Cadillac has done with the Escalade?

[@AlanisKing]

That’s a really interesting idea! I’m not sure. Kia’s been really on the “decent price, great quality” thing, so I don’t know that they’d drastically increase it

[@zigforjustice]

Kia Carnival Hybrid definitely seems to make more sense, especially if you don't need AWD or 2" more ground clearance.

[@AlanisKing]

Carnival is amazing

[@Bookman11702]

Very well done! 👍

[@AlanisKing]

Thanks for being here 🤠

[@hmmmph.]

Can you do a review on a kia ev9 as i think its one of the few "futuristic" designs done right

[@AlanisKing]

I’m actually writing about the EV9 for InsideEVs! We don’t have much luck with commuter vehicles on my channel - the clickthrough on this Telluride is surprisingly low

[@roberts3942]

Did your test car have a heads-up display? My 2024 Telluride has one and it is an outstanding feature to help the driver keep their eyes on the road.

[@AlanisKing]

I think it did! (I'd say for sure, but everything melts together - I've driven about 60 cars this year.) Heads-up displays rock!

[@jorgeleiton-wz1ec]

Amazing kia wagon. In Denmark we dont buy Kia. I love your shorts... It is your trademark

[@AlanisKing]

Aw! Thank you so much! I appreciate you watching

[@blancaof89]

3 row safer that others with a 3rd row?

[@abruptlyblunt]

good job cuz 👍🏻👍🏻

[@AlanisKing]

🤠🤠🤠

[@saranrathakrish8468]

How does this compare to the EV9

[@Kerleem]

EV9 is electric. Similar in size but Kia says they are different. I’d consider the EV9 an electric Telluride though

[@travis79109]

Wanna see something crazy? Pull up next to a Cullinan and take all the badging off both. I pulled up behind both parked next to each other the day and they’re VERY similar (exterior).

[@AlanisKing]

I’ll have to check this out!

[@ForzaDriven]

Personally I don't need an SUV, but if I did this would be one option. And I agree the styling needs a refresh, hopefully Kia doesn't ruin it when they do it.

[@AlanisKing]

I think it’ll look a lot like the EV9, and I love that car!

[@ForzaDriven]

@@AlanisKing oh no, EV9 is ugly in my opinion 😆

[@AlanisKing]

@@ForzaDriven Hahaha I like it! But mostly the inside is what I love

[@wecallhimschukei]

Side by side comparison with the Mazda CX-90 next?

[@AlanisKing]

We have a CX-90 on the channel earlier! I’d love to do that, but no one’s clicking the normal cars 😞

[@2151abell]

no wireless apple car play...and Yes... you ARE Special Alanis.. 🙂

[@AlanisKing]

Awww thank you

[@plem7210]

Biggest issue is they do not make near enough of them in interior terracotta. I have a black interior dodge since 2015. I want something that’s not all black inside.

[@AlanisKing]

The non-black interiors are so beautiful

[@MQZ17]

Kia knocked it out of the park with this vehicle from the beginning. Just change the KN logo and they will get more casual buyers

[@AlanisKing]

Hahahaha the logo is always so funny

[@crabhab]

If KIA dealers were as good as the cars they would be a real threat to the Japanese

[@AlanisKing]

The interiors are just incredible

[@colterlane5822]

I had a 2013 Hyundai Elantra that was the ultimate trooper. I mean, same thang, right lol?

[@AlanisKing]

2012 here 🫡

[@davidp2888]

I see these all over Northern California where I live.

[@AlanisKing]

Same in Texas!

[@Andrew_S97]

Next time I’m shopping for a vehicle I’ll need to ask the salesperson how many Alanis’ the car can fit

[@AlanisKing]

It’s very important!

[@Bob_Smith19]

I hate getting one of these as a rental. To much that I just don’t like about it. I cover a lot of miles every week and it not being comfortable is at the top of the list.

[@AlanisKing]

Interesting! I’m sorry it’s uncomfortable for you

[@ypl236]

Don’t believe the hype from these KZbinrs. I bought a brand-new Kia; 50,000 miles later, the engine developed a piston leak, and Kia refused to fix it. I discovered that both Kia and Hyundai vehicles share this engine problem and are currently facing a class-action lawsuit over the issue.

[@logical_lb3059]

I came for the hip test

[@AlanisKing]

It’s there!

[@afzalshaikh2128]

You’ll love it for 4-5 years until you start to have engine trouble

[@BBQ_T_Bone]

This is useful… my sister is looking to get this

[@AlanisKing]

Thank you 🤠

[@BBQ_T_Bone]

@@AlanisKing can you actually make another video on the differences between the trim levels? Ten is so many and I don’t understand why they offered so many 🤣

[@HishamMahmudinOC]

We have the 21 model... not sure why KIA needed to ruin the headlamp & wheel appearances... fixing what wasn't even broken ⚠

[@Tej132]

Alanis can you plz review a Dodge Magnum SRT. I'm really looking forward to it

[@AlanisKing]

Durango Hellcat next week!

[@SteffensColby]

Love this car, however, I feel like it’s just too pricey ngl, going from $36K base to $50K for extra seems “iffy”

[@AlanisKing]

Yeah! That’s why I mention the Sorento Hybrid at the end - great and a better deal

[@jorgeleiton-wz1ec]

I like quality Lady.. And you have tons of that

[@AlanisKing]

🫡🫡

[@HishamMahmudinOC]

Alanis, what is your zodiac sign?

[@AlanisKing]

Scorpio!

[@MrTriked]

I like Hyundai and Kia too. I've owned around 30 cars and trucks in my life, and the Hyundai Elantra I owned was by far the most reliable vehicle I ever had.

[@AlanisKing]

Elantras are good!

[@GroverRoker-m6t]

Hagenes Bridge

[@CroninNydia-g5m]

Kertzmann Isle

[@JoshBetty-e8c]

Imani Road

[@HermanSheppard-f8l]

Leopold Centers

[@CampNicholas-o9t]

Kade Rapid

[@concretecharlie51]

Your feet slide under the front seats of the carnival . Not really great leg rests

[@AlanisKing]

I have photos of my seat fully reclined and legs kicked out. No issues

[@EvansEddie-o9n]

Lavina Islands

[@coreyporras]

Hell yeah

[@AlanisKing]

Hell yeah!

[@sparksterz]

Quick comment before I watch the video. Was the thumbnail supposed to say "Value" instead of "Vaule"?

[@AlanisKing]

We were up at 2 a.m. finishing this one. I’ll send to husband! He’s driving home right now

[@baboost2994]

Kia really screwed me with no foot rest's

[@AlanisKing]

Same

[@MaJieMao]

2025 Carvinal is more expensive than the Telluride and the Sorento is crap don't let anyone tell you different.

[@SaxtonRosalind-r1o]

Paxton Views

[@jeremystorm3902]

The history lesson took way to long. All I care about is the current model on sale. Time waister for people that are busy

[@AlanisKing]

Just scrub through it to the driving impressions!

[@trevino37]

STOP THE LIES......The 2020 KIA Teluuride has over 494 complaints with the NHTSA , the 2021 has 201 complaints and the 2022 has 2016 complaints, the 2023 has 104 complaints and 2024 has 82complainrts so far ...Compare that to the Range Rover which many consider unreliable but has only 32 complaints.... This Vehicle is not a good suv

[@zigforjustice]

9:58 -- Ha, I totally forgot about that Apple/U2 collab.

[@AlanisKing]

It haunts me