Used 2021 Kia Telluride Consumer Reviews
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Decent SUV but not for $5k they immediately added
SUV drove very well and lots of new updates (looked at the mid range). Once we sat down to discuss the sticker price we were informed the Kia Dealership would be adding $5000 to the sticker price because “it’s popular” and that’s what we could start negotiating from ($42,820). It’s a great deal for the maker at the sticker price but not at starting above sticker.
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Disappointed
After a 4 month wait to get my new Telluride I have become quickly dissatisfied. The car is a perfect size and rides great. When the features work I love it. Unfortunately I have had it in the shop 4 time's for the same problem. The blind spot detector doesn't work. Currently in a loaner car. I also had an emergency when the car wouldn't start. Lights were flashing. Called 2 dealership's for 2 days with out a return call. I called a roadside service for help.
- SX 4dr SUVMSRP: $29,88877 mi away
- EX 4dr SUVMSRP: $27,88881 mi away
- SX 4dr SUVMSRP: $35,99877 mi away
The hype is deserved - drive one for yourself!
Spent a year looking at the VW Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport - certain I would purchase one of these - or maybe the CX-9 or Highlander. I often skipped over reviews of the Telluride simply because it was a KIA - regardless of how often it came out as the #1 SUV in comparison reviews. A local dealer was offering bonus cash on trade-ins, and I went for a test drive. Then I drove it over to the wife for a look. Then I bought the damn thing. Same day. I watched 2 other Tellurides sell off the lot while I made my deal. Note: The dealer listed all of their Tellys @ MSRP. No markups. The Telluride is everything you’ve already read about. Really. Safety - GREAT standard safety features including Lane Keep Assist, Auto-Break (collision avoidance), Rear Cross-Traffic alerts, and Blind-spot monitoring. All of that is included on the lowest trim (LX). All the safety ratings are great - you feel confident driving and riding in this vehicle. Drive - super smooth in all drive modes and powerful enough in Sport mode to scratch the occasional itch. The drive can best be described as Composed and Comfortable. It’s an SUV so you’ll be reminded of that in sharper turns, but it feels grounded and handles great. Design - there’s nothing for me to tell you that your eyes can’t see - it’s beautiful. I turn and look at it after parking it like an a-hole, because it’s just that pretty and I don’t care about the opinions of others. Rugged and refined, it can easily be mistaken for a Volvo XC90 or other higher priced SUV. Infotainment - Top trims get the bigger touchscreen, and all the “bells and whistles” you’d hope to find in a high end SUV in 2021 - including customizable interior mood lighting, Driver Intercom, etc. The standard package is great on the S trim I have - easy to use, sounds very good for stock (I’m told the Harmon Kardons in the top trim are nice, but also not class-leading). Function - 3rd Row is big enough to comfortably handle my 6’0” son with zero complaints, and even has cup holders and USB ports back there. Both 2nd and 3rd row collapse flat with cargo floor at push of a button. Simple and easy to access both rows - 2nd row captain’s chairs are as nice as the Front Row seats - equally comfortable. Conclusion - If you’re interested in a 3-row SUV because you have a growing family and need the 3rd row, or you need the versatility of a people mover and a stuff-hauler, OR if you just really like the midsize SUV package, the Telluride is without doubt, the best value you can find... if you’re purchasing new. Because of the current supply is not enough to fulfill the demand for this vehicle, used prices are at least $4k-$6k over true KBB - and there are a lot of dealers nationwide, marking up NEW models at the same amount. DONT PAY OVER MSRP - there are reputable dealers out there still selling at MSRP. Find them and give them your business. Form, Function, and Value. KIA absolutely nailed it.
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FABULOUS
Don't let the dealers markup your vehicle, they are inflating the price as much as $10,000 if you aren't careful. Don't be afraid to shop around and walk out in you need too.
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Nice design, but they stick you with 20" rims
I went back and forth between Telluride and Hyundai Palisade. I liked the price and extra features in the Palisade, but just couldn't warm up to the styling. Went with Telluride and it looks more like a real SUV and I was more confident that it wouldn't have wind noise issue that seem to be common in Palisade, and it came with better tires, but still on 20" rims. My biggest issue is that if you want more of the luxury features, they force you to take the crappy 20" wheels with low profile tires. Low profile tires do not belong on an SUV! Even in the Nightfall edition, you still can't get 18" wheels and the better tire profile. Both wheel/tire combos are the same width and same rolling diameter so it would be easy for them to offer a slightly more "off-road" package with an 18" wheel and a more M/S tire like Jeep does in the Grand Cherokee, but NO! You must take the low profile tires which are prone to getting bent rims and flat tires if you take them even a few feet off road. The Telluride is a very nice design and seems like it could be more off road capable that the Honda Pilot or Toyota Highlander, but sadly Kia hamstrung it with the same fashion choices that the others have by forcing 20" wheels and low profile tires with anything beyond the basic trim. The driver assist features are much better in function and implementation that the Honda or Toyota competitive products.
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Exceptional !
Started looking at mid-size SUV's as the lease on my Infinity QX50 was ending. After checking with Edmunds I first looked at the Honda Passport, test drove it and liked it. But when I test drove the Telluride I couldn't believe how quiet and comfortable it was. Its tech and safety features rock! I know some are upset with the "market adjustment", what some in the auto industry call a bump sticker. I took that into consideration when I decided to trade in our late model corvette, which we loved as a week-end driver, but it wasn't practical. When the Kia dealership offered more than $11k higher than any previous trade-in offer the decision was easy and the increased trade-in amount more than offset the bump sticker. I traded the 'vette against a EX 2 wheel drive Telluride in white (we live in FL) with the premium package. In addition to the bumper to bumper 5 year and 10 year 100k mile powertrain warranty the dealership extended the latter to lifetime, for free. How can anyone beat that? We've been more pleased with it than any previous new car (about 12+) that we've ever leased or owned. If you're in the market for a mid sized (closer to full size) SUV you should include the Telluride in your search...drive it and you'll be hooked.
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Buyers Remorse and Beyond
After just four months and 4,500 miles the brakes on my Telluride AWD failed. The brake pedal went limp, lost all pressure and dropped to the floorboard. Fortunately, it occurred while pulling into our garage. My home surveillance captured the moment the brakes failed and we crashed into the interior of the garage. A link to the video is below. Kia was quick to tow it away but a week has passed and Kia has been unresponsive, not provided a loaner nor addressed the property damage. An internet search suggests this is not an isolated occurrence. This has been a terrible experience made more so by the fact that I really liked the Telluride. The Telluride was my first Kia and it will be my last Kia. I would strongly suggest you consider a different SUV or wait until more servicing history is available to support a sound procurement decision. https://youtu.be/AdJ6tXyK57k
Consider the S rather than LX
Great car so far (only 1,200 miles in). We purchased lowest trim line to save money and are regretting not spending an extra 1K to get power adjustable seats. Manual adjustments a little bit of a pain when car has multiple drivers. I also keep wondering if we really needed such a big car. If not, would have purchased Subaru outback.
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Fit, finish and electronics
Check rear seat backs for faulty trim. Electronics, specifically the turn signal cameras. My left turn signal image in the dash rolls like a film stuck on rerun??? Not impressive for a car costing over $55K. I only have 200 mi. on it. Very disappointing that it will have to go back to the shop to get these bugs worked out. If they can be worked out? Doesn't say much for initial quality, does it? With 200 miles she has to go back to the dealership. The left blind spot camera isn't working and the hard backing on part of the third row seat is missing! Will Kia replace both or will I just get a run-a-round? This was supposed to be my dream car. it's way out of my league to spend $55 on a car. but here I am, very disappointed. I'll probably try and sell it for $50K and take the loss so as to avoid the frustration.
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An expensive vibrator
Drive line vibration, Kia has a problem with the driveshaft on a 2021 Telluride. It causes vibration at 65mph and above, been getting KIA to admit it took 2 months. Dealer which I'm not impressed with, finally got approval to order new driveshaft and coupler on 7/5/21 as of 7/13/21 still no parts. Dealer finally scheduled me for install on 7/22/21 at 1:30 pm. This 17 days after approval. 3 months after receiving Telluride. Terrible co-operation from KIA and worse by Moline IL dealer. Watch it when buying Telluride.
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so broke Kia can't fix 2021 telluride
My Telluride has less than 1,600 miles. I brought it in for a check engine light. The car was shaking. 10 days later and a bunch of new parts (catalytic converter, ignition coil, etc), the dealership still can't figure out what's wrong. The latest report is it still has low compression. They've contacted Kia to tell them how to fix it, but there's been no response after 3 days. I was told something like this has never happened before (to this particular car... and probably at such a low mileage). If this happened to me, it can happen to you. It's better to just stay away.
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Consider this before you buy from Kia
A car is a complicated machine. As a machine is in use, it should be serviced at times. The smooth technical service, therefore, is as important as the build-quality of the car. But Telluride is not of good build-quality nor does Kia USA offer smooth technical service. Do you still want to buy a product of Kia? Read this before you go on. I bought a Telluride S on 6/4/2021. I paid even the market premium, of about 10% of the MSRP, because I need a car for my wok to drive 2-5 people. But the car was defective. The rear vent blew out hot air even at the lowest temperature setting (in this hot summer). So I had to put it in the service of the dealership, from which I bought it, on 6/16/2021. As of today, 19 days in service, I just heard again that they couldn’t identify the cause of the problem. Here are the problems: 1. Terrible Communication The service department of the dealership never gave me an update of the repair. Even the salesman who wanted to help me couldn’t clearly find out what was going on with the repair. It seems they wanted to hide the repair process for some reasons. Fyi, the dealership is the Kia Mall of Georgia in Buford GA. 2. No better Kia company I filed a complaint to the Kia USA customer service on 6/22/2021. They issued a case number through email. But otherwise, there has not been any significant follow-up. 3. Shameless Kia USA management To get better help I contacted Mr. James Bell, the head of the customer relations of Kia USA. But I just received an email and it only said, “Thank you for your email and I forwarded to Consumer Affairs for their review.” He even didn’t show any compassion to my frustration. As replying to his email I asked for the email of the CEO whom I could appeal my case to directly, he never responded to it as of today. I am requesting a full refund because I concluded it was a terrible mistake to buy a product from Kia. In 21 century USA, can there be a business lime this which deals with her customer so irresponsibly like Kia USA? It was my first purchase of a Kia product, but I want to cancel it and won’t buy anything from the company. I bought a Kia only because of the good warranty. However, the warranty is useless when the Kia technical service is so terrible. It is just like a bait to fish naive customers.
The Kia Telluride Nightfall Edition is the one!!
My wife and I talked and contemplated about what type of vehicle we would need to make our day to day life simpler, more convenient, and practical with our growing family. We ultimately opted for the SUV platform; it provides us the flexibility to move around the family while traveling, or shopping for groceries, the occasional home improvement or nursery run and so on, while simultaneously being affordable, extremely comfortable, sharp modern looks, and the technology inside that you'd think you would come to expect from pricier so-called luxury manufacturers. We looked at Mercedes, BMW, Infiniti, Toyota, Hyundai, Nissan, and then we looked at the Kia Nightfall Edition and it was game over from that point on... The dealership's general manager sweetened the deal further by throwing in GAP insurance and the 10 year/100k bumper to bumper extended warranty after a misunderstanding by a junior salesperson. This vehicle has been nothing short of amazing since we've had it over 3,000 miles ago to date. We got the Prestige package in addition to the already impressive list of luxury, safety, and tech features in the Kia Telluride AWD SX Nightfall Edition in Black Copper and we are absolutely in love!! We highly recommend this vehicle to anyone who is seriously in the market for a midsize SUV.
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Gorgeous Vehicle - 2 Year Update
== 2 year update == 2 years in and glad to report my telluride is performing as good as on day 1. No issues. Have taken several road trips and it's always a joy to drive. ===== Kia hit a grand slam with the Telluride. The Telluride is certainly capable, and has so much thought put into its features and conveniences. I opted for the SX with Premium package. I would highly recommend it. The tech is outstanding. The design elements both inside and outside are thoughtful and well executed. So happy with this car and all that it delivers. Well done Kia!
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Love this car!!
I've had Highlanders, a Jeep Grand Cherokee, and a Dodge Durango, and none of them can hold a candle to my Telluride. First off, the looks, inside and out, are spectacular! I opted for the SX Dark Moss with the dark interior. Some dealers were price gauging over $5K, and I was not having that at all. Thankfully, there was a dealer near me (Gervias Kia) that only sold them at MSRP, and not a penny more. The ride is nice and plush and quiet, and it actually feels like you are driving a luxury SUV. And then all the bell and whistles it comes with is staggering. I mean, for under $50K, what car comes with heated and ventilated front and rear seats?? The UVO Infotainment system is very nice, with the 10.25 inch touch screen. There are so may pros on this car that there are just too many to list. Here is where I think Kia can make some adjustments. There should be a sensor on the door handle so you can just open by not having to hit the button on the handle, or use the key fob. Puddle lights would have been nice, and I think they need a bigger fuel tank. Other than that, the car is perfect.
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NICE BUT NOT WORTH UPCHARGE!
I was actually very pleasantly surprised with the 2021 Kia Telluride! The reason for the low rating is because several dealerships I talked to are charging $5000-10,000 over MSRP for the 2021 Kia Telluride. I have bought many vehicles and never even paid MSRP for one. I sure would not pay over MSRP for a Kia! I did really like the nice smooth ride and the roominess of the Telluride. I wish it had a HOTSPOT! Crazy to me that it doesn’t! Really a shame that most of the dealerships I talked to are taking advantage of people during this pandemic and clearly over charging for a nice vehicle.
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The biggest secret car discovery ever!
We were about to purchase the Ford Explorer when we found all the recall issues and problems with the transmission seizing at 5K miles. We had our heart crushed until we found the the Telluride and the ratings and reviews. Little did we know how hard it was going to be to get our hands on the exact model we wanted. Wanted an SX but ended up with the EX all wheel drive premium package grey leather interior. We figure when the pandemic passes we can trade up for the SX but so far we are in love and so is everyone that see's the inside of this beautiful car. Our 20 something kids said it was nicer than the BMW they loved so much. Family of Toyota owners, 4Runners, Ravs, Kia won us over. Everyone that gets in this car is shocked it’s a Kia the interior and modern touches like cell chargers in the back are a big bonus. Heated/cool seats and steaming wheel are a nice bonus. This car has a bigger rear with all back seats down than our 4Runner we have. It’s a keeper.
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Amazing value and luxury at its price range
The Tellruide is most likely the best bang for your buck on any car right now. SX Prestige (which brings you on the cusp of $50K) gives you SECOND-ROW ventilated seats which an $80,000 Cadillac Escalade doesn’t offer. Even though it’s the most expensive I believe it provides the best value. In addition, the infotainment is easy to use and without glitches. You also get a HUD and analog A/C controls. The interior is utterly amazing for its price and our fully loaded SX has leather and soft touch material nearly everywhere you want. However I would have liked to have soft touch on the horn.. For connectivity, you won’t need to share chargers. You have two USB’s in the seats for the back, a 120v outlet in the back, USB outlets for the THIRD ROW... and 12 volts scattered around the cabin. There’s also wireless charging, but it’s extremely inefficient and my iPhone XR only charges ~3% in 20 minutes. The engine is great and provides ample power. A naturally aspirated V-6 means no turbo, and no turbo means no turbo lag! However, no car is without its drawbacks. It rides smoothly enough and steers softly, but the lack of stiff steering and connection to the road makes for a boring driving experience devoid of feeling or emotion. Also, the steering wheel has heating and is leather wrapped, but is rather slippery... That aside, this car seems the best in every way. You get vastly more car than what you pay for. My dad got this for me and my family. Having driven it for over 20 hours elapsed, I fully recommend the Telluride and it is no wonder that it’s selling faster than they can produce them. In short: My vision of a perfect SUV.
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Luxury With A Couple Caveats (New Updates)
I have owned (leased) my 2021 Glacial White Pearl SX Prestige since January 2021. She had 21 miles on it after my test drive. The price offered was actually $500 below MSRP!! Yep, you too can hold off and not get suckered into paying the mark-up. I just had my first 7500 mile service done at my local KIA Dealership. $66 for my full-synthetic oil change and tire rotation. Not too bad in my book!! The 2021 Telluride SXP drives like a dream. Luxury in every aspect. The plush Nappa Leather, the micro-suade head liner and pillars, leather heated steering wheel. Everything screams luxury. Right to the the LED headlights and LED fog lights. I didn't care for the Nightfall package because I didn't care for the rims on that package. My black rims on the SX are gorgeous. I do agree with some of the other reviews regarding the 20" rims, however. It's a luxury SUV, WHY does it have 20" rims and low-profile tires?? 18's would be fine and come with the stock Michelin Tires. Yes, the 20' look amazing, but not practical. The mileage.... I average 20-21 MPG in the summer, 18-20 in the winter here in the Fingerlakes of NY. Got 28 MPG on a road trip though. The transmission has 8 speeds. All Wheel Drive. Going up a hill, with just me in there, it wont shift to a higher gear until you're at the crest of the hill. That's annoying! RPMs are screaming at that point. I usually just put the shifter in manual mode and shift it myself going up hills. I love the heads-up display. So much information right there in front of your eyes. Extremely convenient when road-tripping with cruise control and navigation on because all that information is right there on the windshield. Adaptive cruise control will mess up your arrival plans if you don't pay close attention. I had my cruise set at 77 MPH and, with the adaptive, you'll automatically slow down when slower traffic is ahead of you. I found myself doing 63 in one instance when someone in the fast lane wasn't going so fast. It's a gradual slow down most of the time so you don't really feel it. If traffic is coming to a stop, YOU TOO will come to a stop with adaptive CC. It works that well! I've put it to the test. Lane Change Assist...It will put the steering wheel right out of your hand going around a curve in the road if it suspects you're not close enough to the center line. THEN, it will release as fast as it took over. That's creepy!! Not a fan of that, but it does a great job keeping you centered in your lane. It easily seats 7 adults (short people in the 3rd row seat though). I'm mad I leased it because I want to drive it EVERYWHERE, but the 1000 miles per month lease limits that thought process. The heated and cooled seats, 1st row (and 2nd row on the SX) work so well. Refreshingly cool in the summer, and cozy warm in the winter. The ambient lighting, I tinker with color schemes all the time. Especially now that it's getting darker earlier up here (today is the last day of summer). I think it would be cool to have a rotation of light spectrum in an automatic change feature though. UPDATE 21MAR22... So my 1 year trial subscription to UVO is up on my Telly. 2 things I noticed right away are: 1) the weather details on infotainment screen no longer gives the 3-day forecast. Just the current temp. That's not a problem. What I don't like is that, under the current temp, there's a note saying "No further information at this time". Does it really need that?? 2) talk to text... when responding to a text while driving, you no longer have the option to give a verbal response. You can only press a pre-set response. This really is the most illogical feature change in such a luxury vehicle. Now, it's no longer hands-free because you have to scroll through the pre-set responses??? Not a smart change. Is it worth the $99/year subscription? Absolutely not! Not a good move KIA. As far as the rest of my review, it's still spot on. I love this SUV! I have just over 12,000 miles on her 14 months in. She handles great in the snow, especially in snow mode. Oh, that reminds me, it does take quite some time for the interior to warm up on those freezing cold days. The 10 minutes of run time with the remote start aren't nearly enough to warm the windshield, let alone the interior. It takes a good 20 minutes to be comfortable. Thank goodness for the heated steering wheel on those cold days! So this is my 2nd follow-up. I had to drop from 5 stars to 4... I am 26 months in on my SXP lease. I just hit 24,000 miles. It's been in the shop for a corroded wiring harness at the rear proximity sensors. They also had to replace the battery sensor because the memory seats wouldn't hold their 2 memory positions. The seat would only move forward when switching from driver 1 to driver 2 or vice-versa. Also the auto stop/start stopped working. Replacing the battery sensor helped, but the seats still don't hold their memory positions. I need to take it back for that. Trivial, yes, but for 50K, I wouldn't expect this to happen. The transmission is still annoying when going up hills. I'll have to have that looked at next. It just doesn't want to shift until it's at the top of the hill causing the RPM's to scream. Traveling any long distances is still amazingly comfortable. Heading to Virginia Beach in June. UPDATE #3 I am 33 months into my 36 month lease. 31,000 miles. It's the end of October 2023 and I still absolutely LOVE my Telly!! I have decided I am going to buy it when my lease is up in January 2024 since the residual value is $10k less than the actual Edmunds value. I had received an Navigation Update USB from KIA, so I had installed the update. It turned everything purple on my infotainment system. I don't like it. And none of the map features are any different than before. The speeds limits are mostly wrong now that are on the dash compared to actual limits. Anyway, before I go through the buyout process, I'll need new tires to pass my NY State inspection. The tires aren't completely worn out, but they just won't pass inspection. Maybe in a couple more months they will be. I can make that happen. haha I am buying it also because I really don't like the new front end of the 2024 Tellurides. Bring back the Onion Ring driving lights! Mileage is still all the same. My road trip to Virginia Beach was so amazingly comfortable, too! Update#4 29APR24 I'm heart-broken! Yes, I still love my Telly. After I had the new tires installed in December 2023 as I'd mentioned above, I needed to have the NYS Inspection performed. It needed brakes all around. I had all 4 sets of brake pads and rotors replaced by my mechanic. Shortly after that, I was fed up with the loud squealing noise that kept happening under the hood in colder NY winter temps. When I start it when it's cold outside, there's an awful squeal coming form the engine someplace. I have taken a couple videos of this and sent it to KIA and my dealership. THE DEALERSHIP HAS HAD MY TELLY SINCE EARLY FEBRUARY 2024!! I have an Escalations Representative from KIA helping me through this process of them trying to diagnose the root of the noise. So far, they've replaced 2 pulleys, the belt, the A/C Compressor, and the alternator. Still makes the noise in the cold. Well, now that the weather is getting warming, they won't hear the noise again. Next, KIA says to take apart the intake manifold behind the throttle body to look for irregularities. I WANT MY TELLY BACK!!! They did give me loaner. 2023 Forte GT-Line. Doesn't compare!
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Buyer beware. Not as advertised
I bought my telluride sx prestige less than a year ago and it has been nothing but a pain. 10k miles and now the entire screen is black. This is the second time it’s happened but the first time turned on after a few minutes. There is more road noise than in my 12 year old scion. I can see the insulation in the doors. The vented seat on the driver side stopped venting. There is a vibration noise at 65mph that is getting louder. The second row seats visibly vibrates. The leather what I thought I was buying based on the car I test drove. I did test drive and order a 2020 but it was replaced with 2021 without my consent or knowledge. Don’t waste your money. I wish I would have walked away when I realized the leather was different, it was more money, and they cut my dash taking off the film. Yes it’s pretty. Yes it handles well but you can get that for half the price or at least get a reliable car or good customer service that calls you back after they said they would twice.
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Kia Telluride 2021
Make this short. Stay away. 6 times at dealership for crack window. Transmission slipping- sun roof leaks - AC not working- smell In car - leather seats cracking after 6 months- engine hood dents when closing.
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Best SUV we have ever owned
Telluride is such an awesome SUV. We purchased the nightfall, SX, it is so beautiful in color. I sat in the middle bench seats and the leg room was incredible. I then sat in the 3rd row and again so much space. Having the vent controls in the 2nd row is so awesome to be able to control that when sitting in the 2nd row. The cameras are amazing when changing lanes, I can't stress how awesome this new 2021 Telluride is. The most comfortable vehicle we have owned. Awesome Salesman Ben Baker and our dealership Dick Witham were the best.
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Great Family SUV!!!
Great family SUV with 3rd row seating. Plenty of cargo room for family trips to the beach! The space of a minivan with the style and handling of a European SUV such as Range Rover.
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Just Wow
We ordered the telluride in October 2020 ahead of our third child being born. It arrived in early March which was just in time. If I could give it more stars I would. Everything is just flat out amazing. We essentially bought it because of it size (drives really well, looks small, feels big on the inside), three row seating, and the general price point. Exterior: The nightfall addition just makes this vehicle IMO. We’ve gotten a ton of double takes, thumbs up, and even had a picture taken of it while I was getting a hair cut. Never did I think I would have a vehicle that got these kinds of reactions let alone a Kia. Driving/Handling: You can tell the engineers spent a ton of time on this. The turning radius is fantastic for a vehicle this size. The handling around corners feels like you’re in a much smaller vehicle. The cherry on top is the exhaust notes. It sounds like you’re driving a BMW or Porsche. I crack a smile every time I start it up. Like I said above we bought the car for just a few reasons. The lane assist, driving assist, and blind spot detection were not reasons we bought the car. They are fantastic. With three kids in the car I feel safer when I’m the only parent in the car and the drive assist is on. The blind spot detection really makes the vehicle feel smaller on the road because you have extra “eyes” on everything. It has more than enough power for passing, accelerating on to on ramps, etc. Interior: The idea was to get something with a useable cargo space behind an adult friendly third row. Check and check. We can fit a double wide jogging stroller with all seats up and an adult can take a 20 minute car ride comfortably. Also there’s enough room for me as a 6’ male to get in one door and work with all three car seats. The materials don’t feel cheap at all but also appear to be ready for a decade of kid use. The bottom sections of interior are covered in plastic so they can take a beating and still look new. The heated seats, heated steering wheel, and even the cool seats are perfect. Really was just looking for the heated seats but the other two have been used just as much. For years I have not been impressed by the LCD entertainment systems of cars. They are either too slow, too small or even too large with too many controls hidden in the touch screens. They’ve found the right combination of touch screen features and knob controlled features. If you’re an Apple user the Apple car play is just incredible. Easily interface with the car with Bluetooth or a usb cord. Cabin noise is really quiet. You can actually feel/hear it when you close the door. Cons: Gas tank could be a little bigger. Sometimes it beeps at you but doesn’t provide enough feedback as to why it’s beeping. Typically this is for the lane assist or blind spot detection. Fuel economy could possibly be better however I wouldn’t compromise the amount of power it has for better results. This is only a small complaint as I am coming from driving a CVT. The shifting seems slightly clunky. That seemed to be solved by having it in comfort or sport setting. Summary: If I had to sum it up in one line it would be this: “My pocket book says I bought a Kia but the driving experience impressions from people make it seem like I’m driving a Porsche.” I honestly can’t say enough about it. I have never written a review for a vehicle but have had such a positive experience at every level I felt I had to share. It is well worth the wait!
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You’re paying for technology
As far as the suv itself it’s a beautiful truck especially the technology but seats and everything else is made very cheaply I had issues since day 1 stitch sticking out of roof all they did was take a pic year later arm rest lock broke steering wheel stitching became loose and driver seat started to tear with loose stitching if this issue doesn’t get resolved I will be hiring a lawyer and selling it back to them and never buying another car from them
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Very gorgeous car but has issues
I have 2021 night fall edition Pearl white and grey interior it's absolutely gorgeous 1000% but I got it brand new the rear view mirror glitches the paint Chips easily the window trimming on nightfall will fade like Sundamage and kia will not fix it I take car of my car like a baby so I was extremely sad seeing that I took it on 1 road trip and came back home to a chip and a dent in the front the car also has a random trimble my car is around 9 months the heater when it's cold will randomly turn cold even if you let the car run for awhile it'd sad because I love my kia it's me in a car honestly but for it being 9 months with all that ima have to trade it in imagine what else will happen later on
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Cheap made
I have the 2021 telluride, first the windshield is a very cheap piece of glass, the least thing hit it it will crack, within 2 days apart a rock hit the windshield and it cracked, first crack did a claim with insurance second crack Kia is Gina replace that windshield, either they put a better windshield r they can have the vehicle back, now my paint is peeling on the front of grill in different areas. I seen one lil spot, it was very very small, now it’s larger plus different areas it starts as a lil itty bitty spot, o they will be painting this vehicle, my vehicle is that white pearl so I can see it, check your paint on your telluride, a darker color probably won’t be noticeable but look really close, I’m not gonna go thru this with this vehicle, I will get me a lawyer and they can have this vehicle back and give me my money
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Amazing SUV
Dealers price over sticker insane. ARGUE, ARGUE, ARGUE.
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Great SUV, Opportunistic Dealer
This is a great SUV, filled all are requirements. Would have bought, but dealer wanted $5K over and above MSRP! NO THANK YOU!
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Beautiful, comfortable and perfect sized SUV
A perfectly sized SUV that has all the luxury options you may want. Very comfortable ride with enough power and easy on the gas.
Overall happy, but ...
Smooth and quiet ride. Comfortable interior, even the 3rd row is fairly good for children or smaller adults. Seating for 7 people. Access in and out is very easy for passengers. Lots of cargo space. Fabulous handling, advanced technology, quality, etc. Here are a few dislikes. Dashboard settings are confusing and too small. My S trim does not have a blind spot camera (only audible warnings). Also, the mid row captain chairs only recline slightly. Not good for nappers in that row. Not so great on gas mileage. Slightly less than others in its class. My trim DOES NOT have LED headlights which is a bummer. No walk away locks (as my previous Honda Insight had).
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Deserves the accolades
I originally started shopping for a new mid-size SUV in early March of 2020. After doing a good deal of research, I narrowed it down to three makes and models, the Toyota 4Runner, which I’ve always loved and was actually my first choice, the Ford Explorer and the Kia Telluride. All three got great reviews but the Telluride had the best all around reviews among the many I looked at. I drove and shopped for 2020s of all three cars, but the Telluride (I test drove an EX AWD model) impressed me the most, by far. I wanted the top of the line model SX AWD, but the dealers in my area had none available and I was waiting for them to get one when the pandemic lockdown started. My plans were postponed for 9 months. In September 2020 a KIA local dealer in my area had a fully loaded 2021Telluride SX AWD Nightfall Edition in my desired color, Black Copper, on the lot. I test drove it, did a bit of haggling about the price (I still paid $50,000+, but I wanted the car), they threw in some extras (full roof rack and side bars) and I had the money and went ahead and made the deal. After over a year of driving it, I have nothing but good things to say about the vehicle. It’s beautiful, inside and out, and I’ve gotten tons of compliments, it drives and handles beautifully and very comfortably, it’s got every bell and whistle you could possibly want in a new vehicle, I average around 24 mpg with a 291hp engine that gets you going with plenty of instantaneous power and zip and it’s a real pleasure to drive. There’s much more positive stuff I can say about this Telluride, including its lush interior, the fantastic infotainment system, the very ample cargo space, the multiple driver-assist settings, etc., but let it suffice to say this is one beautiful car, comparable to other SUVs that are $10-20,000 more money and much overrated and overpriced because of their prestige makers. I highly recommend and encourage shoppers to give the KIA Telluride a look. You won’t be disappointed.
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Out preformed, my expectations
I have wanted a Telluride since last fall, finally stumbled into one, in May. Local dealer had 1 on their website, when I called they said that 1 was gone, but they had received a truck that very morning, and it had 1 on it. AWD S trim, now I had wanted either an EX or the SX, but knew this was my shot to at least get a Telluride, so I got down there right away, and started my paperwork, barely beat a man calling into the dealership, trying to buy my Telle… I Won!!! Even thru trim is an S, still has so many upgraded features, I’m very pleased. Have had the SUV 1 month today. Just got back from our first road trip. We averaged 26.6 mph. We had a family reunion, so my vehicle was the go to ride, we were in OKC with the heat index of 104, we had 6 adults ages from 57 - 62, I sat in the third row seat with my 59 year old sister, both of us, a little overweight, the 3rd row seat was comfortable, we had plenty of leg room, and best of all, with the Air Unit and Controls in the back, we all had a vent blowing right on us. We cooled off in no time. Easiest way for us older ones to get out of the 3 row was to get out thru the 2nd row captain chairs, and then get out normally, instead of moving the 2nd row seat forward to get out. I love this car, my husband loves it, and won’t even let me drive on vacation, he drove the whole time. I finally got to drive it when we got home😀. I highly recommend the Kia Telluride, you will not be disappointed, and yes, I did have to pay the extra dealer fee, but right now, my car is worth more than I paid for it, so, it is worth the extra fee.
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Love my car but,
I have had problems with the tire pressure monitoring system after only 3000 miles. I have had it to numerous dealers in my travels and the Kia Dealership in Ocala by far got things fixed correctly. But had it go off the other day again. I travel all over the United States for my job. I need to know if I have a problem with tire pressure or a flat, but I can't trust the system. I do not like the low profile tires, and I already have a gouge in the rim of one of my nightfall edition wheels. I will be trying a different dealer when I get home again to see if they can fix the problem, since the dealer I bought it from, acts like they do not want to deal with it. I have talked to Kia Consumer Affairs also, and they have been very helpful. But it is hard when you are gone from home a minimum of 6 months out of the year to get these things fixed, which I should not have to deal with since it is still a new vehicle with just 20,000 miles on it.
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Amazing value and luxury at its price range
The Tellruide is most likely the best bang for your buck on any car right now. SX Prestige (which brings you on the cusp of $50K) gives you SECOND-ROW ventilated seats which an $80,000 Cadillac Escalade doesn’t offer. Even though it’s the most expensive I believe it provides the best value. In addition, the infotainment is easy to use and without glitches. You also get a HUD and analog A/C controls. The interior is utterly amazing for its price and our fully loaded SX has leather and soft touch material nearly everywhere you want. However I would have liked to have soft touch on the horn.. For connectivity, you won’t need to share chargers. You have two USB’s in the seats for the back, a 120v outlet in the back, USB outlets for the THIRD ROW... and 12 volts scattered around the cabin. There’s also wireless charging, but it’s extremely inefficient and my iPhone XR only charges ~3% in 20 minutes. The engine is great and provides ample power. A naturally aspirated V-6 means no turbo, and no turbo means no turbo lag! However, no car is without its drawbacks. It rides smoothly enough and steers softly, but the lack of stiff steering and connection to the road makes for a boring driving experience devoid of feeling or emotion. Also, the steering wheel has heating and is leather wrapped, but is rather slippery... That aside, this car seems the best in every way. You get vastly more car than what you pay for. My dad got this for me and my family. Having driven it for over 20 hours elapsed, I fully recommend the Telluride and it is no wonder that it’s selling faster than they can produce them. In short: My vision of a perfect SUV.
Awesome SUV
If you buy a Telluride you can order basically what you want as far as plain up to luxury. We have the EX model with a number of options including leather trim, larger navigation screen, trailer package and a few odds and sods. We love it plain and simple and it meets all our needs especially comfort and I am 6 ft. tall.
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Wanted to love this car
Updated 3 year review. Still really like this car. Headlights at night still a problem. Another issue is there have been at least 2 recalls (another one coming up this week) and 2 software updates. Each of those issues meant I had to go to Kia Dealer to take care of. Unfortunately Kia Dealer is 1 1/2 hours each way which for me is too far too often. Would consider another Kia only if dealer was within 30 minutes of my home.
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Vinnie Z
I got my hands on a 2021 EX in September of last year. We are extremely happy with everything. The ride, the technology, the looks. We’re still turning heads when we drive it!!! We also have the third row seating, my son is 6’ 7”, he sat in the back and still had plenty of room👍🏼 Ours is the moss green with the nightfall package!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Thank you KIA❤️
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"ALMOST" as good as advertised!
My SX Telluride is over a month old and it's almost as the reviews state. I had to bring my "new" Telluride back to dealer 3 times to fix minor issues but no big deal. My only issue is that it is NOT as comfortable as advertised. My wife, and that is all that matters lol, does not find the ride extremely comfortable...nice yes but not fantastic. However, cars rides smooth and the features are suburb!!
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Transmission Issue
My 2021 SX AWD, does not consistently accelerate and sometimes will rev up the RPMs before accelerating. Then I have to take my foot off the accelerator to slow it down. Downshifting is sometimes jerky, and more noticeable in Sport Mode. Dealer is working through KIA Tech Line to resolve but it's been 3 months and they haven't even tried to replace a part. All they've done is reset "adaptive values." Seems to me that if that hasn't fixed the problem after 3 attempts, they need to move on to something else. Sounds more like a hardware problem as oppose to a software problem. Sept. 2021, nothing has been fixed. The dealership says I need to rent a car (really, for Warranty Work?) in order for them them to keep my Telluride for at least a day to diagnose the problem, however there is no guarantee that I will be reimbursed for the rental. The first time I gave them my car they kept it for 2 days and did nothing. KIA Tech Line has not made any attempts to keep me posted on what's going on between them and the dealership in terms of helping the dealership. Supposedly, KIA Tech Line "elevated" my case, but that hasn't meant anything in terms of getting my vehicle fixed. KIA is just terrible.
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Over-hyped, Over-priced, fat car
I test-drove this car last week and realized how bulky, not-fun-to drive this car is! I am not a hater. I love the way Honda Pilot drives, I love Subaru Outback XT, I have driven Acura MDX and respect that. But this is just an over-priced mall-crawler. *DO NOT GET CARRIED AWAY BY THE FAKE HYPE. DO NOT PAY A DIME ABOVE STICKER PRICE.* Negotiate until you get the price down. *Or better yet, use your best weapon: WAIT.* Horrible marketing gimmicks done by many reputed car sites to inflate this car.
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Actually Expensive
Excellent vehicle quality, smaller cabin than a Traverse. Be mindful that a loaded Telluride will cost you as much as a Tahoe or other premium vehicles. If you are looking for a basic model the price it’s affordable but expect to pay much more for all the bells and whistles.
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Be ware! Quality Control
New telluride has a hood noise proof foam damaged.The foam looks burnt. My is a day old car. What a disappointed! Need VIN number to confirm I just purchased Telluride, lte me know. I reg regret I should have opened the hood before left the dealer.
Roomy Ride
The most spacious and comfortable new SUV on the market. The third row is large enough for adults and even has two car seat attachments. The ride is quiet and smooth. The entertainment system is stare of the art. Great car!
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And the Winner Is
Compared the SX Prestige to the Ford Explorer, the Lincoln Nautilus and the Infinity QX60. Same price point with far nicer finish and amenities.
Lots of Features, Cheaply Built
This vehicle started off so good, but it has been nothing but problems due to cheap materials and poor workmanship. In the 4 years I've owned this (115,000 miles), we have had to replace the transmission, front and back suspension, steering column, and fuel injection system. Now that it is out of warranty, I'm very scared about what is going to go next. Will most likely not go with Kia again.
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I wish I would of purchased a different vehicle,
First of all my driver side window doesn't want to work correctly if I have other windows open it vibrates, secondly, my Kia automatic barely works and I have to do it through the password every time which is so annoying. 3 years ago when I purchased the vehicle you had to sign in once maybe a week now you have to do it daily in your lucky if it works that day. I'm actually thinking about looking into different vehicle I'm fed up with Kia telluride
Tell You bout my Ride
Traded in the Sorento for the Kia Telluride. Both great cars but this Vehicle has surpassed anything I read or even considered a possibility. Hands down, BEST overall Car I have owned! Don't know how else to say it. And what they say about it in the reviews? It's all True! This is the real deal and especially for the money. Don't hesitate if you get the opportunity to own one. Dreams come true...
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One More Off The Wish List
Love it but too big for garage.
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Fancy
It’s so quiet and smooth. Love the different controls and safety features.