20,000 mile report

[ronniebell]

I've had my new 2021 Telluride (S trim) for just over one year now (June 18 birthday) and have put on 20,000+ miles. Here's a short list of what I really like and what I don't like.

What I like.

• Super smooth, quite, and comfortable ride for all passengers.
• Excellent handling and adequate acceleration. The Sport mode gives it a lot of instant acceleration when passing and jumping out ahead of other cars when necessary.
• Fabulous technology, such as Smart Cruise Control (SCC), Lane Assist, Blind Spot warning features, Apple Carplay (and Android Auto), etc. My trim has 6 USB ports, two for each of the three rows. The Smart Cruise Control seems better quality than that of Honda's similar feature.
• Comfortable seating for 7 people, even for those in the 3rd-row seat (average size adults or children). I've ridden in this 3rd row and it's fine. (I'm 5' 10" and 190 lbs.) Regarding its quietness, I'm in my mid-60s and my hearing is getting worse. In the Telluride, I can hear much better when people are talking any where in the vehicle.
• Great cargo space with lots of room for stuff.
• AWD and snow driving features are fantastic - In December of 2021, we took a super long winter trip from Spokane, WA where we live to Texas, then Missouri and back to Spokane on I90 across South Dakota and Montana and experienced snow in a couple of places on mountain passes. Going up the western side of Lookout Pass on I90 in Montana with about a 33 mile stretch of packed snow in AWD from St. Regis to the top of Lookout Pass was a breeze. Growing up in Montana, I've driven in a lot of snow and I felt the Telluride had excellent control.

What I don't like

• Last year (June, 2021) having traded in my 2019 Honda Insight EX (a hybrid that got 55-58 mpg in town and 44-49 mpg on the highway), I cringe every time I fill up the tank, especially these days @$5/gallon. I have to keep reminding myself of the other benefits of the Telluride.
• No blind spot cameras on left or right on this trim level. (Honda Insight had one on the right which I loved.) Although upper trim levels of the Telluride do have blind spot cameras on both sides.
• Somewhat confusing dashboard control settings. I has taken some time to get used to them. Also, a little hard for me to see (too small of a font.)
• Warning sounds (blind spot and lane departure) are too loud even on lower volume settings. If my wife is napping, she often wakes up. These sounds can be turned off in the settings, but that defeats the purpose.
• No walk away locks. With my previous Honda, as I would walk away, all the doors would automatically lock. In this case, I was more prone to leave items like my wallet in the center counsel. Not so with the Telluride. Sometimes it doesn't get locked. And now that my Kia Access free subscription has expired (after one year), although I still receive the notification on my iPhone that the doors are unlocked, I can't lock my doors remotely via my iPhone. That feature is not part of the free subscription.

 

[Almarty]

I've had my new 2021 Telluride (S trim) for just over one year now (June 18 birthday) and have put on 20,000+ miles. Here's a short list of what I really like and what I don't like.

What I like.

• Super smooth, quite, and comfortable ride for all passengers.
• Excellent handling and adequate acceleration. The Sport mode gives it a lot of instant acceleration when passing and jumping out ahead of other cars when necessary.
• Fabulous technology, such as Smart Cruise Control (SCC), Lane Assist, Blind Spot warning features, Apple Carplay (and Android Auto), etc. My trim has 6 USB ports, two for each of the three rows. The Smart Cruise Control seems better quality than that of Honda's similar feature.
• Comfortable seating for 7 people, even for those in the 3rd-row seat (average size adults or children). I've ridden in this 3rd row and it's fine. (I'm 5' 10" and 190 lbs.) Regarding its quietness, I'm in my mid-60s and my hearing is getting worse. In the Telluride, I can hear much better when people are talking any where in the vehicle.
• Great cargo space with lots of room for stuff.
• AWD and snow driving features are fantastic - In December of 2021, we took a super long winter trip from Spokane, WA where we live to Texas, then Missouri and back to Spokane on I90 across South Dakota and Montana and experienced snow in a couple of places on mountain passes. Going up the western side of Lookout Pass on I90 in Montana with about a 33 mile stretch of packed snow in AWD from St. Regis to the top of Lookout Pass was a breeze. Growing up in Montana, I've driven in a lot of snow and I felt the Telluride had excellent control.

What I don't like

• Last year (June, 2021) having traded in my 2019 Honda Insight EX (a hybrid that got 55-58 mpg in town and 44-49 mpg on the highway), I cringe every time I fill up the tank, especially these days @$5/gallon. I have to keep reminding myself of the other benefits of the Telluride.
• No blind spot cameras on left or right on this trim level. (Honda Insight had one on the right which I loved.) Although upper trim levels of the Telluride do have blind spot cameras on both sides.
• Somewhat confusing dashboard control settings. I has taken some time to get used to them. Also, a little hard for me to see (too small of a font.)
• Warning sounds (blind spot and lane departure) are too loud even on lower volume settings. If my wife is napping, she often wakes up. These sounds can be turned off in the settings, but that defeats the purpose.
• No walk away locks. With my previous Honda, as I would walk away, all the doors would automatically lock. In this case, I was more prone to leave items like my wallet in the center counsel. Not so with the Telluride. Sometimes it doesn't get locked. And now that my Kia Access free subscription has expired (after one year), although I still receive the notification on my iPhone that the doors are unlocked, I can't lock my doors remotely via my iPhone. That feature is not part of the free subscription.

I've had my 2021 sx AWD gorgeous 6 months.
I drive about 100 miles per day. Gas tank is too small. I fill up 2 to 3 times per week. A vehicle this size should have a larger tank.
Unfortunately, trading for an EV

 

[ronniebell]

What kind of EV are you thinking of getting?

 

[Almarty]

Mustang Mach E

______________________________

 

[beato1]

Congrats! Just reached 12k miles this month! Replaced both the AC cabin filter and the engine air filter. Both still looked clean but just being proactive with easy accessible maintenance, I don't have to deal with them again till next summer or 12k miles (whichever comes first). Did I feel any difference in performance? I say yes--with the engine humming like new again (quieter and peppy) and the AC producing more air at the same level that I keep before the change. I'm hoping these little things will keep the gunk formation (engine) at bay and also pay in terms of fuel efficiency ($$) and longevity in the long run. This is an awesome SUV, so far! Thanks!