Did you get this email announcement re Uvo Subscription today?

[JenB]

Maybe others already had clear confirmation of this, but up until now, I honestly thought all the chatter about the Uvo subscription plans and pricing for the Telluride specifically were just speculative, partly because Telluride is new brand new model and partly because the app is lacking in so many ways and at least for me, the app hasn’t proven itself to be worth any fees. I’m actually almost insulted and offended by this whole roll out and communication from Kia.

I’ve attached screenshots of the email received today and also the web page describing the packages. The fine print in the email does indicate the first year from purchase date is free, but it’s unclear if that free year is for the “Ultimate” plan? The reference to a forthcoming “special offer” would only be special to me if it makes the app $1/month, or free.

None of these packages explicitly lists remote start, so I don’t know if that feature falls under Remote Climate in the Plus package or not.

Lastly, I have no idea why they used ice cream cones as a graphic for each package on the website, but that design choice is just as ridiculous as the price, in my opinion

I will not pay this much for any of the packages, and I’m really frustrated that the car won’t include remote start without this rip-off app.

Did others here receive this communication too?

 

[Greengoblin]

Maybe others already had clear confirmation of this, but up until now, I honestly thought all the chatter about the Uvo subscription plans and pricing for the Telluride specifically were just speculative, partly because Telluride is new brand new model and partly because the app is lacking in so many ways and at least for me, the app hasn’t proven itself to be worth any fees. I’m actually almost insulted and offended by this whole roll out and communication from Kia.

I’ve attached screenshots of the email received today and also the web page describing the packages. The fine print in the email does indicate the first year from purchase date is free, but it’s unclear if that free year is for the “Ultimate” plan? The reference to a forthcoming “special offer” would only be special to me if it makes the app $1/month, or free.

None of these packages explicitly lists remote start, so I don’t know if that feature falls under Remote Climate in the Plus package or not.

Lastly, I have no idea why they used ice cream cones as a graphic for each package on the website, but that design choice is just as ridiculous as the price, in my opinion

I will not pay this much for any of the packages, and I’m really frustrated that the car won’t include remote start without this rip-off app.

Did others here receive this communication too?

View attachment 3184

View attachment 3185

I just got this bull crap email around 8:30 pm. So to get remote start you will have to go to the plus package (remote climate is the terminology for remote start). Basically Kia is telling me in order to remote start my vehicle I have to pay $22.50 a month???? The damn app sucks. I use it everyday but it's really annoying to log into the app only to have to lock my doors from it...... Which already happened to be locked...... Before I can even start the engine. It's an extra step for no damn reason other than it's a poor design. Every single person that posts on this website needs to hammer Kia with disgruntled communication about this crap

 

[mrmac]

This is the way of the future. Lexus and other high end vehicles have done this for years.

We passed on Lexus and we will pass on this.

 

[Greengoblin]

This is the way of the future. Lexus and other high end vehicles have done this for years.

We passed on Lexus and we will pass on this.

does Lexus and other high-end vehicles have the world's shittiest user interface to along with their app?

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[Wildcatt76]

Sadly, UVO app may be the worst thing about my Telluride experience so far. Park inside at home so not used there, I tried 2x to start at work to cool it down before hopping in, after 30-45 seconds for the apparently 400 baud modem to connect to update I walked out and fired it up. #fail.

 

[CAsuKiHy]

You have to subscribe to every damn thing in life now. Slavery of 21st century!

 

[Racer888]

Also received this yesterday and quite frankly I am really disappointed! We traded our Ford Explorer limited after over 40 years of Ford loyalty for the Telluride and was happy until this. Paying over 40 thousand for a vehicle and then having to pay to use its features is rediculous at best, a scam at worst. Right now my attitude is to keep the car (minus any UVO subscription) for a few years then trade back to a Ford. KIA motors should be ashamed for this. I also find it amusing that the Ultimate package for 300.00 a year after five years (warranty) comes to the same 1500.00 Kia gave us for financing through them. I will be paying this off next week and refinancing through my own bank so we will not be giving Kia motors any extra money.

 

[mrmac]

does Lexus and other high-end vehicles have the world's shittiest user interface to along with their app?

Yes

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[Greengoblin]

Also received this yesterday and quite frankly I am really disappointed! We traded our Ford Explorer limited after over 40 years of Ford loyalty for the Telluride and was happy until this. Paying over 40 thousand for a vehicle and then having to pay to use its features is rediculous at best, a scam at worst. Right now my attitude is to keep the car (minus any UVO subscription) for a few years then trade back to a Ford. KIA motors should be ashamed for this. I also find it amusing that the Ultimate package for 300.00 a year after five years (warranty) comes to the same 1500.00 Kia gave us for financing through them. I will be paying this off next week and refinancing through my own bank so we will not be giving Kia motors any extra money.

I agree with your sentiments and am supremely disappointed but damn, that's harsh lol. If you like the vehicle, keep. You aren't "sticking it" to Kia.

 

[Racer888]

I disagree, Brand loyalty is very important these days. We buy a new car every 3-4 years, new truck every 5, so companies that mistreat or do not value that loyalty get left behind. I bought the Kia for my wife but I still drive a Ford F-150, that will never change, which I am sure is worth something to Ford. The Telluride is a great vehicle but there are many great SUV's out there so when making the choice it comes down to the fine details and extras that we can get for our money. By charging us to use the UVO features it is obvious Kia does not care about this. I doubt there are any Telluride owners out there that are happy with this decision and things like this spread like wildfire with the internet these days. It will cost Kia something in the long run.

 

[Greengoblin]

I disagree, Brand loyalty is very important these days. We buy a new car every 3-4 years, new truck every 5, so companies that mistreat or do not value that loyalty get left behind. I bought the Kia for my wife but I still drive a Ford F-150, that will never change, which I am sure is worth something to Ford. The Telluride is a great vehicle but there are many great SUV's out there so when making the choice it comes down to the fine details and extras that we can get for our money. By charging us to use the UVO features it is obvious Kia does not care about this. I doubt there are any Telluride owners out there that are happy with this decision and things like this spread like wildfire with the internet these days. It will cost Kia something in the long run.

I'm sure it will cost Kia. To each their own..I'm not going to get a new vehicle over a silly app and a charge for a remote start feature.

It's what is important to each individual consumer so your choice for you is the right one.

Example from my perspective:
Explorer vs Telluride with comparable features
My Telluride SX: 44k
Explorer Platinum: 60k

I'd rather not give Ford 16k out of spite to Kia's poor roll out of the UVO product. But that's just me

 

[ebetancourt]

I had that on my Mercedes but it was free. I understand why they have to make you lock the doors though. They probably want to verify the car is locked before starting it. There was always a lag time due to the app having to communicate with the car.

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[plutoridge]

I think Kia's pricing strategy for UVO needs correction - first and foremost Kia needs to listen to consumers and second compare against market - e.g. see what amazon prime offers for $113 a year vs what you are offering for $297 a year or another example is roadside assistance at $9.99 a month in UVO Care package vs AAA comes at much cheaper monthly rate + many other benefits

 

[mrmac]

This is the way of the future. I bet within five years most vehicles will have this setup for a fee

 

[Gwyn]

Looking at other subscriptions from other dealers, Kia is double, if not higher, on every single package. Also understand that multiyear deals have not been announced.

Subaru is 149 a year. But you can get 10 years for 750 bucks.

Honestly, if they are going to charge 300 a year for a service, that service better work every single time.

 

[JenB]

I wrote a note on Kia consumer affairs “contact us” web page, but it won’t let me submit (maybe their website is inundated with like-minded feedback - ha!). I’ll try to submit again later, but I encourage everyone to contact Kia corporate with their feedback on the app and pricing, otherwise we’re all just speaking in an echo chamber. I’m even going to suggest to Kia they look at Telluride forums in general, since they likely didn’t try an actual focus group before the rollout.

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[Greengoblin]

I wrote a note on Kia consumer affairs “contact us” web page, but it won’t let me submit (maybe their website is inundated with like-minded feedback - ha!). I’ll try to submit again later, but I encourage everyone to contact Kia corporate with their feedback on the app and pricing, otherwise we’re all just speaking in an echo chamber. I’m even going to suggest to Kia they look at Telluride forums in general, since they likely didn’t try an actual focus group before the rollout.

I just submitted my compliant seconds ago on the consumer affairs page. Someone should post a template complaint that will allow others to simply cut and paste onto the consumer affairs page. I would but mine is already submitted.

 

[mrmac]

They'll figure it out when demand is nill

 

[BabyRide]

Pricing is absolutely ridiculous. The main feature I'd want is remote start and I can have an aftermarket one installed for way less than what the yearly cost would be for the crappy Kia UVO app. I don't know what Kia is smoking here. There pricing is way higher than competitors and they have a long way to go before the app is considered good IMO. I'm sure there will be plenty of people that pay it though and that's why it's priced so high. But a large portion of people will realize it's a greedy rip off and not subscribe. So, I guess Kia is willing to make more per subscriber than make less but have more subscribers.