Open Letter to Kia - How I'd Improve the Telluride

[YEH]

Larger wheels equates to better handling. Less tire sidewall, less tire flex

First, we're talking family 3-row crossovers, not sports cars or even sport sedans.

Any incremental benefit with regard to handling by sizing up can more than be made up with proper tire width.

In particular for CUVs/SUVs, the large wheel sizes have more to do with aesthetics than any handling benefit and for the target market, ride quality matters more.

 

[OldPilot]

First, we're talking family 3-row crossovers, not sports cars or even sport sedans.

This. These are more like trucks than like cars. With their high centers of gravity, lots of unsprung weight, and poor roll resistance, the concept of "handling" is hard to apply. I don't think a slight reduction in sidewall flex would even be detectable in an instrumented test. That said, we immediately nixed the Chev Traverse because it was so soft in roll. The Tellie is much better. So maybe the tallest midget.

 

[Point37]

-an engine that doesn't consume oil
-give auto start/stop button memory so it remembers what setting it's on when you shut the car off
-better glass
-a metal can-style oil filter instead of that plastic abomination of engineering filter housing which is a planned leak
-change it so you don't have to put the car into "service mode" to prop up the windshield wipers for when it snows
-wireless carplay
-owner adjustable service intervals in settings without having to go back to dealer to "unlock"
-an exhaust tip that doesn't start to rust right off the bat
-protection for the radiator
-some pickup when you hit the gas pedal
-less wheel more tire for comfort
-bench or captains chairs available on all trims

 

[Williamtell]

Offer bench seat for all trim levels!

______________________________

 

[jeffmeunier]

• wireless carplay
• tie each unique keyless entry key to pick/autorestore
  • seat position
  • radio/nav profile
  • last eco/sport/normal setting
• make it possible to disable keyfob for opening trunk, without disabling power trunk open altogether (problem because we have one of us who the keys in our pocket/purse bump it open inside when the garage is closed, damaging liftgate and garage door. However, disabling it also makes it so you have to "fight" the liftgate open without power when you open it "manually")
• improve automatic cruise control to work better in stop-and-go highway congestion, less lurching and more consistently slow speed

 

[Point37]

• make it possible to disable keyfob for opening trunk, without disabling power trunk open altogether (problem because we have one of us who the keys in our pocket/purse bump it open inside when the garage is closed, damaging liftgate and garage door. However, disabling it also makes it so you have to "fight" the liftgate open without power when you open it "manually")

they could do this with a simple toggle switch that cuts the power to that button or the whole remote

 

[Williamtell]

Make it so you can turn off auto-dimming of the display screen.

 

[Nautilus$D]

Feel like all my feedback is just minor:

- Hybrid option would be awesome, like others said
- Wireless Carplay...like, c'mon, how did they miss this?
- Two wireless chargers in the phone holder area
- Shrink the keyfob, put the buttons on the front, incorporate the emergency key into it. Honestly I love the car but the keyfob is one of the worst I've ever owned.

______________________________

 

[YEH]

This. These are more like trucks than like cars. With their high centers of gravity, lots of unsprung weight, and poor roll resistance, the concept of "handling" is hard to apply. I don't think a slight reduction in sidewall flex would even be detectable in an instrumented test. That said, we immediately nixed the Chev Traverse because it was so soft in roll. The Tellie is much better. So maybe the tallest midget.

There are those who track their vehicles regularly who have switched out to smaller wheels for the lighter weight (also doesn't hurt that it's less expensive to replace the rubber).

Granted, this wouldn't have nearly the impact on something like the Telluride, but not having gigantous wheels will help with the ride quality, particularly on light off-roading trails, which the Telluride is designed to handle.

 

[OldPilot]

There are those who track their vehicles regularly who have switched out to smaller wheels for the lighter weight (also doesn't hurt that it's less expensive to replace the rubber).

Granted, this wouldn't have nearly the impact on something like the Telluride, but not having gigantous wheels will help with the ride quality, particularly on light off-roading trails, which the Telluride is designed to handle.

Wow. The only way I would put one of these on a race track is for a tour. I would never try to drive one anywhere the limit. Front brakes seem to be fairly limited and high CG means prone to rollover.

 

[YEH]

^ My referencing people tracking would be for vehicles like the Elantra N, Miata, etc - hence, any weight savings on wheels wouldn't have anywhere close to the same impact.

Regardless, just shows that any improvement re handling with larger wheels due to less sidewall flex is pretty minimal and can cause compromises elsewhere with regard to handling.

Anyhow, Hyundai is planning to move up production of the new Palisade a month to December of this year, so it's curious that we have yet to see even a mule of the next Telluride.

Hyundai is planning on increasing production by 30%, of which 2/3 will be for the hybrid.

In addition to its current export markets, the new Palisade will be sold in Europe (they'll get the new one before we do).

 

[mustardtiger82]

2023 SXPXL owner. 3.5k miles, thoughts so far—

Add/Change
1. Custom Drive mode, i.e logic takeover of Smart Mode (sport steering + eco engine, etc. )
2. Drive Mode memory
3. Wireless CarPlay
4. Actual tie downs in the rear cargo area with load capacity
5. LED bulbs in key areas
6. Redesign of underbody plastic “flap”
7. Metal Oil filter cover
8. Headliner/moonroof cover redesign
9. More durable interior design and eliminate all piano black accents
10. Radiator protection screen/baffle
11. Larger discs/calipers in the front
12. Complimentary access to Kia App for those in consumer-banned states

______________________________

 

[MATelly24]

Feel like all my feedback is just minor:

- Hybrid option would be awesome, like others said
- Wireless Carplay...like, c'mon, how did they miss this?
- Two wireless chargers in the phone holder area
- Shrink the keyfob, put the buttons on the front, incorporate the emergency key into it. Honestly I love the car but the keyfob is one of the worst I've ever owned.

We’re a little over a month into our Telluride and I can say the design of the key fob is my least liked part of the car. Absolutely hate the buttons on the side. And why they couldn’t incorporate wireless car play into the refreshed MY23 is beyond me.

 

[LindseyN84]

Default the damn engine auto restart to OFF

There is a autostart eliminator that I purchased right away after purchasing my 2022. Very easy to install and works like a charm.

 

[KMiles]

So many great recommendations! I have a couple more to add:

• Make the various status lights on the center console more visible/bright. I can rarely tell whether certain things are on or off as the lights are so dim during the day.
• Add more functions for the programmable buttons on the dash and steering wheel (the Star button). I would love to be able to press the button and turn off all of the reverse nannies when I'm towing a trailer or have a bike rack on the back.
• TPMS monitoring for the spare tire. The only way to check that it is full and ready for use is to lower it to the ground.

 

[G-808567]

Default the damn engine auto restart to OFF

absolutely this 100%

______________________________

 

[G-570886]

We own our second Telluride. Our first was a 2020 model SX Prestige, which we traded in for a 2024 Prestige X-Line. Top models with all the gadgets. We loved the first vehicle and traded up to get some of the newer technology features. Kia packs in a lot considering the cost, but we have been very disappointed with the 2024. The door trim fell off or became loose on all four doors about 4 months after purchase. The dealership replaced them a few weeks later, but within a month of replacement they have started coming loose again. Kia then issued a recall, and we have been waiting for at least a month because some of them are on backorder. There have also been at least three recalls on the vehicle as well, all safety related. It is a shame there have been so many quality issues with such a great vehicle. As for recommendations:

* Auto Start/Stop needs to be modified to allow driver to set default.
* AC needs to be reprogramed to run at 100% in all drive modes. In Eco mode it is only running at 70% capacity.
* With all of the cameras on the vehicle why have they not add a record capability so a third-party Dash Cam is not needed?

 

[OldPilot]

Navigation is a train wreck. Routes are insanely wrong, no way for a user to correct them by dragging or other method. How Kia can ship such an incompetent product into the modern market is a mystery.

 

[Mark O]

We own our second Telluride. Our first was a 2020 model SX Prestige, which we traded in for a 2024 Prestige X-Line. Top models with all the gadgets. We loved the first vehicle and traded up to get some of the newer technology features. Kia packs in a lot considering the cost, but we have been very disappointed with the 2024. The door trim fell off or became loose on all four doors about 4 months after purchase. The dealership replaced them a few weeks later, but within a month of replacement they have started coming loose again. Kia then issued a recall, and we have been waiting for at least a month because some of them are on backorder. There have also been at least three recalls on the vehicle as well, all safety related. It is a shame there have been so many quality issues with such a great vehicle. As for recommendations:

* Auto Start/Stop needs to be modified to allow driver to set default.
* AC needs to be reprogramed to run at 100% in all drive modes. In Eco mode it is only running at 70% capacity.
* With all of the cameras on the vehicle why have they not add a record capability so a third-party Dash Cam is not needed?

Autostopeliminator.com This will take care of the stop start problem. Whether you put it on or off it will stay the way you changed it when you turn the car off. Easy to install. No complications. Had them on 3 cars already with no problems.

 

[1 Alibi 2]

High-Utility Roof Rails*
......................................................Every time it snows I hate them more.
There is a lower trim model that has no roof rails.
Why not make them an option on the upper trim levels ???
.