Power output of 3.8L. Why so low?

[chickdr]

Just picked up a 25 Telly and it is a great ride but I have to wonder how much better it would be with a higher output version of the 3.8L. I mean they have versions which go all the way to 348hp. I wonder why they put the lowest spec version in such a big, heavy car. Why not at least the 311hp, 293ft/lb version used in the 2013 Genesis sedan? Just seems strange Kia/Hyundai would pick the least powerful version of the 3.8 they could find.

 

[1 Alibi 2]

Not what you call great on MPG's as it is. Putting more hp on a 5400+ lb. vehicle would gain you what ??
.

 

[chickdr]

It would get you better towing capacity potentially, better acceleration -especially when the car is loaded up and a more enjoyable driving experience. I don't think it would change MPG much at all to increase power to over 300hp and the torque increase would certainly be useful.

Same thing goes for the 27 ICE model. 274hp when the same engine in the Sorento has 281 and the Sonata N has 290? Why?

 

[1 Alibi 2]

5500 lb. towing isn't too shabby for an SUV, & you can always slip it into all wheel drive for better acceleration. I guess I didn't buy it for towing or speed..
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[chickdr]

So for you, 291hp is acceptable. Obviously, I bought one as well despite the power output, but that isn't my question. This car was released in 2020 and the Hyundai/Kia group had the same motor in several other cars with higher outputs many years before the Telluride was released. It is curious to me they would have put the base output version of the 3.8 in such a big/heavy car.

 

[1 Alibi 2]

I don't claim to know why or how Mfg. make product decisions. For me, I traded in a turbo SantaFe for the 24, because I liked the idea of a NA engine with a 10yr / 100K warranty. I liked the 24, & had a buyer for my 17 F150, so I ordered the 25. HP never was part of the decision for either order. There are SUV's with more hp, usually @ higher price points. The 2027 MY has turbo offerings with more hp, but people are already complaining about towing with a smaller engine. I guess if you want it bad enough, you can have your engine built & turbo it..
.

 

[chickdr]

I, like you, prefer the potential reliability of the 3.8L v6 vs a 2.5 Turbo in a larger SUV (a V6 also has a much more luxurious/classy engine note vs a 4 banger IMHO). I considered waiting for the 27 as I assumed it would have the 3.5L V6 as its base motor and was glad I went forward with the 25 when I heard about the 2.5T being used for the Telluride as I wouldn't have wanted this (I traded a 21 CX-5 with a 2.5T- which was a great motor in the smaller CX-5) I certainly have no plans to modify my engine. Considering Genesis offered the G80 in 2020 with a 311hp and 293ft/lbs version of the 3.8l, it sure would have been nice to have that version of the engine in the Telluride.

 

[1 Alibi 2]

I have a weekend toy that satisfies my need for hp, speed, etc., the SUV is just a daily point A to B vehicle..
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[chickdr]

I had the same for many years, a BMW Z4M roadster. Recently sold it as I didn't drive it enough to justify keeping it. I also have a 2020 Nissan Frontier, which coincidentally also has a 3.8 V6, making 310hp and 281ft-lbs.

 

[1 Alibi 2]

You of course know that hp #'s, in print or ads, are crank, right ?
I don't see SUV's being dyno'd to give the actual hp @ the wheels, which would be around 10 % drivetrain loss..
.

 

[chickdr]

You of course know that hp #'s, in print or ads, are crank, right ?
I don't see SUV's being dyno'd to give the actual hp @ the wheels, which would be around 10 % drivetrain loss..
.

Of course, but that doesn't account for the difference in power at the crank....

 

[MrMCar]

Often the decisions about which spec engine to install in what car come about straight from the marketing department. This has been the norm from BMW and Porsche for decades. If the higher spec engine were available in the lesser car; less Genesis sales.

The most classic example is the Boxter VS: the 911. They wouldn't dare have the "premium" engine in the cheaper car?
BMW; 20i VS 28i. Same basic engine just more $$ equals higher output engine.

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