Thoughts on the Kia Telluride

[Average Joe]

I saw this one a few days back. He compares the Telluride to knock-off sunglasses around the 3:30 mark.

This is the only “negative review” I have seen so far.

Not trying to be judgmental here, but I’m probably not taking the dude’s subjective opions all that seriously based solely on his decision to go with that hairdo. Chuck Liddell 2.0. LOLOL

 

[Lucas & Craig]

Not trying to be judgmental here, but I’m probably not taking the dude’s subjective opions all that seriously based solely on his decision to go with that hairdo. Chuck Liddell 2.0. LOLOL

I'm sure he's paid by Dodge.

 

[blitt]

Not trying to be judgmental here, but I’m probably not taking the dude’s subjective opions all that seriously based solely on his decision to go with that hairdo. Chuck Liddell 2.0. LOLOL

Disagree with his complaints!!! ....if you want a true "off roader" get a Jeep or a Land Rover, if you want the perfect combination of a "family vehicle with some amazing comfort and luxury and some "back road ability" , at a phenomenal affordable price, there is nothing quite like a fully loaded Telluride! FYI....after 2k miles of all kinds of driving AND just sitting in the driveway with the engine running.....my overall avg mpg is 22.....his was 17 ?

 

[II Kings 9:20]

Toyota is trying to move Highlanders, just buy one of those. If you want an MDX, yes you can get for near same price. Just buy what you want... the Telluride will last 200k+ if desired. Kia has come a long way. Dealership experience will likely be better at Honda, Toyota and leaps and bounds better at Acura or Lexus. Acura sells just under 5000 MDX / month, fewer than Telluride. Lexus even fewer. All different markets. You don't have to pay so much for Telluride - just get an LX or S model and drive the heck out of it. All new cars today have tons of electronics - which will likely be outdated in 10 years. Oh well! The Telluride is aggressively priced.

A week ago I got a $10K discount off of a 2020 MDX SH AWD Tech Pkg (Tech added $5,000 to add BSM and RCTA along with several items I didn't want).

MSRP was $52,XXX and selling price was an insane $42,XXX. $2,500 of that was Acura money. $1500 for financing and $1,000 loyalty money. What a deal.

I walked away and will order my KT SX P on Monday for MORE money than the MDX.

I've owned 5 MDX (3 lease and 2 used buys), great car.

The 2020 looks very 10 years ago with a newer grille. The front clip in side profile looks very minivan-ish which has been that way since it was introduced 20 years ago.

Even though I've owned 5, I've never liked the awkward frumpiness of the MDX. Short wheel base and bulbous proportions while the KT is svelte, long (same as MDX bumper to bumper) and the proper long hood is just perfect.

I won't even get into the tech although optioned right, the MDX is no slouch.

So I'm spending 4-5K more for the Kia over an MDX. My, how times have changed.

______________________________

 

[jw_tx21]

A week ago I got a $10K discount off of a 2020 MDX SH AWD Tech Pkg (Tech added $5,000 to add BSM and RCTA along with several items I didn't want).

MSRP was $52,XXX and selling price was an insane $42,XXX. $2,500 of that was Acura money. $1500 for financing and $1,000 loyalty money. What a deal.

I walked away and will order my KT SX P on Monday for MORE money than the MDX.

I've owned 5 MDX (3 lease and 2 used buys), great car.

The 2020 looks very 10 years ago with a newer grille. The front clip in side profile looks very minivan-ish which has been that way since it was introduced 20 years ago.

Even though I've owned 5, I've never liked the awkward frumpiness of the MDX. Short wheel base and bulbous proportions while the KT is svelte, long (same as MDX bumper to bumper) and the proper long hood is just perfect.

I won't even get into the tech although optioned right, the MDX is no slouch.

So I'm spending 4-5K more for the Kia over an MDX. My, how times have changed.

You won't be disappointed. Some Acuras are overpriced at MSRP - it's their packages that are ridiculously priced. You'll get Captains chairs. The Advance package in MDX would have added more. I just couldn't deal with Acura's infotainment system... Hyundai / Kia have got it figured out well with single touchscreen.

The salesman I talked to tried to sell me on rear space... and that the little niche was a perfect place for a gallon of milk in the rear cargo bay. Interesting selling point. He told me "you'll be back - there's nothing that compares." I asked if he'd heard of the Telluride... he said no. But the MDX was the best selling SUV of all time. I said, that's because Acura hasn't redesigned it much since inception, and the Telluride was already outselling the MDX on a monthly basis. He still seemed pretty confident in a sale ...

 

[Mr.JB]

We started our search for an SUV that could hold the grandkids with us last fall. We test drive several including comparable vehicles from Ford, Chevrolet, Mercedes, Cadillac, GMC, Lexus, etc.etc. we couldn't find one that checked all of the boxes. So we decided to wait to see the next model year would look like.

During the Super Bowl game we caught the Telluride commercials and I started doing some research on KIA. Never owned or even looked at a KIA before.

In March is the autoshow held locally and we went and checked out every SUV they had in the building. We liked the legroom in the second and third row seats and the other features. The day we were at the autoshow we heard a couple of dealers got a few Tellurides in. We made a few phone calls and located a few. We left the autoshow and went to the dealer and test drive a Telluride. My wife said, "this is it". We ordered our SX-P that day. It arrived on May 30th. The Telluride has lived up to our expectations including handling in Snow.

We are happy with our choice.

 

[Steve in Denver]

For the most part I don’t agree with the complaints from the weird hairdo guy. I wonder what he is comparing it to? I will say that when pushed hard, the ride can become a bit rough, but in almost all driving situations I find that it drives better than anything else I have owned. I got the LX, and aside from giving up a few things that my $27k Outback has (heated seats, climate control, dimming side mirrors, power drivers seat) the Telluride is more refined, much more comfortable to drive, and all around a nicer car. A bargain at $35k.

 

[Donkyjoto]

Thanks everyone for the replies this really is helping our decision, we just dont want to get thrown into something were arent happy about just like our last 2 cars (we needed a car at the time) now were going to actually spend the time and get what we actually want. We are most likely going to get the Telluride the wife likes it and I like it also, it does have alot of tech which we like compared to other makes of cars.

Thanks again

______________________________

 

[Luvcats69]

A week ago I got a $10K discount off of a 2020 MDX SH AWD Tech Pkg (Tech added $5,000 to add BSM and RCTA along with several items I didn't want).

MSRP was $52,XXX and selling price was an insane $42,XXX. $2,500 of that was Acura money. $1500 for financing and $1,000 loyalty money. What a deal.

I walked away and will order my KT SX P on Monday for MORE money than the MDX.

I've owned 5 MDX (3 lease and 2 used buys), great car.

The 2020 looks very 10 years ago with a newer grille. The front clip in side profile looks very minivan-ish which has been that way since it was introduced 20 years ago.

Even though I've owned 5, I've never liked the awkward frumpiness of the MDX. Short wheel base and bulbous proportions while the KT is svelte, long (same as MDX bumper to bumper) and the proper long hood is just perfect.

I won't even get into the tech although optioned right, the MDX is no slouch.

So I'm spending 4-5K more for the Kia over an MDX. My, how times have changed.

I almost pulled the trigger on a used 2017 Acura MDX before buying the Telluride and what blew my mind was how shite the 9 speed tranny is on the MDX. First and second gear lunge was prevalent in most test drives, which I found unforgivable for a proclaimed luxury vehicle