What options are worth getting?

[Wiluride]

In a round about way, AWD could be considered a safety feature.

Let's say you drive some remote areas where traction is limited, possibly snowy, icey, with hills, drifting snow, ect... or I suppose muddy or sandy...

In these traction limited situations, you're more likely to get stuck without AWD than you would if you had AWD. When going up a slippery hill, your more likely to stay on the road and not wind up off the road, possibly hitting something or getting stuck off the road.

So, AWD is potentially safer than FWD , just not under braking...

Our Tellurides aren't true 4WD and I haven't driven my Telluride in it's Snow mode or lock mode enough to say for sure how it handles when decelerating on snow or ice... but in my 4wd experience in other vehicles I personally dispute the notion that having 4wd doesn't help you slow your vehicle down. The drive train itself all being coupled together can provide some deceleration without ever applying the brakes. So,, I have personally experienced better deceleration with four wheels being connected to the drive line. Next spring I might be able to tell you whether or not this might be true in a Telluride with AWD locked.

Now modern vehicles with stability control do all kinds of fancy braking even when the driver isn't applying the brakes, so the deceleration advantage of a 4wd or Locked AWD may not be significant in a Telluride I can't say for sure right now.

I do know that even when not locked in AWD, it can actually be safer when forward traction is needed to get where you are going. It might not be safer for everyone, but for some people in certain situations it actually could potentially get you back home more safely than if you didn't have AWD. It just depends on where you might be traveling and how bad the road conditions are.

 

[2020Telly]

Let’s just basically agree on what safety means. Getting stuck on difficult terrain and getting out is something totally different than what I’m suggesting. Yes you are “safe” from being abandoned and having to call a tow truck. I’m not disputing the benefits of all wheel drive. I’m talking about the safety as it relates to the general public and harsh driving conditions on regular roads not off-road. Many buyers are led to believe that they “need” AWD to safely traverse regular streets in bad weather. This is misinformation because you need better braking and handling to be safer and many AWD buyers are sold a false sense of confidence that leads to injury and death. Let’s not focus on roundabout corner case debatable definitions about safety. I’m coming from replacing a Sienna minivan that protected my wife and kids that was ultimately totaled after getting clipped by a drunk driver. I was also caught in a snow drift at roughly the highest elevation of I95 in VT and did a couple 360s before slamming into a snow bank in a FWD Corolla. Fortunately, because there were no other cars at the time I was able to knock out the packed snow and got another 80k miles out of the car. My definition of safety means getting everyone home in one piece.

The new Bronco has GOAT modes. Ford is not marketing the Bronco to soccer moms. Instead the AWD modes are an off-road performance benefit. Even the Telluride shows commercials doing donuts in mud and the Seltos driving in a desert. But there are buyers that still think they NEED AWD to be safer where they live. Mainly because Subaru and others spent decades telling people that AWD meant safety to sell more cars at a higher price. I’m not suggesting this to promote FWD sales. It’s more about a PSA awareness for making sure you have good tires no matter where you live.

Most modern vehicles like the Telluride have become smart to the liability of calling AWD a safety feature and add safety options in other ways. It would be brand suicide for Subaru to come out now against popular opinion to tell people their common misconception that they helped perpetuate for profit is wrong. It’s like the American Heart Association saying in 2021 that they lied for decades and fat is not the problem it was sugar all along.

 

[2020Telly]

RES?

Has anyone purchased this option? Photos?

I think it has been a mix of people who had it on their window sticker then some who bought it only to be disappointed.

Rear Entertainment System

Hey, I just bought my 2021 Telluride SX Prestige Dark Moss Nightfall edition with Dune Brown leather seats and Rear Entertainment System. At first, I was a bit put off by the RES. I thought I had made a BIG Mistake. Now, I am in love with the RES. I can connect my Apple TV and Fire-stick into...

tellurideforum.org

ZF Sachs claims a towing benefit on their promo video but doesn’t go into details so who knows where they were even going with that. It’s basically mentioned in passing and not emphasized.

Just like passing off AWD as a safety feature, passing off leveling with no distribution as a towing benefit is misinformation. It's a loose argument that the benefit is your headlights are level and that helps you tow better. Even in a pickup truck adding airbags hides when people overload the weight they put in the bed and stress on the rear axle when towing because they aren't distributing unbalanced weight back to the trailer axle or to the front of the vehicle. The promo video shows the station wagon bouncing side to side which indicates to me that they are saying the two benefits are that if you have an unbalanced load or your trailer is causing sway the shocks "might" activate, but they are working harder than normal to hide a problem. Proper cargo management, anti-sway bars and weight distribution are towing benefits. I think these shocks were meant for cargo and VERY rare towing. If you did more frequent towing you are probably going to be spending $700 on new Mando self-leveling shocks a lot sooner than you would optionally be looking for standard shock aftermarket upgrades and spending less. The more weight you put on these things the more likely you are to break the shock. If you are towing a boat or travel trailer on vacation and a Mando self-leveling shock fails, how likely are you to be able to drive to a Kia dealership to buy a replacement while towing with the fluid leaking before you damage your axle or some other part of your rear suspension?

While it would be nice for Kia to publish something as detailed as the Nissan towing guidance, I think getting rid of the towing package or naming it something else and a printed information guide as you suggested would be a really good idea.

 

[2020Telly]

Now modern vehicles with stability control do all kinds of fancy braking even when the driver isn't applying the brakes, so the deceleration advantage of a 4wd or Locked AWD may not be significant in a Telluride I can't say for sure right now.

The Telluride has a standard safety feature called Torque Vectoring Cornering Control (TVCC). This is brake based and standard on FWD and AWD alike. While FWD might be more susceptible to oversteer AWD might be more susceptible to roll. But tires and too much speed matter in both situations. Regardless you get TVCC on all Tellurides.

There are no additional safety options that come with the AWD that don’t already come in the FWD versions. If you aren’t careful in an AWD you will more confidently accelerate more quickly and you will need to brake to slow down nearly 2.5 tons of vehicle, cargo and passengers. In the FWD you are unable to pick up the same amount of speed as quickly so you are more likely to be able to brake better.

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[Wiluride]

The Telluride has a standard safety feature called Torque Vectoring Cornering Control (TVCC). This is brake based and standard on FWD and AWD alike. While FWD might be more susceptible to oversteer AWD might be more susceptible to roll. But tires and too much speed matter in both situations. Regardless you get TVCC on all Tellurides.

There are no additional safety options that come with the AWD that don’t already come in the FWD versions. If you aren’t careful in an AWD you will more confidently accelerate more quickly and you will need to brake to slow down nearly 2.5 tons of vehicle, cargo and passengers. In the FWD you unable to pick up the same amount of speed as quickly so you are more likely to be able to brake better.

All that may be true, but it doesn't negate the points I have made.

Depending on the driver and their driving situations, AWD can indeed help you get where your going more safely.

In Canada, you can't even buy a Telluride without AWD. I suspect that was no accident.

 

[2020Telly]

All that may be true, but it doesn't negate the points I have made.

Depending on the driver and their driving situations, AWD can indeed help you get where your going more safely.

In Canada, you can't even buy a Telluride without AWD. I suspect that was no accident.

You are right. Kia acknowledges no one will buy a FWD in Canada because they have been taught to need it. But in Canada drivers are much more likely to buy winter tires and drivers are more likely to drive in more rural unplowed or untreated roads and driveways. The number of Tellurides that get exported to Canada are tiny compared to the ones in the US so why bother trying to sell FWDs in Canada. That has nothing to do with safety.

Back to tires. You can’t make your claims while saying the OEM tires or cheap all seasons in all situations give your argument a safety benefit. You are just perpetuating the myth that AWD alone is a safer vehicle.

When you don't mention tires, I could use your argument against you. Not getting stuck is a performance feature and not a safety one. If I have a FWD I might be less likely to try to go to remote area without the proper tires. Whereas with AWD the false sense of confidence might lead me to believe that I will be fine and try to get myself into that remote stuck situation. In that sense a FWD is safer because I will be less likely to get stuck.

Canadian Telluride sales
2019 - 2,997 (in the US over 58,000)
2020 - 2,853 (in the US over 75,000)
2021 YTD - 1,996 (in the US over 21,000)

2024 Kia Telluride Sales Figures

Kia Telluride monthly, quarterly, and yearly sales and statistics in Canada. Including data and interactive charts for the latest model year 2024 and crossover/suvs segment.

carfigures.com

 

[Wiluride]

You are right. Kia acknowledges no one will buy a FWD in Canada because they have been taught to need it. But in Canada drivers are much more likely to buy winter tires and drivers are more likely to drive in more rural unplowed or untreated roads and driveways. The number of Tellurides that get exported to Canada are tiny compared to the ones in the US so why bother trying to sell FWDs in Canada. That has nothing to do with safety.

Back to tires. You can’t make your claims while saying the OEM tires or cheap all seasons in all situations give your argument a safety benefit. You are just perpetuating the myth that AWD alone is a safer vehicle.

Canadian Telluride sales
2019 - 2,997 (in the US over 58,000)
2020 - 2,853 (in the US over 75,000)
2021 YTD - 1,996 (in the US over 21,000)

2024 Kia Telluride Sales Figures

Kia Telluride monthly, quarterly, and yearly sales and statistics in Canada. Including data and interactive charts for the latest model year 2024 and crossover/suvs segment.

carfigures.com

You are distorting the information I'm providing. I've never said AWD is a be all end all safety feature, nor have I said good snow tires aren't better than other tires in snow and ice.

 

[2020Telly]

You are distorting the information I'm providing. I've never said AWD is a be all end all safety feature, nor have I said good snow tires aren't better than other tires in snow and ice.

I don't feel I'm distorting anything, in fact I'm acknowledging that in some very specific situations AWD can help the traction performance on your tires we agree wholeheartedly on that. But car sales people and manufacturers have been marketing and selling AWD for decades ignoring the argument that AWD is meant to complement the traction you get from the tires and instead selling AWD to unsuspecting buyers that think this added traction performance is some how giving them added safety in all conditions. I think some marketing for years has said that AWD is the be all and end all safety feature in bad weather. That's the myth the debunk.

I think we both agree, if someone can barely get out of a driveway safely because they have AWD but low traction tires, that might be a message that they won't be able to stop before a collision when they eventually make it to the road and they should reassess if they should even drive out at all.

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[Wiluride]

Well , I'm not marketing anything, nor am I selling anything. I'm merely pointing out that AWD can get you home safer if you're driving in certain situations where it gets slippery.

Safety is sometimes merely about getting back home or at least back to where better road conditions exist.

For some people who need stuff like the ground clearance, 5000 lb towing, and lot's of interior cargo capacity, AWD could mean the difference between getting home, or not getting home. These people tend to be the traditional SUV buyers, not the people who just want a cooler looking replacement for a minivan.

Just the fact that a Telluride has a high ground clearance makes it inherently less safe than your typical non SUV vehicles available. I could easily argue that for anyone not needing 5000 lbs of towing or 8" of ground clearance, should not buy a Telluride because it's capable of going too fast and more prone to roll overs than other vehicles.

Anyway, I'm a traditional SUV buyer, who also values the more refined comfort and handling that the Telluride offers over something like a Toyota 4Runner and for me AWD is a safety and performance feature. I suspect I'm not alone... although I may be more like the typical Canadian SUV buyers than the American ones.

 

[2020Telly]

Well , I'm not marketing anything, nor am I selling anything. I'm merely pointing out that AWD can get you home safer if you're driving in certain situations where it gets slippery.

Safety is sometimes merely about getting back home or at least back to where better road conditions exist.

For some people who need stuff like the ground clearance, 5000 lb towing, and lot's of interior cargo capacity, AWD could mean the difference between getting home, or not getting home. These people tend to be the traditional SUV buyers, not the people who just want a cooler looking replacement for a minivan.

Just the fact that a Telluride has a high ground clearance makes it inherently less safe than your typical non SUV vehicles available. I could easily argue that for anyone not needing 5000 lbs of towing or 8" of ground clearance, should not buy a Telluride because it's capable of going too fast and more prone to roll overs than other vehicles.

Anyway, I'm a traditional SUV buyer, who also values the more refined comfort and handling that the Telluride offers over something like a Toyota 4Runner and for me AWD is a safety and performance feature. I suspect I'm not alone... although I may be more like the typical Canadian SUV buyers than the American ones.

Kia has not traditionally offered SUVs this large in the US market since the Borrego which was truck based. The traditional Kia buyer in the US is not you if you have been in the market for a truck or larger mid-sized SUV because Kia has been selling small and medium sized cars and minivans. Clearly Kia is trying to market the Telluride, Sorrento and even Seltos to a more adventurous off-road buyer but the message might be mixed when talking about safety for leisure and safety for necessity.

100% agree with you if you have to accelerate quickly at a lower speed to avoid a collision and you have the proper tires then AWD provides an added traction advantage over FWD. But unless you are a NASCAR driver or trained racing professional, 9 out of 10 times people have an instinct to brake to avoid a collision and that's when accidents are more likely to happen. If you are going to go faster more quickly you will need more distance to stop, that's undeniable. If you can't get going as fast and you have the same amount of braking power, then you are inherently safer. It's even more important when talking about a larger vehicle over a smaller compact sized one. The engineering nerd in me has a hard time arguing with Sir Isaac Newton.

Having lived in more than just one state and in different climates, I recognize that not all the buyers have the same needs for their conditions. So I'm saying we shouldn't assume that what might provide a little added safety in one climate is the same everywhere. People who deal with snow storms and blizzards have a different need than people who deal with sandstorms, tropical storms or hurricanes. Getting home is a priority, but sometimes staying put is a safety decision. From your description you are buying AWD more for the performance for you and your family's specific driving needs. I think there are other people who are blindly buying AWD more for safety not realizing that it's not giving them everything they were led to believe.

If you look on the Kia website all the safety features of the Telluride are available in both transmission options. And on the Kia website the "Active On-Demand All-Wheel Drive (AWD) w/ AWD Lock and Snow Mode" is listed under the Performance specs under Body/Chassis along with a disclaimer: "No system, no matter how advanced, can compensate for all driver error and/or driving conditions. Always drive safely." No mention of AWD under the Safety specs.

All of these AWD vs FWD debates may be moot after 5/18/21 when Kia continues their path on All Electric CUVs. At some point in the near future they will "Give It Everything" and we will have motors with drivetrains that control both axles and even all four wheels and we will have added traction and added stopping power instantly that can be dynamically adjusted for the conditions. I assume at that point current AWD and FWD will have less performance and safety than an All Electric alternatives . . . but one thing still remains, the tires are still where the rubber meets the road and physics takes over.

 

[DCTellEX]

If you are going to go faster more quickly you will need more distance to stop, that's undeniable. If you can't get going as fast and you have the same amount of braking power, then you are inherently safer. It's even more important when talking about a larger vehicle over a smaller compact sized one. The engineering nerd in me has a hard time arguing with Sir Isaac Newton.

I can't remotely get behind this argument. AWD doesn't equal faster acceleration. It equals the ability to have faster acceleration. The way someone drives will be the primary factor there. This also implies that accidents all happen on accelerations versus general cruising speeds... which I'm guessing here but I'd guess is also wrong.

Using your own words... "and you have the same amount of braking power"... that is what matters.

 

[2020Telly]

I can't remotely get behind this argument. AWD doesn't equal faster acceleration. It equals the ability to have faster acceleration. The way someone drives will be the primary factor there. This also implies that accidents all happen on accelerations versus general cruising speeds... which I'm guessing here but I'd guess is also wrong.

Using your own words... "and you have the same amount of braking power"... that is what matters.

Using the argument that a feature has the ability to do something but it's all driver dependent negates almost everything. It is commonplace to measure acceleration by measuring how quickly you can get up to speed given a set distance. With the same tires and same engine, AWD accelerates faster than FWD in the same conditions. In the same way it is commonplace to measure braking power by measuring the distance it takes to stop. With the same tires and same engine, AWD stops the same as FWD in the same conditions. You are correct many accidents happen at cruising speed. But it's a natural inclination to press the brake to avoid an accident. The basic argument is that if you are accelerating from 0-25mph and it takes you longer to get going in a FWD you will have more time to react with the same amount braking power vs. AWD which will get you going faster giving less time to react but still the same braking power.

My point is that uninformed AWD buyers that have been led to believe for decades that AWD is a safety and performance feature and many automatically assume that with whatever All Season tires they have they were generally sold a vehicle that is inherently safer than FWD for more dangerous conditions. That's simply not true and it encourages a false sense of confidence that can lead to an accident. Imagine stop and go traffic in bad weather and average tires, as soon as someone feels confident they can go faster they hit the gas pedal only to slow back down. Unless they are very careful, a driver is more likely to gain faster speed requiring a longer stopping distance in an AWD vs a FWD because they were able to pick up speed faster in the AWD. The point is if you ignore tires, there is a chance that AWD could put you in a situation that is more dangerous than FWD with the same or better tires. The transmission matters less than people think when it comes to safety and the grip of the tires. AWD doesn't give you added grip, it makes use of the grip you have in the tires and by accelerating faster you are more likely to lose control if you don't account for stopping distance or you put too much faith in the car to decide when to stop for you.

I agree with you that the way someone drives is the primary factor.

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[Tellthemride]

Imagine stop and go traffic in bad weather and average tires, as soon as someone feels confident they can go faster they hit the gas pedal only to slow back down. Unless they are very careful, a driver is more likely to gain faster speed requiring a longer stopping distance in an AWD vs a FWD because they were able to pick up speed faster in the AWD.

Is there data from studies that suggest owners of AWD cars are driving more faster and reckless than owners of FWD cars?

I would think if a person is a reckless/careless driver, having AWD or FWD would not matter and they would try to speed in slippery conditions regardless of what drivetrain they own.

If you were simply to use the same tires, same safe driving habits, AWD would definitely outperform FWD in handling.

I own an AWD model, I personally believe it is safer having driven in many winter storms with the Telluride and my previous AWD cars. But 2020Telly has the right to his own opinion.

 

[2020Telly]

Is there data from studies that suggest owners of AWD cars are driving more faster and reckless than owners of FWD cars?

I would think if a person is a reckless/careless driver, having AWD or FWD would not matter and they would try to speed in slippery conditions regardless of what drivetrain they own.

If you were simply to use the same tires, same safe driving habits, AWD would definitely outperform FWD in handling.

I own an AWD model, I personally believe it is safer having driven in many winter storms with the Telluride and my previous AWD cars. But 2020Telly has the right to his own opinion.

There is a now infamous IIHS crash study that is about a year old that has a measure called a "death rate". The data is all over the place but grossly ignores contributing factors other than transmission and it makes it look like no one should drive a 2WD Kia Sorrento because it's a danger. It only compares the transmission over many years of crash data for various models based on transmission, not taking into account the type of accident, the engine, modern safety features included with the trim, weather, tires, or the age or experience of the driver with each accident. The difference in the Telluride is that it's the same engine and same safety features. This study has been quoted by a number of car websites and mentioned on this and at least the Ascent forums implying that AWD is safer than FWD. For example the study gives the Kia Sorrento 4WD an overall death rate of 12, but the Kia Sorrento 2WD a score of 32. By comparison, the Hyundai Santa Fe 2WD a 16, but the Hyundai Santa Fe Sport 4WD a 39. All four vehicles are built on the same platform so these disparities tell me there is something more in the numbers that can't be isolated to just one is safer than the other. So am I to believe that I'm 2-3 times less likely to die in a 4WD Sorrento over a 2WD just because of the transmission, but then I'm also over 3 times safer in a 2WD Santa Fe over a 4WD Santa Fe?

This is similar to how IIHS ranks headlights by publishing data that suggests factory LED headlights are more safe than just good quality alternatives in the halogen housing. Some buyers make their decision on what options to buy based on a score that the IIHS study promotes as a highlight, but the full context of their evaluation is ignored and some manufactures what you to believe that because there a "+" at the end of a rating you are now more safe than just getting better equipment. For example, the Hyundai Palisade Top Safety Pick+ on all trims. But the Tellurides with the LED headlights are a Top Safety Pick, why the Tellurides without the LEDs are not a Top Safety Pick. The only difference is how the cheap $10 OEM halogen bulbs scored in the IIHS study. With a $30 investment in better halogen bulbs if the IIHS had retested, they might have given the Telluride a Top Safety Pick+ for the lower trims. Crash wise you are just as safe in any Hyundai Palisade or Kia Telluride.

 

[Sslau6dm]

I ordered the smartliner mats from amazon and am very happy with how they look and fit. Also, I ordered the Canadian cargo mat and am thrilled with it. it's so much better than the folding cargo mat. We did get the cross bars as well for our car carrier and they work great. i like that they are black and match the nightfall package we got!

 

[rsoster]

I purchased the complete set of floor mats for my car from Smart Liner and had them waiting as soon as it arrived. I chose Smart Liners because they have one solid liner piece for the second and third row floors completely covering the space between the Captain's chairs. (Shaped like the capital letter "I") Two piece liners allow for fluids to spill on the carpet beneath. Also the Smart Liners fit perfectly snug, are easy to remove for hosing and cost about 2/3 what Weather Tech costs. The tan colored liners are almost a perfect match for the Nappa Dune Leather and look sharp against the black interior. You can specify the 8 seater (bench) 2nd row if you don't need coverage between Captain's Chairs.

As for trim level, if your budget allowed for it, I'd spring for the SX Prestige. I needed the towing option for a boat and having the 360 degree overhead camera is a great feature. Did I "need" a heated steering wheel? No! But after having one, I will never buy another car without one. This car is the best car you will ever own, so get everything you want, that you are able to afford. Just my 2¢...

Any pics of the liner? Debating between black (cause that’s the color of the floor) and tan (cause I have dune interior) ;-)

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[Djames210]

OEM Kia Telluride Rear Cargo Area Mat S9F12-AU102 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for OEM Kia Telluride Rear Cargo Area Mat S9F12-AU102 at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

This is about as low as I have seen them on Ebay if your looking for this liner. Highly recommended.

I have a dog. Does this liner repel dog hair?

 

[DarkMossJustin]

I have a dog. Does this liner repel dog hair?

I don’t know what you mean by “repel”.

The OEM Carpeted Cargo Mat w/ Seat Back Protection (which I personally would order direct from your local Kia Parts Department instead of online) has a synthetic carpet top layer that’s easy to vacuum, clean up. It features a fully rubberized bottom layer that protects the “bed” of the cargo area from any liquid going through.

There may be some quality aftermarket options to set on top of the cargo mat in case you just want to slide the dog hairs off onto the ground each you pop the Telly lift gate.

Maybe the Canvasback?

 

[Djames210]

I don’t know what you mean by “repel”.

The OEM Carpeted Cargo Mat w/ Seat Back Protection (which I personally would order direct from your local Kia Parts Department instead of online) has a synthetic carpet top layer that’s easy to vacuum, clean up. It features a fully rubberized bottom layer that protects the “bed” of the cargo area from any liquid going through.

There may be some quality aftermarket options to set on top of the cargo mat in case you just want to slide the dog hairs off onto the ground each you pop the Telly lift gate.

Maybe the Canvasback?

Yeah, I’m not a fan of the canvas look but to each his own. Since I have a dog, my options are to buy the Canadian 60/40 ($295) or purchase both the OEM carpeted 60/40 ($115) AND the ToughPro cargo liner ($80).
I don’t mind spending the difference to get the items I want, but the car is already $50k and I still need to purchase the cargo liner ($300), floor mats ($200), roof crossbar ($200), and possibly a roof wrap ($500?). Lol

 

[DarkMossJustin]

Yeah, I’m not a fan of the canvas look but to each his own. Since I have a dog, my options are to but the Canadian 60/40 ($295) or purchase both the OEM carpeted 60/40 ($115) AND the ToughPro cargo liner ($80).
I don’t mind spending the difference to get the items I want, but the car is already $50k and I still need to purchase the cargo liner ($300), floor mats ($200), roof crossbar ($200), and possibly a roof wrap ($500?). Lol

I have a ToughPro cargo mat rolled up at my family home in NorCal in case I ever have to help my folks out with some dirty jobs, trips to pick up dirt/rocks/compost.

When I tested it, the ToughPro laid pretty flat on top of the OEM Carpeted Cargo Mat (which has the best edge-to-edge fit)

I had to slightly grind down the edges of the ToughPro to make it a tad bit smaller and fit best (i didn’t want the edges to be directly rubbing against Telly’s polymer/plastic cargo area trim and sit flatter).

Maybe with your Canada-edition OEM Cargo Mat, the ToughPro will fit perfectly? Who knows? It’s an easy fix either way and the benefits are those amazing closed cells that trap slush, dirt, drips, whatever. Clever design by ToughPro and different from the channel designs that let liquid move around and pool