I was on my way to purchase an SEL R-Line Atlas. I had done tons of reasearch and while there were some aspects i wasnt too fond of, reliability reports, engine choice, mpgs, gas tank size/range, no ventilated seats on a near top trim model reserved for SEL premium, no real leather seats reserved for SEL premium, no 360 camera system reserved for SEL premium, the interior was boring but functional, ride was okay nothing special, technology was okay but lacking some features the Telluride has, cheap plastics EVERYWHERE were all the items that kept me from pulling the trigger earlier. I loved the look of the R-Line, maybe even more than the Telluride. So after a month or two of research, looked at all the major players in the midsize crossover market, toyota(dated), honda(good reliability but ugly imo),traverse(just oddly shaped but space was good. We have our second child and my wife is just nagging me we need an suv yadda yadda so i tell her fine, lets go get the Atlas. Just so happened there was a mazda/kia next door. I had heard great things about the cx9 so decided to stop by. Walk in and talk to one of the salesman, young kid. Explain to him what im looking for and he tells me, sir u came at the perfect time we just got this new suv called the Telluride. I say to him “Telluride”? Yes sir and proceeds to take me to the kia dealership next door. Long story short im amazed by the Telluride, all the features of the atlas and MORE! Not quite the space but close enough! Its perfect! Now to find one to test drive, this was around early march. So about a week later they get an ex in sangria(hate the color). We test drive it and man, its quiet, engine response is great, ride feels planted yet isolated, fricken sweet. My wife is iffy, just cause its a kia. So we decide lets do it. But no invintort to be found and the dealers in my area want an arm and leg for them. After looking for about a week i give up. We need the car now so we decide to get a Yukon Xl Denali or Suburban Premier. Go big or go home right. So we are sure this is the truck we are getting but cetified used with 20-30k miles or less are still going for 50k. So i look and look and finally find a smoking deal on auto trader and call to make a deal on it. 14k and change black on black suburban premier for 42k. It was mine! I call the dealership they say we have it lets do this. Low and behold i show up and its sold, im pissed of but what can you do. So back to searching. I couldnt find any yukons or suburbans for reasonable(imo) prices. So decided to take a second gander at the Telluride. So i go to my local dealer. They have an EX in sangria(hate the color) and just so happen to have a used suburban premier in the lot so i ask them to put them side by side and Wow, i could not believe hot dated and cheap the suburban felt next to the Telluride. Neither could my wife, the suburban felt 10 years dated(it kinda is) and just didn't feel premium compared to the Telluride. It was then that i decided to find a Telluride for us. Yesterday i put my deposit down on an incoming SX non Prestige. Should have it in my garage on Saturday God willing.
