I was certain I was going to buy a Toyota 4Runner Nightshade. I've driven body-on-frame/true 4 wheel drive vehicles for 30 years: Mitsubishi Montero in the 80's, Isuzu Trooper II in the 90's, Wrangler, Liberty. I only checked out the Telluride because a friend of mine who is into cars (and whose opinion I trust) suggested I'd hate myself if I didn't drive one. I knew next to nothing about the brand. Walked into the dealership unannounced, had the keys to their SX tossed to me, and 20 minutes later, I knew I was in trouble
I went to my appointment at Toyota next. The Telluride was superior in ride, engine performance, features, and overall interior luxury. And was around $5k less for, in my opinion, significantly more. Now I am still not sure if I'll miss the tow hooks, 4 Wheel Low, and actual skid plates of a more "truck-y" vehicle but we'll see in a couple of months. Right now, I'm 2 weeks into ownership and I am very, very happy with my EX AWD N/T/P.