Jamie Kitman of Automobile
mag made it perfectly clear to her readers that SUVS and crossovers are
not “her usual jam”, and that recent models from some brands seem more like
generic people movers than ever before. When she got her hands on the new Kia
Telluride, she exclaimed that it impressed her so deeply that she was
“compelled to sing its praises”, and that she had finally found what she was
after that was ideal for NYC traffic. She was getting about 26 mpg during
around 300 miles of driving, and it felt like she was driving a smaller,
nimbler vehicle.
Her cautious and
slightly negative preconceptions of the vehicle were “instantly freeze-dried”,
and she was only this greatly surprised after a test drive at one other time in
her career. Smooth to drive with capable handling and body control that puts
other brands to shame was the first reflections she had about the Telluride she
took for a test drive, and she thought that some of the interior materials left
even some high-end Europeans in the dust. For the most part based on the
Sorento, it possesses the boxy, angular silhouette that has come to be the
trademark of our brand, and usefully large proportions.
Under the hood is
a 3.8-liter V-6 that makes 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, with an
8-speed transmission. It gets the Telluride from zero to 60 mph in around 7
seconds, with optional all-wheel drive and self-leveling rear air suspension.
If you are planning to jump offroad and enjoy the trails and tests of the
wilderness on a whim, the Telluride sports 8.0 inches of ground clearance for
just these situations. There is room for eight with a second-row bench seat or
room for seven using the optional captain's chairs.
You can add a
10.3-inch touchscreen as well as quilted Nappa leather seats, and many of our
repeat customers here at Jim Butler Kia
of St Louis tell us frequently how thoroughly satisfied they are with
first-class driver-assistance features that include blind-spot monitoring,
automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assist, and
rear parking sensors. We honestly don't see too many flashy characteristics in
the competition such as a Honda Pilot or Volkswagen Atlas, and the handsome and
very distinct looks of the Telluride boost its appeal, as well as it carrying
the latest in practical tech. When you are here to test drive this super-sized
and stunning new model, make sure to inquire about the SX Prestige package: it
offers up Nappa leather on all three rows and the steering wheel, a premium
suede-like headliner, and heated and ventilated front and second-row seats.
