2020 Kia Telluride Billed by Car and Driver as “Ridiculously Good, Brand-Elevating”

The staff of Car and Driver have undoubtedly seen many things in their years: massive home-runs, failures, all-out broken promises from manufacturers, and EPA rating scandals. When they got their hands on the 2020 Kia Telluride, they immediately claimed that it was “ridiculously good”, and admitted that they rarely make statements that serious. Writer Tony Quiroga states in detail that the arrival of the Telluride reminded him of when greats such as the Lexus LS400 were introduced, and that while a minivan may offer a bit more space, the Telluride has a luxurious and refined side that no minivan can rival.

You see the addition of luxurious elements like acoustic windshield glass, a head-up display, heated and ventilated seats in the first AND second rows, and intuitive widescreen infotainment system. Car and Driver even make the claim here that at 70 mph, it's quieter than  a Land Rover Range Rover, and goes down the road with the refined style of SUVs that cost tens of thousands more. By aiming very high, it is stated here that Kia has created a premium product at nonpremium prices, and compares the overall look and feel to a Volvo or Land Rover.

Paint finish and quality, lighting elements, and space in all three rows are qualities that make this seem like an SUV from a high premium brand, and every last detail such as even the quality of the carpet has been taken into account. In what they deem as a “significant LS400 moment”, the Car and Driver staff went as far as to say that you should “Get one before Kia realizes what it's done and raises the price”. The Cars.com staff ranked the verdict on the Telluride as “Big, Comfy, Classy – and impressively loaded with technology and luxury touches; a true triumph”.

Touting even more passenger room than the Chevy Tahoe SUV, you'll recognize it coming right away: the characteristic big tiger grille is flanked by LED running lights, and the clean body sides have a downward swoop to the taillights. The available engine is a direct-injection Atkinson-cycle 3.8-liter V-6 mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission, cranking out 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. Using Sport Mode gets a little more spring into the Telluride's step, by holding lower gears a bit longer, and downshifting more readily.

Test drivers have reported doing 40 mph on a rock-strewn dirt road, and it was not upsetting

the chassis or steering – quite an off-roader's ideal vehicle when you take into consideration it can also tow a 5,000 – pound trailer. A family of four could have in tow all of their necessary luggage and a camper without any worries. Make sure you check out the SX trim level here at Jim Butler Kia of St Louis: this is where you get genuine Nappa leather for the seats and the upper sense of true high-end enjoyment from a vehicle that is already creating such a well-earned stir in the automotive realm!

L.A. Auto Show Attendees Will Witness Surprise Kia Vehicle Debut

Chris Bruce of Motor1.com reported on the blog last week that the brand we love to represent so much every day here at Jim Butler Kia of St Louis has a secret vehicle debut slated for the upcoming Los Angeles Auto Show. From Nov. 22 – Dec. 1^st, attendees get to enjoy vehicles on display, vehicle debuts, VIP guided tours, free test drives, and many other events and appearances. Unfortunately for the masses of curious and excited Kia fans, this release is pretty much under wraps and kept a complete secret. Assuming that the vehicle pictured here is a production model and not a concept, the most likely one to be presented is the next-gen Kia Sorento.

Judging by those photos, if  this is the crossover in question it possesses a bit more chiseled styling like the larger Telluride. Since rumors do suggest that the Sorento will go on sale for the 2021 model year, this could coincide with the timing of the LA Auto Show unveiling. Others have been wondering if a new Optima is in the works, as some photos floating around the web show the K5 as a South Korean version. This is the vehicle that we think would excite many: even though it seems it's always crossover SUVs winning the popularity contest, a new sedan certainly always turns heads at a star-studded auto show.

Some wonder if the Seltos is going to be the secret contender at the LA Auto Show, but it does  seem a bit less likely. After debuting in India this summer, there has been speculation that a North American version is possible. The current model touts a turbocharged 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine with 175 horsepower, naturally aspirated 2.0-liter 4-cylinder with 147 hp, or turbodiesel 1.6 – liter with 134 hp. For a truly epic surprise, many attendees would love nothing more than to check out Kia's pickup concept, but that is allegedly not going to be out for another year.

It would also be startling to see a living and breathing Imagine EV: the concept shown here is a coupe-inspired crossover that could soon be our brand's range-topping electric vehicle. The 21 high-resolution screens inside are one of the production elements that could be a bit difficult to pull off on short notice, but as many “dare to dream”, would be an impressive sight to see. The production-spec Imagine was slated to ride on Hyundai and Kia's upcoming dedicated electrical platform, but many specifics have not yet been made public. Even though some dedicated fans on various Kia blogs thought it was a bit strange on the inside, this is one amazingly handsome concept, and from a side glance looks like everything futuristic cars were meant to dazzle us with.

2021 Kia Optima Official Renderings Featured on Motor1.com News

When spy shots begin their gradual circulation through the many avenues of the web, there are instances wherein they may not portray the exact car in question down to the very last detail, and that's ok! The reason why all of us on staff here at Jim Butler Kia of St Louis are ok with that is because the sense of excitement that future photos generate questions that we are here on hand to answer regarding present and coming cars! Adriann Padeanu of Motor1.com had a few cautionary words regarding the renderings of the new 2021 Kia Optima this past week and claimed that they may be too good to be true.

Spy shots from August revealed the next generation is going to stick to the midsize sedan frame, so these renderings were most definitely not 100% accurate. Hyundai did a great job of upping their styling game in this segment shared with the lovely-looking Sonata, and so Kia will be working similar visual wonders with its sister model. We love the way the headlights appear to have LED daytime running lights, as well as the slim taillights stretching across the fastback-like rear end.

The 2021 Optima is expected to sport some traits that will make its profile more exciting, and many auto journalists and fans out there think that it could even make sense to see the Stinger lose its rear doors. We don't believe that this will be the case but do know that there will be some changes inside the cabin that will ultimately see the digital instrument cluster merge with a wider infotainment system. The lower center console will lose the now bulky gear lever for a much smaller rotary shifter, while some of the buttons will be taken away after their functions are included in the touchscreen display.

Autoweek Proclaims Kia Telluride “Rugged, Confidence-Inspiring, and Athletic”

The staff at Autoweek have long been experts at describing the good, bad, and the ugly regarding any vehicle that is rolling off onto lots for success or scrutiny. All of us here at Jim Butler Kia of St Louis were excited this past week to see that they were providing an up-close look at the Telluride and that they were not only satisfied after driving it, but lamented that its ruggedness is so true that it is “confidence inspiring”. They immediately took note of how fantastic the electronic all-wheel-drive system is, as well as its other large array of smart technology.

With electronic all-wheel-drive, a very advanced electro-hydraulic coupling sends the power of the big V6 to the front wheels and provides more traction when it is needed most. If there is any sudden loss of grip, sensors will instantly channel up to half of the available power to the rear. It's so revolutionary because it can keep shuffling the power between the front and rear axles as gripping changes. One tap of the center console drive mode control takes you into “AWD Lock”, where the central clutch in the system locks in the power evenly between the front and rear axles.

The Telluride also boasts the very intuitive traction control system: it grabs the brake rotor on any wheel that is suddenly slipping, instantly sending the torque to the side with the traction. It is game-changing in inclement weather conditions and imitates the action of more complex front and rear locking differentials. We saw our fair share of snow right here in St Louis last year, and the Telluride has another feature to help when the powder begins to stick in the form of “Snow” mode. Snow mode directs 80 percent of the engine's power straight to the front wheels, and 20 percent to the rear to deliver optimum traction for these conditions. Also a big help in loose sand or gravel, it actually works to soften the throttle action of a heavy foot to avoid drastic grip loss.

Added to all this is nearly 8 inches of clearance, and this becomes an SUV that can keep going over many challenging surfaces that competitors like the new Chevy Blazer could not even fathom. The V6 on duty here inside the Telluride is a 3.8-liter GDI unit, with Atkinson cycle technology, and direct fuel injection. It cranks out 291 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque, which provides for aggressive off-the-line acceleration, strong mid-range response, and very relaxed high-speed cruising.

The four drive modes are Smart, Eco, Comfort, and Sport, and as expected the Autoweek team enjoyed the amped-up responsiveness and steering in Sport mode. It's large, proud, and designed right here in America: make sure to check out the Telluride's massive capabilities and tech features this fall, and take note of just how much you'll be able to conquer when you give in to the call of the wild!