Named after a beautiful mountain in Colorado and conveniently offering an extra-large cargo area, the Kia Telluride has been creating quite a stir for the large amount of extra space it provides with the second and third-row seats folded flat. The staff over at Autoblog got their hands on a 2021 Telluride and set out to let everyone know just how much space is available through a light driveway test.
The writer assigned with the task at hand grabbed a large stock of U-Haul boxes, a hard-sided cooler, and a carry-on half-duffle bag. The boxes from U-Haul measured about 3 cubic feet each, and the Telluride boasts 21 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 46 behind the second, and a robust 87 cubic feet with everything behind the first row completely folded down. He found that after dropping the third-row seats, he was able to acquire a fair amount of stow-away room he was after for the trip.
The featured testing model came with a cargo net and privacy cover, with the cargo net seeing ideal storage space just underneath the floor behind the third row. Directly beneath the thick cargo carpet lies the under-floor storage bin, which you can get to simply with the third row up or down. Since the second and third-row seats have backs that recline, they allow for some ideal extra adjustments to make room for cargo. For this test, the passenger seats were in their forward-most locking positions, and all of the seat backs were upright. When the second row was dropped, the captain's chairs allowed for 8 U-Haul boxes present in one layer, and a few other stray items.
What about the times when you're just enjoying your new Telluride from us here at Jim Butler Kia of St Louis on the daily drive? Earning a spot on Car and Driver's 10Best for the year, the Telluride was widely appreciated for its ability to deliver a very upscale experience and currently sought-after features at a great price. Make sure to check out the Nightfall appearance package, which provides a blacked-out grille, 20-inch wheels, and other attractive accents. The EX trim level also now has LED headlights included as part of the Premium package, and the range-topping SX model comes with high-class additives such as a 12-way driver's seat, black 20-inch rims, blind-spot monitoring, a premium Hardon/Kardon sound system, front and rear sunroofs, and second-row captain's chairs.
Under the hood of each Telluride is the naturally-aspirated V6 that cranks out 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. The steering is very precise, and 8.0 inches of ground clearance for off-road excursions offer you the confidence to avoid bottoming out during uneven patches. The 2021 Telluride boasts room for 8, and the amazing storage options we had the benefit of exploring earlier. Listening to exactly what every customer wants from a new vehicle, Kia rose to the task with an 8.0-inch touchscreen available even on entry-level models, loaded up with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to offer up the entertainment goods for you during the journey.
