Consistently raking in the awards and accolades and existing as one of our absolute best “fully-fledged family excursion” vehicles here at Jim Butler Kia of St Louis, the Kia Telluride is large-sized, always trip-ready, and the 2024 model will be ready to roll on tap here soon. It has been gaining high praise and consumer satisfaction since it was introduced 3 years ago, and has excelled greatly with its very roomy interior, good number of standard features, and rugged styling elements.
Last year’s model saw the completely reworked and signature “tiger nose” front grille, a brand-new dashboard, and side-by-side 12.3-inch touchscreens. The X-Line and X-Pro trims both debuted on last year’s model, offering a higher ground clearance for off-road tasks, 18 or 20-inch wheels, smartphone connectivity, and up to 5,500-lb towing capacity. These two trims now come with a gloss black exterior outer trim addition, and the entire lineup now offers amber daytime running lamps. Under the hood is the capable and always-prepped naturally aspirated 3.8-liter V6 that cranks out 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque.
The stock transmission is an 8-speed automatic, and the Telluride’s active AWD system features the very game-changing electro-hydraulic coupling that is a complete boss at redirecting torque between the front and rear wheels as needed. We listened closely as St Louis area consumers told us what their ideal vehicles consisted of, and abundant safety features across all trim levels ranked high on the list. Each 2024 Telluride comes with forward collision avoidance, highway driving assist, lane-keeping assist, navigation-based cruise control, and rear cross-traffic collision avoidance.
The SX and Prestige trims have newly updated junction-turning features for tricky junction crossings, lane changing, and life-saving evasive steering maneuvers. The EX trim is a sweet spot in the lineup for anyone who has long admired the Telluride and is ready to pull the trigger: it adds 2nd row bench seats, genuine cowhide upholstery, ventilated front seats, and the very useful hands-free liftgate. The SX trim steps things up a notch inside with A 10 speaker audio system, a power driver seat with memory, and the all-weather added fun of dual sunroofs.
The CarConnection.com auto review team eagerly claimed after their test drive that “the 2024 Kia Telluride aces every family hauler test”, while greatly appreciating its two-box shape and broad front grille. The NHTSA gives the Telluride a 5-star overall rating, while the IIHS also deems it a Top Safety Pick +. Other features that keep the Telluride in such high regard industry-wide are its user-friendly infotainment system, its massive value, and its segment-leading 5-year/60,000-mile warranty. The esteemed Motor Trend crew gave the Telluride a hearty thumbs-up for its “adventure-ready and user-friendly design.”
Other awesome available driver assistance features include a blind spot view monitor, a 360-degree camera, a digital rearview mirror, and Highway Driving Assist 2 technology. The Driving Assist 2 offers autonomous control over steering on select highways, acceleration, braking, and even automated lane changes. Keyless entry, push-button start, and remote start are standard across the range, and all Telluride models come equipped with a Wi-Fi hotspot. The Edmunds.com auto review crew “Fell in love with the Telluride the moment they set foot in the cabin”, and it leads a field of very popular contenders while offering plush third-row comfort.
