As the back-to-school season is coming quickly here at Jim Butler Kia of St. Louis, many busy families are thinking about all that needs to be done! Meal planning, after-school activities, and options for weekend fun all require some sensible space for carry-ons. The Autoblog review team recognized that drivers sometimes need more than just performance specs, so a luggage test for the Kia Telluride had ranked high on their to-do list.
Their first
test a few years back rendered it an all-out luggage-hauling champion, and now
the group eagerly pulled into their headquarters in Portland. The time had now
come, with the prime focus being on the space behind the third row. 21 feet is
the official claim, which measures up nicely to the 16-18 ft range that most of
the competition boasts. The only vehicle that even comes close in the rival
community is the Volkswagen Atlas, which resides at 20.6 feet. As every luggage
test commands, the group used two midsize roller suitcases that had to be
checked in at PDX.
This pair of roll-aboard suitcases were 26 inches long, 16 wide, and 11 deep, and they barely fit in the overhead. There was also a smaller roll-aboard that was 23L x 15w that fit easily. To add a real-world flair, there was also the writer’s wife’s overnight bag, which was 21L x 12W x 12D. The Telluride also boasts the ability to remove the floor, and the cargo cover underneath to increase capacity. Readers worldwide LOVE these tests, as they are an accurate representation of what to expect when it is vacation time, or simply shuttling around the lacrosse team.
Even though the overnight bag did not fit at first, there was still room left above the two vertically stacked bags as well as in the lower left in front of the wall. It was also of note that the reclining third-row seatback was angled for comfort, which affected the final tally. With it positioned upright, there’s the ability to fit more. When the crew went eagerly to work with the Honda Pilot and VW Atlas, the Telluride remained the champion. As action sports have gained popularity and more people are enjoying going out, being aware of spatial capacity is a must.
The Edmunds.com review staff claimed that the Kia Telluride is an “impressive 3-row SUV with a quiet and upscale cabin, great tech features, and a satisfying driving experience. It has been a class leader for five years now, and this review team has a hard time recommending another SUV because it's just that good. On the inside, the panel gaps are tight, the material choices are top-notch, and everything is built quite solidly.
It's the best of both worlds, with the V6 providing an excellent acceleration response. The crew performed consistent stops from 60 mph in 123 feet, which is on the short end in its class. The Telluride's steering is light at parking lot speeds and then spans up naturally during turns. The engine's fuel-saving stop-start feature works smoothly and quietly.
The off-road-oriented X-Pro turned out to be great on the pavement as well while boasting a superior layer of ride comfort and absorption of rough roads. There are plenty of large windows which aid visibility, and the camera systems are very helpful extras. All Tellurides come with a variety of collision avoidance systems and incredibly well-functioning cruise control. A standard 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen provides all trim levels with a sweet XL display that is easily accessed from the driver's seat.