Is the 2020 Kia Telluride the Best 3 Row SUV of the Year?

This in-depth video review of the 2020 Kia Telluride asks the question “Is the 2020 Kia Telluride the Best 3 Row SUV of the Year?”  Would the Telluride be your pick over the Hyundai Palisade, Ford Explorer, Chevrolet Traverse, Honda Pilot, Subaru Ascent, Toyota Highlander, Jeep Grand Cherokee, or any other competitors in its SUV class?  Let us know in the comments below

Some of the main aspects of the 2020 Kia Telluride (according to Kia):

Overview:

• Largest Kia ever provides comfortable seating for up to eight passengers
• Potent 3.8-liter GDI V6 with 291 horsepower and 262 lb.-ft. of torque
• Powerful exterior design and premium, well-appointed interior
• Loaded with technology to enhance comfort, convenience, utility and the driver and passenger experience

Exterior Design Aspects:

• Long, broad hood and wide grille
• Bold, stacked headlamps convey power and stability
• Upright windshield and clean side profile conveys muscular tension
• Inverted “L” tail lamps with LED stripes (standard on EX and SX trims)
• Elongated nameplates on the leading edge of the hood and on the liftgate provide distinctive identity for flagship SUV
• Sculpted rear skid plate with integrated twin exhaust tips reference off-road ability and power (standard on S, EX and SX trims)

Interior Design Aspects:

• Grab handles integrated into the center console suggest journeys off the beaten path
• Wide console with emphasis on the horizontal through artistic use of premium trim features to convey spaciousness  – more “luxe living room” than “utility vehicle”
• Spacious cabin for generous hip, shoulder, leg and head room, including in the third row

Under the Skin:

• Atkinson Cycle LAMBDA II 3.8L V6 GDI engine producing 291 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 262 lb.-ft. of torque at 5,200 rpm
• 8-speed automatic transmission
• Four-wheel independent suspension
• Strong, stiff, and torsionally rigid body structure due to the monocoque shell that is composed of 59.4 percent advanced high-strength steel
• Self-leveling rear suspension. Ride height is automatically calibrated depending on vehicle load to optimize control and stability (optional on EX and SX)
• Choice of four drive modes – Smart, Eco, Sport and Comfort – each using different settings for powertrain, drivetrain, and steering effort mapping to provide the desired driving experience.  In addition to the four regular drive modes, in vehicles equipped with AWD, drivers can select from two different modes, “Snow” and “AWD Lock”, for specific driving conditions
• Available active on-demand all-wheel drive which helps provide enhanced driving performance by actively distributing torque between front and rear wheels depending on road conditions and driver input. The system utilizes electro-hydraulic AWD coupling to precisely activate the multi-plate clutch plate, constantly redistributing the amount of power transferred to the front and rear wheels. During normal driving, power is distributed according to the drive mode selected. “Eco” and “Comfort” modes can deliver up to 20 to 35 percent of the power to the rear wheels, respectively.  “Sport”, “Smart” and “Snow” modes can deliver up to 50 percent of the power to the rear wheels. “AWD Lock” mode delivers power evenly to all four wheels
• Standard towing rated up to 5,000 pounds³
• Downhill Brake Control (DBC)⁴maintains a controlled descent on steep roads

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