The 2024 Kia Telluride continues to impress as one of the top contenders in the midsize SUV market. With its combination of bold styling, a spacious and upscale interior, solid performance, and an array of tech features, the Telluride stands out as an exceptional family SUV. The 2024 model builds on the success of its predecessors, offering a package that is hard to beat. In this review, we’ll explore the standout qualities of the 2024 Kia Telluride, focusing on its interior and exterior design, road performance, and overall driving experience, and wrap it all up with why this SUV remains a favorite.
Interior Design
Spacious, Comfortable, and High-Quality
Step inside the 2024 Kia Telluride, and you’ll immediately see why this SUV is so popular. The interior is downright gorgeous, with a layout that feels both luxurious and user-friendly. High-quality materials are everywhere, from the soft-touch surfaces on the dashboard to the available Nappa leather seats that make you feel like you’re in a high-end vehicle. The Telluride’s interior design manages to strike that perfect balance between elegance and practicality, making it a great choice for families and anyone who wants a touch of luxury in their daily drive.
The Telluride’s cabin is exceptionally spacious, offering three rows of seating that can comfortably accommodate up to eight passengers. The front seats are plush and supportive, with power adjustments, heating, and ventilation options available to make long drives more enjoyable. The second-row seats, available in either a bench or captain’s chair configuration, offer plenty of legroom and headroom, even for taller passengers. And the third row? Unlike many SUVs, it’s not an afterthought—adults can actually sit back there without feeling cramped, which is a huge plus for families or carpooling.
The dashboard layout is intuitive and loaded with tech features that are easy to use. The centerpiece is the massive 12.3-inch touchscreen display, now standard across all trims, which integrates seamlessly with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Telluride also boasts a fully digital 12.3-inch instrument cluster, giving the cabin a modern and tech-forward vibe. Plus, there are USB ports in every row and available wireless charging, ensuring that everyone’s devices stay powered up.
Cargo space is another area where the Telluride excels. With all three rows in place, you get a generous amount of space for groceries, strollers, or sports gear. Fold down the third row, and you have even more room for larger items. The flat load floor and hands-free power liftgate (available on higher trims) make loading and unloading a breeze.
Exterior Design
Bold, Rugged, and Stylish
The 2024 Kia Telluride is not just about what’s inside; it also makes a bold statement on the road with its rugged yet refined exterior design. The Telluride’s front fascia features a broad, squared-off grille flanked by distinctive vertical LED headlights that give it a commanding presence. The new Kia badge adds a modern touch, while the sculpted hood and bold bumper design further emphasize its muscular stance.
From the side, the Telluride’s boxy shape and strong character lines convey both strength and sophistication. The available 18-inch or 20-inch alloy wheels add to its rugged appeal, and the blacked-out trim on certain models gives it a more aggressive look. Roof rails are standard, enhancing both the SUV’s practicality and its off-road-ready appearance.
At the back, the Telluride doesn’t disappoint. The vertical LED taillights mirror the front’s design language, creating a cohesive and balanced look. The rear skid plate and dual exhaust outlets add a sporty touch, while the wide rear window offers excellent visibility. All these elements come together to give the 2024 Telluride a look that is both modern and timeless—a design that will continue to turn heads for years to come.
Performance
Smooth and Confident On the Road
Under the hood, the 2024 Kia Telluride comes equipped with a powerful yet refined 3.8-liter V6 engine that delivers 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. This engine is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission that provides smooth and responsive shifts, making the Telluride feel both powerful and composed in various driving scenarios. Whether you’re merging onto the highway or navigating city streets, the Telluride’s V6 offers plenty of power without feeling overbearing.
One of the key highlights of the Telluride’s performance is its confident and smooth ride. The suspension is well-tuned to absorb bumps and road imperfections, providing a comfortable experience for all passengers. The SUV remains composed around corners, and the steering is nicely weighted, offering good feedback to the driver. It’s not a sports car, but for a vehicle of its size, the Telluride handles remarkably well.
Front-wheel drive comes standard, but there’s an option for all-wheel drive (AWD) on all trims, which is a great feature for those who live in areas with challenging weather or who like to venture off the beaten path occasionally. The Telluride also comes with a drive mode selector that includes Eco, Sport, Comfort, Smart, and Snow modes, allowing drivers to tailor the vehicle’s performance to their liking and the road conditions.
Fuel economy for the 2024 Telluride is respectable for its class, with an estimated 20 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway for the front-wheel-drive model. Opting for AWD reduces these numbers slightly, but the Telluride remains competitive among three-row SUVs.
Road Test Drivability
Comfortable, Quiet, and Family-Friendly
When you take the 2024 Kia Telluride for a spin, you’ll immediately notice how quiet and refined it feels on the road. The cabin is exceptionally well-insulated from wind and road noise, creating a serene environment that makes every drive more relaxing. This quietness, combined with the Telluride’s smooth ride quality, makes it a great choice for long road trips or daily commutes.
The visibility from the driver’s seat is excellent, thanks to the large windows and well-placed mirrors. For added confidence, the Telluride is packed with standard safety features that enhance its drivability. These include forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Higher trims add even more advanced features, such as a 360-degree camera system, blind-spot view monitor, and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability.
Maneuvering such a large SUV is surprisingly easy, thanks in part to its light steering and the availability of parking sensors and cameras. The Telluride feels stable and planted, even at higher speeds, which is a big plus for families who prioritize safety and comfort.
Final Thoughts
The 2024 Kia Telluride is a standout in the crowded midsize SUV segment, and it’s easy to see why it has become such a favorite among families and adventure-seekers alike. It offers a spacious, well-crafted interior filled with high-quality materials and the latest tech, making it an excellent choice for long trips and daily commutes. The bold exterior design ensures you’ll turn heads wherever you go, while the smooth and confident performance provides a driving experience that’s both comfortable and enjoyable.
With a solid V6 engine, a suite of advanced safety features, and a level of refinement that rivals much more expensive SUVs, the Telluride delivers incredible value for the money. It’s versatile enough to handle family life, adventurous enough for weekend getaways, and stylish enough to impress wherever you go.
For anyone in the market for a three-row SUV that combines comfort, style, performance, and technology in one fantastic package, the 2024 Kia Telluride starting at $50,645 remains a top choice. It’s a vehicle that not only meets expectations but consistently exceeds them, proving that Kia continues to hit it out of the park with this exceptional SUV.