Kia has always been known for producing small, fuel-efficient vehicles. The Pride has practically become a 90s icon of sorts. But of course, the Korean carmaker has gone with the times and created a few SUVs. And now, it gives us its largest offering the date, the Telluride, which was unveiled at this year’s North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
Followers of the motoring beat may have already seen this Kia in concept form but now, Kia gives us the production version. It doesn’t differ much from the show car, which means you get the same boxy yet still stylish cues. The lights are one of the stylish points as they offer some unique shapes and signatures.
The boxy profile pays off nicely in terms of interior room. Kia dubs this an eight-seater loaded with numerous tech toys. You’ve got a 10.25-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. There’s also a 10-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, as well as 6 USB ports and a wirless charging pad, just to name a few.
Power comes from a 3.8-liter V6 with 291hp and 355Nm of torque. All that juice is sent to either the front or all wheels via 8-speed automatic. And the driver can select four drive modes: Smart, Eco, Comfort, and Sport. There is even an additional Snow mode for extr tricky conditions. What’s even cooler is that the amount of front:rear power distribution varies depending on the drive mode.
And yes, safety is top notch, says Kia. This means you get stuff like Blind Spot Warning, Lane kep Assist, Lane Departure Warning, Smart Cruise Control, and much more. It’s practically designed to drive itself in certain situations.
The Kia Telluride will be available beginning in the second quarter of 2019.
