AUSTIN — One of many hardest elements of this admittedly ridiculously simple job is filling out my poll on the Texas Auto Writers’ annual truck rodeo every fall. Not so this yr.
Ram introduced the TRX and walked away with the primary of many truck-of-the-year trophies. Kia introduced the Georgia-built Telluride, which asks the query, why do folks spend $70,000 for a 7-passenger SUV when, for a 3rd much less, they will have one which checks all of the containers, makes use of much less gasoline and has a guaranty that’s twice nearly as good?
In fact, folks don’t purchase automobiles for the guarantee, although they need to as a result of corporations that provide five-year bumper-to-bumper and 10-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranties put quite a lot of stress on engineers to make it possible for issues don’t break. Sure, Kia and massive brother Hyundai took a $760 million, class-action hickey for his or her theta line of four-cylinder engines, a few of which had an annoying behavior of cratering and catching hearth, however that appears to be up to now.
None of that may be a concern with the Telluride, whose solely engine possibility is the brand new lambda 3.8-L GDI V6 with 291 hp and 262 lb.-ft. of torque. Mated to a silky 8-speed automated, the driveline is easy and highly effective. Zero-to-60 is available in a decent 7 seconds.
If Kia’s engineers took shortcuts on the Telluride, they don’t seem to be obvious. Beginning at $33,415, the three-row crossover punches above its weight with a luxuriant cabin, swish sprint and switchgear, superior security options, a properly sorted powertrain, and cozy journey and dealing with.
In case you are out there for one thing to haul folks and all their units and stuff, there may be not a greater worth proposition in the marketplace. Interval.
A really shut second on my poll was the Hyundai Palisade, however I select the Telluride as a result of it prices just a few hundred {dollars} much less and the Palisade sprint just isn’t as good. Additionally fascinating on this class are the near-luxury Mazda CX-9 and the all the time reliable Honda Passport and Toyota Highlander.
The final three get barely higher gasoline financial system than the Telluride. We common near 24 mpg within the Kia however have attained nearer to 26-27 mpg with the opposite three. Nonetheless, you can’t go incorrect with any of these selections.
Beginning at $33,415, the three-row crossover punches above its weight with a luxuriant cabin, swish sprint and switchgear, superior security options, a properly sorted powertrain and cozy journey and dealing with.
A superb distinction
When it got here time to select one for me, the distinction is within the driving. On a crowded interstate on a darkish night time, the expertise behind the wheel is akin to enjoying a well-designed online game, however one which wraps the motive force in a way of security and luxury.
Our top-of-line tester, a $44,090 SX with a status package deal ($2,300), had a head-up show that advised me how briskly I used to be going, the velocity restrict, the cruise management setting and navigation data. Beneath, within the sprint was a crisp liquid crystal show gauge cluster. To the best was an simply reached row of analog switches that simply made excellent sense.
With so many capabilities pulled out into the open, as an alternative of forcing one to drill down on a display — that’s distracting — the ten.3-inch infotainment display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality was uncluttered. It was simple to search out navigation data or dial within the 630-watt, 10-speaker Harmon/Kardon sound system that had depth, channel separation and frequency response worthy of a Lexus or Mercedes-Benz.
On a highway crowded with dashing huge vans and impatiently pushed automobiles, the Telluride stayed aloof from the insanity, protected in a bubble of its personal making. I saved a hand on the wheel, however the automobile saved itself properly centered in its lane and a protected distance behind visitors forward. It monitored blind spots left and proper. If somebody forward slammed on their brakes, it might shortly and firmly apply its brakes, too.
With nappa leather-based, entrance and rear sunroofs, heated and ventilated seats within the first two rows, plush second-row captain’s chair, cupholders and cubbyholes all over the place, and a half-dozen USB energy ports, the Telluride had the texture of an upscale front room on wheels.
The journey is significantly better than most truck-based utilities, due to a monocoque chassis that’s each gentle and inflexible as a result of it extensively employs superior high-strength steels. With four-wheel impartial suspension and automated load leveling, the Telluride ensures the passenger expertise is serene.
The journey is significantly better than that of most truck-based utilities, due to a monocoque chassis that’s each gentle and inflexible as a result of it extensively employs superior high-strength steels.
Security first
The sense of safety just isn’t an phantasm. The 2021 Telluride earned a five-star crash-test score from the Nationwide Site visitors Security Administration and is a Prime Security Choose of the Insurance coverage Institute of Freeway Security. A complete suite of driver-assist applied sciences comes commonplace.
As talked about, Kia and Hyundai supply the most effective warranties within the enterprise and they’re transferrable when the automobile is offered.
Backside line: I shall resist the very huge temptation to conjure up an election joke and simply say the 2021 Kia Telluride gained this vote truthful and sq..
