Kia's latest SUV is poised for adventure.
In a marketplace where the lines of Adventure Wagon, Crossover, and SUV are blurred, one thing is for certain; the 2020 Kia Telluride, upon first glance, appears to err on the side of a real off-road SUV.
At the very least, it's a very nice piece to look at. The Telluride, like many crossovers/SUVs, could have been a half-baked econobox served lukewarm to consumers who don't regularly visit the automotive section, but instead, Kia decided to make a statement. The new Telluride is a handsome, luxury off-roader – perfect for Telluride, Colorado, which we're assuming inspired the name.
Sources say that the Telluride is intended to compete with offerings like the Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander, the Ford Explorer, and the Jeep Grand Cherokee, but if it's as capable and luxurious as the automaker is poising it to be, then it might win over a few 4Runner shoppers, too.
From the inside, the Telluride appears well-made and very German. However, that shouldn't come as much of a surprise. This is one of the many models influenced by Luc Donckervolke and Peter Schreyer, both of which are former Audi/VW designers and were picked up by Kia to give the brand the appeal it needs to compete with the best.
But, as any discerning buyer knows, looks are only half of the equation.
How a vehicle drives is just as important, which is why Kia also recruited Albert Biermann, the former head of BMW's M division and the man that oversaw the Kia Stinger project, to make sure that the Telluride was an absolute pleasure to operate on the tarmac. And from what we hear, he's succeeded.
So with that said, the Telluride truly is an investment in the American market and not just something made to affordably transport hockey bags.
What are your thoughts? Do you like the way the 2020 Kia Telluride looks? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments!
