Road Beat: 2020 Kia Telluride - The class act of the classes, times two

In an all-new vehicle in what can be considered a new size class for SUVs, Lia’s new Telluride has hit a Grand Slam (Salami, if you are Italian or a Yankee Fan), but not an ordinary Grand Slam, but this one landed on River Avenue or Waveland Avenue if you’re a Cubby. I used those exact words about Kia’s sibling, the Hyundai Palisade. It is flat out one of the two best SUVs I have ever driven with performance, ride, handling, quiet, comfort and economy levels that put it immediately at the top of its class and almost every other class. Telluride is also simply a Class act.

Here’s the deal, Telluride (and Palisade) is the deal in so many ways, especially price). The first is size. Telluride could be classified as a small full-size SUV or a larger mid-size. At 197 inches in length (an inch longer than the Palisade), Telluride is actually one inch shorter than the Nissan Pathfinder and two inches shorter than the 2020 Ford Explorer. Only the Explorer has a longer wheelbase, but the Telluride’s 114-inch wheelbase exceeds the rest of the competition if there is any. At 78 inches in width (same as Palisade), its beam is exceeded by an inch by the Pilot and two inches by the Explorer. Telluride is sized perfectly, small enough to be considered a mid-size, yet large enough to give you comfortable eight-passenger, three-row seating for real-sized adults.

And one other note about Telluride’s capability is that it has a payload of 1,600 pounds in the EX model (equaling or exceeding many half-ton full-size pickups) and a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds. Interior space is ginormous, having first in class first and second-row legroom and an interior volume that is 95 percent of a seven inch longer and three-inch wider Chevy Tahoe, with the Telluride actually having about 20 percent more interior volume behind the third-row seat plus a hidden compartment.

But in addition to its smaller on the outside and bigger on the inside design, Telluride gives you the performance, fuel economy, ride, handling, and comfort that makes it the best SUV in two classes (mid-size and full size) that you can buy. It’s a big statement, so let’s look at the facts.

First, under the big broad hood is the Hyundai 3.8L DOHC, 24 Valve, direct-injected V-6 with a twist. It is an Atkinson cycle engine meaning a very high 13:1 compression ratio and higher fuel and engine efficiency. The output is a very strong 291 thoroughbreds at 6,000 rpm and 262 pounds of twist at 5,200 rpm meaning at 5,200 rpm it is making 260 hp. It is coupled to a slick eight-speed torque converter tranny that drives all four wheels all the time via a single-speed transfer case (with the 4X4 option), otherwise, it’s an FWD driver. Go with the AWD option which allows for locking up the system and electronic controls for terrain conditions including hill descent.

Performance is outstanding with 0-60 mph arriving in a short 6.87 seconds. Passing performance is also very quick with 50-70 mph being achieved in a rapid 3.58 and up a steep grade (6-7 percent) increases that time to just 5.40 seconds. That’s rockin’ for a big SUV that weighs 4,354 pounds. Palisade’s numbers were virtually identical at 6.97/3.49/5.30.

Ok, so it scoots like a high-performance sports sedan, but what about owning stock in Exxon or Mobil. It’s not necessary as it returns much higher numbers than the EPA test cycle predicts which is 19/24/21 mpg city/highway/combined. In a two-way run set at a steady 70 mph on cruise control, the Telluride averaged 29 mpg. But that is no fluke. Overall for 450 miles, the big Telluride averaged 22.6 mpg. Fuel tank is a large 18.8 gallons.

Telluride exhibited one of the quietest most comfortable rides ever encountered by the Road Beat. The smoothness was uncanny. The front soft gray leather chairs were simply sublime and supportive. But I must tell you, the Palisade had slightly better seats (personal opinion. But on the flip side, the Telluride has a smoother, cohesive external appearance. Telluride might be the better looking of the two. The Telluride (and the Palisade) ride was one of the best ever encountered, a perfect balance of ride control and bump absorption. It has all the creds, state of the art four-wheel independent suspension, a perfectly weighted quick electric rack power steering at 2.87 turns lock to lock, a mammoth track of 67, and 68-inches front and rear with beautiful 20X7.5-inch alloys shod with meaty 245/50 series rubber. And it all works in perfect harmony. It does the tango in the twisties effortlessly just like a well sorted out sports sedan. But this Telluride can also haul the mail.

As said ride quality is perfect and the quiet is deafening with the already silent engine turning just 1,800 rpm at 70 mph. Thinking will have to be done in a whisper.

I haven’t been a fan of semi-autonomous driving, but Kia’s Highway Driver Assist has changed that. When the super-smart cruise control is engaged, besides controlling speed and following distances, it also steers the Telluride perfectly without being intrusive. If you are driving even short trips, it’s a gotta’ have. Telluride has about every safety feature one could think of and the nearly 14-inch (ventilated) front and 12-inch rear disc brakes are perfectly linear and powerful. If I go on anymore, you will need that Driver Assist to keep from falling asleep during the read. LED headlights were amazing automatic off and on for the high beams.

I already talked about the interior comfort, but it has every feature including power up and down second and third row seat that fold perfectly flat and with a good pad can sleep two when folded.

Instrumentation is complete with a fantastic trip computer. All the controls are quality and simple and easy to use. No college, even junior high school is needed to operate. Instead of a “built-in center stack NAV/info screen, the Telluride’s is more of an add-on. There are a plethora of USB ports and even a 115V 150-watt electrical outlet. Even the shift lever has been replaced by push buttons on the console, which is floating with oodles of storage space below. There is nothing that Kia hasn’t thought of to make a drive more convenient. As to going to your local Home Depot or Lowe’s, don’t as this Telluride is huge inside.

Now here is the best part, pricing. Telluride is a veritable bargain with my fully loaded top of the line SX AWD stickering for $43,400 plus $1,045 for the train/truck from West Point, Georgia, assembly plant. My tester had one main option packages, the SX Prestige package ($2,000) which added a heads-up display, Nappa leather, heated and cooled second-row seats and a few more items. The total price of admission becomes $46,860. And that’s for the new king of the hill in SUVs and about $15-20 large less than any equivalent competition which there are none. It’s (Telluride or Palisade) the one I would acquire. It’s the big bargain of SUVs and the reason why SUVs dominate the market place.

Specifications
Price $32,735 (LX FWD) to $46,860 (EX AWD) all in

Engine
3.8L Direct injected, DOHC, 24 valve Atkinson cycle V-6 291 hp @ 6,000 rpm
262 lb.-ft of torque @ 5,000 rpm

Transmission
Eight-speed torque converter automatic

Configuration
Transverse mounted front engine/FWD/AWD

Dimensions
Wheelbase 114.2 inches
Length 196.9 inches
Width 78.3 inches
Height 68.9 inches
Track (f/r) 67.2/67.6 inches
Ground clearance 8.0 inches
Fuel capacity 18.8 gallons
Weight 4,354 pounds (SX AWD)
GVWR 5,917 pounds (EX AWD)
Trailer tow capacity 5,000 pounds
Wheels 20X7.5 alloys
Tires 245/50X20
Steering lock to lock 2.87 turns
Turning circle 38.8 feet
Cargo capacity (behind front row/behind second row/behind third row 87.0/46.0/21.0 cubic feet
Co-efficient of drag 0.33

Performance
0-60 6.87 seconds
50-70 mph 3.58 seconds
50-70 mph (up 6-7 percent grade) 5.40 seconds
Top Speed Electronically limited to 132 mph
Fuel economy EPA rated (AWD) 19/24/22 mpg city/highway/combined. Expect 29 mpg on a level highway at legal speeds and 23 mpg overall.