Kia rolls into the three-row SUV market
What is it? Kia’s first large threerow SUV since the ill-fated Borrego.
Why is it important? The Telluride is the largest sport utility from Kia. It’s also a three-row SUV, one of the hottest segments in the North American marketplace right now. A little more upscale than we’re used to from Kia, the Telluride’s interior will be swaddled in leather and wood, festooned with digital screens and have enough room for a family and their ski equipment.
Power comes from a 3.8-litre V-6, which pumps out 291 horses and 262 pound-feet of torque driving all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. Considering the elaborate presentation a the Detroit auto show, it’s a good thing the new Kia features “terrain” settings so you can venture deeper into the woods.
On a more proletarian front, Telluride’s cabin features a 10.25-inch colour touch screen with rear-view monitor and parking guidance, a 630-watt audio system with 10 speakers, Apple Carplay and Android Auto connectivity, wireless smartphone charging and six USB ports. Kia’s Drive Wise suite of safety gadgets includes forward collision warning, forward collision-avoidance assist with pedestrian detection, blind-spot collision-avoidance assist, smart cruise control with stop-and-go and safe-exit assist, which will override attempts to deactivate the electronic child safety lock if it detects an object approaching from the rear.
It arrives in the spring. Driving.ca