2020 Kia Telluride named Utility of Year
Kia’s come a long way from the days when its vehicles could be summed up as “like Hyundai, but not as good.”
The 2020 Telluride completes the transition from a bargain shopper’s brand to a maker of vehicles that should scare the dickens out of Chevy, Ford, Honda, Nissan and Toyota.
With square amber LED running lights, second-row heated and ventilated seats and quilted leather upholstery, a loaded Telluride would look fine in a Mercedes showroom, but costs about $10,000 less than a top of the line Ford Explorer.
The Telluride seats seven or eight and raises the bar for the value and design of every other three-row midsize SUV.
Surprising in an era of electric-boosted powertrains and semiautonomous highway driving, the Telluride doesn’t break any new technical ground. In fact, its drivetrain and driver assistance features are pretty routine.
The Telluride’s secret lies in using proven technology to deliver good value in a package that looks like it could cost thousands more.
It’s a winning formula drivers will love.
The Kia Telluride also gets my vote for 2020 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year.
Second place: 2020 Lincoln Aviator
The Lincoln Aviator was one of the year’s pleasant surprises, a luxurious and advanced SUV that revives the name of an utterly forgettable model Ford’s luxury brand built from 2002-5.
The big three-row SUV was just what Lincoln needed. Sized and priced a rung below Lincoln’s Navigator flagship, the Aviator rides on a new rear-drive-based
architecture it shares with the Ford Explorer and — one hopes — exciting upcoming Lincolns.
The base model, with a 400-hp twinturbo V6, is strong, but the difference maker is the Grand Touring, a plug-in hybrid that checks in with 494 hp, 630 pound-feet of torque and an EPA-rated electric range of 21 miles.
The hybrid’s extra power complements responsive steering for an enjoyable driving experience while the EV range will allow many owners to do all their daily driving without burning a drop of gasoline.
Lincoln’s best interiors can compare to any luxury brand. Aviator Black Label models look and feel exquisite, with 30way power seats, Revel audio and carefully chosen materials and color combinations.
Third place: 2020 Hyundai Palisade
The Palisade is a vast improvement over Hyundai’s previous three-row SUVs, and a fitting flagship for a brand that seems to grow stronger and broader with every day.
The roomy Palisade can carry up to eight people in comfort, and offers a long list of safety and convenience features that would cost thousands more in competitors like the Toyota Highlander.
The Palisade shares its architecture and most major systems with the Kia Telluride. It has a few goodies the Telluride lacks, including automatic high beams, push-button shifter and power folding rear seats.
For many buyers, the choice between Telluride and Palisade will come down to interior and exterior design.
I can’t argue with that. I think the Telluride is a beauty, while the Palisade strikes me as just another bulky big SUV.
Objectively, they’re both loaded with value and safety features.