My wife and I have been looking at the Kia Telluride for a while now. We really love how it looks and its design—it has that perfect mix of modern style and practicality we want in an SUV.
However, we are mainly worried about its long-term reliability, especially regarding the engine and transmission. We need a vehicle that will last us for years without serious problems.
For those of you who own or have owned a Telluride, what has your experience been like? Have you encountered any major issues with the engine or transmission? Any thoughts on maintenance costs and overall durability would be really helpful.
Kia’s 100,000-mile powertrain warranty is a big plus for many buyers. We haven’t had any issues yet at 55K miles.
My family traded our GMC Yukon Denali for a Kia Telluride SX Prestige, and I personally love it. It seems much smaller from the outside but the inside is spacious. With the third row up, the trunk space is still bigger than the Yukon’s third-row trunk space.
All the features make it incredibly enjoyable to drive; the seats are comfy, the controls are easy to use, and the customization options are extensive. With lane-keep assist, smart cruise control, and highway drive assist, this thing almost drives itself. We are getting around 22 mpg, while our Yukon did 15 mpg on a good day. The sound system is great, the headlights are cool, and the second-row captain’s chairs are roomy—our kids love this SUV. I have no regrets about switching from the Yukon.
@Beck
The third row is actually pretty roomy too. We’re on a road trip, and I’ve sat back there. It was almost more comfortable than sitting in the front. The only downside is that the floor doesn’t dip down, so my knees got a bit stiff.
Regarding the powertrain, the Lambda II 3.8L V6 has a lot of history behind it, and Hyundai/Kia/Genesis have been selling cars with some version of this engine for at least a decade. It can regularly hit 200k miles without major problems.
I’ve had my 2020 for almost 4 years now. The only problem was with a rear strut last year, which was fixed under warranty. It’s had a few recalls, but I haven’t had any issues at all. According to rankings, they are above average in reliability, better than most domestic brands.
I have 30k miles on my 2022 EX, so it’s still early. I’ve only done oil changes and tire rotations so far. Recalls didn’t apply to my model. I wanted an all-around vehicle, and this one does a great job. Ideally, I’d want a true off-roader and a city SUV, but for durability, it’s been solid so far.
I bought my first Telluride in September 2019; it was the 2020 model. It ran great, and I put 70k miles on it. The self-leveling suspension failed at 50 or 60k but it was covered under warranty. I’m really loyal to Telluride since it saved my life when I was hit in stopped traffic, first from a car behind me and then again from another.
I bought a 2024 model and feel very safe in it. I won’t drive anything else.
I’ve had my Telluride for two days. I’m kind of in your boat. My wife and I finally went for it, and so far things are looking good. Before this, I had leased Hyundais, and they were among the more problem-free cars I’ve owned. I hope the Telluride keeps that trend going, as I want to a) stop leasing and b) enjoy the longevity of this SUV.
In my view, people who stay on top of regular maintenance generally have a good experience. I don’t let recalls scare me. All car manufacturers have them, and those that don’t probably have something to hide.
I have a 2022 SXP with 22k miles on it. Just the usual oil and maintenance checks at this point. I’ve had some recall inspections that applied to my model but no issues from them.
So far, it’s been reliable, comfy, and well-equipped.
While my experiences (good; no mechanical or electronic issues, just a few expected recalls) are similar to most others, if you’re serious about buying a Telluride (or any vehicle), you should visit a local bookstore and buy Consumer Reports Car Buyers Guide. They have a yearly softcover and a yearly hardback version; I suggest getting both. They provide data backed by evidence and research about reliability across different brands.
I’m thrilled with my 2021, but CR mentions that over time, reliability has slightly dropped, which led to their ratings taking a hit from best in class to second best. It went from a score of 87 to 84, which predicts average reliability now.
If mine were totaled, I’d still get another Telluride, but for serious numbers, CR is your best bet.
Along with Kia’s 10-year powertrain warranty, I also got Kia’s (Fidelity’s… Muncie Kia I believe) $1700-ish 10-year electronics warranty. For $50k, this car is costly, and if certain systems fail, they could be pricey to replace.
Kia dealerships vary quite a bit; one is great while another looks like a rundown used car lot.
My husband and I just bought one after checking out many 3-row models. We’ve only had it for 2 weeks, but I absolutely love it. I feel secure driving it, and the technology designed for safety is what really sold me. It’s fun to drive, affordable, and feels luxury-like, but still family-friendly, which is what we needed.
I have a 2024 SX in Houston, TX. Love it so far. It has more tech than we’ll ever need, and safety ratings are very high. Given that we have two young kids, that’s a big deal. The car looks and feels more expensive than you’d expect, and offers a great balance of acceleration, handling, and ride comfort compared to others we tried. The 2024 is the 5th year of this model’s generation, so improvement should be expected. One thing to keep in mind: we did a lot of research to find a fair price and total cost, but we didn’t think about insurance costs. This car is pricey to insure, if your company even offers coverage.
@Adley
Insurance costs depend a lot on where you live. We have a 2023 SX X-Line and our insurance is only $100 more a year than my 2017 Honda Accord. It definitely varies by location.
I bought a brand new 2023 in December 2022. I travel for work and often use it for 4-6 hour trips. I have to say, it’s one of the most comfortable vehicles I’ve owned. It’s great for road trips with family and friends as well (plenty of space, rear seats recline, etc). The number of recalls has been bothersome, but they take care of it, and I can usually combine my visits for routine maintenance. No manufacturer is free from recalls. Some fixes might seem like band-aid solutions, but at least they fix things. As for durability, I can’t speak yet since I only have 15k miles, but I’ve done just regular maintenance and fixes so far.
I’ve owned several Hyundais and Kias and never had major problems, but with my Sonata, it got up to 97k miles and started burning oil. I took it into Hyundai, and they tests showed I was eligible for a new engine since mine was discontinued due to this issue. Both brands back their warranties, and you might face some issues like with the Telluride and its recalls, but that can happen with any car.