Boxy 2020 Kia Telluride Debuts With Seating for 8

Kia has finally embraced the American mindset with its biggest vehicle ever. Called the Telluride, this eight-seat crossover has been designed from the ground up with the U.S. in mind.

This boxy SUV features three rows and seating for eight, which will allow it to compete with other large three-row crossovers like the Dodge Durango, Subaru Ascent, Honda Pilot, and VW Atlas. While the automaker already offers the three-row Sorento crossover and the family-friendly Sedona minivan, this Telluride is meant to deliver a more luxurious ride and will appeal to those with an adventurous side.

Furthermore, the car is offered with a lot of convenience features that will appeal to the road-tripping family, like the second-row heated and vented seats, reclining third-row, and six USB ports. The driver’s voice can broadcast to the rear seats and there is a rear seat occupant reminder that uses ultrasonic sensors to detect whether there’s anyone in the back so no one gets mistakenly left behind.

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There’s a ton of technology on tap in the cabin like an available 10.25-inch color touchscreen and a 630-watt, 10-speaker Harman/Kardon audio system, not to mention Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and wireless charging.

There are also many driver assistance features, and not just the usual stuff like adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, and lane keep assistance. In addition to that, there are features like highway driving assist, which uses radar and LiDAR systems to recognize lane markings and lets the vehicle control the steering, acceleration, and braking to automatically adjust its distance from the vehicle ahead. The Telluride has a number of high-tech safety features to help keep its occupants safe as well as other motorists.

Under the hood is a 3.8-liter V6 that makes 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque that’s paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission. It can be paired with an all-wheel-drive system that features a lock setting to evenly split the power between the front and rear. There are a few other drive modes that change the power distribution. The Telluride can tow up to 5,000 lbs, which is on par with other vehicles it competes with. The ride should be nice and comfy especially since the vehicle can be had with a self-leveling rear suspension.

Price is yet to be shared but there will be four trims available when the car hits dealerships sometime next year.

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