TELLURIDE HOLDING ITS OWN AND
MORE AMONG MIDSIZE SUV RIVALS
With an upscale roomy interior, a full suite of tech features, and a choice of front-wheel or all-wheel drive, the Kia Telluride ranks among the best sellers in the U.S. among 3-row midsize SUVs.
Introduced as a 2020 model, the Kia Telluride passed its Hyundai Palisade rival in 2021 and held an edge over its corporate cousin until the Palisade edged past it this fall.
Though it has been a while since I had the opportunity to drive the Palisade, both the Telluride and Palisade are solid buys. The deciding factor likely will come down to your ability to squeeze the better price out of the dealer.
The 2025 Kia Telluride has no major changes from the 2024 version that got a couple of tweaks following a refreshing for 2023. Kia recently unveiled a refreshened version of the Telluride it skips over 2026 and labels as a 2027 model.
The 2025 Kia Telluride comes in five trims with the LX serving as the base model followed by the S, EX, SX, and SX Prestige. In addition there are also X-Line versions of the EX, SX, and SX Prestige as well as X-Pro versions of the SX and SX Prestige.
All trims get a 3.8-liter V6 normally aspirated V6 engine rated at 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque and paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard with all-wheel available. AWD is standard on the 2025 Kia Telluride SX-Prestige, which this review is based on.
X-Line and X-Pro packages available on the EX and SX-Prestige trims get their own exclusive design touches. X-Pro moels also have higher ground clearance for increased off-road capability.
Standard features on the 2025 Kia Telluride SX-Prestige X-Pro include a dual 12.3-inch panoramic touchscreen display with navigation, a head-up display, Kia Connect (similar to OnStar and Hyundai’s Blue Link system), Harman Kardon premium audio, Smart key with push-button start, digital rear-view mirror, wireless phone charger, Nappa leather seat trim, heated and ventilated first row seats and second-row captain’s chairs, a dual sunroof, power liftgate, LED projector headlights, taillights, and fog lights, roof rails, and rear privacy glass.
Standard safety systems include forward collision avoidance, blind-spot collision warning, rear cross-traffic collision avoidance assist, lane-keeping and lane-following assist, parking distance warning (front and rear), Smart cruise control, and a surround view monitor.
A blind-spot view monitor is activated by your turn signal and is displayed in the instrument panel.
Special exterior paint and interior color package, carpeted floor mats, and a carpet cargo mat ran the final total to $56,240 including the $1,415 freight and handling fee.
The base 2025 Kia Telluride LX with FWD starts at $36,390. MSRP for the EX X-Line comes in at $46,485 and for the SX X-line $49,885. The SX-Prestige starts at $51,390, and SX-Prestige X-Line at $52,785. All the latter are AWD.
What I liked about the 2025 Kia Telluride SX-Prestige X-Pro: The upscale interior is roomy and packed with intuitive-to-operate tech functions. The surround view monitor is very appreciated. Cargo space is excellent and expands from 21 cubic feet to 46 when the third row is folded. There is a full suite of safety features as well.
What I didn’t like about the 2025 Kia Telluride SX-Prestige X-Pro: The second-row captain chairs and third-row seats are not the easiest to adjust. Power operation would be a big plus over the pull-on straps. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are not wireless. Fuel mileage could be better. They’re coming for 2027 but there are no turbo 4-cylinder engine or hybrid drivetrain options for the 2025 Telluride as the V6 is being dropped for 2027.
Would I buy the 2025 Kia Telluride SX-Prestige X-Pro? Most definitely a “buy” recommendation here. As noted earlier, your final decision may come down to what kind of deal you can negotiate over the Hyundai Palisade.
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