The First Kia Telluride Is a Great Used SUV
Even though the 2020 Kia Telluride hasn’t been on the market very long, it has been an incredibly popular SUV among drivers. The first Kia Telluride was racking up awards and high scores even after just a few months. What makes this sport utility vehicle from Kia a good used option?
What year did the first Kia Telluride come out?
The first Kia Telluride came out in 2020 with a starting cost of around $33,060. According to Car and Driver, the Telluride was impressive enough to earn a score of 10 out of 10 right off the assembly line. It also landed on the 10 Best list for 2020 and took home the Editor’s Choice award. That’s just from one publication for the first year.
One of the most significant selling points of the first Kia Telluride was the affordability factor. Kia added many upscale features and state-of-the-art technology to the 2020 Telluride but at a reasonable cost. It had features that some luxury SUVs charged extra for. The third row was big enough for most situations, and the standard V6 engine could tow 5,000 pounds.
| Trim | MSRP |
| LX | $33,060 |
| S | $35,460 |
| EX | $38,460 |
| SX | $42,960 |
Even though the top-of-the-line SX trim was $42,960, it came with almost every feature drivers might want. Automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring were all included standard.
Was the first Kia Telluride a safe SUV?
The first Kia Telluride also earned an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety Pick award when equipped with LED projector low-beam headlights. These lights come on the top SX trim and provide good visibility on the straightaway. While the LX, S, and EX trim still earned good safety scores, the halogen projector lights did not provide good visibility.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also gave the 2020 Telluride a five-star overall safety rating. It earned high marks on the frontal, side, and rollover crash tests. Some of the included safety systems, like forward collision warning, crash imminent braking, and dynamic brake support, also met performance criteria.
While these systems have improved over the past few years, the NHTSA approved the versions of the first Kia Telluride. Kia’s limited warranty covers the first five years or 60,000 miles, while the powertrain warranty covers 10 years or 100,000 miles.
How much is a used 2020 Telluride?
These days, the first 2020 Kia Telluride is still around $27,000 to $47,000, depending on the mileage. It has been so popular that some shoppers are willing to pay extra for a low-mileage option. It has earned a reputation as a great used SUV, and the new versions still have high marks from experts.
The 2023 Kia Telluride is still impressing experts like Car and Driver. It earned the same three awards as the first Kia Telluride did, with an even high score across the board. Those looking for a comfortable family SUV that doesn’t skip on style and safety, any year of this SUV will do.
Family SUVs have come a long way in the last few years, and the new X-Pro trims offer more capability off road. Even though the first Kia Telluride might be hard to track down due to its steller reputation, this used SUV is worth the effort.
