Can a nameplate get too popular? Popularity is a good thing for an automaker’s sales, but the public’s perception of a vehicle’s attainability is also important. Take the Ford Bronco nameplate as an example. The Bronco quickly sold out when it reemerged, and the high demand and lack of supply created a huge resale market. Now, many automotive enthusiasts don’t believe they’ll ever get a chance to purchase the Bronco for a fair price. The demand for the Kia Telluride isn’t as fierce, but it’s getting there. Is the Telluride SUV already too popular?

The Kia Telluride has risen to the top of its vehicle segment

Brands like Supreme flourish because exclusivity sells. The more exclusive a product is, the more consumers tend to want it. Such is the case with the Ford Bronco. The Blue Oval offers the Bronco Sport as a smaller, more readily available Bronco alternative, but the Bronco Sport doesn’t have the same cult following as its predecessor.

The Kia Telluride’s ascent to greatness was a quick one. It’s clear that the midsize SUV is approaching peak popularity because of high used Telluride prices. Some consumers are willing to pay over MSRP for used Telluride models.

According to Kelley Blue Book, the 2020 Kia Telluride has a typical listing price of $32,597 with under 41,000 miles. The 2020 Kia Telluride has an MSRP of $31,690 without the destination fee. So, Telluride models that have racked up thousands of miles are actively being sold for more than they were originally worth.

Kia’s midsize SUV is only becoming more popular with time and each new model year has received a significant price bump. The 2023 Kia Telluride has a starting price of $35,690. If Kia continues to increase the midsize SUV’s price at a rate of over .05%, then the 2024 Kia Telluride could start at $37,000. The Telluride went from being one of the most affordable vehicles in its segment to becoming more expensive than some of its rivals in just two model years. The Telluride may be on top of its vehicle segment now, but heavy is the head that wears the crown.

The Kia Telluride is becoming increasingly difficult to buy

The Telluride’s popularity increases with every new accolade. Automotive publications like Car and Driver have given the midsize SUV perfect overall scores. The demand for the Telluride is higher than ever before despite the SUV’s new high starting price and talks of an economic recession.

Kia already sold over 72,296 Telluride models as of September 2022. The question is, will the automaker be able to meet the overwhelming demand for its popular midsize SUV in 2023? Will it struggle to fill orders as the Blue Oval did with the Ford Bronco? The year 2023 will be a huge test of the nameplate’s staying power.

The 2023 Kia Telluride could change everything for the nameplate

The 2023 Kia Telluride is important for the nameplate because of how popular the midsize SUV has become. It should sell well, but the focus will be on whether Kia can produce enough models to meet the overwhelming consumer demand or not. The 2023 Telluride is impressive, but is it attainable? We’ll have to wait and see as the year comes to a close and the race to produce the best midsize SUV of 2023 begins.