What could be better than getting away on a moment’s notice and having all your accommodations with you? Adding a rooftop tent to your Kia Telluride makes that possible. This is a great way to go camping this summer, and a rooftop tent helps make the Kia Telluride a great option to take camping.

Rooftop camping in the 2020 Kia Telluride

Automobile tried out a Roofnest Sparrow rooftop tent on top of a Kia Telluride and had a great experience. The Roofnest Sparrow is built from ABS plastic reinforced with hand-laid fiberglass. It comes in either black or white. Its tent box attaches to the roof of the Telluride using a Thule Rapid Podium Foot Pack with a vehicle-specific Fit Kit. The Roofnest attaches to Thule SquareBar Evo 135 crossbars.

Once at the campsite, it only takes a few minutes to expand the tent. You undo the latches on each side of the roof box, and the tent pops up. A collapsible ladder makes it easy to climb up into the tent. There’s space inside for two adults to sleep.

A thick anti-condensation mat inside the tent lets you sleep pretty comfortably. A cargo net overhead makes it possible to hang up a lantern and store items. It has an interior area of 83-inches long by 49-inches wide with a headroom of 40 inches when open. It can be challenging to collapse the tent when you’re done and ready to drive home though. The Rooftop Sparrow costs $2,995, and the extra pieces from Thule add $339.90.

Business Insider tested out the Rooftop Falcon model of tent with a 2020 Kia Telluride. This wedge-shaped tent is less than seven inches tall when it’s closed. It’s also possible to attach awnings or carry bikes, kayaks, or skis. The Rooftop Falcon includes integrated LED lighting. This style sells for $3,495.

Driving with a rooftop camper

Adding a rooftop camper to the 2020 Kia Telluride doesn’t cause any difficulties in driving. And, once the roof box is attached to the Telluride, you can just pack up and head out to the campsite. Automobile said the Roofnest Sparrow was “barely noticeable on top of the car” on any type of road.

The Telluride has a V6 engine, producing 291 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque, so the added tent is no trouble. The Roofnest Sparrow weighs just 130 pounds, so it doesn’t add much weight to the Telluride. It’s difficult to notice the higher center of gravity when driving.

What’s great about the Kia Telluride

The Kia Telluride launched as a new model for 2020 and became a huge hit. It has great value, offering good driving, an attractive cabin, and plenty of luxury features at a reasonable price.

The Kia Telluride also makes it easy to transport all your gear to the campsite. The Automobile tester says, “Kia’s three-row SUV is so spacious we only needed to flip down the back seats to have oodles of room to spare. It was great not having to stress about using my Tetris skills to get everything to fit.”

The Telluride does have more cargo space than many of its competitors. It provides 21 cubic feet behind the third-row seats, which increases to 46 cubic feet with the third row folded down and 87 cubic feet with the second row also folded down, says U.S. News.

While a rooftop tent is far more expensive than a conventional one, it’s easy to pop up (if not take down) and provides a comfortable, elevated way to camp for the night. The Kia Telluride provides the perfect way to travel to the campsite with all of your gear, and then it’s a great platform while you sleep.