It’s hard to find any negative reviews about the all-new Kia Telluride. Even though it was just released, it’s already gained a reputation for being an excellent family vehicle. Many critics have praised the Telluride’s ride quality as well as its predicted reliability.

Exciting things are already planned for the future of Telluride, such as a pickup truck version and an off-roading variant. The Kia Telluride is already perfectly capable of some light adventuring off the track and has plenty of cargo space. It’s such a good car that even a surprisingly expensive repair didn’t sully its reputation among critics.

About the Kia Telluride

If you need a tried-and-true family hauler, the Kia Telluride is one of your best options. It already has excellent predicted reliability and owner satisfaction ratings from Consumer Reports. It comes with many safety features and also scored exceptionally well on crash tests conducted by the IIHS and NHTSA.

The Kia Telluride comes with a powerful V6 engine that makes up to 291 hp. Drivers can choose between either front-wheel or all-wheel-drive, and it even has selectable drive modes. It also comes with plenty of technology to keep passengers entertained, and the infotainment system is very easy to use.

Car and Driver’s review

According to Car and Driver, the staff’s long-term Kia Telluride is one of the most popular cars in their test fleet. It’s lasted without issue for more than 20,000 miles. It’s definitely a favorite for long car trips thanks to its smooth, quiet ride and roomy interior.

While no major problems have been reported, the staff did have some little complaints. With a trailer connected, the Telluride’s transmission has some difficulty holding the correct gear, especially at high speeds. Testers also noted that a Wi-Fi hotspot, available or standard in many rivals, would have been appreciated.

One editor also noted that the back windshield doesn’t supply enough washer fluid to clean the glass properly. The same editor reported that you have to use two separate menus to adjust climate control settings. As you can see, the Kia Telluride’s flaws are very minimal.

C&D’s Kia Telluride has only needed one major repair so far: fixing a cracked windshield. While this a fairly routine fix, the staff was shocked to find that the windshield cost nearly $1,500 to replace. While the Car and Driver staff said they could forgive the incident, a repair bill that high could surprise potential Telluride owners.

Why are new cars so expensive to repair?

It’s obvious that vehicle technology is more developed than it was a few decades ago. Pretty much every new model comes with an infotainment system and plenty of advanced safety features. Many drivers don’t realize that this technology also makes simple body repairs more labor-intensive.

For example, a front fender bender may also damage any parking sensors located at the front of the vehicle. The highest trim of the Kia Telluride features a head-up display, which is built into the windshield. Since this is the version C&D is testing, that’s probably why it cost so much to fix a small crack.

Reliability is key for the Kia Telluride

This is one of the reasons why reliability is so important to consider when shopping for a car. If your vehicle has a high reliability rating, it will likely need fewer repairs over your period of ownership. This is especially important for family vehicles that see a lot of round trips from school and work.

Fortunately, the Kia Telluride is one of the most dependable vehicles on the market. However, if you opt for a fully-loaded SX model, try to avoid any stray pebbles flying at your windshield.