The 2021 Kia Telluride is hitting the streets, and not much has changed from the 2020 model. However, while it is an excellent SUV with tons of positive features, know that the 2021 Kia Telluride has one frustrating drawback, that could be a dealbreaker. 

Is the 2021 Kia Telluride a good SUV? 

Yes, the 2021 Kia Telluride is a great SUV for hauling your family and pets around in. However, according to AutoBlog, the Telluride has one issue that you may have to get around. The Kia Telluride doesn’t exactly have a sporty ride like other sportier Kia Models. 

This may seem like a no-brainer. What three-row SUV has a sporty ride? The Mazda CX-9 and Ford Explorer are actually two examples that don’t handle like large vehicles and provide some fun. 

As the team at AutoBlog drove the 2021 Kia Telluride, they noticed that it had a noticeable body roll, but the suspension does help hold composure around corners. While the suspension does smooth out bumps, the 20-inch wheels can create ‘choppy reactions’ to imperfections in the road. 

Also, the standard V6 engine won’t blow you away. It’s referred to as ample. The 2021 Kia Telluride has a 291-hp V6 engine with 262 lb-ft of torque. It can tow up to 5,000 lb and provides plenty of power for its class. It just doesn’t have a sporty acceleration. It takes about 7.5 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 60 mpg, according to Edmunds’ test. 

7.5 seconds seems pretty average. If you can get past the average acceleration, feeling occasional bumps in the road, and body roll around corners, then the Kia Telluride is an excellent ride. 

What’s new for the 2021 Kia Telluride? 

The Kia Telluride just came out in 2020, so it didn’t receive many updates. However, it did enter the dark side with a new Nightfall Edition that features blackened elements instead of chrome ones. 

For those who like to tow, the 2021 Kia Telluride received an upgraded trailer-towing wiring harness. It now has a seven-pin harness, which is stronger and more reliable than the old 4-pin harness. 

Also, for your convenience, a remote start engine button has been added to the key fob. The base model 2021 Kia Telluride begins around $31,990, which is only a $100 increase over the 2020 Kia Telluride. 

2021 Kia Telluride positives 

AutoBlog had a lot of great things to say about the 2021 Kia Telluride. They found the interior very comfortable with above-average materials and were impressed by seeing USB ports in all three rows. 

You can upgrade from the standard 8-inch touchscreen to the larger 10.25-inch screen. The Kia Telluride tech is pretty easy to use and comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A few of the optional upgrades include wireless charging and built-in navigation. 

Plus, the Kia Telluride is spacious and includes enough space for tall adults to sit and stretch out in each row. There is also plenty of storage space thanks to the Tellurides’ large, boxy design. With the captain chairs, you can simply press a button to flip the second-row seats forward automatically and easily access the third row.