We have one special long term 2020 Kia Telluride review for you today! We get to explore how reliable the Kia Telluride is after one whole year of use. Buckle up for the good, the bad, and the value. 

Long term 2020 Kia Telluride review 

We want to thank Edmunds for thoroughly reviewing the 2020 Kia Telluride after one whole year of use. The MSRP for the 2020 model is about $31,890. Then you can add things like all-wheel-drive for about $2,000. 

Edmunds with went the Kia Telluride SX trim, which includes all-wheel drive. It’s one of the top trim options. You can add that for about $2,000. They didn’t go for a package that includes leather seats and comfortable amenities, but with the optional tow package, their total was about $45,860. 

In my humble opinion, that’s a lot of dough to shell out without getting leather seats. The saving grace for this price point includes the 3.8-liter V6 engine with 291 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque. But this engine also comes in the base model.

1. A few frustrating features 

The 2020 Kia Telluride received tons of praise for being incredibly spacious and comfortable. It still provides comfort after 12-hour drives and has a larger back seat than competitors. However, the third row doesn’t have a power-folding option. 

The ability to automatically fold the third row down to create storage space is a convenience but not a necessity. Also, the automatic trunk feature is cool. It opens the hatch when you stand next to it! But when you don’t mean for it to open, you might get whacked. 

One team member was pulling bikes off the roof rack when he suddenly heard two beeps and a crunch. The automatic hatch closed on his daughter’s bike before he had a chance to react. 

2. A few lackluster features 

The Kia Telluride drives like a sports car, which is awesome. However, it lacks a little torque. That means when you gun it, there might be a delay getting off the line. Also, Edmund’s noted that the Telluride might struggle while going up steep inclines while packed full of people and gear. 

According to Car Indigo, the Kia Telluride can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 7.1 seconds, which is pretty good for the beast. This is similar to the Hyundai Palisade and Honda Pilot. Plus, Edmunds shared that the 2020 Telluride has smooth stops, responsive breaks, and is conveniently nimble. 

The Kia Telluride is also a little short of space compared to rivals. The Hyundai Palisade and Honda Pilot both seem to have larger storage bins around the cabin. You can access up to 21.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and 87 cubic feet total in the Telluride. 

3. There was a lower fuel economy than expected 

All-wheel-drive Kia Telluride models are expected to get an EPA estimated 21 mpg combined. Front-wheel-drive models are rated at 23 mpg combined. But the Edmunds team managed to average 19.4 mpg after a year of driving. This could be due to their short trips around LA with tons of stopping and going. 

None of these issues seem to be deal-breakers, except for the price. The Telluride is a well-rounded SUV but not the pinnacle of luxury. They estimated getting between $35,700 to $37,000 if they were to sell their model or trade it in.