Car and Driver - USA (2020-01)

(Antfer) #1

35


trolled, willing, and tuned right. Fun is fun,
but the Telluride is a better three-row SUV.
The design borrows here and there from
Land Rover and Volvo, but this isn’t a copy.
Every detail appears to have been carefully
considered and shaped. The proportions,
the gentle folds of the sheetmetal, the con-
sistent panel gaps, the richness of the paint,
and the exterior lighting elements conspire
to create the appearance of a product from
a premium brand.
The upright and box y body delivers pan-
oramic sightlines and leaves enough space


to seat adults in all three rows. It’s the basic
`abßaUNaZNQRS\YX`SNYYV[Y\cRdVaU@BC` 
V[aUR¼_`a]YNPRN[QVaμ`NYYUR_RAUR_Rμ`
RePRYYR[PRV[aURQR`VT[N[Q]NPXNTV[T
throughout, from the legroom of the second
row to the way the seats fold and even down
to the quality of the carpet.
We drive hundreds of vehicles a year
and it’s easy to tell which brands are trying
to give the competition headaches. This Kia
`U\d`PYRN_NdN_R[R``\SaUR¼RYQN[QdUNa
a three-row SUV should be. It bears the
ZN_X`\SN`RTZR[a`abQVRQN[QQV``RPaRQ
AUR\[YfPb`a\ZR_`dRPN[aUV[X\SaUNa
might not be delighted by the Telluride are
aUR\aUR_PN_ZNXR_`aUNadVYYV[RcVaNOYfObf
one to reverse engineer.
By aiming high, Kia has created a pre-
mium product at nonpremium prices. It’s
what we call an LS400 moment, and those
N_R`VT[V¼PN[aN[Q_N_RDR_RP\ZZR[Qf\b
get one before Kia realizes what it’s done
and raises the price. —Tony Quiroga

“BY AIMING HIGH, KIA HAS CREATED A PREMIUM


PRODUCT AT NONPREMIUM PRICES.”


The Telluride’s design, packaging,
and luxurious features transcend the
nonpremium three-row segment.


PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALEX BERNSTEIN

Free download pdf