Midsize 3-Row SUV

Kia Telluride

→ Consider

Worth considering for the right buyer

#4 of 4in Midsize 3-Row SUV

1066 sources · updated June 2026

This three-row SUV convinced America a Kia could feel like a $60,000 vehicle while costing $40,000, spacious, quiet, loaded with features, and genuinely pleasant to drive. The catch: oil consumption creeps in on some 2020-2021 models after 60k miles (owners report adding quarts between changes with no warning light), and the recall parade gets old fast, nothing dangerous, but trim pieces fall off, screens freeze, and you'll know your service advisor by name. If you can buy at MSRP and stay on top of oil checks, it's still one of the best values in the segment; at $50k with dealer markup, you're overpaying for a Kia when a Highlander or Pilot makes more sense.

The generation that matters

This product isn't one story — here's how each era is regarded.

First generation (2020–2025)

2020–2025

Strong

Widely praised as a class leader since launch, winning MotorTrend SUV of the Year 2020. Users and experts consistently highlight excellent value, spacious interior, refined ride quality, and the proven 3.8L V6. High demand and resale values reflect strong market reception, though some note infotainment glitches and minor quality issues.

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Common complaints6 issues

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−Dealer markups historically pushed prices $10k+ over MSRP, killing value proposition

−Oil consumption issues reported on some 2020-2021 models after 60k+ miles

−Frequent recalls and service visits frustrate owners despite fixes being covered

−Trim pieces (chrome, window trim) fade, peel, or fall off prematurely

−Infotainment system freezes or glitches occasionally

−Poor fuel economy, especially in city driving (~18-20 mpg)

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What owners praise8 strengths

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Exceptional interior space across all three rows, genuinely usable third row

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Quiet, comfortable ride quality with well-damped suspension

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Strong feature-per-dollar value with luxury amenities at midsize pricing

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Proven 3.8L V6 Lambda engine with solid reliability track record

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10-year/100k mile powertrain warranty provides strong coverage

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Attractive styling that punches above its price point

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Well-sorted powertrain with traditional 8-speed automatic (no CVT)

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Spacious cargo capacity and practical family-hauling layout

📊 How this score was calculated — 6-dimension rubric

High confidence▼

1066 sources analysed with long-term owner data present

1066 sources analysed — strong data quality

Reliability & Durability(22%)6.0

18 positive vs 12 negative long-term reports

User Sentiment(22%)7.2

3,847 positive upvotes vs 1,523 negative upvotes

Complaint Severity(16%)7.6

Complaints: 47 cosmetic, 68 functional, 14 systematic, 2 safety

Consensus Strength(8%)3.2

42 strongly positive, 18 strongly negative, 73 mixed/neutral

Value for Money(15%)4.9

38 'worth it', 27 'overpriced', 19 mention better-value alternatives

Owner Advocacy(17%)7.6

8 repurchased/gifted, 31 unprompted recommendations, 9 regrets

Scores are percentile ranks: 5.0 is the median product in existence. 8.5+ is reserved for genuinely exceptional products (top ~10%). The score reflects consensus quality, what owners say about the product. Risk is tracked separately and shown above the summary when present. Both are calculated deterministically, so the same signals always produce the same score.

How we score every product →

Specifications2027

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Pricing

Starting MSRP

$40,735

Range

$40,735 - $58,335

Capability

Towing capacity

5,000 lbs

Fuel economy