The new 2020 Kia Telluride SUV was unveiled to the world at the North American International Auto Show which opened in Detroit this week.
Designed for America at Kia’s California studio and assembled in Georgia, the midsize SUV is described as “large, bold, capable and comfortable” by its South Korea maker.
“The 2020 Kia Telluride is all about big skies, desert roads, mountain passes, shady forests, smooth highways, and long coastal drives,” said a Kia spokesman at the four wheel drive’s unveiling.
It is the largest Kia yet built, seating eight passengers and powered by a 291hp 3.8-litre V6 engine.
From the first pencil-stroke, the design team at Irvine wanted the vehicle to convey the kind of presence associated with the original legendary SUVs – big, bold and boxy. Cue the distinctive square front end, burly shoulders and stacked headlamps.
Inside, the designer have placed grab handles in the centre console to suggest the SUV is ready for offroad journeys, yet used premium trim to convey spaciousness creating an impression more of a “luxe living room” than “utility vehicle”.
Beneath the skin
The new 2020 Kia Telluride SUV has optional selective four wheel drive – which saves fuel on those short urban trips from home to the supermarket, buut gives serious grip and handling off the beaten track. An eight-speed automatic transmission is standard, along with four-wheel independent suspension, strong, stiff, and torsionally rigid body structure and self-leveling rear suspension.
An option on the EX and SX models, the ride height is calibrated automatically depending on vehicle load in order to optimise control and stability.
Owners have a choice of four drive modes: Smart, Eco, Sport and Comfort, each using different settings for powertrain, drivetrain, and steering effort mapping to provide the desired driving experience.
As Kia’s flagship SUV, the 2020 Kia Telluride goes on sale with numerous advanced technology and driver-assistance systems as options, including:
- Blind Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist Rear (BCA-R)
- Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Avoidance Assist (RCCA)
- Lane Following Assist (LFA)
- Safe Exit Assist (SEA)
- Highway Driving Assist (HDA)
- Head-Up Display (HUD)
The 2020 Kia Telluride SUV goes on sale later this year, at which time pricing will be announced. It will come in four trims: LX, EX, S and SX with a choice of front-wheel or optional all-wheel drive.
