Most Saturday mornings Kurt Kahl is in a rush. Either the high-adrenaline rush from riding his mountain bike or the rush from taking off on the perfect head-high wave on his surfboard.
“I tell people that our team designed the Telluride to be the kind of vehicle we would want to own,” he says. “Something that would work with my lifestyle. Something big enough to take all my gear. Something with three rows for my wife and I to take friends out for a fun night.”
As senior design manager at Kia Design Center America, in Irvine, California, Kahl leads the team that conceptualized and created the new, three-row, Telluride.
“Pretty much the entire design team here is into adventure sports,” he says. “We live to ride bikes, surf waves, hike trails.” He says he designed the Telluride accordingly, so it had to be big and practical, with no coupe-like rear end compromising load space or headroom.
Take out the tape measure and you get an idea of Telluride’s size. At almost 197 inches long it’s among the longest SUVs in its class and with a 114+ inch wheelbase there’s plenty of space for knees. Floor to rooftop is as high as 69.3 inches.
Kahl says he gave the Telluride Kia’s widest-ever “tiger-nose” grille, with horizontal brushed-metal strips at the top and bottom, adding visual width. And he stacked the headlights and wrapped them around the fenders, again to give a bold, wide-body look.
It’s the same at the rear, where the feeling of broad-shouldered girth is seen in the rear glass’s darkened edges and the wide-spaced T-E-L-L-U-R-I-D-E chrome lettering across the hood and tailgate.
“Driver and passenger visibility was key,” says Kahl. “We wanted everyone, especially those sitting way back in the third row, to be able to see out and enjoy the view. Most important, we wanted the driver to have great all-round vision. That meant lots of glass.”
It starts with slim windshield pillars and door mirrors mounted below the side windows, rather than at the base of the A-pillar, for improved forward visibility. Kahl and his team also hid the windshield wipers below the hood line for a more unobstructed forward view.
Along the sides, the expansive windows flow back to the narrow rear roof pillars. And the Telluride’s squared-off, more vertical rear makes for a bigger rear-quarter window for better third-row visibility. Add the available dual sunroof, and the cabin feels bright and airy.
The design team, however, didn’t forget the Telluride’s rugged offroad capability and adventurous character. The Telluride brims with design details heightening its refined look. Details like those rectangular headlights with their dramatic rectangular ring-type LEDs that help give the Telluride a unique face on the road and like the bold, clamshell hood, heightening the impression of the V6’s power.
Kahl and his team tested their ideas with a concept Telluride at the 2016 North American International Auto Show and many elements were carried over to production. The concept’s deep shade of gold-tinted green paint made it to Brandon Maxwell’s New York Fashion Week Telluride, and a version inspired by it is going to be available on the production model. It’s called Dark Moss, and it’s one of four stunning new colors being offered with the 2020 Telluride.
INSIDE EDITION
High-quality materials and a dramatic interior design make the Telluride stand out in its class
“Telluride is the flagship of the Kia SUV range,” says Susan Yoo, senior designer responsible for color and materials at Kia Design Center America. “So we went all-out to make the cabin look and feel like a real flagship.”
That meant using the finest materials possible. “We wanted everyone who opens the door to be almost shocked at the richness, the look, the super-high-quality feel of the materials,” says Yoo, adding the Telluride aims to set a new benchmark.
Even for the entry-level models, Kia made the decision not to offer cloth upholstery, going with a new synthetic leather called SOFINO, designed to look and feel like leather. “It’s beautifully soft, nicely grained, yet very durable,” she says. “And for customers who prefer not to have real leather, it’s the perfect alternative.”
Yoo’s material choices enhance the cabin’s modern-luxury design created by Brian White, Kia Design Center America interior manager and his team of interior designers. He says the instrument panel and center console design set the Telluride apart. “It is just stunning in its elegant simplicity and functionality.”
As the exterior design focuses on visually stretching the vehicle’s width, the fascia design is low and wide for a spacious feeling. The dash’s slim top appears to float above the lower section. The slender strip of brushed metal runs almost uninterrupted from one side to the other. The center console appears detached from the upper fascia.
“So often the center screens for the infotainment and navigation sit on top of the dash, looking almost like an afterthought,” White says. “We mounted the Telluride’s screen in a lovely brushed metal frame with a substantial base section to give it substance.”
He felt it was important, however, to remind owners they were driving an off-road-capable SUV, so he added good-sized grab handles at each side of the center console.
He also listened to customer feedback about the need for an abundance of storage, so he equipped the center console with a tray in front of the shifter, a storage place for keys or a cellphone in front of the cupholders and a large open storage bin beneath the console. There’s more storage beneath the center armrest and inside the generously-proportioned glovebox. You can also get up to six USB charging ports.
The Telluride can also carry eight people if you stick with the second-row, three-across bench; seven if you opt for the second-row individual captain’s chairs.
The Telluride should also excel as a load carrier thanks to its large tailgate opening and the seats’ fold-down flexibility. Even with the third row in place there is enough space for two large suitcases. And beneath the rear load platform, there’s a secret storage area to keep valuables from view.
For load-carrying flexibility both the third-row seats and the second-row bench have a 60:40 split and fold flat − perfect for loading-in long items like surfboards or fishing gear. 1
“This new Telluride really does a superb job of combining flexibility and versatility and wrapping it in a surprisingly luxurious, visually-exciting package,” adds White. “Hard to imagine a more perfect family SUV.”
THE SOFTER SIDE OF RUGGED
While the Telluride woos you with cool design and the spacious, versatile interior, it also has some impressive technology.
A sudden downpour. A ballpark parking lot transformed into a sea of goopy mud. Cars slithering around, spinning wheels. Not a tow-truck in sight.
“That was me,” says Sang Lee, Kia Motors America product strategy manager. “The only difference – I was driving a Telluride. I set it to AWD Lock, I went easy on the gas, and we just drove straight out.”
That’s the Telluride’s everyday versatility. Especially those models equipped with optional electronic all-wheel drive. While it could take you to a mountain top, its real-world capability to get you home is likely to comfort you more.
Here Lee, who helped equip the Telluride for American tastes, highlights some of the SUV’s stand-out technology.
ADVANCED V6 POWER
“Some competitors in this segment offer four-cylinder power. We prefer the power and refinement of a V6 for an SUV of this size. With efficiency in mind, we’ve refined our Lambda 3.8-liter GDI V6 with Atkinson cycle technology. There’s certainly no shortage of power; the direct-injection engine offers 291 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque. And it comes mated to a new eight-speed automatic.”
ELECTRONIC ALL-WHEEL DRIVE
“All-wheel drive can give you improved traction in a variety of conditions. In normal driving, the Telluride’s available advanced electro-hydraulic system primarily sends the engine’s power to the front wheels. But if it senses any loss of traction, it seamlessly and instantly routes power to the rear − and keep varying the balance between the front and rear axles as the amount of grip changes.”
TRACTION AT YOUR FINGER TIPS
“For Telluride models equipped with all-wheel drive, a small rotary control on the center console is, in most situations, your ‘get-out-of-trouble’ control. You can select the Snow setting, or if you want to leave it to the vehicle to work things out, there’s a simple default setting for AWD lock. The same control knob also gives you the choice of four distinct drive modes designed to help enhance performance. Chose between Comfort, Eco, Sport and Smart.”
BODY BUILDING
“A strong, stiff, torsionally rigid body structure is not only helpful for crash protection, but it’s what helps make a vehicle agile and fun to drive. With the Telluride, we’ve developed a robust monocoque shell with the application of Advanced High-Strength Steel, especially around the cabin.
SILENT RUNNING
“A true measure of luxury is refinement. No one wants to hear excessive engine noise, the hiss of wind noise or the roar of rubber on the road. That’s why our engineers focused hard on keeping things in the Telluride quiet. Which is why we dramatically increased the use of foam filler in hollow sections of the body, added sound-absorbing material around the engine firewall and anti-noise pads on floor sections. We’re also using special sound-insulating glass for the windshield. It’s also available for the side windows.”
WHERE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD
“We’ve equipped the Telluride with four-wheel independent suspension that balances dynamic, focused handling and impressive ride comfort. We’ve also developed a new electric-assist steering for improved steering precision. Depending on the model, there’s a choice of great-looking 18-inch or 20-inch wheels shod with all-season tires. And with almost 8 inches of ground clearance, the Telluride will keep on going over all kinds of challenging surfaces.”
AERO OPTIMIZED
“Low drag improves fuel economy, increases high-speed stability and reduces noise levels. So our designers gave the new Telluride a number of wind-cheating features to lower its drag coefficient − like the front-wheel air curtain that takes inair from an opening in the lower bumper and guides it across the front wheels to reduce turbulence. Then there’s the tailgate roof spoiler and ‘winglets’ at the side of the rear screen that improves aero. The result: an impressive 0.34 Cd.”
BUILDING CONFIDENCE
The all-new Telluride is positively brimming with advanced driver-assistance technology. Here are a few available features designed to boost your confidence behind the wheel.
SAFE EXIT ASSIST
We’ve all experienced the terror of pulling up at the side of the pavement and your kid in the back seat opens the rear side door and leaps out, narrowly avoiding oncoming traffic. The Telluride’s Safe Exit Assist technology uses radar to help warn you if the system detects approaching vehicles and keeps the rear door locked. 2
REAR OCCUPANT ALERT
We’re all in a rush. Sometimes the unthinkable can happen when we stop: Everyone in the family jumps out, you lock the doors and walk away. But you miss the one child or pet that’s still in the car. Rear Occupant Alert sounds the horn if its ultrasonic sensors detect movement out back. 3
HEAD-UP DISPLAY*
Head-up displays projecting information on the windshield aren’t new, but the Telluride’s available system is impressive in the amount of information it provides. From turn-by-turn navigation, to speed and local speed limits, to smart cruise control and blind-spot warnings, it has you covered. 4
SURROUND VIEW MONITOR
With any big SUV, parking has its challenges. With the all-new Telluride’s available Surround View Monitor, four cameras project images on the dash-mounted screen. It gives you an amazing overhead view, a view of the rear when you’re backing up or a low-down front view when you’re pulling into a space. With the overhead view you can even zoom in to help line up a trailer. 6
DISCLAIMERS 1. All cargo should be evenly distributed, properly secured and never piled higher than the seatback.2. Safe Exit Assist is not a substitute for one’s attention and may not detect all objects surrounding the vehicle. Always pay attention to traffic and to the area around your vehicle when exiting the vehicle.3. Rear Occupant Alert is not a substitute for one’s attention and may not detect all movement within the vehicle. Always check the vehicle interior when exiting the vehicle.4. Failure to pay attention to travel conditions could result in loss of vehicle control. Always drive safely and use caution.5. Highway Driving Assist is not a substitute for safe driving, may not detect all objects around the vehicle, and only functions on certain federal highways. Always drive safely and use caution. 6. Blind Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist-Rear is not a substitute for safe driving, and may not detect all objects around the vehicle. Always drive safely and use caution. 7. Driver Attention Warning is not a substitute for safe driving and may not display all instances of driver fatigue or inattentive driving practices. Failure to pay attention to travel conditions and vehicle operation could result in loss of vehicle control. Always drive safely and use caution.
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