How Much Is A Fully Loaded Kia Telluride?

The Kia Telluride has been making a buzz around the SUV market since its debut in 2020. Its power performance, seven-passenger seating, luxury, and rugged durability make it an excellent family vehicle that isn't afraid to get a little dirty. How much does a fully-loaded Kia Telluride cost, though? We have taken the time to research the available options on the Kia Telluride to get an MSRP on a brand new, fully loaded Telluride.

The Kia Telluride is available in four trim packages the LX, S, EX, and SX. The SX is the most luxurious package with the most features and has a starting MSRP of $42,490. However, for consumers who want all of the bells and whistles available, a full-loaded Telluride SX with every option available will cost $52,980.

The Kia Telluride SX is luxurious and offers almost every feature available on the market, so is it necessary to add $10K of gear and features? We have done more extensive research on the Kia Telluride to provide our readers with the most accurate information on the market. Read on as we discuss the Kia Telluride and how it stacks up against similar mid-size SUVs.

Is Kia Telluride A Luxury SUV?

The Telluride has made Kia stand out as reliable and innovative manufacture. The new hype is mainly because Telluride won the 2020 World Car and Motortrend's SUV of the Year in 2020. Pretty impressive, to say the least. However, does this make it a luxury SUV? It depends on which package you go with.

The Kia Telluride comes in four package options the LX, S, EX, and SX. As we stated above, if you want unmatched off-road durability while having an elegant interior, then the SX is the trim to get. The SX trim package takes the Telluride from family SUV to date night companion.

Let's look at each of the Kia Tellurides trim packages, features, and costs.

Kia Telluride LX

The Kia Telluride LX is the base model but surprisingly has quite a few standard features. It also has a modest starting MSRP of $32,190. The Telluride models come in front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive, so if you live in regions with harsh winters, we recommend taking the all-wheel-drive upgrade for an extra $2,000. When we put together the list of standard features, it comes out to a total of 87!

Instead, here is a breakdown of the top 30 standard features for the Telluride:

UVO Link
8.0-inch Touchscreen Display
Android Auto™
Apple CarPlay®
Blind Spot Detection (Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist Rear - BCA-R)
Driver Attention Warning (DAW)
Forward Collision-Avoidance (FCA) with Pedestrian Detection
Forward Collision Warning (FCW)
Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
Lane Following Assist (LFA)
Lane Keeping Assist (LKA)
Parking Distance Warning - Reverse (PDW-R)
Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCCA)
Rear View Monitor with Dynamic Parking Guidance
Rear Occupant Alert (ROA)
Safe Exit Assist (SEA)
Smart Cruise Control with Stop and Go (SCC)
Bluetooth® Wireless Technology Hands-Free Connectivity
Steering-Wheel-Mounted Audio, Hands-Free Phone, and Cruise Control Buttons
USB Charger Ports, Five Total
12 V Power Outlets, Three Total
3.5-inch Thin Film Transistor (TFT) Trip Computer
Tilt and Telescopic Steering Column
Power Windows with First and Second-row One-Touch Auto-Up/Down
Power Door Locks with Speed-Sensing Lock and Impact Sensing Unlock
Smart Key with Push-Button Start and Remote Start
60/40 Split-Folding Second-row Seats
One-Touch Sliding & Folding Second-row Seats
Reclining Third-row Seats with 60/40 Split-Folding
Second-Row Adjustable Headrests

Kia Telluride S

Taking a step up in standard features and price is the Kia Telluride S package. This trim has a starting MSRP of $34,590, so not a crazy jump in cost from the base model LX. Similar to the LX, the S package comes standard in FWD or can be upgraded to AWD and has a 3.8-liter Lambda V6 engine producing 290 horsepower.

One main difference between the LX and the S is that the S comes standard with second-row captain's chairs, whereas the LX only comes in second-row seating. The S does add more standard features as listed below:

Power Sunroof
Tire Size: 245/50R20
LED Map and Room Lights
10-Way Power Adjustable Driver's Seat, with 2-way Power Lumbar Support
Seven-Passenger Seating with second-row captain's chairs
50/50 Split-Folding Second-Row Seats
Heated Front Seats
Leather Gearshift Knob

Kia Telluride EX

Next up is the more luxurious Kia Telluride EX. The EX has a starting MSRP of $37,590, and it's the main difference from the S package in that it comes with beautiful NAPPA leather seats.

Consumers will also not need to worry during hot summer days because they will have their backside nicely cooled by the ventilated seat system with a click of a button. Oddly enough, the EX package goes back to the second-row bench seating, making it a good choice for bigger families who often need eight seats.

Here is the list of added standard features in the EX package:

Power-Folding Outside Mirrors
Window Surround, Chrome
Door Handles, Body Color
Smart Power Liftgate™
UVO Link with Enhanced Navigation Features
Driver Talk
Quiet Mode
10.25-inch Touch-Screen Display
Highway Driving Assist (HDA)
Wireless Phone Charger
USB Charger Ports, Six Total
Dual-Zone Automatic Temperature Control with Auto De-Fog System
Rear Passenger Automatic Temperature Control
Auto-Dimming Rearview Mirror
Integrated Second-row Window Sunshades
NAPPA Leather Seat Trim
8-Way Power-Adjustable Passenger's Seat
60/40 Split-Folding Second-row Seats
Ventilated Front Seats
Woodgrain Interior Accents

What is the Telluride EX Premium Package?

Before we move onto Telluride's last trim package, they are some questions surrounding the upgrade of the EX package to the Premium Package. What does that exactly mean, and what does it cost? Exclusively for the Telluride's EX package, consumers can upgrade the SUV to the Premium package for an addition $1,695. This is what is included in the upgrade:

20-inch Alloy Wheels, Machined Finish
LED Projector Beam Headlights
Low Profile Roof Rails, Satin Chrome Finish
Seven-Passenger Seating with Second-row Captain's Chairs
50/50 Split-Folding Second-row Seats

Kia Telluride SX

Last but not least is the top-shelf Kia Telluride SX. This is Kia's most expensive Telluride, with a starting MSRP of $42,490. When comparing it to the EX, there aren't many differences besides some cosmetic features on the interior and exterior. Nonetheless, it does come with an upgraded Harmon Kardon sound system and enhanced parking assist.

Comparing the Telluride EX and SX is similar to when we compared the Hyundai Palisade Limited to the Palisade's new Calligraphy package. Check out that post here: Hyundai Palisade: Limited vs Calligraphy – What's The Difference?

Both the EX and SX have great features; it just comes down to if spending the extra $5,000 for safety features such as blind-spot monitoring, spiced-up cosmetics, and enhanced parking assist.

What class is the Kia Telluride in?

There is some confusion about what class the Kia Telluride is in. With the Telluride being a standard third-row seat vehicle, it is often confused as being a full-size SUV. However, even though it is a spacious SUV with eight-passenger seating options, it is still deemed a mid-size SUV. It would be in the same class as its cousin, the Hyundai Palisade.

If you are curious about the comparison of the Telluride and the Palisade, you should check out this article: Is The Hyundai Palisade Bigger Than the Kia Telluride?

Which Is Bigger, Sorento Or Telluride?

The Telluride isn't the only third-row seat SUV that Kia makes. The Kia Sorento has been a popular choice in the SUV world since its debut in 2002. But now, with a new player in the game, does the Sorento still hold the crown as the largest SUV Kia makes? Not so fast.

The Kia Sorento is no longer the largest SUV now that the Telluride is around. To make it simple, the Telluride is eight inches longer, four inches wider, two inches taller, and at least 200 pounds heavier than the Sorento. Nonetheless, it would be worth test-driving and demoing both vehicles to see if which fits your needs better.

Is Kia Telluride worth the money?

It is always important to look at what others have to say about vehicles. How does the Kia Telluride stack up when it comes to consumers rating its safety, comfort, and driving experience?

Edmunds ranks the Kia Telluride from 0-10, with 10 being the best, in the following categories:

Driving Experience: 8/10
Comfort: 9/10
Interior: 8.5/10
Tech: 8/10
Storage: 8/10
Fuel Efficiency: 7/10
Value: 8/10
Overall: 8.4/10

In closing

When it comes to price point, tech, passenger accommodations, and durability, Kia did a great job on the Telluride. It is a spacious SUV offering third-row seating but isn't huge like a Ford Expedition or Toyota Sequoia. Also, if you like the Hyundai Palisade, it may be worth checking out this not-so-distant cousin, the Kia Telluride, because of its less expensive price points.

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