Handsome, spacious, and good to drive, the Telluride is not your average utility vehicle. Together these chassis-tuning victories make this big SUV drive like it's a size smaller. The steering is accurate and well weighted, and the brake pedal feels firm underfoot. The expert damping perfectly complements the springs and anti-roll bars to keep the cabin calm over rough roads and body roll in check during dynamic maneuvers. As that early logbook comment noted, the ride is seriously impressive, particularly for something rolling on 20-inch wheels.

What really makes the Telluride stand out is what usually makes a Kia fall behind the leaders. The Mazda CX-9 and the Honda Pilot that we ran for 40,000 miles both managed 22 mpg. Over the course of our test, we averaged 21 mpg, which matches the Telluride's EPA combined estimate and beats the averages of our departed Subaru Ascent and Volkswagen Atlas long-termers. Delusions of Range Rover grandeur occasionally had our drivers yearning for a turbocharged V-6 with another 100 horsepower, but with a 6.9-second run to 60, this 4507-pound ute is plenty quick. Stomp on the throttle and the V-6 unwinds in a satisfying linear swell with enough refinement that it never feels stressed. The eight-speed automatic picks the right gear at the right time, switching between a low-rpm loaf and a high-rpm charge with grace and haste. Similarly, the engine is smooth and unobtrusive in traffic and lively at the top of the tachometer. The Telluride is relaxed in daily driving but reveals an impressive depth of capability when pushed. Kia kicks it old school with a 291-hp 3.8-liter V-6 that perfectly matches this SUV's personality.

The mid-size-SUV class is split between turbocharged four-cylinders and naturally aspirated V-6 engines.

Kia telluride 2020 review