2025 Kia Telluride Reviews, Pricing & Specs

The 2025 Kia Telluride lineup can be a bit confusing. There are five core trim levels, including the Telluride LX, S, EX, SX, and SX Prestige. The base prices range from $36,390 to $51,390, not including the destination charge of $1,415.

All but the LX and Telluride S are available with an X-Line package that equips the SUV with standard all-wheel drive (AWD), a locking center differential, increased ground clearance, improved approach and departure angles, and self-leveling rear suspension. They also get a blacked-out look and exclusive wheel designs. These versions are priced from $46,485 to $52,785, plus destination.

Choose the Telluride EX X-Line or SX Prestige X-Line, and you can further enhance the specs with the X-Pro trim package. It installs 18-inch wheels wrapped in all-terrain tires, increases the towing capacity to 5,500 pounds, and adds a 110-volt power outlet in the cargo area. The prices for these models are $47,385 (EX X-Pro) and $53,685 (SX Prestige X-Pro), plus destination.

Our test vehicle featured the SX Prestige X-Pro package, which included the most comprehensive standard equipment, towing capacity, and off-roading capability. The extra-cost Midnight Lake Blue paint, Terracotta Nappa leather upholstery, carpeted floor mats, and carpeted cargo mat and seatback protection increased the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) to $56,240, including the destination charge.

Fundamentally, the 2025 Telluride is a good-looking SUV with attractive proportions, distinctive design, and upscale details. However, the blacked-out X-Line and X-Pro treatment erases some of the SUV’s personality and doesn’t offer much contrast with the otherwise appealing Midnight Lake Blue paint. Nevertheless, in a world swamped with two-box SUVs, the Telluride manages to look original and different, which is no easy task.

Inside, the black-over-Terracotta interior stands in sharp contrast against the blue exterior paint. Simulated wood trim, metallic accents, chevron-pattern Nappa leather, and an artificial suede headliner lend the top-of-the-line Telluride a luxurious look and feel. However, in the lower portions of the cabin, the quality of the plastic reveals how Kia can sell a Telluride LX for less than $40,000.

A dual-screen display dominates the upper half of the dashboard, looking more technologically advanced than it is. Fortunately, Kia hasn’t eliminated buttons and knobs from the Telluride, making it easy to select primary infotainment menus, operate the stereo, and control the climate system. However, some markings are hard to discern in daylight due to Kia’s use of metallic finishes.

Every 2025 Telluride features a 3.8-liter V6 engine that generates 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, with power sent via an eight-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive (FWD) is standard for LX, S, EX, and SX trim, while other versions of the Telluride have a standard AWD system with a center locking differential. The AWD system is available as an option for the Telluride S, EX, and SX models.

Eco, Comfort, Sport, and Smart driving modes are standard. Smart mode attempts to adjust to driver behavior, and it usually does so successfully. Sometimes, though, the powertrain seemed a little confused about what it should be doing. Tellurides with AWD also have a Snow driving mode.

Several Telluride competitors have switched from a V6 engine to a turbocharged four-cylinder, and some of them make more power and torque than Kia’s 3.8-liter V6. Still, we prefer this smooth, refined, and amply powered six. While road tripping, aside from occasional breathlessness at elevations over 6,000 feet, the V6 provided plenty of acceleration when we needed it and returned a respectable 20.2 mpg over nearly 1,200 miles of driving. That fuel economy result perfectly aligns with the EPA rating of 20 mpg in combined driving.

Unless you’re planning to spend significant time on unpaved roads, we suggest skipping the X-Pro package in favor of the similar X-Line upgrade. The X-Pro’s 18-inch all-terrain tires give up some on-pavement grip in exchange for their enhanced off-pavement traction, and while traveling on California 49 south from Coulterville to Bear Valley (one of the most treacherous highways we’ve ever driven due to its lack of road shoulders, guard rails, and steep drop-offs), we wished for as much tire grip as possible.

Still, the all-terrain tires were perfect for Evergreen Road near Yosemite, a narrow, winding path with a patchwork surface that is rarely smooth. Here, the 245/60R18 Continental TerrainContact tires and the Telluride’s compliant suspension effortlessly soaked up the impacts. We appreciated those same traits when navigating the streets of San Francisco, and the tire sidewalls stick out far enough that curbing one of the black-painted 18-inch wheels is unlikely.

Furthermore, the Continental tires added confidence when exploring trails near Yosemite, and while we didn’t encounter situations that might tax the Telluride X-Pro’s off-roading limits or require the use of its center locking differential, we know from previous experience that this SUV is more capable than you might expect. If you decide to go off-road, remember that the standard ground clearance is 8.0 inches while the X-Line and X-Pro versions provide 8.4 inches.

Generally, the Telluride SX Prestige X-Pro provided a pleasurable driving experience on this road trip. The only sticking point (literally) was brake pedal behavior in thick traffic. Occasionally, when we stepped on the pedal, there was a delay in reaction to input. Then, the brakes would engage with more force than expected, feeling sticky in the process. In all other driving situations, pedal feel and response were excellent.

Kia is a thoughtful car company. You can tell by how it outfits the Telluride SX Prestige model’s interior, which has numerous surprise-and-delight features that make it almost impossible not to love this SUV.

Heated and ventilated front seats are commonly available in the midsize three-row SUV segment, but heated and ventilated second-row seats are not. Our Telluride had ‘em, and the kids loved ‘em. Additionally, Kia equips every door armrest with a narrow tray suitable for holding a variety of items, embeds USB-C charging ports into the front seatbacks, and provides dedicated smartphone storage sleeves for second-row passengers to use.

Our test vehicle’s driver’s seat also featured a lumbar massage function for occasional use by the driver. We programmed it for the 60-minute interval (30-minute timing is also available), and while we can’t say definitively that it helped, spending hours on end behind the steering wheel wasn’t a chore.

Teenagers riding in the second row were happy with their accommodations. Two reclining captain’s chairs with adjustable armrests, a rear climate control zone featuring overhead controls and air vents, and ample charging and storage solutions made the Telluride SX Prestige X-Pro a satisfying spot for them to pass the time. There was plenty of legroom, while the overhead glass roof panel enhanced their travel experience, especially in Yosemite Valley.

We kept the third-row seat folded flat to accommodate luggage. However, after the trip we tried it out and found it a reasonably comfortable and accessible location for adults to ride. Kids will find it acceptable on longer journeys.

Behind the third-row seat, the Telluride offers 21 cubic feet of cargo space. There is a hidden compartment under the load floor, which can hold plenty of gear, groceries, or what-have-you. However, the carpeted cargo mat makes accessing this compartment a hassle.

Fold the third-row seats down, and cargo space expands to 46 cubic feet. Use the helpful release buttons in the cargo area to flatten the second-row seats, and the maximum volume measures 87 cubic feet. These numbers are not class-leading, but there is enough space in the Telluride that you won’t often feel like you should have purchased an even bigger SUV.

With SX and SX Prestige trim (and their X-Line and X-Pro counterparts), you’ll get a 12.3-inch digital driver display that lives next to a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system under a single piece of glass. This arrangement is excellent, and the simple landscape presentation is clean and aesthetically pleasing. A 10-inch head-up display complements them when you get a Telluride SX Prestige.

Small details enhance the usability of these three screens. For example, the head-up display alerts the driver to vehicles in the SUV’s blind spots, which helps to reduce distraction. In addition, Tellurides with the larger 12.3-inch digital driver display also have a Blind Spot View Monitor, which shows a live video feed of what’s in the SUV’s blind spots when you use the turn signal to indicate a lane change. Kia also equips the 12.3-inch center touchscreen with a blue light filter to reduce eye strain and fatigue.

Still, we would trade these features for a next-generation infotainment system. The Telluride doesn’t have wireless Apple CarPlay or wireless Android Auto. Additionally, the data port is a USB-A, not a USB-C (although there are plenty of USB-C charging ports scattered throughout the cabin). We discovered this after leaving home for San Francisco, and it meant we could not use Apple CarPlay during the trip. Plan B was to use the native technology to find our way. Unfortunately, the standard voice recognition system is rudimentary at best. Fortunately, by agreeing to a disclaimer, it is possible for the front passenger to manually enter addresses via the touchscreen while the Telluride is in motion. Still, it was simpler to use an iPhone for directions, rendering the onboard tech obsolete.

Fortunately, the SiriusXM satellite radio subscription was active, and while it suffered sketchy reception in Yosemite Valley, it worked well in other locations where cell service was non-existent. We also streamed Pandora and Apple Music via the multi-device Bluetooth connectivity, and the 10-speaker Harman Kardon audio system delivered impressive sound quality.

Kia bundles its advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) under a Drive Wise branding umbrella. It’s a generous offering of safety features in the base Telluride LX and, as you might expect, our loaded-up SX Prestige X-Pro had all of the bells and whistles.

Standard equipment includes forward collision warning, pedestrian and cyclist detection, intersection assistance when turning left across traffic, and automatic emergency braking. In addition, Drive Wise includes blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear automatic braking. Adaptive cruise control is also standard, along with a safe exit assist system.

For the 2025 model year, every Telluride trim level comes standard with Highway Driving Assist. This technology pairs the adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist to create a semi-autonomous highway driver assistance system. On higher trim levels, it adds a lane-change assist function.

Our top-of-the-line test model also had the camera-based Blind Spot View Monitor system, evasive steering assist, front cross-traffic alert with automatic braking, oncoming collision avoidance, lane-change collision avoidance, and a surround-view camera.

We ensured all of this technology was active during our road trip, and the only one that consistently irked us was the lane-centering assist system (Kia calls it Lane Following Assist). It had trouble with bends and curves in the road, and was argumentative enough with the driver to sometimes cause erratic driving. Its tendency to try to hug lane markers in curves was especially problematic on roads like California 49, where the margin for error is thin. We should have pulled off the road, entered the driver assistance system menu, and deactivated it.

Thanks to how the head-up display communicates blind-spot warnings, we had little use for the Blind Spot View Camera. That’s a shame, because the technology is good. Fortunately, we did not experience many of the Telluride’s safety net systems, such as evasive steering assist, intersection assist, and others. Additionally, the Telluride could back out of our angled driveway without slamming on the brakes, which is an increasingly rare experience.

If the Drive Wise collection of ADAS can’t prevent a collision, you can rest easier knowing the Telluride earns a five-star overall rating in crash tests performed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Additionally, it earns a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the highest available rating.

Over 15 years ago, Kia introduced a standard five-year/60,000-mile new car warranty, backed by a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. That undoubtedly sold Kias back then, but now this level of protection is merely the icing on an already tasty cake. Oh, and don’t forget that every new Kia also provides a five-year/60,000-mile roadside assistance program, just in case something goes awry.

As for prices, you can drive home in a new Telluride LX for $37,805, which is the sticker price, not a negotiated number. As you move up to the higher and more expensive trim levels, the Telluride’s prices overlap with other midsize three-row crossover SUVs such as the Honda Pilot and Toyota Grand Highlander. But even so, the Kia seems to offer a little more for a little less.

Ultimately, there isn’t much to complain about with the 2025 Kia Telluride. Get a USB-A adapter if you want to use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Turn off the Lane Following Assist system if you’d rather not wrestle with the semi-autonomous steering technology. Skip the X-Pro package’s all-terrain tires if you’re not heading off-road. And enjoy one of the best midsize SUVs you can buy.