How much does the 2021 Kia Telluride cost?

Prices have softened 12.00% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 3,581 listings available, which suggests you have meaningful inventory to compare.

If you find a listing below $23,570.60, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

Is the 2021 Kia Telluride a good car?

Yes — the 2021 Kia Telluride earns a 4.89/5 user rating, and our experts give it an 9.33/10 overall score. The model scores 10/10 across Form and function and Cost effectiveness.

Owners consistently praise its safety features, spacious interior, and great value for money. They also like the modern design and advanced technology, and many compare it favorably to more expensive brands.

The main trade-offs are that it can feel sluggish from a stop, and storage space for personal items is limited. That said, the Telluride is framed as a midsize, three-row SUV with broad usefulness and premium interior materials, so it fits well if you want family space, style, and value in one package.

With 32.3% of listings marked as good or great deals, the market still offers some attractive opportunities.

Is the 2021 Kia Telluride reliable?

Owners rate it 4.89/5, a strong signal of long-term satisfaction. The owner feedback also points to a dependable, trouble-free ownership experience, with praise centered on the SUV’s long-term appeal and everyday confidence.

The expert evaluation reinforces that sense of durability by describing the Telluride as a well-sorted SUV with strong value and broad usefulness. Kia’s warranty coverage also adds peace of mind for used buyers.

For a used buyer, the main long-term risk is less about the core package and more about finding one that has been maintained well and hasn’t been worn down by family-duty use.

What should I look for when buying a used 2021 Kia Telluride?

Accident-free inventory is solid at 77.7% — always verify the vehicle history report.

You should still check the history report carefully, because a clean listing percentage does not replace a vehicle-specific record. Prioritize a pre-purchase inspection, especially if you’re considering a higher-mileage example or one that has been used for towing or heavy family duty. Focus on overall condition, interior wear, and whether the equipment you want is actually present on the trim you’re shopping.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: Base versions miss some of the more upscale touches, while higher trims add premium materials and a more luxury-like feel.
• Powertrain: It uses a 3.8-liter V6 with an eight-speed automatic, and all-wheel drive is optional.
• Safety package: Every version gets Kia’s Drive Wise suite, including blind-spot warning, lane-maintenance technology with lane-keeping assistance, forward-collision warning with pedestrian and cyclist detection, rear cross-traffic alert, a driver-monitoring system, and automatic emergency braking. Highway Drive Assist is standard on EX and SX.
• Infotainment: LX and S use an 8-inch screen, while EX and SX get a 10.25-inch display with navigation. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM are standard, and wireless smartphone charging is available on upper trims.
• Fuel efficiency: The AWD model should return 21 mpg in combined driving, and testing returned 20.5 mpg.

Which 2021 Kia Telluride trim should I buy?

The 2021 Kia Telluride is offered in 4 trim levels: LX, S, EX, and SX.

Here's the short version:

• Base trim: LX gives you the core Telluride experience, but it misses the richer cabin feel and some of the more advanced convenience and safety upgrades found higher up.
• Sweet-spot trim: S is the value pick because it adds meaningful equipment without pushing you into the highest price tier.
• Premium/top trim: SX is the most luxurious choice, especially with the Prestige package, which adds premium stitched Nappa leather, a simulated suede headliner, a head-up display, and heated and ventilated second-row seats.

Highway Drive Assist is standard on EX and SX, and SX also gets front parking sensors, a surround-view camera system, and a Blind-Spot View Monitor.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2021 Kia Telluride?

This is a moderate buyer’s market, so you can shop selectively without expecting every listing to be a bargain.

• Deal availability: 32.3% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 3,581 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 12.00% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 77.7% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $23,570.60, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

What is the 2021 Kia Telluride's resale value?

The current average of $23,641 sits slightly below last year's $26,865.

That price movement suggests the Telluride has softened from its earlier level, which can be good news if you’re buying now. For a future seller, it also means you should expect resale value to depend heavily on condition, mileage, and equipment level rather than assuming the model will hold every dollar of its original value.

Vehicles with strong owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 4.89/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

Is the 2021 Kia Telluride safe?

It earns a Top Safety Pick rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), and in NHTSA testing it earns an overall five-star rating, though it also posts four-star frontal-impact results for both the driver and front passenger.

It earns a 9/10 safety score from our experts.

Every version gets Kia’s Drive Wise suite, which includes blind-spot warning, lane-maintenance technology with lane-keeping assistance, forward-collision warning with pedestrian and cyclist detection, rear cross-traffic alert, a driver-monitoring system, and automatic emergency braking. Rear Occupant Alert and Safe Exit Assist are also included.

Highway Drive Assist is standard on EX and SX, and SX adds front parking sensors, a surround-view camera system, and a Blind-Spot View Monitor. One caveat is that the IIHS rating may not continue for the 2021 calendar year because of the standard headlights’ poor-rated performance.

Should I buy a 2021 Kia Telluride or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2021 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2021 if:

• 32.3% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is solid at 77.7% — always verify the vehicle history report.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 12.00% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.89/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• It adds a new Nightfall Edition package, more LED headlights, and a revised remote-start key fob.

Consider the 2020 if:

• At $20,150, the 2020 costs less than the current year's $23,641 average.
• It launched with standout space and value for families.

Consider the 2022 if:

• At $27,564, the 2022 costs more than the current year's $23,641 average.
• It adds more standard equipment and keeps the Telluride highly desirable.

The bottom line: the 2021 is the best all-around choice if you want the strongest mix of value, features, and market availability. If your budget is tighter, the 2020 is the smarter price-first alternative, while the 2022 makes sense if you want the newer equipment and are willing to pay more.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from August 21, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.