Used 2021 Kia Telluride for Sale nearMesa, AZ

How much does the 2021 Kia Telluride cost?

Prices have softened 12.13% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 3,807 listings available, which gives you a solid pool of used Tellurides to compare.

Is the 2021 Kia Telluride a good car?

Yes — the 2021 Kia Telluride earns a 4.9/5 user rating and a 9.3/10 expert rating. 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, and many also like the modern design and advanced technology. The main trade-offs are that it can feel sluggish from a stop and that storage space for personal items can be limited.

That fits the Telluride’s role as a family-friendly midsize three-row SUV with strong value and broad appeal. With 32.8% of listings marked as good or great deals, the market still offers some attractive opportunities.

Is the 2021 Kia Telluride reliable?

Owners rate it 4.9/5, a strong signal of long-term satisfaction. Owners also describe it as dependable and trouble-free, with praise centered on the SUV’s strong value and family-friendly usefulness.

The expert review also points to Kia’s excellent warranty coverage and roadside assistance as ownership strengths. For used buyers, the main long-term risk is that condition and maintenance history matter more than the badge, so a careful inspection is still important.

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

Accident-free inventory is solid at 77.4% — always verify the vehicle history report.

You should still check the report carefully, because a clean listing percentage does not replace a proper history check. Prioritize a pre-purchase inspection, especially on higher-mileage examples or vehicles with added equipment. Focus on overall condition, since family use can mean wear on the interior, cargo area, and technology features.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The LX, S, EX, and SX trims differ in equipment, with the base LX and S using an 8-inch touchscreen while EX and SX move to a 10.25-inch display and navigation. The SX can be equipped with a Prestige package that adds premium stitched Nappa leather, a simulated suede headliner, a head-up display, and heated and ventilated second-row seats.
• Powertrain: Every 2021 Telluride uses a 3.8-liter V6 with an eight-speed automatic transmission and 291 horsepower. Front-wheel drive is standard, all-wheel drive is optional, and AWD adds a low-speed Lock function for extra traction.
• Safety package: Kia’s Drive Wise suite is standard and 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. Highway Drive Assist is standard on EX and SX, while SX adds front parking sensors, a surround-view camera system, and Blind-Spot View Monitor.
• Infotainment: LX and S get an 8-inch touchscreen, while EX and SX upgrade to a 10.25-inch screen with navigation. Every model includes Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio, and upper trims add wireless smartphone charging.
• Fuel efficiency: The EPA says an AWD Telluride should return 21 mpg in combined driving, and testing returned 20.5 mpg on a mixed route.

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:

• LX: This is the entry point, but it still gives you the Telluride’s core strengths, including the standard safety suite and a family-friendly layout. It makes sense if you want the lowest-cost way into the model.
• S: This is the best-value trim because the review team specifically calls it out as providing significant value. It’s the trim to target if you want a strong balance of equipment and price.
• EX: This trim adds meaningful comfort and tech upgrades, including the larger touchscreen, navigation, Driver Talk, Quiet Mode, and Highway Drive Assist. It’s a smart pick if you want more convenience and advanced features.
• SX: This is the most upscale choice, especially with the Prestige package, which pushes the Telluride closer to luxury-SUV territory. Choose it if you want the richest feature set and the most premium feel.

Safety-package note: Highway Drive Assist is standard on EX and SX, while SX-exclusive safety features include front parking sensors, a surround-view camera system, and 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 and still find worthwhile listings.

• Deal availability: 32.8% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 3,807 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 12.13% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 77.4% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $22,766, 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 $22,766 sits slightly below last year's $25,909.

That price movement suggests the Telluride has softened, which can be good news if you’re buying now but less ideal if you’re planning to sell soon. Even so, its strong reputation and broad demand help support used-market interest. If you maintain it well and keep the history clean, you should still have a solid pool of future shoppers.

Vehicles with strong owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 4.9/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

Is the 2021 Kia Telluride safe?

The 2021 Telluride earns a Top Safety Pick rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), and it earns an overall five-star rating from NHTSA with four-star frontal-impact results for both the driver and front passenger.

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

Kia’s standard Drive Wise suite 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. Highway Drive Assist is standard on EX and SX, and it combines adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability and lane-centering assistance.

A caveat to keep in mind is that the IIHS rating may not carry forward 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:

• 32.8% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is solid at 77.4% — always verify the vehicle history report.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 12.13% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.9/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• It adds useful updates like the Nightfall Edition package and more LED headlights.

Consider the 2020 if:

• At $19,326, the 2020 costs less than the current year's $22,766 average.
• It offers strong value and a spacious cabin.

Consider the 2022 if:

• At $26,230, the 2022 costs more than the current year's $22,766 average.
• It adds more standard equipment.

The bottom line: The 2021 is the best all-around choice if you want the Telluride’s strong value, style, and feature mix without paying newer-model pricing. If you’re more price-sensitive, the 2020 is the better budget path, while the 2022 makes sense if you want the extra standard equipment and don’t mind paying more.

How does the 2021 Kia Telluride compare to the 2021 Hyundai Palisade?

Expert Pros & Cons (per CarGurus review team)

2021 Kia Telluride:

• Pros: Excellent value for money, Stylish design, Premium interior materials.
• Cons: Fairly pedestrian performance.

2021 Hyundai Palisade:

• Pros: Stylish design, Premium interior materials, Spacious third row.
• Cons: Fairly pedestrian performance.

Our experts score the 2021 Kia Telluride 9.3/10 and the 2021 Hyundai Palisade 9/10. The Telluride has the edge on value, while both SUVs share stylish design, premium-feeling materials, and similar performance drawbacks. The Palisade’s standout advantage is its spacious third row, but the Telluride’s stronger value proposition and slightly higher expert score make it the more compelling pick for many shoppers.

Read our full side-by-side expert comparison here.

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