2024 Kia Telluride vs 2024 Genesis GV80

The 2024 Kia Telluride and the 2024 Genesis GV80 both stood out, each offering a distinctive exterior and interior appeal. The Telluride was available in five core trim levels: LX, S, EX, SX, and SX Prestige. The X-Line treatment could be added to all but the LX and S, while the X-Pro package was exclusive to the top trims.

With the X-Line package, the Telluride came with standard all-wheel drive (AWD) featuring a center locking differential, 0.4 inches of additional ground clearance, improved approach and departure angles, unique grille and 20-inch wheel designs, and roof rails. The X-Pro package added 18-inch matte-black wheels with all-terrain tires and heavy-duty engine cooling, enhancing the towing capacity by 500 pounds to 5,500 pounds.

Prices for the Telluride ranged from $35,990 for the LX to $53,185 for the SX Prestige with the X-Pro package, excluding the $1,365 destination charge. Our test vehicle, an SX Prestige with the X-Line package, donned the extra-cost Wolf Gray paint and floor mats, bringing the total to $54,270. This particular shade of gray complemented the blacked-out X-Line styling eloquently, emphasizing the vehicle's handsome proportions.

Inside, the Telluride test car featured a black interior with premium Nappa leather seats. It wasn’t the most captivating color combination, considering the availability of rich Mahogany brown, festive Terracotta brown, light gray over black or dark blue, and an unusual Sage Green, all of which complemented the simulated open-pore wood trim and helped conceal the lower cabin's shiny plastic. Despite this, the SUV’s interior, dressed in soft leather, artificial suede headliner, 24-inch dual-screen digital display panel, and classy metallic accents, nearly matched luxury SUV standards.

The 2024 Genesis GV80 was available in 2.5T (turbocharged four-cylinder) and 3.5T (twin-turbocharged V6) models, with trims named Standard, Advanced, Prestige, and Prestige Signature. Prices spanned from $57,700 to $81,750, plus a $1,350 destination charge.

Our GV80 3.5T test vehicle arrived in the Prestige Signature trim with an optional Matterhorn White Matte paint job. This upgrade brought the MSRP to $84,600. The Prestige Signature models came in Vik Black, Matterhorn White Matte, or Mauna Red exterior colors, paired with dark chrome trim and a stylish 22-inch wheel design. Though the intentions behind the Prestige Signature trim were commendable, its black-painted wheels rendered the intricate designs nearly invisible, making the Prestige model equally attractive.

Inside, the GV80’s Ultramarine Blue over Dune interior was luxurious, with diamond-stitched Nappa premium leather, an artificial leather dashboard wrap, matte-finish wood trim, a suede headliner, and metallic-finish accents exuding opulence. Ambient lighting, a 3D digital instrument cluster, and a wide touchscreen infotainment display underscored the GV80’s luxury status. Although its exterior might have lacked pizzazz, the interior was thoroughly extravagant.

The 2024 Kia Telluride was powered by a robust 3.8-liter V6 engine delivering 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Versions with AWD included a locking center differential, allowing equal power distribution between front and rear wheels at low speeds. The Telluride handled well, offering decent acceleration and impressive passing power. Standard towing capacity was 5,000 pounds, but the X-Pro trim’s heavy-duty engine cooling system increased this to 5,500 pounds.

The Telluride’s driving modes included Comfort, Sport, Smart, and Snow, with ground clearance at 8.0 inches standard, rising to 8.4 inches with X-Line and X-Pro packages. Despite its size, the Telluride was agile in corners and curves, aided by its responsive steering and brake-induced Torque Vectoring Cornering Control. The ride felt firm at lower city speeds but softened significantly at higher speeds, ensuring comfort on winding roads and reducing head-toss effects.

However, fuel economy was a weak point. The EPA rated the AWD versions at 20 mpg combined, but our tests in mountainous Southern California showed a lower 19 mpg on average, dropping to 17.5 mpg with city driving.

In contrast, the GV80 2.5T used a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, offering 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. The GV80 3.5T featured a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6, producing an impressive 375 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard AWD. The GV80 had five driving modes: Eco, Comfort, Sport, Custom, and Snow, with a ground clearance of 8.1 inches. Properly equipped, it could tow up to 6,000 pounds.

The GV80 3.5T provided a rewarding drive, with swift acceleration and commendable grip from its P265/40R22 all-season tires. The adaptive damping suspension and larger front brakes enhanced its athletic performance. However, the vehicle’s fuel consumption was high, with an EPA rating of 20 mpg combined, but our tests showed a lower 17.2 mpg.

The GV80 showcased quiet composure and a luxurious feel, though steering was unremarkable. Its two-spoke steering wheel was ergonomic, and its retro design added charm. By 2025, a more conventional three-spoke wheel would replace it, eliminating the old-school luxury vibe.

The 2024 Kia Telluride excelled in comfort, especially in higher trims. The SX Prestige X-Line had premium Nappa leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats with multiple adjustments, heated and ventilated second-row captain’s chairs, and a third-row seat suitable for adults. A dual sunroof added light to the otherwise dark interior. Kia’s thoughtfully designed controls were horizontal and easy to use. The 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system featured capable voice recognition and physical controls, though metallic finish buttons could be hard to read in bright light.

Interior storage was ample, with a covered cubby forward of the shifter, stylish grab handles, a smartphone tray, and roomy door panel bins. The hands-free power liftgate with automatic closing was a practical feature, though it had some usability concerns.

Cargo space was abundant, with 21 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 46 cubic feet with the seats folded, and a maximum of 87 cubic feet available. X-Line and X-Pro versions also offered useful roof rails for additional storage options.

The 2024 Genesis GV80’s interior was lavish, though the seating arrangement was restrictive. Only the 3.5T Advanced offered a third-row seat, while the Prestige Signature held just four occupants due to large, power-adjustable second-row captain’s chairs. Despite their opulence, the rear seats didn’t recline much, limiting legroom.

Interior materials ranged from artificial leather to premium leather, with standard features including heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, manual rear door window shades, and a power hands-free liftgate. Our test vehicle boasted a panoramic glass roof, triple-zone climate control, and massaging, power-adjustable front seats. Unfortunately, the diamond-stitched surfaces of the seats were uncomfortable on long drives, as we discovered during our trip to San Diego.

The GV80 offered 34.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row and up to 84 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. However, the rear console in the Prestige Signature necessitated careful loading to avoid damage.

Kia equipped every 2024 Telluride model with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. However, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were absent, requiring a USB-C cable for smartphone connectivity. Kia Connect, offering various features from find-my-car to remote climate control, was available through different subscription plans.

Our lack of a Kia Connect subscription limited our voice recognition test, although previous experiences proved its efficiency. The Telluride included additional tech like satellite radio, wireless smartphone charging, and a 10-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. Thoughtful features included a blue-light filter for the display, Quiet Mode for sleeping passengers, and a driver voice projection system.

The Telluride’s digital key function could transform a smartphone into a vehicle key, with a convenient card key alternative. The SUV also featured a camera-based rearview mirror with excellent resolution, a 10-inch head-up display, and a comprehensive 360-degree camera system.

In contrast, the GV80 offered a 14.5-inch touchscreen infotainment display, which, due to its distant placement, was better controlled via the center console’s round control dial. The standard package included navigation, SiriusXM satellite radio, and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Genesis Connected Services were also standard, supplemented by a newly available Wi-Fi hotspot.

Our GV80 test vehicle supported streaming from Apple Music and Pandora via Bluetooth. The voice-recognition system was user-friendly, and the infotainment display was clear and glare-resistant. Genesis provided a digital key system and a Lexicon premium sound system, with Bang & Olufsen components planned for the 2025 model. The Prestige and Prestige Signature trims also featured a helpful head-up display.

The 2024 Kia Telluride impressed with its standard Kia Drive Wise suite, including collision avoidance, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear occupant protection. Higher trims offered additional features like front parking sensors, cross-traffic alert, evasive steering assist, lane-change assist, and automatic rear braking. The Blind-Spot View Monitor system displayed a camera feed on the digital instrumentation for enhanced safety.

Highway Driving Assist 2.0, available in higher trims, facilitated semi-autonomous driving with adaptive cruise control and automatic lane changing, though we found it less reliable in moderate traffic. Despite some issues, the Telluride excelled in safety, boasting a five-star overall crash test rating from NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ award from IIHS.

Similarly, the Genesis GV80 came with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), including a camera-based Blind-Spot View Monitor, Remote Smart Parking Assist, and Highway Driving Assist. The latter worked well in light and congested traffic but struggled in moderate high-speed traffic.

The GV80’s Blind-Spot View Monitor and HUD provided comprehensive lane-change assistance. The Remote Smart Parking Assist allowed autonomous parking, both from inside the vehicle and via remote control.

In safety evaluations, the GV80 received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from IIHS and a five-star overall score from NHTSA, though its frontal-impact ratings were slightly lower at four stars.