At the 2019 Detroit Auto Show this month, Kia unveiled its foray into the full-sized SUV segment with the new Telluride. The Korean manufacturer has now announced that it will be debuting the high-seated moniker in the UAE in April this year.
Kia is a late entrant to the party which is currently dominated with American manufacturers such as Cadillac and GMC. Hence, it needed a product that could put up a worthy fight against the old-timers. The SUV was designed at Kia's California studio and will be assembled at its Georgia, USA facility for North American sales. The Telluride is the first Kia to be designed specifically for the American market. However, it is a suitable product for the UAE which has an affinity for big SUVs.
Kia has plonked a 3.8-litre V6 that makes 291hp and 355Nm under the Telluride's hood. Paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission, it sends power to either the front wheels or all, depending on the trim you choose. The all-wheel-drive is customizable. It offers an 80:20 front-to-rear split for all-weather situations, 65:35 for sporty handling, and 50:50 for gnarly off-road stuff.
The 2020 Kia Telluride can tow loads of up to 2,268kg and includes downhill brake control. A self-levelling rear suspension adjusts ride height according to vehicle load for enhanced stability. Finally, four-wheel independent suspension imparts the big SUV good handling in most situations.
The SUV oozes with Korean charm inside with a palette full of tech. A 10.25-inch Kia UVO touchscreen takes centre stage on the Telluride's dashboard, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for connectivity. Wireless phone charging, a total of six USB ports, and multi-Bluetooth connectivity for up to two devices at once are available features. Premium stereo units from Harman/Kardon are also available.
The 2020 Kia Telluride possesses pleasant, ergonomic interiors.
The Kia app allows Telluride cars to communicate with a paired smartphone to deliver “Send-to-Car” options for navigation, and to pre-condition the SUV's climate control.
The SUV scores handsomely in the safety segment with an exhaustive list of safety and driver assistance systems. You get pedestrian detection and avoidance assist, high beam assist, lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring, collision avoidance, driver attention monitor, adaptive cruise control, surround-view monitor, and highway driving assist.
Check out the latest Kia Cars prices and specifications in the UAE.
