Kia is on a roll these days, running high on the success of its recent launches. From the Stinger sedan, to the luxurious K900, to the Niro EV, Kia is delivering powerful performances in all the segments. The latest scoop suggests that the Kia Telluride is about ready for production and will debut by the end of this year.

What is it all about?

On the outside, the beast looks similar to its concept version. The stance of the concept version had an uncanny resemblance to the Volvo XC90, with the headlamps pushed to the far corners and a widened, yet distinct grille. While these may not make it to the final cut, the production version is expected to retain the broad, square-ish cues adding to its muscular looks. Apart from this, the car doesn’t have any ‘stand-out’ characteristics and is rather generic as per the segment norms. The rear of the SUV features vertical tail-lights and a bareback, which make it look much bigger than it actually is.

Climb inside the SUV, and this is the place you would want to be at the end of the day. The materials feel very premium, and everything seems to be ergonomically perfect. The feature-list is healthy with a panoramic roof, classy Multi-Information Display, Infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Wi-Fi connectivity, navigation, remote start, ambient lighting control, etc.

No Space Crunch Here!

The Telluride is a full-fledged, three-row SUV with ample space to accommodate eight passengers, while the top trim can take in seven passengers, thanks to the captain seats in the second-row. Utility-wise, the car is filled to the brim with plenty of cup holders and storage spaces. Kia has pulled off a big SUV with the practicality of a minivan.

On the safety front, there are features such as Autonomous Emergency Braking, forward collision alert, 360-degree camera, lane keeping aid, pedestrian detection, and blind spot monitoring.

Heart of the Matter

This is where the mystery lies - the concept Telluride had a 3.5-liter, six-cylinder hybrid unit that produced a combined 400 horses, however, we’re not sure if this will make the cut. The final version could either be based on the Sorento’s platform, or the K900’s. Depending on the underpinning, the SUV could get the Kia’s tried and trusted 3.3-liter, twin turbo, six-cylinder engine that generates 365 horsepower and 376 pound-feet of torque, or an updated version of the naturally aspirated 3.3-liter, V-6 unit producing 290 horses and 252 pound-feet of torque, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Our Take

More and more people these days are tilting towards SUVs, especially given how versatile they have become. SUVs are no longer the plane-jane kind with boring looks and interiors. The macho and ruggedness now comes coupled with all the bells and whistles of a hot sedan, and that is exactly what Kia is offering with its latest beast. Kia has improved itself as a brand over the years with credible and reliable cars, and we don’t see a reason for the Telluride to be any different. It will take on established players, like the Ford Explorer, the Volkswagen Atlas Blood (Touareg’s successor) Toyota Highlander, etc.

The Telluride will be placed above the Sorento, and hopefully a notch above in every other aspect as well. While the car seems potent overall, there is no ‘Wow’ factor or pizzazz surrounding it. It’s too soon to judge the SUV, but going by all the scoops, Kia probably missed a trick or two here. The South Korean automaker could have very well made this a benchmark with lots of segment-firsts and new, distinct features from its competitors. There is no exclusivity or any USP to this beast, whatsoever. With that said, the car is no slouch either. The sheer size of the SUV will demand attention on the road and grab a few eyeballs, as well.

Will this beast make a mark in the ever-growing SUV market, or will it fade into the oblivion? Trivia: In all likeliness, the production SUV won’t carry the ‘Telluride’ moniker. Let us know in the comments section below what you would name the SUV if given a chance.

Further Reading

Read our full speculative review on the 2020 Kia Telluride.

Read our full review on the 2016 Kia Telluride Concept.

Read more Kia news.