The Late Brake has purchased a new roadtrip rig. After years of battling issues with my 2020 VW Tiguan SE R-Line and a transmission related lawsuit, I finally made the decision to move on to something more reliable, practical, and honestly better quality. I know, I know, this is an enthusiast page and should reflect as such. But real life isnt all project cars and motorsports. You need a solid daily and living in a high-elevation, snow-prone area, my wife and I needed something fairly rugged and all-wheel-drive. Enter the 2024 Kia Telluride EX X-Line. While it came with a higher price tag than the Tiguan did, the peace of mind that comes with a brand-new car and Kia’s industry-leading warranty made it worth every penny. And after spending time behind the wheel, I can confidently say that the Kia Telluride offers incredible value, far beyond what its competitors can match. Usually there is some level of buyers remorse with such a large purchase but this is the most satisfied I have ever been.

Unbeatable Value for Money

One of the first things that struck me about the 2024 Kia Telluride was the sheer amount of value it delivers. With no incentives at the time, mine came in at about $48K before any taxes and fees. While many SUVs in this class tend to force buyers to compromise between features and price, the Telluride delivers a luxury experience without breaking the bank. It comes loaded with features typically found in vehicles far above its price range, offering a level of comfort, tech, and performance that feels genuinely unbeatable in its class.

The Telluride is packed with features that make daily driving a pleasure. The infotainment system is intuitive, responsive, and integrated with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, making it easy to stay connected on the road. Not to mention it has more USB-C charging points than an Apple Store with one in each seat at a minimum. The best part of the Telluride’s tech is that it has real buttons, a feature that is getting lost to time with the rise of the world’s worst invention: haptic touch buttons. Looking at you Golf MK8, but I digress. Additionally, this being my wife’s car, I was impressed with advanced safety features like lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and automatic emergency braking all coming standard across the board, giving us both peace of mind for every drive.

But the features don’t stop there. The available luxuries such as a panoramic sunroof, premium sound system, heated and ventilated seats, and second-row captain’s chairs transform the Telluride into an upscale experience typically reserved for much pricier vehicles. It’s a family-friendly SUV with all the bells and whistles you could want, but without the premium price tag you’d expect from competitors in its class. While it is a lot of car for us, it doesn’t necessarily feel that way. Keep the 3rd row down unless needed and think of the car as a 4-seater with a ton of room for people and luggage making it one of the best roadtrip cars I’ve driven. Again, especially at the price point.

A Strong Motor with Smooth Delivery

Under the hood, the Telluride boasts a 3.8-liter V6 engine that delivers 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. It’s a smooth, confident performer whether you’re merging onto the highway or cruising through town. The power is more than enough to keep the drive feeling lively, but the real beauty is how seamlessly the engine works with the eight-speed automatic transmission. It’s not just about power; it’s about the refined, relaxed feeling the Telluride offers on every drive. While there are many other options for more power, the close as makes no difference 300hp is more than enough to get out of your own way. Anything more is welcome, but ultimately not needed. Coming from a Tiguan with an APR Stage 1 tune, this is still noticeably faster and has no pesky turbo lag. I really enjoy the raw power from an NA engine, which is becoming more and more of a rarity these days.

Plus, with a solid 5,000 lbs towing capacity, the Telluride can easily haul a car trailer for those race weekend adventures. Although, rather stupidly, the “X-Line” has a tow package integrations like self-leveling rear suspension and a tow mode, but doesn’t actually come with a tow hitch. My assumption is that most people won’t be using it and personally I like a car without a tow hitch aesthetically. Kia probably figured, “leave the hitch off and they’ll look better and those that actually need a hitch will pay extra for the dealer service department installed package.” Either way, kind of a weird choice, but if that’s my only gripe I shouldn’t be complaining.

Good Looks That Turn Heads

While performance and features matter, looks are important too, and the Telluride doesn’t disappoint. With its bold, boxy design, distinctive front grille, and confident stance, the 2024 Kia Telluride is one of the best-looking SUVs on the market. It strikes a perfect balance between ruggedness and sophistication. Whether parked in the driveway or rolling through town, the Telluride turns heads for all the right reasons. Giving a handsome, muscular stance similar to a modern Range Rover, there aren’t many options on the market that can compete. Even more so when you consider the price. For example, it’s no surprise that a new BMW X5M is a good-looking car, but at three times the price it should be.

Personally, I believe the more modern good looks only come on the X-Line trims. They incorporate black grills and wheels, but one interesting addition is the graphite color on the window trims. Most cars have chrome trim, and OEMs paint them black for a sportier look. However, on the 2024 and beyond Kia models, the X-Line gets a gunmetal-type color that adds some depth and doesn’t solely “paint it black”. It’s a subtle yet important change that makes it just a little bit different than the rest of the options on the road.

Another major change is the upgrade to the lighting. Porsche seems to be leading the pack with its unique headlight designs and Kia is bringing that world to their cars. The new multi-piece lighting brings a certain sophistication to the Telluride with its hyper-modern configuration. While it doesn’t seem like a huge change, seeing a 2024 parked next to an older model makes them look like completely different cars. With 2024 and now into 2025, these are the more than welcome changes that most OEMs should be making on their established models. The Telluride is now 6 years old and has made some significant headway via refreshes since its launch, which isn’t surprising seeing what the current models are offering.

An Affordable Luxury Experience

Step inside the Telluride, and you’re greeted by an interior that rivals many luxury SUVs. The materials feel premium, with soft-touch surfaces, high-quality stitching, and tasteful wood-looking accents (depending on your trim choice). The spacious cabin provides ample room for both passengers and cargo, making it perfect for family trips, commuting, or weekend getaways. The second and third-row seating offers plenty of comfort, with enough legroom for adults in the third row—something you don’t always find in mid-size SUVs. The option for the “Terracotta” interior is by far Kia’s best optional upgrade. I absolutely love the non-black option. In modern cars, the more boring, the more they sell it seems. So even though, a rich orangey-tan isn’t the most outrageous color, its a welcome departure from the status quo. Add in the quilted stitching and you are left with a luxury feel that is hard to replicate without a significant mark up.

However, the signs of affordability are there. For example, the leather is only on the touch surfaces. The bases of the seats and some of the hand grips only have leather on the parts you actually touch. While, this seems logical, it is nice to have the whole thing leather. A small price to pay for the discount and would most likely go unnoticed by the majority of buyers, still worth mentioning. The 2nd-row captain’s chair will make you forget about any downsides. Being my first car with them, I can’t imagine ever having an SUV without them. Giving minivan vibes, but without having to drive a minivan, it makes for a much more enjoyable back seat experience and easier access to the 3rd row. A stellar production choice, and now a staple of my SUV search going forward. For anyone reading and working at any car manufacturer, MAKE CAPTAIN’S CHAIRS STANDARD.

Peace of Mind: Kia’s Unmatched Warranty

All features, performance or looks aside, the deciding factor for me in choosing the Kia Telluride was the warranty. Kia’s 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, paired with a 5-year/60,000-mile limited basic warranty, gave me peace of mind that no other brand could offer, let alone at this price point. After dealing with mechanical headaches with my previous VW Tiguan, knowing that I wouldn’t have to worry about costly repairs for years to come made the decision that much easier. I believe peace of mind is the most important thing for a daily. As anyone with a project car can attest to, keeping your car on the road is the best feature. Once something goes wrong, you start to question any sound or vibration. Its like getting cheated on. The trust is gone and broken is now your default view. I get that I am jaded, but not having to fix a new car should be the baseline. Having a massive warranty without any added costs is a rarity in today’s market. I’m sure other companies would offer similar, but I can only imagine what a 7 year warranty extension would cost on a new BMW X5. Probably, something similar to a new Kia.

Is This The Best Mid-Size SUV Out There?

In an increasingly crowded market of mid-size SUVs, the 2024 Kia Telluride stands head and shoulders above the competition. It offers an unbeatable combination of features, performance, and design, all at a price point that delivers exceptional value. Are there better options? Absolutely, but those options are generally close to double the price. From a quick google search, most consider the GMC Yukon to be a solid option from the Telluride. But at $66,900 starting price, you are looking at a $20K bump from the Kia EX X-Line. Whether you’re looking for a family-friendly vehicle or just an SUV that makes daily driving a bit more luxurious, the Telluride is a standout choice. After switching from a problematic VW Tiguan, this feels like an entirely different league—a well-rounded, feature-packed SUV that proves sometimes spending a little more initially is well worth it for long-term reliability and satisfaction. If interested, go drive one. You may not love it as much as I do, but you certainly won’t regret getting behind the wheel of one. In the immortal words of Ferris Bueller, “I must be honest here, I love driving it. It is so choice. If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up.”