You’ve already forgotten about the Borrego, so this large, hulking Kia is sure to impress, if for no other reason than its dimensions.
Photographed in Orange County, the square-rigged three-row you see above is the upcoming Kia Telluride, a range-topping crossover first teased in concept form at the 2016 North American International Auto Show. At the time, the concept’s almost showroom-ready outward appearance (normal side mirrors!) signalled Kia’s intent to put the Telluride into production. Two Kia execs essentially confirmed it earlier this year.
Expected to debut next year as a 2020 model, this is our first glimpse of Kia’s newest beast.
Unlike the concept, however, this Telluride isn’t boasting suicide doors, nor will it monitor your health and wellness. No, this vehicle’s mission is to give an outdoorsy driver with a spouse and six kids a reason to visit a Kia showroom.
The camo is thick with this one, but the model’s blocky proportions are clear as day. It appears nearly identical to the Detroit concept, right down to the raised chrome trim on the B-pillar and a leading roof edge that dips towards the center of the windshield. Hyundai’s planning a similar big-and-bold look for its Santa Fe XL replacement.
The concept parked itself on a stretched version of the Sorento platform. However, while recent comments from U.S. product planner Orth Hedrick led many to believe the Telluride might adopt the rear-drive platform of the K900 sedan, the long front overhang of this model hints at front-drive architecture.
As for what engine lies behind that blunt front end, that’s a mystery. The concept appeared with a plug-in hybrid powertrain generating 400 horsepower, and it’s still possible buyers might be able to choose a 3.5-liter V6/electric motor combo. A lower-trim model will surely just carry a V6, as even the Stinger’s 255 hp 2.0-liter seems too small for this rig. Time will tell.
The Kia Telluride should appear during the upcoming U.S. auto show circuit.
[Images: Brian Williams/Spiedbilde]
Discuss this story on our Kia Telluride Forum
That thing is truly huge
I remember the Borrego.
I still see them pretty regularly. They only sold 10,000 of the things, and I think half of those must have ended up in my town.
Borrego wasn’t a bad vehicle. It just suffered from launching at a terrible time.
No, it’s not a bad vehicle, just pretty generic looking. It reminds me of the facelifted B9 Tribeca, except bigger.
Still sold as the Mohave in other markets.
Americans are GOING TO LOVE AND EAT THIS UP.
The BIGGER the BETTER.
#carmine-wouldn’t-understand
Agreed. Given how good Hyundai/Kia has been lately, this might finally challenge the Suburban (if the price is right)
The Suburban is in a whole different league, both in terms of size and capability. If anything this will challenge the Traverse. But the Traverse has been excellent from the first generation and is hard to beat for an extra large crossover.
Likely not as big as the Traverse; probably more the size of the Pathfinder.
Lol not even the wimpiest version of the Tahoe, much less a Suburban.
Doubtful. Ask Toyota how much Americans love and eat up the Sequoia or Tundra.
The thing behind it in the last picture – is that a first-gen Santa Fe?
#irony
Can you hear it? Whispers in the wind… NINJA loan…
Came so close to trading my bought used 2nd gen Explorer on a blowout priced Borrego. Bought an Optima instead which probably worked out better in the long run – my son is still driving the Optima which has needed nothing but brake pads, filters, belts, tires in over 100k miles. Rather liked the test drive in the Borrego though, felt like a better version of my Explorer. The Tau V8 sounded nice too.
KIA & Hyundai Quality > Ford (non-existent)Quality
Hmmm. I haven’t seen anything to support this comment.
Canyonerooooo!!!!
If this thing does turn out to have front wheel drive then the interior room might be kinda like a TARDIS on wheels.
-Coming soon, to a Kia dealer near youuuu-tah!
This should be huge among the birth-control-is-a-sin crowd. Go forth and multiply, and cart ’em around in a Kia.
The Koreans have already surpassed Detroit in quality. I am sure this new SUV will be similar in design to what the big 3 offer, but with vastly superior quality. It is interesting to note as Ford trims their lineup Kia and Hyundai are expending into big SUVs.
Ford – what a disgrace!!
Ford Escape = garbage
Ford Explorer = garbage at a ridiculous price
Ford Edge = see above
Ford IndiaSport…ooops…EcoSport = Literal 3rd World Garbage
Ford is excrement.
Good grief. You must not spend much time around high mileage (80k and up) Kia, Hyundai, and Ford vehicles. I will give you the EcoSport though.
Great. Just what we need. Another SUV. Sigh…
Hopefully it will not fail a government crash test like a certain Ford SUV did recently.
Ford – what a disgrace!
The production version of the Telluride needed a revised grille and headlight design and from what I have heard, changes have been made (from what can be made out underneath the cladding, looks to be an improvement).
The whole notion of the Telluride possibly being RWD was misinterpreting the words of Kia’s head of production planning when he stated that a RWD CUV based on the K900 is a possibility.
While Kia probably is looking to do a luxury CUV (or 2) – they would have to wait until Genesis’ new RWD architecture is ready.
It is NOT nearly identical to the concept. Yhe Telluride concept had RWD proportions with the front wheels much closer to the front end. This one may have some of the same styling cues, but it has FWD proportions with a heavy front overhang. It changes the look considerably.