Drive Notes: 2024 Kia Telluride SX-Prestige X-Line

Last week I wheeled a 2024 Kia Telluride SX-Prestige X-Line around town. I have thoughts, and here they are, in bullet-point form.

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Kia Will Boost Hybrid Development to Offset Shaky EV Demand

Another day, another story of an automaker realizing that going all-in on EVs will take longer than expected. Ford and General Motors have both backtracked, saying they would produce more hybrids and plug-in hybrids to fill the gap left by wavering EV demand and now it’s Kia’s turn. The company recently announced that it would boost hybrid development to provide “maximum flexibility” to bolster what could be shifty EV demand in the short term.

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The Kia Telluride Faces a Recall for Rollaway Risk

Kia is recalling more than 400,000 Telluride SUVs for risk of rolling away in park. The ultra-popular family hauler’s driveshafts may not fully engage, causing damage and unintended rolling.

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Kia Details Specs for the Upcoming 2025 K4 Sedan

Though some automakers have abandoned cars in favor of trucks and SUVs, Kia remains steadfastly committed to the format. It recently announced the upcoming 2025 K4, and today, Kia detailed specs for the car.

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How Do Automakers Handle Politics?

As regular readers know, the regulatory side of the automotive industry is hugely important. It's not as fun to read about as a well-written car review of some sexy sports car being tested in Spain, but it matters a lot. Not just to those employed in the industry (or in industry-adjacent jobs, like mine) but also to the car-buying public.

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Abandoned History: The Apple Electric Car Project, Rest in Peace (2014-2024)

After a decade-long project that saw changes in approach, multiple delays, staff changes, planning and replanning, and conflicting reports, Apple’s Titan autonomous electric car project is dead. The company made an internal announcement on February 27th, 2024 which leaked to the press immediately via several Apple employees. The project’s cancellation created our most recent Abandoned History subject matter to date. Let’s start at the beginning, in 2014.

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2024 Chicago Auto Show: Here's the 2025 Kia K5

The presence of the 2025 Kia K5 at the 2024 Chicago Auto Show is a reminder that the K5 still exists.

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2024 Chicago Auto Show: Kia Puts on A Carnival

The 2024 Chicago Auto Show is a slow one, debut-wise, this year. This makes Kia the star of this year's show by default.

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2024 Kia EV9 First Drive – Setting Expectations

Having one of the first entries into a segment can really help an automaker. It’s even better if said entry is done well. Enter the 2024 Kia EV9 – a three-row large SUV with an electric powertrain that is one of the first vehicles of its type on the market.

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Kia at CES: Going Modular

'Tis the time of year for buzzword-heavy press releases that tend to be word salads. Kia is no exception today with its CES news.

Still, should you take the time to dig through these things and translate them into plain English, you get a sense of what's up.

In this case, the company is showing several modular concept vehicles that are meant to help businesses do their work better.

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TTAC's Worst Cars of 2023

It's that time of year. Time for us to toss awards and raspberries at the automakers.

We'll do the worst first, and the best later today, so that you can head into the holiday weekend on a positive note.

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Hyundai Motor Group Previews Integrated Snow Chain Tech

Hyundai Motor Group have introduced a novel snow chain that’s integrated directly into the tire. The design allows drivers to deploy the system at the push of a button, allowing drivers to sidestep some of the disadvantages associated with installing snow chains.

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2023 Kia EV6 GT Review – Generating Grins

Nearly 600 horsepower in any vehicle can do a lot to make a person happy. Nearly 600 horsepower in a silent EV with instant torque can make a person feel like they’ve ingested a bunch of amphetamines.

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2023 Los Angeles Auto Show Recap -- Stepping in the Right Direction

It was gloomy when I landed in Los Angeles last week. Gloomy enough that it put me in a sour mood -- despite living in the Midwest, I like sun.

The same cloud cover that prevented me from getting a view of the city upon approach to LAX painted downtown in a shade of grey that would be right at home in some depressing movie about urban malaise.

Then, on Thursday, the sun came out. Just in time for this year's sole media day.

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Kia Introduces Two EV Concepts at 2023 Los Angeles Auto Show

LOS ANGELES -- In addition to the updated 2024 Sorento, Kia has unveiled two concepts today at the 2023 Los Angeles Auto Show -- the EV3 and EV4.

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  • Analoggrotto Does anyone seriously listen to this?
  • Thomas Same here....but keep in mind that EVs are already much more efficient than ICE vehicles. They need to catch up in all the other areas you mentioned.
  • Analoggrotto It's great to see TTAC kicking up the best for their #1 corporate sponsor. Keep up the good work guys.
  • John66ny Title about self driving cars, linked podcast about headlight restoration. Some relationship?
  • Jeff JMII--If I did not get my Maverick my next choice was a Santa Cruz. They are different but then they are both compact pickups the only real compact pickups on the market. I am glad to hear that the Santa Cruz will have knobs and buttons on it for 2025 it would be good if they offered a hybrid as well. When I looked at both trucks it was less about brand loyalty and more about price, size, and features. I have owned 2 gm made trucks in the past and liked both but gm does not make a true compact truck and neither does Ram, Toyota, or Nissan. The Maverick was the only Ford product that I wanted. If I wanted a larger truck I would have kept either my 99 S-10 extended cab with a 2.2 I-4 5 speed or my 08 Isuzu I-370 4 x 4 with the 3.7 I-5, tow package, heated leather seats, and other niceties and it road like a luxury vehicle. I believe the demand is there for other manufacturers to make compact pickups. The proposed hybrid Toyota Stout would be a great truck. Subaru has experience making small trucks and they could make a very competitive compact truck and Subaru has a great all wheel drive system. Chevy has a great compact pickup offered in South America called the Montana which gm could make in North America and offered in the US and Canada. Ram has a great little compact truck offered in South America as well. Compact trucks are a great vehicle for those who want an open bed for hauling but what a smaller more affordable efficient practical vehicle.