2025 Kia Telluride

"My God, it's full of stars!" So said astronaut David Bowman in Arthur C. Clarke's sci-fi novel "2001: A Space Odyssey."

You may utter something similar when you raise the hood of the 2025 Kia Telluride -- because there's a V6 under there.

And it's standard.

It is one of just a few vehicles in its class -- for that matter, in any class shy of the luxury-exotic class -- that still comes standard with a V6. This fact alone is remarkable. Even more so the fact that the Telluride stickers for just over $36,000 to start.

What It Is

The Telluride is a midsize, three-row crossover -- which by itself is nothing exceptional. There are several others that are similar. What makes the Telluride almost unique is that it comes standard with a V6 engine (most of the rest come standard with turbo fours) and a lower price tag than others in its class.

The base LX trim stickers for $36,390 -- which comes standard with the 3.8-liter V6, LED headlights, three-zone climate control and a 12.3-inch LCD touch screen. The Telluride LX's base price is thousands less than the $40,860 base price of the four-cylinder-only Toyota Grand Highlander. It's also less than the $38,045 base price of the Mazda CX90, which comes with an inline six augmented by a "mild hybrid" system (hence the higher price).

The Telluride is also available in a variety of other trims, ranging from the $39,390 S -- which gets larger (20-inch) wheels, a sunroof and second-row captain's chairs -- to the $42,090 EX and $46,190 SX. The latter comes with dual sunroofs, a 10-speaker audio system as well as the leather seats, power-folding outside mirrors and hands-free liftgate that comes with the EX.

A top-of-the-line SX Prestige lists for $51,390. This one comes standard with premium leather seats, heated and cooled first- and second-row seats, ambient interior lighting and a heads-up display.

EX and SX trims can be configured with an X-Line package bundles all-wheel drive with a slight lift (for more ground clearance): 20-inch wheels.

SX and SX Prestige trims can be ordered an X-Pro package that includes the X-Line upgrades but replaces the 20-inch wheels with 18-inch ones fitted with all-terrain tires and off-road suspension tuning. This version of the Telluride also gets a bump in standard towing capacity from 5,000 pounds to 5,500 pounds -- the highest max tow rating available in the class.

What's New for 2025

The Telluride gets no major changes for 2025 -- probably because there is a second-generation Telluride on deck for 2026. This one may no longer come standard with the V6 because of compliance pressures; the small turbo (and hybrid) fours that have largely replaced V6 engines score better on government fuel economy tests and help lower C02 "emissions" (because they move less air when not under turbo boost and so "emit" less gases at the tailpipe).

What's Good

-- Standard V6.

-- Highest available towing capacity in the class.

-- Costs thousands less than four-cylinder-only rivals such as Grand Highlander.

What's Not So Good

-- Lots of standard "assistance" technology to turn off (assuming you prefer not to be "assisted").

-- Max tow rating (5,500 pounds) limited to X Pro trim.

-- 2025 is likely to be the last year for the V6.

Under the Hood

Ten or even five years ago, the fact that this midsize crossover comes standard with a V6 engine would have been as startling as a cheeseburger coming with cheese in that vehicles this size (and weight) used to always come standard with a six-cylinder engine because it took a fairly big engine to move a vehicle this size and weight.

Today, most of the vehicles in this class come only with turbo (and hybrid) fours that are much smaller but make about the same power. The main difference is that these smaller engines help with compliance -- with federal regulations pertaining to gas mileage and gas "emissions" (of CO2). When not under turbo boost, they flow less air and so "emit" less gas (CO2). When they're turned off (hybrid), they use no gas and don't "emit" any either. This is why these small fours have been replacing bigger sixes in vehicles that used to come standard with or at least offer them.

So what's the upside of a vehicle such as this Telluride that still comes standard with a V6? Well, for openers, there's not much gas mileage difference. Even with a 3.8-liter V6 that touts 291 horsepower, the Telluride's 20 mpg city/26 mpg highway is only slightly lower than the Toyota Grand Highlander manages (21 mpg city/28 mpg highway) with a 2.4-liter four that only touts 265 horsepower. The Mazda CX-90 is the only other crossover in this class (besides the Telluride's Hyundai-badged brother, the Palisade) that still comes standard with a six, but it's smaller (3.0 liters) and less powerful (280 horsepower) and doesn't get much better gas mileage (24 mpg city, 28 mpg highway) either. Even though the Mazda's six is paired with a cost-adding mild-hybrid system that cycles the engine off as often as possible. You'll pay about $2,000 more for that ($38,045), which pretty much writes off any "savings" on gas.

An eight-speed automatic transmission is standard -- as is front-wheel drive. AWD is available in all trims except for SX Prestige, which comes standard with AWD.

On the Road

Can one tell the difference between a crossover powered by a turbo four and one powered by a V6 if the power and performance are about the same?

Yes, one can.

It's apparent that there's a V6 rather than a four up there when you first push the start-engine button. Fours don't sound like sixes, unless the sound has been "augmented" - meaning faked -- as by piping bigger-engine sounds into the passenger cab on via the sound system. A number of manufacturers actually do this, which is evidence that sound matters (as much as size).

It's also easy to tell the difference when you floor the accelerator pedal. Not so much because of the acceleration but because of the way the acceleration sounds. A turbo four doesn't necessarily sound bad, but it always sounds wrong -- in a vehicle of this type and size. It is like buying a Harley that performs well but lacks the sound of a big V-twin. There is also something else in that it is often the case that there's a slight but perceptible lag when you initially floor the accelerator. Turbos snugged up close to the exhaust ports have reduced the lag associated with turbocharged engines but it still there.

This Kia's ride is exceptionally good. This is not a small thing because everything new has a pretty good ride. It's not like it was once -- when there was a Grand Canyon's chasm of difference between a luxury vehicle like a Mercedes or Lexus and a ... Kia. Now the difference is chiefly a matter of the price you don't pay to get ride quality that's at least as good -- if not better -- than what you'd pay twice as much to get in a Benz or a Lexus.

At the Curb

Many people complain about the homogeneity of appearance of crossovers (in addition to the under-hood homogeneity). Who wants to pay what it costs to buy a new vehicle and drive around in one that looks the same as everyone else's vehicle?

That is probably why Kia styled the Telluride -- and it's Hyundai Palisade brother -- to look like SUVs. If you didn't know the difference and someone told you the Telluride was based on a heavy-duty, truck-type chassis and had 4WD, you might just believe it if you didn't crawl underneath to see that it's really FWD/AWD and built a lot like the other crossovers in the class.

It's not just looks, either. If you get one with the X-Line/X-Pro packages that raise the body, giving it a slightly lifted (by about half an inch) look, and if yours has the rugged-looking 18-inch wheel/tire package with slightly knobby all-terrain tires. The Telluride isn't a rock-crawling Bronco, but it is built to be capable of off-road driving as opposed to on-the-grass driving.

The Rest

Small things matter -- such as the Telluride having both the old-style rectangular USB charge port and the new oval-shaped type, so whatever device you have, you can just plug it in without needing to buy an adapter.

The Bottom Line

Kia sells a lot of Tellurides -- and it's not surprising why. That could change soon, though. The rumors are that the '26 Telluride will no longer offer a V6 but rather a turbo (and possibly hybrid) four, which would render it more like all the others -- and so a harder sell.

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Eric's latest book, "Doomed: Good Cars Gone Wrong!" will be available soon. To find out more about Eric and read his past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.