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Automotive nameplates set the stage for how people perceive the brand. That can work for a brand — Toyotas have a reputation for being bulletproof and having excellent resale value — but in Kia’s case, the nameplate has been an absolute millstone around its neck. Many years ago, the South Korean manufacturer acquired a reputation for producing cheap, unreliable cars; even as build quality improved markedly year after year and heavy-hitting endorsers like LeBron James coming on board, that reputation has been slow to erode.
Consider the new Telluride Kia’s latest bold bid to recast its reputation from perilous budget brand to discerning buyer’s value brand. And the company has succeeded by doing the nearly-impossible: making a three-row family SUV that stands out of the crowd.
The Good: The Telluride brings A-grade style, with an upscale exterior and a spacious, luxurious interior (yes, that’s Nappa leather in there). It’s striking, and not just for a Kia.
The Telluride also backs up that style with substance, serving as a practical, capable and reasonably fun-to-drive family hauler. Unlike much of the three-row crossover field, you don’t feel like you’re sacrificing for your family. Instead, you feel like you’re being rewarded — even pampered.
Who It’s For: There’s no dancing around it: the Telluride is a car for moms and dads, built to accommodate children and their devices. But the Telluride is sophisticated enough to transition from school bus to office-ready commuter or date night ride.
