Best Kia Telluride Years to Buy Used

Used Kia Telluride Quick Facts

• The Kia Telluride debuted for the 2020 model year and has since won several Best Buy awards from Autotrader’s sister publication, Kelley Blue Book.
• We think 2023 and newer are the best years for reliability.  
• Modest changes over the years mean you won’t sacrifice much buying used.
• The Telluride offers seating for up to eight passengers, a powerful V6 engine, and plenty of advanced technology.

The Kia Telluride checks all the right boxes for Americans needing a midsize 3-row SUV. Its boxy styling, luxurious interior, capable engine, and unbeatable warranty make it a favorite among used SUV buyers. However, its strong resale figures mean you’ll likely pay more than a comparable competitor. The Kia Telluride comes loaded with high-tech features, including advanced driver assists, many of which are standard. There’s also a wide range of trims and price points, including the introduction of the light off-road capable X-Line and X-Pro trims. Some early glitches and numerous recalls take some of the shine off the Telluride’s image, but it still ranks high in areas of resale and reliability. If you’re concerned about the cost of future repairs, you should consider buying a Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) Telluride from an authorized Kia dealer. Doing so reinstates the original factory 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. If you don’t go the CPO route, the original warranty reverts to five years or 60,000 miles, which is still pretty good.

• Which is the best model-year Kia Telluride to buy used?
• Kia Telluride: Which Trim Should You Buy?
• Is the Kia Telluride a Good SUV?
• How Much Can the Kia Telluride Tow?
• Does the Kia Telluride Offer a Hybrid Engine?
• Can the Kia Telluride Go Off-Road?
• What Are the Most Reliable Years for the Kia Telluride?

Which Is the Best Model-Year Used Kia Telluride?

Early Telluride models suffered a few complaints regarding cracked windshields, transmission issues, and some electronic bugs. However, the number of complaints reported to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) was not so numerous as to be so worrisome that we wouldn’t rule out a 2020 or 2021 model; it’s just that the 2023 through 2025 cars seem to have worked out most of the bugs. That said, there are six recalls affecting models up to 2024, including recalls for a possible defective power seat motor that could lead to fire, failure of the digital display screens, an issue with valve springs that may break, and an issue when the vehicle may roll away after being placed in “park.”

See used Kia Telluride models for sale near you.

Kia Telluride: Which Trim Should You Buy?

The Telluride comes pretty dialed in right out of the box. Upon its 2020 debut, Kia offered the Telluride in four trims: LX, S, EX, and SX. A 291-horsepower V6 powers the Telluride, regardless of trim. Front-wheel drive (FWD) is standard, with all-wheel drive (AWD) optional.

Go for the base LX, and you’ll get 18-inch alloy wheels, heated side mirrors, forward collision warning with emergency braking, a blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, lane-centering, and rear parking sensors. The LX cabin can seat eight, and it includes a tilt/telescoping steering wheel, manual air conditioning, an 8-inch touchscreen hosting Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a push-button start.

The S trim adds 20-inch wheels, a power sunroof, second-row captain’s chair seating, a 10-way power driver’s seat, and heated front seats. The EX ups the ante with leather upholstery, an 8-way power passenger seat, ventilated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, a 10.25-inch navigation touchscreen, a wireless phone charger, and a hands-free power liftgate. Highway Driving Assist is also standard. Finally, the SX tops the list with a camera-based blind-spot monitor, LED headlights, a dual-pane sunroof, tilt-in-reverse side mirrors, 64-color ambient lighting, a 12-way power driver’s seat with memory, a 10-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, auto high beams, and a surround-view monitor.

The upper trims offer options such as a heated steering wheel, a head-up display, auto-leveling rear suspension, rain-sensing wipers, heated and ventilated second-row seats, a 110-volt inverter, and premium Nappa leather upholstery.

Model-Year Changes

2025: Updates include the addition of rear side-impact airbags and Highway Driving Assist 1.5. The all-wheel-drive X-Pro trims’ towing rating increases from 5,000 pounds to 5,500.
2024: No major changes.
2023: The Telluride gets revised exterior styling and more interior upgrades, including an available 12.3-inch panoramic display screen. The X-Line and X-Pro packages are added to the lineup, while Wi-Fi and navigation are made standard.
2022: The Telluride gets a minor front facelift, including a new logo. Inside the cabin, a 10.25-inch touchscreen and Highway Driving Assist are standard. New standard equipment includes fully automatic climate control and navigation-based adaptive cruise control.
2021: The stealthy Nightshade Edition joins the lineup. The key fob now has a remote start function, and the towing trailer harness is upgraded from 4-pin to 7-pin.

See 2020 to 2025 Kia Telluride models for sale near you.

Is the Kia Telluride a Good SUV?

The Telluride is a good SUV in terms of features, styling, affordability, and safety. It has had a few recalls, one most recently advising the vehicle to be parked outside a dealer can inspect it due to the risk of fire. Despite these issues, the Telluride’s overall reliability scores remain strong, although more so with the 2022 and newer models.

How Much Can the Kia Telluride Tow?

The Kia Telluride is rated to tow up to 5,000 pounds. The X-Pro trims can tow up to 5,500 pounds.

Does the Kia Telluride Offer a Hybrid Engine?

No. Unlike the Toyota Highlander and Ford Explorer, the Kia Telluride does not offer the option of a hybrid or plug-in hybrid powertrain.

Can the Kia Telluride Go Off-Road?

Yes, the Telluride can venture over light off-road trails when equipped with all-wheel drive. If you intend to venture farther off-road, the X-Pro trims are the best choice, as they have added features like more ground clearance, all-terrain tires, better approach and departure angles, and a self-leveling rear suspension.

What Are the Most Reliable Years for the Kia Telluride?

We think 2023 and newer are the best years for reliability, although all years but 2025 are affected by some important recalls.