This week, we share our first impressions of the 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid—the first hybrid version of Kia's popular three-row SUV. We discuss its 329-hp hybrid powertrain, improved fuel economy, quiet and comfortable ride, controls, front-seat comfort, and how it compares with the closely related Hyundai Palisade Hybrid. Plus, we answer an audience question about choosing a luxurious, fuel-efficient three-row SUV for long highway trips.
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SHOW NOTES
-----------------------------------
0:00 - Intro
00:47 - 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid Overview
03:30 - Hybrid Powertrain
08:13 - Telluride Hybrid vs. Hyundai Palisade Hybrid
09:56 - Low-Speed Hybrid Hiccups and Transmission Behavior
12:43 - Fuel Economy: 31 MPG vs. 20 MPG
13:43 - Ride Comfort, Handling, and Wheel Size
15:46 - Interior Storage and Everyday Usability
16:54 - Climate Controls and Infotainment
20:57 - Roomy Cabin, Convenient Features, and Door Handles
23:00 - Front-Seat Comfort and Driving Position
27:32 - Which Hyundai/Kia Three-Row SUV Would We Choose?
30:55 - Audience Question: Best Luxury Three-Row SUV for Long Commutes
----------------------------------
Test Results: 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid
https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/kia/telluride-hybrid/2027/overview/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT
2027 Kia Telluride
https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/kia/telluride/2027/overview/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT
Most and Least Satisfying Hybrids, Plug-In Hybrids, and EVs
https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/car-reliability-owner-satisfaction/most-and-least-satisfying-electric-vehicles-and-hybrids-a2825600877/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT
Which Brands Make the Best Cars?
https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/cars-driving/which-car-brands-make-the-best-vehicles-a6159221985/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT
Who Makes the Most Reliable New Cars?
https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/car-reliability-owner-satisfaction/who-makes-the-most-reliable-cars-a7824554938/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT
Find an Efficient Vehicle That's Right for You
https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/hybrids-evs/buying-guide/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT
-----------------------------------
Consumer Reports experts: Mike Monticello, Joe Veselak, Jeff Bartlett
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00:00:36
Hi, everybody.
00:00:37
Welcome to another episode.
00:00:38
I'm Mike Monticello.
00:00:39
I'm Joe Veselak and I'm Jeff Bartlett.
00:00:42
So today we're going to be spending
most of our time talking about the
00:00:45
our first impressions of the 2027 Kia
Telluride Hybrid.
00:00:49
So, a few things to know about
the Telluride Hybrid before we get going.
00:00:53
Basically,
00:00:54
this is the hybrid version of the 2027
Telluride that we've already tested.
00:00:58
It's also the first time that the
Telluride has been available as a hybrid.
00:01:01
The second thing is it's
pretty much identical
00:01:03
to the Hyundai Palisade Hybrid,
which we've also already tested.
00:01:07
So instead of the regular Telluride 274
horsepower turbocharged
00:01:12
four cylinder with an eight speed
automatic, here you get a 2.5l
00:01:16
turbocharged four cylinder with electric
drive and a six speed automatic.
00:01:20
Total system output for the hybrid is 329
horsepower.
00:01:23
The hybrid is $2
more than the regular Telluride.
00:01:28
The regular Telluride all wheel drive,
which is actually,
00:01:31
for the regular version.
00:01:33
The Ex is the third tier,
but in the hybrid, the Ex is the first.
00:01:37
Basically the base hybrid.
00:01:39
The regular Telluride starts at $45
for all wheel drive.
00:01:44
The Ex hybrid
all wheel drive starts at $48.
00:01:49
So, also of note that lower Telluride
trims,
00:01:53
such as the Ex comes
standard with front wheel drive.
00:01:56
All wheel drive is a $2 option.
00:01:59
So what did we buy for our test program?
00:02:01
We bought a 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid Ex
all wheel drive, with the optional
00:02:07
ebony black paint and carpeted floor mats
and the $1 destination fee.
00:02:12
The total cost of our test
vehicle is $50.
00:02:17
And obviously, you know, for those
who don't know, hopefully most of you do,
00:02:21
but we buy all of our test cars
anonymously from local dealers
00:02:24
so that we're basically getting the same,
vehicle as, the regular person
00:02:29
buys, not some souped up, test vehicle
from the automakers.
00:02:33
And before we get into, I just want to
say, I think it's worth noting.
00:02:36
And you let me you guys let me know
if you agree that for about $50,
00:02:40
this is a lot of SUV,
especially considering it's the hybrid.
00:02:44
But this comes with heated and ventilated
power front seats, which is really nice.
00:02:49
A heated steering wheel, dual
wireless charging pads, navigation,
00:02:53
and a hands free power
liftgate, among a lot of other items.
00:02:56
So there's there's a lot of car here.
00:02:58
And also for
I think most of us and probably a lot
00:03:02
of you out there, it also comes standard
with a compact spare tire.
00:03:05
You know, a lot of hybrids
and other vehicles in general
00:03:08
are just coming with a tire inflation
get these days.
00:03:10
So we're really happy
to see a compact spare.
00:03:13
So let's get into it.
00:03:14
And we're really going to focus a lot
on the powertrain.
00:03:17
We've already covered the Telluride
before.
00:03:19
We're still going
to cover the whole vehicle,
00:03:20
but the powertrain is the big thing
here, the hybrid.
00:03:22
So Jeff, let's start with you.
00:03:24
What do you think of this
hybrid powertrain and how it changes
00:03:28
the vehicle versus the regular Telluride
that we've already tested?
00:03:31
The story of this particular vehicle
is definitely the powertrain.
00:03:35
With the original Telluride.
00:03:37
It was such a balanced vehicle.
00:03:39
Every aspect of it was good.
00:03:41
You might love some more than others,
but it was all good.
00:03:45
This had the real weakness
of that original base powertrain.
00:03:50
The rest of the vehicle was quiet, roomy,
you know?
00:03:54
Clever features abound,
but the powertrain,
00:03:57
you know,
just dominated all of our conversations.
00:04:00
You mean the new turbo four? The turbo is.
00:04:03
Yeah, yeah, yeah, how loud it is,
the way it performed always strained.
00:04:08
And that's a big vehicle.
00:04:10
And despite,
you know, the obvious intention
00:04:13
of all these SUVs are shifting to turbo,
you know, smaller displacement engines.
00:04:17
It didn't gain fuel
economy over the previous one.
00:04:20
So the consumer didn't
really benefit in this swap.
00:04:22
But this is a totally different vehicle
because of the hybrid.
00:04:25
Now you've got not only more power,
but you got a much smoother experience.
00:04:30
And all of a sudden
the rest of the vehicle, I think
00:04:33
shines more just because, at least for me,
00:04:36
the frustration of the powertrain
kind of diminished my
00:04:40
appreciation for the rest of the vehicle,
which it turns out
00:04:44
is quiet and comfortable
and very easy to live with.
00:04:46
Yeah, yeah, I agree, because definitely,
you know, that can in a way
00:04:50
that powertrain,
00:04:50
it can take away from the overall comfort
when you're just put into it, when you're
00:04:54
working so hard to either get up to speed
or you're in stop and go traffic,
00:04:59
the hybrid completely or mostly remedies
all of those lag
00:05:03
delay situations
and really just smooths that power out.
00:05:07
And, you know,
00:05:08
it just adds to a more mature, comfortable
experience that you get in this vehicle.
00:05:12
Yeah.
00:05:13
I mean, the regular turbo four,
I think just to be clear,
00:05:18
actually, from an operational standpoint
actually works pretty well.
00:05:21
Okay.
00:05:22
But the problem is that everyone,
00:05:26
most people
really dislike the engine noise.
00:05:28
And because the engine noise dominated.
00:05:31
Thanks so much.
00:05:32
It made it seem like it was working
harder than it really was.
00:05:35
And it just puts
this bad taste in your mouth.
00:05:38
I mean, it's even that it's not even
so much that it's annoying at high RPM.
00:05:43
It's really the lower RPM stuff,
I think where it has
00:05:46
people called it, grumbly or gurgling.
00:05:49
Just such an odd note
when you're just slightly
00:05:53
on the gas pedal,
you're kind of low revs, like say load.
00:05:56
Yeah, light load.
00:05:58
And it just has this note
that dominates with the hybrid.
00:06:02
When you're at light load, low speeds,
the gas engine may not even be on.
00:06:07
Right. You might be under full power.
00:06:09
Yeah.
00:06:10
And then even when you when it is on it,
00:06:13
it doesn't have anywhere
near the vibrations or strange noise.
00:06:17
And when you do get hard into it
and it is revving higher,
00:06:21
it's also just pretty cultured
and it just seems,
00:06:25
it seems like a completely different
engine,
00:06:27
which, you know, we don't know the
specifics of the internals and everything,
00:06:31
but it's like it's almost like night
and day in terms of the sound.
00:06:34
Yeah, it was based around being,
you know, a hybrid system.
00:06:38
Yeah. Thank you.
00:06:39
I totally paired with the hybrid system.
00:06:41
The way they work together, it's like,
00:06:42
oh, this was they were meant to be,
but without.
00:06:45
Yeah.
00:06:45
You have those limitations
that are in the, you know, our ice
00:06:49
Telluride.
00:06:49
But you know, it's still it's
got everything else there.
00:06:52
But you're like, man
I just wish it was more
00:06:54
responsive had that, you know,
that extra 50 whatever horsepower you get.
00:06:58
Yeah.
00:06:59
Is is needed, right?
00:07:01
I think that was a great way
to characterize the base engine.
00:07:04
Congratulations.
00:07:05
Thank you.
00:07:06
In terms of it gets the job done right.
00:07:10
But it protests the entire time. Yeah.
00:07:13
Whereas the hybrid it's happy
makes the driver happy.
00:07:17
And all of a sudden you're able
to just enjoy the vehicle more.
00:07:21
Yeah.
00:07:21
And also, again, mostly for me,
it was because of the sound.
00:07:27
It just didn't seem to fit the vehicle.
00:07:29
I mean, it's, it's a bit
polarizing in terms of the styling,
00:07:33
but I think a lot of us think there are
some really cool aspects to the styling.
00:07:37
And I think the styling, even
some people said it.
00:07:39
The sides of it
look a little bit like Range Rover, ESC.
00:07:42
And of course that the regular Telluride
we have in this beautiful
00:07:46
I think, I think it's called
like black jade green paint.
00:07:49
And it really stands out
and then you get it
00:07:52
and you're thinking that you're gonna have
this great experience
00:07:54
that's like, this thing
kind of sounds like a truck, you know?
00:07:56
Yeah. So that was just disappointing.
00:07:58
Whereas this,
this really does change that a lot.
00:08:00
Yeah, yeah. Not that it's perfect.
00:08:03
There are some, as we found, you know,
we had sort of a similar thing
00:08:07
where we drove the,
you know, tested the all new Hyundai
00:08:11
Palisade,
with a smaller V6 than it had before.
00:08:14
So the palisade kept the naturally
aspirated V6, but it went smaller.
00:08:18
This one, the Telluride, dropped the V6
for the regular model
00:08:21
and went with the turbo four.
00:08:22
And you'd think that that would be
that V6 would be a great thing.
00:08:26
But it was with the palisade.
00:08:28
It was a little bit, lethargic.
00:08:30
Both the transmission and the engine
was kind of weak down, low in the RPMs.
00:08:34
So then when we got the Palisade Hybrid,
I thought,
00:08:36
oh, well,
this is going to solve everything. Yeah.
00:08:38
But we noticed some issues with that.
00:08:40
There was these low speed hiccups
where, you know, you've got with a hybrid,
00:08:43
you've got that switch over. Right.
00:08:45
So you start on electric power
and when and how the gas engine turns on
00:08:49
can either can be a problem
or it can be totally seamless in this case
00:08:53
it wasn't perfectly seamless.
00:08:55
Still a really good vehicle.
00:08:56
Yes, this one has a little bit of those,
but it seems like they've I don't know
00:09:00
if it's our example
or it seems a little, more refined
00:09:05
than what we were seeing
with the palisade.
00:09:07
Again, we're just getting people
through it right now, but we're sensing
00:09:10
not quite as many of those obvious hiccups
and low speed delays are.
00:09:15
Yeah, I know, I've recently drove them
back to back to kind of see
00:09:18
and it's it's hard to
it is and it's very situational
00:09:21
because I would say
maybe majority of the time the,
00:09:26
the Telluride Hybrid felt like
it was a little, little better.
00:09:30
Yeah. But it's hard.
00:09:31
But then, you know, I'd get into other
00:09:33
situations with the palisade
or I feel like it.
00:09:37
I naturally ran
into some tougher situations
00:09:40
being out on the public roads and stuff
and back to back.
00:09:43
I don't think a consumer
would really be able to pick it apart.
00:09:46
I think someone between the two of it,
yeah, between the two.
00:09:49
In terms of refinement, I think, yeah,
it was very situational for me,
00:09:52
but I don't think I'm comfortable enough
to quantify how different they are.
00:09:57
Yeah.
00:09:57
And so just some of the stuff
just to clarify what we're talking about.
00:10:01
Again, this is mostly low speed stuff.
00:10:03
So we're talking like at least for me,
I was noticing
00:10:07
come to a stop sign
and don't tell the police.
00:10:10
But you know, occasionally
we do a rolling stop.
00:10:12
You maybe you get down to about five miles
per hour again.
00:10:15
Don't tell anybody.
00:10:15
But we do it for testing
because we know people drive
00:10:18
that long in safe conditions,
like professional drivers.
00:10:21
And when you get going again,
there's a little bit of a
00:10:23
you feel a little bit of a delay
because the gas engines off.
00:10:26
So now the gas engine has to turn on.
00:10:28
I, noticed a little bit of a lurch
sometimes.
00:10:31
And, you know,
it seems like maybe it has to downshift
00:10:34
it maybe wasn't, you know, in
or as you're getting going, gas engine,
00:10:37
you need the gas engine to turn on
and maybe a downshift has to come.
00:10:41
And so it just causes
a little bit of a delay.
00:10:43
I noticed some harder launches.
00:10:45
More from a stop.
00:10:47
You it get might get going
with the electric power initially,
00:10:51
but then the gas engine comes on
because of your throttle position.
00:10:54
Maybe with a little more force and high
RPM than you expect.
00:10:57
So makes things just a little frenetic.
00:10:59
And then I noticed some.
00:11:01
I thought the upshifts were very smooth.
00:11:02
I had no problems with the upshifts
from the transmission,
00:11:05
but some of the downshifts
I found came with a bit of a bump.
00:11:07
So those are kind of the things
we're talking about.
00:11:09
Again, these are not deal breakers for me,
I assume not for you guys as well.
00:11:13
And I don't think they'll bother
most people too much, but they are there
00:11:16
and say compared
to, say, a Toyota or Honda Hybrid,
00:11:20
which those systems are
I mean, they've been doing it for so long.
00:11:24
They're very unobtrusive, very smooth.
00:11:26
The switch overs are barely perceptible
here.
00:11:29
You going to notice it a little bit.
Yeah. Yeah. Is that fair.
00:11:31
Yeah I totally agree.
00:11:32
Yep. Yeah.
00:11:33
There was a few
you know I did the rolling stop.
00:11:36
Not necessarily.
00:11:36
It was a very hard turn
00:11:38
pulling off on to a side street and drove
both of them a few times through there.
00:11:42
And it would be you know,
I go through in the Telluride, I go, yeah,
00:11:45
that felt pretty good.
And then I go through the Palisade Hybrid.
00:11:48
I'm like, yeah, that felt pretty good.
00:11:50
Maybe it was a little worse because
I might have tipped in a little harder.
00:11:53
And then I'm like, am I being fair?
00:11:55
You know, just trying to be consistent.
00:11:57
But I do feel like if I were to
go, I'd say it does feel like
00:12:00
the Telluride Hybrid is just a little more
refined in tuning.
00:12:03
Right?
00:12:03
And it is difficult because as testers,
because it is situational.
00:12:08
It's throttle dependent
so much as throttle dependent.
00:12:10
How the transmission and the engine
are going to respond is has to do with how
00:12:14
you know, how hard you are on the throttle
or gentle on the throttle, right?
00:12:18
So we'll dig in deeper,
of course, on our track
00:12:21
once we get through the break in miles
and in really drill in.
00:12:23
But I think the, the easy takeaway is,
00:12:27
you know, you have your choice
of the naturally aspirated
00:12:29
versus or not, but the regular
engine versus the, the hybrid.
00:12:33
Yeah.
00:12:33
Get the hybrid
even though it costs a little bit more,
00:12:36
the experience is better,
as is the fuel economy of course.
00:12:39
Yeah. So let's talk about that too.
00:12:40
Have the numbers.
You want me to rattle them off?
00:12:42
EPA numbers.
00:12:44
The EPA numbers.
00:12:45
Yeah.
00:12:45
Well,
so I'll tell you, it's 31 mpg combined.
00:12:50
Yeah.
00:12:50
According to the EPA, for our all
wheel drive hybrid versus
00:12:55
20 mpg combined by the EPA for our all
wheel drive for the regular model.
00:13:00
Right.
00:13:00
So 11 miles per gallon, that's huge.
00:13:03
That's very significant. Yeah.
00:13:04
And we talked about this
when you think about the,
00:13:08
quieter powertrain experience
in some cases,
00:13:12
you know, a
just a calmer, nicer powertrain experience
00:13:17
and then this much better fuel economy
and not that much more money.
00:13:22
Now, take my 2500 right now.
00:13:24
I'll give you it'll pay for itself
for sure, and definitely worth it.
00:13:28
It's great to be in this era
now where hybrids can be
00:13:33
the more enjoyable powertrain,
and sometimes even the more powerful one.
00:13:37
It used to be the hybrids.
00:13:39
You'd have to concede something
00:13:41
and you're like, wow, at least it's
more fuel efficient right now.
00:13:44
It's not the case. It's
quite the opposite. Yeah, yeah.
00:13:46
And I think, most of the,
00:13:50
the other things that we really liked
about the regular Telluride,
00:13:53
such as the comfortable ride, I think that
pretty much carries over here.
00:13:56
Yeah.
00:13:56
If you guys agree with that.
00:13:58
Yeah, definitely.
00:14:01
We're debating a little bit earlier.
00:14:02
There might be some slight differences.
00:14:04
Again, we'll probably have to test back
to back on the ride course.
00:14:07
Right.
00:14:07
But overall, yeah, a comfortable ride,
which I think is what you want
00:14:13
when you're toting around passengers
who, you know, be bobbing around in their
00:14:17
in their seat, though I know some, of us
like to have a little bit more of an edge
00:14:22
to you guys talking about this morning.
I must have missed that.
00:14:24
Yeah, I think that, you know, by the seat
of the pants, I feel like the Telluride
00:14:29
hybrid is a little firmer edge,
but that's something of my liking.
00:14:32
A little better body control,
maybe a little more steady,
00:14:36
but having a little firmer edge
and bump absorption where if you kind of
00:14:39
like a little more comfort
or things to feel a little softer, floaty,
00:14:43
then I feel like the Palisade Hybrid's
a little more on that end of it.
00:14:46
Yeah.
00:14:47
But, yeah, I, I can't say from the,
the difference between ice our Telluride
00:14:54
do Telluride hybrid, I can't say
I noticed any major difference.
00:14:58
They feel pretty similar
despite a kind of a biggest difference
00:15:02
in wheels and tires.
00:15:03
I mean eighteen's for our hybrid to see
it is interesting.
00:15:06
That's pretty smart.
I mean, happy to see it.
00:15:08
That's where they should be.
00:15:10
Yeah.
00:15:10
All these big wheels and tires
is just crazy.
00:15:13
But so it was really neat to see that
actually, I think because our regular one
00:15:17
I think has 20s, if I remember correctly,
the regular Telluride,
00:15:20
that sounds right
at 20 ones are available, I heard.
00:15:22
Yeah, yeah.
00:15:23
So, yeah.
00:15:24
So happy to see that
they went reasonable on that.
00:15:26
And I think you might have said that
could mean even for fuel economy reasons.
00:15:30
Yeah.
00:15:31
Or and it kind of shows
00:15:32
maybe you can't tell the difference
in wheel size for someone who's like,
00:15:36
I don't want to compromise my ride
or thinking that it's
00:15:38
going to ruin the ride to be like,
hey, maybe just get the wheels you think
00:15:41
look better on the vehicle
wasn't noticeable enough to be like, or
00:15:44
was telling them to get a smaller wheel
to improve your ride?
00:15:47
You know, to be like you don't.
That might not be a worry.
00:15:50
So any other things or what other things,
00:15:55
you know, stand out for you
about the Telluride in general?
00:15:59
Thanks especially for those who are,
you know, haven't seen our other Telluride
00:16:03
in Palisade videos.
00:16:04
In terms
of whether it's controls or brakes
00:16:08
or those kinds of things,
00:16:09
center console, for me,
one thing from having it the other night,
00:16:12
I just know the Kia Telluride, just having
that layout fits my lifestyle better.
00:16:17
I mean, the lack of center of right knee
00:16:19
intrusion or, you know, the
this console design and the storage.
00:16:23
You oh, okay, dual phone charger in
the Telluride and not the Palisade Hybrid.
00:16:28
It's back and it's like a floating
it doesn't meet the actual dash
00:16:31
and it's weird
I don't it has where the useful larger
00:16:35
spaces in the Palisade hybrid.
00:16:38
It's not where I want to put my stuff.
00:16:40
Right.
00:16:40
So, the Telluride has hybrid is more up
top for you to like, right.
00:16:45
Because the phones are way up here, right?
00:16:46
Yeah, yeah, it's just more useful
and the bend than it does have.
00:16:50
That's down low. And the Telluride
Hybrid is kind of smaller.
00:16:52
And I go oh, I'm fine with it being there
because I'm
00:16:54
probably not going to put much down there
anyway.
00:16:56
I go and it has some, you know, nicer,
I don't know, I fit,
00:16:59
I just feel like it
accommodates my lifestyle much better.
00:17:02
Yeah.
00:17:03
But we don't, love the Telluride
controls, some aspects of them.
00:17:07
I mean, there are a fair
amount of physical controls.
00:17:10
But, Jeff, there's also some like that
that sort of dedicated driver's climate
00:17:15
screen, a touch screen is, is really,
I think, an ill conceived design.
00:17:20
Do you want to touch on that a little bit
and why it bothers us and doesn't work.
00:17:23
Yeah, it's more
that it's ill placed. Yeah.
00:17:27
Because a lot of our drivers are finding
00:17:28
that depending
how their seats are adjusted
00:17:31
and the steering wheel blocks
part of the view or their hands.
00:17:34
Right.
00:17:34
And we've actually seen this
on other Kias.
00:17:37
I'm thinking of the Seltos,
that we're testing now as well.
00:17:40
Has it kind of the same issue
on the higher trims?
00:17:43
Yeah.
00:17:44
I mean, in essence, you want all
00:17:48
things that you're supposed to see to be
00:17:50
is easily seen, just as you want
all the controls to be easy to reach.
00:17:54
And I think you're imagining
00:17:55
that there are even some controls
that are hard to see.
00:17:58
But fortunately,
they're not always the ones you need most.
00:18:01
But there are so little hard to see,
and some of the adjustments, trigger
00:18:07
the infotainment screen to change over
and show what the climate changes now.
00:18:11
So you're looking off the road
to the control, making a selection,
00:18:15
and then you got look somewhere else
to see what it was.
00:18:18
Right. And then back confirm and back.
00:18:20
Yeah, simplicity I think is a luxury.
00:18:23
But it's also probably a safety thing.
Yeah.
00:18:25
So what happens is for those
those of you that are watching this,
00:18:29
you can see what I'm doing here.
00:18:30
But you basically the driver has to,
has to like move a
00:18:34
pair around the steering wheel on their
hand to then press things on the screen,
00:18:39
especially the ones that are more on
the left side of this touchscreen,
00:18:43
because like you
said, it's just very ill placed.
00:18:47
For me, I can see
00:18:48
most of the like the,
the defrost buttons and auto and sync.
00:18:52
I can see those from my seating position.
00:18:54
I still it's a dumb place
for them to be at a press.
00:18:57
There is a workaround,
which is pretty large redundant
00:19:01
physical controls, as you were
talking about Jeff on the center stack.
00:19:04
And that's what I use
00:19:05
most of the time, because for me,
I don't I'm not an auto auto mode guy.
00:19:09
I like to have it in manual mode.
00:19:10
So I'm changing the temperature
00:19:11
and I'm changing the fan speed
and usually not changing the airflow.
00:19:14
But those are all very easy
to find and press and use
00:19:19
with the caveat
that when you make an adjustment, it does.
00:19:23
There was a pop up up
on the infotainment screen,
00:19:25
so not right where you're looking.
00:19:28
And then it doesn't.
00:19:28
It only stays for like a couple seconds
and it goes away.
00:19:31
And it's not a persistent menu bar,
as we call it,
00:19:33
so that even
that is not perfectly designed for me.
00:19:36
It's no big deal, because if I want it,
as you know, if I want it colder,
00:19:40
I make it, you know, colder.
00:19:41
And if I want more fan speed,
I just do the button and it's easy.
00:19:45
I don't need to see
00:19:46
that I'm at three or 4 or 5 clicks,
but it still should be there.
00:19:51
And it's it's not the best. Yeah.
Yeah, sure.
00:19:53
Sometimes just putting all that
information there, it's like makes
00:19:56
you think you might need it,
but then it's blocked and you go, well,
00:19:58
if it wasn't even there,
even though it's blocked,
00:20:01
what if it wasn't there
when you care really,
00:20:03
you're like, well, now that it's blocked,
I care that I can't see it, you know.
00:20:06
Yeah.
00:20:07
And I think also some, you know,
Maddie McCarty and those on her team
00:20:11
would say that you things like the defrost
ers are actually safety related.
00:20:15
Don't because you should be able
00:20:17
to press those quickly and easily
if things do start fogging up.
00:20:21
In bad weather or whatever.
00:20:23
And you shouldn't
have to like pure around the screen
00:20:25
or your steering wheel to press it,
it should be a much larger
00:20:28
physical button that you can find easily
and just press a yeah, in the cold.
00:20:31
When the screen is frozen in the middle
of winter and you defrost your, you know.
00:20:35
Yeah, what I'm talking about is fine
right now in the summertime.
00:20:37
But we'll see how I think about it
in the winter. Right.
00:20:40
So yeah. No, I totally agree with you.
00:20:42
It should be very much like a hazard
button, something
00:20:44
you can just instinctively
00:20:45
make a quick motion and,
and act and focus on driving, which that,
00:20:50
the emergency flashers button,
is very easy to press in this vehicle
00:20:54
and it has a pretty prominent, like,
prominently lit, red triangle.
00:20:58
Yeah. It looks nice. Yeah. It does.
00:21:00
Okay.
00:21:01
Anything else that you guys
want to talk about with this vehicle?
00:21:04
Well, just to build off what Joe was
saying earlier, with the center console.
00:21:09
I think if we're looking at the vehicle
as a whole,
00:21:12
controls aside,
it is very easy to live with.
00:21:16
Yeah, it's easy to enter.
00:21:17
You got a nice big driver space.
00:21:19
A second row is especially roomy.
00:21:23
Just everything about it
makes it easy to adapt to.
00:21:27
And, you know, I think the key is credit.
00:21:30
They have a lot of kind of clever
little things that they do
00:21:33
in the vehicles.
00:21:34
You know,
everyone's gets a phone chargers.
00:21:37
They make theirs easy to,
to find and reach.
00:21:40
Everybody has USB ports
for charging your devices.
00:21:44
There is are especially easy to find
00:21:46
and they're just everything's
well thought out.
00:21:48
And I think that adds to it.
00:21:50
Yeah.
00:21:51
And, you know, again, I kind of glossed
over some of those virtues, I think
00:21:57
in driving the,
the regular engine, the base engine,
00:22:03
just because I'm so frustrated with that,
nothing else.
00:22:05
Having anything else around.
00:22:07
I mean, it's all right now.
00:22:09
My logbook now show.
00:22:10
Oh, sorry.
00:22:10
But, you know, remove
that from the picture.
00:22:13
I think these other virtues shine
a little brighter.
00:22:15
Yeah, yeah.
00:22:16
And we can't forget pop out
door handles on this
00:22:19
if you are particular, which I will say
I'm particular about them, I don't care.
00:22:22
We notice they do pop out.
00:22:24
I mean they do come out automatically.
00:22:27
You know proximity works good.
00:22:29
And once they're out
they're not an issue. Right.
00:22:31
So it's really not that big of a deal.
00:22:32
But the Palisade hybrid
and the palisade in general does not.
00:22:37
It has fixed traditional exterior
door handles for someone who is very if
00:22:41
they are really particular or something,
that would be a deciding factor.
00:22:44
That's that's something to note
that really, you know what I mean?
00:22:47
You're
getting pretty similar of a vehicle,
00:22:49
but it's like these door handles drive
you insane then.
00:22:52
Does that seem a little backwards,
wouldn't you think the more yeah, upscale
00:22:56
model would have the power door handle.
00:22:58
Yeah, I would like the sportier one
to have traditional door handles, so yeah.
00:23:01
But, want to touch on a couple
other things that and these are important
00:23:05
things that it's the same with this is
no different with the regular Telluride,
00:23:09
but we should talk about here
and why it's very important to go
00:23:12
test drive this vehicle,
because for some of us, I think
00:23:15
the front seat, most people
don't really love the front seat.
00:23:19
I know it didn't really work
that well for me.
00:23:21
And this is a very personal, you know,
that everybody's body is different.
00:23:24
All different sizes and shapes, whatever.
00:23:26
So it just it's okay.
00:23:28
It's not like it's uncomfortable,
but it's okay. For me.
00:23:30
The bottom cushion is a little long.
00:23:32
I'm not that tall. Yet
it doesn't have it's
00:23:35
not that laterally supportive
on the bottom cushion.
00:23:38
So I feel like my legs don't have
as much support side support as they want.
00:23:41
So to get that, I have to kind of raise
the leading edge up.
00:23:44
But then I start to almost feel like
kind of like squished a little bit,
00:23:47
you know what I mean?
So I don't love that feeling. And then
00:23:51
I've noticed
00:23:52
this on, Hyundai
Kia seats in general lately.
00:23:55
But the center portion of the seat back,
is a little bit too firm for my liking.
00:23:59
And then the the seat backs, side
bolsters.
00:24:02
Boy, am I picky.
00:24:03
The seat back side. And just like.
00:24:05
Yeah, you are really thinking,
the seat back side
00:24:07
bolsters are really pronounced, which
I love, but they're also kind of hard.
00:24:11
So like when you push against them,
they're just kind of hard.
00:24:13
So there's that.
00:24:14
So did you guys have any of those
or are you guys okay with it?
00:24:17
You guys are like,
no I don't know what that is in the lower.
00:24:20
Maybe it's just a little bit of the lower
cushion.
00:24:22
The length of that does
bother me a little bit.
00:24:24
But yeah, I feel pretty well accommodated
I do, yeah.
00:24:28
And as well as the seat pocket
00:24:30
may feel a little wide,
but it doesn't necessarily bother me.
00:24:33
I'd rather
00:24:33
have that a little bit of extra room,
especially in this type of vehicle.
00:24:37
Yes, the side
bolstering up top is good enough.
00:24:39
If I'm feeling like some spirited
driving or whatever,
00:24:42
but in general, it's
it's feels very appropriate for me.
00:24:46
And what about you guys?
00:24:47
Did it work for you?
00:24:48
Well,
I'm think I would just say they're fine.
00:24:50
Yeah.
00:24:50
Meaning sort of as a negative, sort of,
just thinking that you're you're.
00:24:57
Oh, you're really drilled in on this.
00:24:59
Yeah. But seats are very particular.
00:25:01
And if they don't fit your.
00:25:02
Well, that then nothing else
about the vehicle really matters, right?
00:25:06
To me they're fine.
00:25:07
I mean, I agree that the base
was a little flat and a little wide.
00:25:11
I like that
I prefer that, among other things,
00:25:14
I think it helps
make it easier to get in and out.
00:25:16
Yes. Actually, you do have a bolster.
00:25:18
Then you'd have to lift over. The back.
00:25:20
I always welcome a little bit of softness,
and the bolsters
00:25:24
were a little snug here
than I might prefer.
00:25:27
In part.
00:25:28
Just because, you know, as much as Joey
might be ready to autocross it,
00:25:33
I can't imagine hustling it with,
you know, a family in on board.
00:25:38
So, you know, just the wood,
that vehicle.
00:25:41
I'm just looking for comfort needs.
00:25:43
And, you know,
00:25:44
a little tweak might have helped me,
but I don't have an issue with it.
00:25:47
Yeah.
00:25:48
And the other aspect
I was going to touch on that
00:25:52
you should also for going to reasons to go
take it for a test
00:25:55
drive is, some driving position issues
for some of us.
00:25:59
The good stuff is tons of headroom.
00:26:02
Like zero center
console intrusion with your right knee,
00:26:05
which is always a pet
peeve for me there, but me too.
00:26:08
Not hitting that at all,
which is fantastic.
00:26:10
And then you know what?
00:26:11
We call the dead paddle or the left foot
rest is very wide while play,
00:26:15
so that stuff's all great.
00:26:17
But what some of us noticed,
especially those that like,
00:26:20
to have the steering wheel
in a lower position, is it
00:26:23
meant their upper portion of the steering
wheel rim tends to block off.
00:26:27
You can't see the turn signals,
you can't see the headlight icons,
00:26:30
you can't see the the, stuff
for the adaptive cruise control.
00:26:34
So that's, kind of annoying.
00:26:36
And then, also the armrests
00:26:39
are both a little bit hard,
but for some of us,
00:26:43
we were finding that our right
elbow lands on the seam in between.
00:26:46
So it's got dual opening center armrests.
00:26:49
And so you've got a scene here.
00:26:51
And then there's, hard portion
of the center console ahead of that.
00:26:55
So you either end up on the seam
which is not comfortable,
00:26:57
or on the hard portion ahead of it.
00:26:59
Or for me, sometimes my right
elbow lands on the inner
00:27:02
portion of the armrest,
which is also hard.
00:27:04
So I'm not the only one
who put logbook comments for that, so
00:27:08
definitely go Again,
it has to do with your seating position,
00:27:11
how close you are to the to the dashboard
and that kind of stuff.
00:27:14
But for some people, the armrests
and the steering wheel position etc.
00:27:18
may not work for you. Yeah,
even the shape.
00:27:20
You know,
00:27:21
if you don't like the squared off steering
wheel design that's in the Telluride,
00:27:25
then you can look at the palisade
and get a circle one in there.
00:27:28
Yeah, you know, the side with door handles
and steering wheel you like and
00:27:32
pick a vehicle. Absolutely.
00:27:34
Okay. So,
00:27:36
you know, interestingly, we've now driven
00:27:39
for kind of similar vehicles, right?
00:27:42
We've driven the Hyundai Palisade
with its naturally aspirated V6.
00:27:47
We've driven the Hyundai Palisade Hybrid.
00:27:49
What we've actually tested both of those.
00:27:51
We've tested
the Kia Telluride with its turbo four.
00:27:55
And now we're about to send this,
00:27:59
you know, Telluride Hybrid
through the test program.
00:28:02
So with that in mind,
00:28:05
which of the four would you pick,
00:28:08
Joey so far that you
you know, for you or for someone
00:28:12
with a family, what do you think
is the best choice of these four?
00:28:15
Yeah.
00:28:16
For me, well, it's definitely
it's easy to go we're going hybrid.
00:28:19
So now we're down to two cars.
Yeah. Right.
00:28:21
Yeah.
00:28:21
And it's very similar for me.
00:28:23
I'm going with the Kia because of it.
00:28:26
At the moment
I've been pushed it around the track.
00:28:28
Let's say it does like it
does have a little bit better body control
00:28:32
and some of the stuff
it feels too, that I would go that route
00:28:36
hoping there's a little better handling
or a little more agility, whatever.
00:28:40
I'm fine.
00:28:41
As much as I complained about the pop out
door handles, I'd be like,
00:28:44
I'll deal with them just to deal
with the better tuning this in that.
00:28:47
But even beyond that, it's that center
console that lives with that stuff.
00:28:51
That is my day to day.
00:28:52
I probably leverage that.
00:28:54
I go, I'd rather
I throw some handling away just so I
00:28:57
can put my phone in a consistent spot,
or where my keys are just how I live.
00:29:01
Like, yeah, but. And. Okay.
00:29:02
And what about you, Jeff?
00:29:04
It's, I've come to the same conclusion.
00:29:06
I think it's interesting,
to emphasize the livability
00:29:10
because for all the,
the handling dynamics,
00:29:13
just how easy it is for you to live with,
however you're going to use it,
00:29:16
it is probably the most important thing
for most people.
00:29:18
Yeah.
00:29:19
But I like the elegance
of the design of the palisade.
00:29:23
Me too. I think it looks good.
00:29:26
The Telluride,
I think, looks sharp from the side.
00:29:29
I still don't know about that grille.
00:29:31
Looks like
it's still needs one added, but
00:29:36
the Telluride is so
00:29:38
quiet with the hybrid powertrain,
it feels luxurious to me.
00:29:42
And they've got a gazillion trim,
00:29:45
so you can kind of choose
the exact configuration that you like,
00:29:48
get all the luxury that you want,
and yeah, make it look how you want it.
00:29:51
Make it very palisade and palisade like,
if that's what you're
00:29:55
what you want that
hybrid powertrain power, fuel economy.
00:30:00
I'm going to Telluride Hybrid
for all those reasons.
00:30:03
And it's a bit less money. Yeah.
00:30:06
Good points.
00:30:07
I could see honestly going
I think aggrieved hybrid for sure.
00:30:12
But I could see going palisade for the
00:30:15
better controls
and for the door handles if.
00:30:18
Yeah, if for those alone.
00:30:19
Although, like I said, I'm
still going to hold out my final choice
00:30:23
because we really have to do more
back to back driving of
00:30:26
of the two hybrids
to see if they're actually
00:30:29
how much of a tuning difference
there is between these systems.
00:30:31
You know, are we
00:30:33
how big are the different hiccups at low
speeds between the two
00:30:36
or are they almost a wash? Right.
00:30:37
So we'll we'll,
we'll get to the bottom of that for sure.
00:30:41
Like we said, this vehicle right now
is, having its braking miles done.
00:30:45
We put 2000 braking miles on every vehicle
before it goes into our instrumented
00:30:49
test program and all that stuff.
00:30:50
So be on the lookout for a full road test
on Consumer reports.org, hopefully.
00:30:56
Very soon.
00:30:57
Okay.
00:30:57
So now we're going to move on
to our audience question of the week.
00:31:00
And you can send those questions
to talking cars at Consumer Talk.
00:31:04
And producer Dave,
are we still giving incentives for people.
00:31:08
He's saying he's going to thumbs up.
00:31:10
So to give people extra incentives
to send us,
00:31:13
not just like a question, right,
or a comment, but a scintillating.
00:31:17
That's a word. Right? Jeff,
you're a wordsmith.
00:31:19
It is scintillating, intriguing question
to the point that we use it on this show.
00:31:25
You will get some CR branded swag
sent to you personally by our producers.
00:31:29
And the next person who was getting swag
is Bill from Connecticut.
00:31:33
So let's see what Bill is saying.
00:31:35
I got to put the glasses on
00:31:36
just so that I look smarter,
not because my eyes are going,
00:31:39
bill says, first time
riding in second day as an empty nester.
00:31:43
Maybe now I'll have the time
00:31:45
to finally write emails and squirrel away
my car situation.
00:31:48
My job is in New Hampshire
and I have to commute up there year round,
00:31:52
but only about ten times per year,
and I stay for a few days at a stretch.
00:31:56
I'd want something
00:31:57
relatively efficient, with good range
and on the luxury side of the spectrum.
00:32:01
Also, we recently realized that after
dropping our third kid off to college,
00:32:05
we'll still need a large three row vehicle
with good cargo capacity
00:32:08
for the next few years. At least.
00:32:10
I think I would have loved
the new Hybrid Forester,
00:32:14
but I was a bit disappointed
in its performance and acceleration,
00:32:17
which shouldn't have surprised me.
00:32:18
Why can't we get
the BMW x3 in this country?
00:32:23
Can CR put a package
00:32:24
together to incentivize
Mike M's retirement to.
00:32:27
I'm just kidding. He's my fave.
00:32:30
What are we doing?
00:32:31
Mean tweets now, producer Dave,
is that a new segment?
00:32:33
Okay. That's great.
00:32:35
What do you think that fundraiser is
for? There?
00:32:37
You know what, Bill?
00:32:38
No swag for you, buddy.
00:32:40
Yeah, actually,
no, I don't have anything to do with that.
00:32:42
But, that's the producers.
00:32:44
But, all kidding aside,
I mean, tweets aside,
00:32:49
Jeff, would you have a suggestion
for Bill as far as a vehicle?
00:32:52
I do, if he's looking for a three row
vehicle,
00:32:55
great commuter looking for fuel economy.
00:32:59
The Forester in the X3
have lousy third row seats,
00:33:02
so I would suggest,
00:33:06
something a little dig.
00:33:07
And, Bill, I think it is,
but I'm just got your back.
00:33:10
Thank you.
00:33:10
So the vehicle immediately comes to mind.
00:33:14
Is the Toyota Grand Highlander?
00:33:16
Yeah, with the Max engine.
00:33:18
So that by talking about the X3,
that tells me
00:33:21
his budget can stretch up to 16,
and perhaps a little beyond
00:33:26
the Grand Highlander
with the with the Max has a ton of power.
00:33:31
And it's got great fuel economy.
00:33:33
So that has 362 horsepower and
00:33:36
is rated at 27 miles
per gallon by the EPA.
00:33:40
That's a great balance
with tons of room for,
00:33:42
for children and their friends
and maybe even their friends as well.
00:33:47
The other thing that comes to mind,
if he's commuting into
00:33:50
New Hampshire,
he's driving a long distance.
00:33:53
New Hampshire
can get some pretty foul weather.
00:33:56
It's important also to consider
where can you get your vehicle serviced?
00:34:01
There are only three BMW dealerships in
New Hampshire, and they're all down south.
00:34:05
I'm not sure where Bill travels to,
00:34:07
but even if he works down south,
he may want to go skiing up north.
00:34:12
Toyota has 13 dealerships
and they're spread out some more.
00:34:15
So I think just for road trips support,
especially when he's so far out of town,
00:34:19
that that kind of hits
all of the the bells that, he's signaled.
00:34:24
All right.
00:34:25
What do you think?
00:34:25
Yeah, I know it was kind of more
just wondering from Bill.
00:34:28
More questions from him being like,
00:34:30
is the third row
because you're mentioning a third row?
00:34:33
Is that something
that's really important to you?
00:34:35
And then he also brings up heavy
and wondering what is leading them there.
00:34:41
You know, because if if that's something
that which I would not necessarily
00:34:44
understand where the benefit would be
with these long highway commuter heavy,
00:34:49
but just kind of looking at
what exactly is important them.
00:34:52
Because if
00:34:53
you throw three row out the window,
then that opens up a whole list of things.
00:34:56
But he sounds like he does
want the three row.
00:34:59
My heart leads with everything Jeff
sang there.
00:35:02
Yeah, I think in the end
00:35:03
you can't really go wrong there
if you need that three row.
00:35:07
I mean, if he really doesn't need a three
row, but it doesn't sound that way here.
00:35:11
And your point with a heavy meaning that,
00:35:15
you're going to use
00:35:16
up that electric only range
so quickly on highway driving,
00:35:19
and then you're just carrying around
a bunch of extra weight for no reason.
00:35:22
Yeah, and probably getting worse.
Fuel economy. So.
00:35:24
And you paid more for the vehicle.
00:35:26
So I totally see your point for, for long,
long drives like that.
00:35:29
It just doesn't make a ton of sense.
00:35:32
And also Bill didn't really tell us
what he's currently driving.
00:35:35
It would it would have helped us
a little bit if we knew what it was.
00:35:39
But you know what?
00:35:40
I'm his fave,
so I'm not going to pick on him too much.
00:35:43
But anyway, hopefully, Bill,
00:35:45
I think I think Jeff's
got a good choice for you there.
00:35:47
And that grand Highlander
hybrid Max actually is a really.
00:35:50
That's a really nice powertrain.
00:35:52
It is, one to really look at
and you'll enjoy it.
00:35:55
And, also get pretty good fuel economy.
00:35:57
So the vehicle itself is quite luxurious.
00:35:59
Exactly right.
00:36:00
I'd also think, you know, again,
with the idea of being so far away
00:36:04
from home, the TVs in general aren't
as reliable as regular hybrids, right?
00:36:09
Yeah.
00:36:11
I would add that on to the for the reasons
the focus on the hybrid.
00:36:15
Yeah, yeah yeah yeah.
00:36:17
Okay. Great.
00:36:17
All right.
00:36:18
Well that is going to do it
for this episode.
00:36:20
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00:36:22
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00:36:26
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00:36:29
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00:36:33
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00:36:36
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00:36:57
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00:37:01
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00:37:03
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00:37:05
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00:37:09
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00:37:12
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00:37:16
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00:37:18
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