Kia Telluride review: full-size American SUV comfort at a Korean price
MotorsSouq Editorial Team
The Telluride makes sense for a Bahraini buyer who wants Highlander or Pathfinder-sized presence and comfort without the Highlander or Pathfinder price, and does not mind a genuinely large footprint on the daily commute. It is not the vehicle for anyone who values fuel economy or tight-street manoeuvring, but as a highway cruiser and family hauler it delivers more per dinar than its established Japanese rivals.
Pros
- Roomiest three-row cabin in Kia's Gulf range
- Smooth V6 with real reserve power for a full cabin
- Ride comfort ahead of the Sorento and most rivals this size
- Undercuts the Highlander and Pathfinder on price for comparable space
- Five-year, typically unlimited-kilometre warranty
Cons
- Substantial fuel consumption from the 3.8-litre V6
- Genuinely large footprint on Bahrain's tighter side streets
- Fewer dealers than the established Japanese full-size SUV brands
- All-wheel drive is a paid option, not standard
The Telluride shares its platform with the Hyundai Palisade but wears a more American-market design language — upright, chrome-heavy, and unmistakably sized for a country where fuel has historically been cheap. That size translates directly into cabin space: this is the roomiest three-row Kia sold in the Gulf, ahead of even the Sorento.
How it feels on Bahrain's roads
The 3.8-litre V6 is smooth and has real reserve power, which matters when merging onto the causeway approach with a full cabin. Ride comfort is the Telluride's strongest suit — it soaks up Bahrain's rougher secondary roads better than the Sorento and noticeably better than most crossovers this size, at the cost of feeling genuinely large in a tight Muharraq side street.
Fuel consumption is the honest trade-off: a naturally aspirated V6 moving nearly two tonnes drinks accordingly, and anyone cross-shopping a four-cylinder Sportage or Sorento should budget for the difference before committing.
Ownership in Bahrain
Parts and service availability follow Kia's regular Bahrain network rather than anything Telluride-specific, and the five-year warranty applies the same as elsewhere in the range — a real comfort on a flagship-priced vehicle. Resale is respectable given how few full-size three-row SUVs undercut it on price for comparable space.