Since it was introduced in 2020, Kia Telluride has had legions of fans praising its reliability, comfort and spaciousness. But how does it stack up against other three-row midsize SUVs? Let’s compare with a formidable rival—the 2024 VW Atlas.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Due to sagging sales, the VW Atlas has seen a complete refresh this year. In comparison, the Telluride has seen only minor adjustments.
- The Telluride can seat eight in some models and seven in others—the Atlas has no such option.
- The Telluride has several more trim options than the Atlas.
What’s New for this Year
The Volkswagen Atlas has sagged in sales in recent years. As a result, VW has completely refreshed it for ‘24 to make it a more appealing prospect for potential buyers.
Kia, meanwhile, has made only minor tweaks to the Telluride. All trims now feature amber-colored daytime running lights, and the dark metallic highlights featured in the X-Line and X-Pro models have been made over with glossy black exterior trim.
Price and Trim Comparisons
If budget is your concern as it is for many, Kia models are always a wise choice. The 2024 Telluride is generally more affordable, beginning with a base price of $36,190 MSRP. In comparison, the 2024 Volkswagen Atlas starts at $$37,995 MSRP. The Telluride has a whopping ten trims to the Atlas’s four, which means more than twice the options for the buyer. Surely there is something here that meets your needs!
Engine Specs
The Telluride’s naturally aspirated V-6 generates a powerful 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque and is bonded to an eight-speed automatic transmission with front-wheel drive (FWD). However, all-wheel drive (AWD) is optional across all trims.
VW has removed the formerly standard four-cylinder engine and optional V6 of the ‘23 model year. All trims now feature a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four cranking out 269 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. This engine is also paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and FWD.
The Telluride’s Spacious Advantage
Moving a sizable amount of passengers is what three-row SUVs are all about. Of the two competitors, the Telluride wins in this category. It can haul up to eight people, thanks to its 60/40-split folding bench in second-row of the LX and mid-level EX trims. Its other models seat up to seven with second-row captain’s chairs. The Atlas can only seat seven, no matter the trim —its second-row captain’s chairs are standard no matter the level. One extra seat may seem like a small difference, but when you need it, you really need it.
On top of the seating options, the Telluride’s passenger space is more ample than that of the Atlas in its second and third rows—there’s over 3 ½ more inches of legroom in the second row and nearly 4 ½ inches more legroom in the third. Again, while this may seem like a negligible difference, it comes in handy, particularly on long excursions. The Telluride is a more powerful vehicle when it comes to towing capacity— it can haul up to 5,500 pounds to the Atlas’s 5,000 lbs.
The SUV for You
While both are quality vehicles, the Telluride has more than double the options for meeting your needs and it's slightly less expensive than the Atlas over most trims. Still unsure? Stop in at Alan Jay Kia for a test drive today. We guarantee you won’t be undecided for long!