VERDICT · A CONFIDENT, MODERN FAMILY SUV CHOICE

Kia Telluride 3.8L
is it a safe used buy?

Kia's flagship three-row SUV, sharing its platform and V6 engine with the related Hyundai Palisade — a genuinely well-regarded, confident used buy by any measure.

GENERATION1st gen (2020–2023)

ENGINE3.8L V6

POWER291 hp

USED PRICE$29,000–43,000

How the engine fits this car

The Telluride's substantial three-row body is a comfortable, unstressed load for this naturally aspirated V6 — smooth, confident power delivery that never feels strained even with a full load of passengers, the same strong pairing found in the related Hyundai Palisade.

This engine and the vehicle generation it's found in post-date the production windows affected by the Theta II recall covered elsewhere on this site, a genuine point of reassurance for buyers who've read about that issue on other Kia and Hyundai pages.

Kia Telluride-specific pros and cons

This is about the car itself — for engine-specific failure points, see the dedicated engine page below.

WHAT HOLDS UP WELL

Smooth, naturally aspirated V6 power delivery shared with the well-regarded Hyundai Palisade
Genuinely spacious, well-equipped three-row interior that's class-competitive
Falls outside the production windows affected by the Theta II recall covered elsewhere on this site
Strong manufacturer warranty coverage on most model years provides meaningful buyer protection

WHAT TO WATCH

As a comparatively newer vehicle, long-term high-mileage data is less extensive than for older, more established models
Fuel economy is modest for the class, typical of a naturally aspirated V6 three-row SUV
Higher trims with extensive driver-assist tech add complexity that's costly to repair if sensors fail
Purchase price reflects the vehicle's comparatively recent production and strong demand

Pricing on the used market

Mileage band

Typical price

What to expect

Under 40,000 mi

$37,000–43,000

Lower-mileage, often still under warranty

40,000–70,000 mi

$32,000–37,000

Sweet spot, verify basic maintenance history

70,000+ mi

$29,000–32,000

Still a confident buy with documented maintenance

The engine itself

This Telluride shares its 3.8L V6 with the related Hyundai Palisade, built on a different, more modern architecture than the earlier Theta II engines. Full detail lives on the shared engine page.

FULL ENGINE BREAKDOWNHyundai 3.8L V6 (Lambda) — Reliable or Not →

Pre-purchase checklist for this generation

Beyond general maintenance history, there's relatively little engine-specific risk to flag on this comparatively modern vehicle.

Test all driver-assist and comfort electronics during a viewing, since these add complexity worth confirming works correctly.

Ask about towing history if applicable, and check transmission behaviour under load during the test drive.