This used Kia Telluride guide covers the first generation, sold from 2020 through 2025. It is a big three-row family SUV with one engine, standard all-wheel drive in Canada, and a lot of equipment even on lower trims.
Online asking prices run from about $16,000 to $66,000. A clean example with under 80,000 km often sits between $35,000 and $50,000.
One engine, Canadian AWD
Every first-gen Telluride uses a 3.8-litre V6. It makes 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. An eight-speed automatic sends power to the wheels.
Canada did not get the U.S. front-wheel-drive model. Every Canadian Telluride is AWD. The system mostly drives the front wheels and sends power rearward when it needs to.
Natural Resources Canada rates it around 12.8 L/100 km in the city, 9.8 on the highway, and 11.4 combined. Real driving can land closer to 13.7 L/100 km. It takes regular 87-octane gas.
Towing is up to 5,000 lb (2,268 kg). Some trims reach 5,500 lb.
What you get
Most models seat seven. Some double-bench SX and EX models seat eight. Third-row space works for average adults. A one-button slide on the second row helps kids climb in. Cargo space behind the third row is useful, and the floor goes flat when the seats fold.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard. So were a power sunroof and auto start-stop. Higher trims add 20-inch wheels, a dual sunroof, a 360-degree camera, and Kia’s Blind View Monitor, which shows the blind spot in the cluster when you signal.
The ride is soft and quiet. Body roll is the trade-off. Do not expect sports-car corners.
Which years to buy
Later first-gen trucks are the safer bet. Driving’s guide points to 2023–2025 as the best stretch. Early 2020 cars had more complaints, which is common for a new model.
Trims vary by year: SX, EX, SX Limited, Nightfall, X-Line, and X-Pro. Lower trims still have the same engine and the same AWD. That is often the better used deal.
Reliability and recalls
Consumer Reports has scored the first-gen Telluride near the bottom of its class for reliability, around 42%. That clashes with a thin list of repeat pattern failures. It also had fewer recalls than the related Hyundai Palisade.
Still, run the VIN. Seat-motor, valve-spring, and driveshaft campaigns have hit some 2020–2024 trucks. Confirm every open recall is closed before you pay.
Then book an independent inspection. A safety certificate does not catch every future repair.
A used Kia Telluride guide comes down to year, service history, and recall status. Buy a 2023–2025 AWD example with records. Skip a cheap 2020 with open campaigns.