
The Kia Telluride has quickly become one of the most beloved SUVs on the market, thanks to its stylish design, impressive interior, and overall value. Since its debut, the Telluride has earned praise for its spacious three-row seating, excellent safety features, and smooth ride, making it a top contender in the midsize SUV category. But with multiple trim levels available, potential buyers often face the question: which Telluride trim is the most popular, and why?
In this blog post, we’ll explore which trim level of the Kia Telluride stands out the most and why it has captured the attention of so many buyers.
The Kia Telluride Trim Levels
Before diving into which trim is the most popular, let’s first break down the available trim levels for the 2025 Kia Telluride:
- LX – The base trim, offering essential features and the best value for the price.
- S – Adds more style and tech features, sitting just above the LX.
- EX – Mid-range trim with additional luxury touches and more advanced features.
- SX – The most premium trim, offering the highest level of luxury and tech.
- SX Prestige – The ultimate, fully loaded trim with all the bells and whistles.
The Most Popular Kia Telluride Trim: SX
While the base LX and mid-level EX trims are certainly popular for those looking to get great value, the SX trim of the Kia Telluride tends to be the most popular choice among buyers. Here’s why:
1. The Right Balance of Features and Luxury
One of the primary reasons the SX trim is so popular is that it offers an ideal balance between features, luxury, and price. At the SX level, buyers get access to nearly every advanced feature Kia has to offer without stepping all the way up to the top-tier SX Prestige trim.
The SX comes with:
- Panoramic sunroof: This feature adds a touch of luxury and openness to the cabin, making the driving experience feel more expansive.
- 12.3-inch digital display: The SX trim features an impressive infotainment screen that offers navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and other user-friendly features, ensuring a modern driving experience.
- Sleek exterior upgrades: The SX includes LED headlights, more stylish wheels, and chrome exterior accents, elevating the Telluride’s appearance.
- Premium Sound System: The Harman Kardon® premium audio system adds an excellent listening experience, making long drives more enjoyable.
The SX trim includes all the luxury touches that buyers expect from a premium SUV, without the price tag that comes with the top-end SX Prestige.
2. Advanced Safety Features as Standard
The SX trim comes with Kia’s Drive Wise suite of advanced safety technologies, which includes features like:
- Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with pedestrian detection
- Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist
- Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist
- Lane Keeping Assist and Lane Following Assist
These safety features are not just helpful—they give drivers peace of mind knowing that their family is protected on the road. The added safety and tech features that come with the SX trim make it a compelling choice for buyers who want the best of both worlds: luxury and safety.
3. Comfort and Convenience
For many buyers, comfort and convenience are key when choosing a trim. The SX trim adds several premium features that make the Telluride more enjoyable to drive and ride in. Notable features include:
- Nappa leather upholstery: The SX trim adds a level of refinement with luxurious leather seats, making the interior feel upscale.
- Ventilated and heated front and rear seats: These features increase comfort, especially on long trips or during different seasons.
- Smart key with push-button start: No more fumbling for keys—this feature adds a sense of convenience and modernity to the driving experience.
- Heated steering wheel: A small touch that adds a lot of comfort, especially in colder weather.
These features offer a higher level of comfort and convenience compared to the lower trims, which is why many buyers gravitate towards the SX trim.
4. Power and Performance
The SX trim comes with a 3.8-liter V6 engine producing 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, which is more than enough power for daily driving, road trips, and even towing up to 5,000 pounds. This engine is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission, and buyers can choose between front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD).
For those who want a more powerful, confident driving experience, the SX trim provides just the right amount of engine performance without overwhelming the driver. Whether navigating city streets or heading off on an adventure, the SX trim delivers smooth, responsive handling.
5. It’s Not Overly Expensive
While the SX trim is one of the higher-end trims, it still offers good value compared to the SX Prestige. The SX offers the bulk of the features that buyers look for in terms of luxury, performance, and tech but at a price point that is more accessible than the fully-loaded SX Prestige.
At a slightly lower price than the SX Prestige, the SX allows buyers to enjoy the premium features and upscale interior of a high-end SUV without feeling like they’re overpaying. It’s the “sweet spot” between value and luxury.
Why the SX Prestige Isn’t as Popular
While the SX Prestige trim offers the ultimate in luxury, tech, and features, it comes with a significantly higher price tag. For many buyers, the SX trim provides 90% of the luxury and performance of the SX Prestige at a much more reasonable cost. The SX Prestige adds features like ventilated rear seats, a head-up display, and a more advanced 360-degree camera system, but many buyers feel these upgrades don’t justify the additional cost, especially when the SX offers so much for a lower price.
Conclusion: Why the SX Trim Reigns Supreme
The SX trim of the Kia Telluride stands out as the most popular option for several key reasons. It strikes the perfect balance of luxury, performance, features, and price. Buyers get a sleek, comfortable, and high-tech SUV with powerful engine options and ample safety features, all without jumping into the high-end SX Prestige trim.
If you’re considering a Kia Telluride and want an excellent blend of premium features and value, the SX trim is undoubtedly the way to go. It gives you everything you need and more, making it the top choice for many Telluride buyers in 2025.