2020 Kia Telluride Gets IIHS Top Safety Pick Nod

Kia’s 2020 Telluride gets Tops Safety Pick Award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), joining other industry leading models. The model was just a tad short of earning the highest recognition as a Top Safety Pick+ awardee, but for the automaker, there is still every reason to celebrate.

The three-row SUV recorded high remarks in all crash categories conducted by the institute, scoring “Good” in the front, side, roof strength, and head restraint, and seat tests. The model also earned “Superior” marks in front crash prevention after successfully avoiding a crash in both 12 mph and 25 mph tests with the help of its standard forward collision avoidance assist technology.

For its headlights, the Telluride score “Acceptable” ratings, which were enough for the model to qualify for the Top Safety Pick award. A “Good” ranking, though, would have given it a Top Safety Pick+ designation. Nonetheless, Kia’s new SUV earned good marks for the LED projector beam headlights on its SX trim. However, the halogen lights which come in all other trims received “Poor” marks.

What made the SX trim’s headlights “Acceptable” in IIHS standards is the visibility on both sides of the road while on the straightaway and through curves. But the organization also noted that there was “some glare” produced by the low beams. The high beams, meanwhile, had “inadequate” visibility on both sides of the road on the straightaway, according to IIHS.

Despite earning a Top Safety Pick recognition, the 2020 Kia Telluride is yet to be rated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The eight-seater SUV is known as the largest vehicle manufactured by the South Korean automaker. It is currently offered at $32,735 for the base model. The Telluride was also previously praised for having a spacious interior and solid handling.