Top Safety PickTop Safety Pick criteria

2021 Kia Telluride

midsize SUV / 4-door SUV

Award applies only to vehicles with specific headlights

2021 Kia Telluride 4-door SUV
2020 Kia Telluride shown

Crashworthiness

Rating overview
Small overlap front: driver-side
Small overlap front: passenger-side
Moderate overlap front: original test
Side: original test
Side: updated test
Roof strength
Head restraints & seats

Crash avoidance & mitigation

Headlights (varies by trim/option)
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle
Standard system
Superior
Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)
Standard system
Superior

Seat belts & child restraints

LATCH ease of use

Other available safety features

  • Standard blind spot detection
  • Standard lane departure warning & prevention

Key

  • G
    Good
  • A
    Acceptable
  • M
    Marginal
  • P
    Poor
  • Superior
  • Advanced
  • Basic

Some ratings use a scale of Poor to Good. Others range from Basic to Superior.

Small overlap front: driver-side

Rating applies to 2020-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2020 Kia Telluride SX 4-door 4wd

The Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade were introduced in the 2020 model year. Driver-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Hyundai/Kia and apply to both vehicles.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTN1906
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 9
Footrest (cm) 8
Left toepan (cm) 5
Brake pedal (cm) 4
Parking brake (cm)
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 2
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column 0
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 5
Upper dash (cm) 5
Lower instrument panel (cm) 6

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTN1906
Head
HIC-15 109
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.1
Extension bending moment (Nm) 18
Maximum Nij 0.29
Chest maximum compression (mm) 25
Femur (kN)
Left 1.2
Right 1.4
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 0
Right 3
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.38
Right 0.35
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.4
Right 1.3
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 58
Right 41

About the small overlap front test

Small overlap front: passenger-side

Rating applies to 2020-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2020 Kia Telluride SX 4-door 4wd

The Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade were introduced in the 2020 model year. Passenger-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Hyundai/Kia and apply to both vehicles.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on passenger side

Test ID VTP1912
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 8
Footrest (cm) 11
Right toepan (cm) 14
Center toepan (cm) 4
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 2
Upper occupant compartment
Center dash (cm) 3
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 2
Upper dash (cm) 4
Right lower dash (cm) 5

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTP1912
Head
HIC-15 119
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.9
Extension bending moment (Nm) 30
Maximum Nij 0.34
Chest maximum compression (mm) 24
Femur (kN)
Left 0.5
Right 0.7
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 0
Right 1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.47
Right 0.42
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.3
Right 1.7
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 43
Right 52

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTP1912
Head
HIC-15 163
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.2
Extension bending moment (Nm) 10
Maximum Nij 0.20
Chest maximum compression (mm) 26
Femur (kN)
Left 0.4
Right 0.4
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 1
Right 1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.34
Right 0.27
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.4
Right 1.0
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 42
Right 48

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2020-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2020 Kia Telluride SX 4-door 4wd

The Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade were introduced in the 2020 model year. Moderate overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Hyundai/Kia and apply to both vehicles.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Leg/foot, left
Leg/foot, right
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTF1910
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 6
Left (cm) 10
Center (cm) 10
Right (cm) 8
Brake pedal (cm) 7
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) 0
Right (cm) 0
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) -2
Rearward (cm) -4
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) 0

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTF1910
Head
HIC-15 211
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.8
Extension bending moment (Nm) 16
Maximum Nij 0.19
Chest maximum compression (mm) 30
Legs
Femur force - left (kN) 1.2
Femur force - right (kN) 1.2
Knee displacement - left (mm) 1
Knee displacement - right (mm) 2
Maximum tibia index - left 0.26
Maximum tibia index - right 0.57
Tibia axial force - left (kN) 2.0
Tibia axial force - right (kN) 2.1
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 51
Right 84

About the original moderate overlap front test

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2020-23 models

Tested vehicle: 2020 Kia Telluride LX 4-door 4wd

The Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade were introduced in the 2020 model year. Two side tests of the Telluride were conducted, one by the Institute and the other by Hyundai/Kia. Ratings are based on both tests and apply to both vehicles.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Driver head protection
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Rear passenger head protection

View of the vehicle and barrier just after the Institute's crash test.

View of the vehicle after the crash with doors removed, showing the side airbags and damage to the occupant compartment (Institute test car shown).

Smeared greasepaint shows where the driver dummy's head was protected from being hit by hard structures by side airbags in the Institute's test.

Smeared greasepaint shows where the rear passenger dummy’s head was protected by the side airbag.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CES1902 VTS1912
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -14.5 -18.0
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID CES1902 VTS1912
Head HIC-15 108 102
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.1 0.8
Compression (kN) 0.6 0.6
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 37 35
Lateral force (kN) 1.7 1.3
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 35 33
Average deflection (mm) 30 26
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 2.58 2.51
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.36 0.39
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 1.9 1.5
Acetabulum force (kN) 0.6 1.3
Combined force (kN) 2.3 2.7
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.1 0.8
L-M moment (Nm) 58 92
A-P moment (Nm) 16 23

Passenger injury measures

Test ID CES1902 VTS1912
Head HIC-15 132 86
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.3 0.2
Compression (kN) 0.3 0.2
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 34 25
Lateral force (kN) 1.4 1.2
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 38 33
Average deflection (mm) 28 24
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 3.19 3.83
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.52 0.43
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 0.2 0.2
Acetabulum force (kN) 0.8 0.8
Combined force (kN) 0.9 0.8
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 1.0 0.7
L-M moment (Nm) 171 118
A-P moment (Nm) -70 -34

About the original side crash test

Side: updated test

Rating applies to 2020-22 models

Tested vehicle: 2023 Kia Telluride EX 4-door 4wd

The Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade were introduced in the 2020 model year.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis
Driver head protection
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis
Rear passenger head protection

View of the vehicle just after the crash test.

View of the vehicle after the crash with doors removed, showing the side airbags and damage to the occupant compartment.

Smeared greasepaint shows where the driver dummy's head was protected from being hit by hard structures by the side airbags.

Smeared greasepaint shows where the rear passenger dummy’s head was protected by the side airbag.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CES2208
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -13.5
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID CES2208
Head
HIC-15 99
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.4
Compression (kN) 0.2
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 17
Lateral force (kN) 0.8
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 28
Average deflection (mm) 24
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 2.86
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.40
Pelvis
Combined force (kN) 6.6

Passenger injury measures

Test ID CES2208
Head
HIC-15 300
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.2
Compression (kN) 0.2
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 38
Lateral force (kN) 1.8
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 38
Average deflection (mm) 37
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 5.12
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.88
Pelvis
Combined force (kN) 2.9

About the side crash test

Roof strength

Rating applies to 2020-23 models

Tested vehicle: 2020 Kia Telluride LX 4-door 4wd

Rating applies to both the Kia Telluride (tested) and the structurally similar Hyundai Palisade.

Overall evaluation
Curb weight4,243 lbs
Peak force19,634 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio4.63

About the roof strength test

Head restraints & seats

Seat type: Manual leatherette seat

Overall evaluation
Dynamic rating
Seat/head restraint geometry
Technical measurements for this test
Seat type Manual leatherette seat
Geometry
Backset (mm) 42
Distance below top of head (mm) -6
Seat design parameters
Pass/fail Pass
Max T1 acceleration (g) 11.1
Head contact time (ms) 62
Force rating 1
Neck forces
Max neck shear force (N) 0
Max neck tension (N) 414

About the head restraint & seat test
Currently, IIHS tests apply only to front seats.

Headlights

Ratings are given for 2 different headlight variations available on this vehicle.

Trim level(s)

  • EX trim equipped with Premium package
  • EX trim equipped with Premium and Tow packages
  • EX trim equipped with Nightfall package
  • EX trim equipped with Nightfall and Tow packages
  • SX trim
Low-beam headlight typeLED projector
High-beam headlight typeLED reflector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination High-beam assist credit Some glare

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good in all 4 tests.

The low beams created some glare.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was inadequate on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good on the gradual left and both right curves and fair on the sharp left curve.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • EX trim equipped with Premium package
  • EX trim equipped with Premium and Tow packages
  • EX trim equipped with Nightfall package
  • EX trim equipped with Nightfall and Tow packages
  • SX trim
Low-beam headlight type LED projector
High-beam headlight type LED reflector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2020-22 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 99.9 m None
Straightaway left edge 68.8 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 89.9 m 53.9%
250m radius left curve, left edge 74.7 m 0.1%
150m radius right curve, right edge 67.1 m 12.1%
150m radius left curve, left edge 60.4 m 0.3%
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 124.3 m
Straightaway left edge 86.7 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 89.9 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 82.5 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 68.0 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 63.7 m

Trim level(s)

  • EX trim equipped with Tow package
  • LX trim
  • S trim
Low-beam headlight typeHalogen projector
High-beam headlight typeHalogen projector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?No
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was fair on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was fair on the right side of the road and inadequate on the left side. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • EX trim equipped with Tow package
  • LX trim
  • S trim
Low-beam headlight type Halogen projector
High-beam headlight type Halogen projector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? No
Overall rating
Applies to 2020-22 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 91.5 m None
Straightaway left edge 49.4 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 48.5 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 42.9 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 37.1 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 37.4 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 128.8 m
Straightaway left edge 115.0 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 48.1 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 51.3 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 36.4 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 40.9 m

About the headlight evaluation

Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle

System details

  • Standard Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2020-22 models

Superior
Superior
  • This system meets the requirements for forward collision warning.
  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

About the original front crash prevention test

Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)

System details

  • standard Forward Collision Avoidance (FCA), with Pedestrian Detection

Overall evaluation

This rating applies to all 2020-22 models

Superior
Superior

Crossing child

  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 22 mph.

Crossing adult

  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

Parallel adult

  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 37 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision. A warning was issued 1.6 seconds before impact.

About the pedestrian front crash prevention test

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2020-22 models

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trimLX
Seat type leatherette

This vehicle has 3 rear seating positions with complete child seat attachment (LATCH) hardware.

It has 2 additional seating positions with a tether anchor only.

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trimLX
Seat type leatherette
1 2 3 6 4 5
GGood
AAcceptable
MMarginal
PPoor
Seating positions that rely on borrowed lower anchors or have only a tether anchor available are not rated.
thether anchor symbol
Tether anchor
lower anchor symbol
Lower anchors
shared lower achors symbol
Lower anchor(s) can be borrowed from adjacent positions(s)
No hardware available

Details by seating position

1
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
2
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
none available
3
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
5
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
none available
6
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
difficult to maneuver around anchors
Technical measurements for this test

Seat position 21

3

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 15
Clearance angle (degrees) 90
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 2-4
Force (lbs) 21
Clearance angle (degrees) 68
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 22

2

Lower anchor A
No lower latch for this seat position
Lower anchor B
No lower latch for this seat position
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 23

1

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 2-4
Force (lbs) 14
Clearance angle (degrees) 80
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 2-4
Force (lbs) 14
Clearance angle (degrees) 86
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 31

6

Lower anchor A
Open access rated Yes
Depth Visible
Force (lbs) 0
Clearance angle (degrees) 29
Lower anchor B
Open access rated Yes
Depth Not visible
Force (lbs) 0
Clearance angle (degrees) 25
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present No
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 No
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 32

5

Lower anchor A
No lower latch for this seat position
Lower anchor B
No lower latch for this seat position
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

About the child seat anchor evaluation