Kia Motors considering Telluride luxury SUV to challenge Toyota Fortuner

Kia Motors is planning new vehicles for the Indian market, and four new vehicles have been considered for feasibility studies. All three vehicles are likely to be brought into India through the completely knocked down (CKD) kit route. According to ETAuto, Kia Motors is considering the Soul/Niro electric vehicles, the Telluride luxury SUV, the Sorento mid-sized SUV and the Stinger sportscar. These cars will be slotted between Rs. 10-50 lakhs. Coming to the Telluride luxury SUV, it’s a 7 seat-3 row model that Kia Motors sells in many international markets including that of North America. Big, butch and luxurious, the Kia Telluride will rival the likes of the Toyota Fortuner and the Ford Endeavour when introduced in the Indian market.

The Telluride was introduced in the North American earlier this year, as a 2020 model, which means that it’s very fresh. It’s available with a single engine option: a 3.8 liter direct injection V6 petrol with 290 Bhp of peak power and 355 Nm of peak torque. An 8 speed torque converter automatic gearbox channels torque to all four wheels of the large, luxurious SUV.

An all wheel drive layout is standard, and the SUV gets multiple drive modes. In terms of dimensions, the Kia Telluride is hefty to say the least, with a length of 5,000 mm, a width of 1,990 mm and a height of 1,750 mm. The wheelbase of this SUV stands at 2,900 mm, making the Telluride a lot more spacious than the likes of the Toyota Fortuner (2,745 mm) and the Ford Endeavour (2,850 mm).

Talking about the other vehicles Kia Motors is considering for the Indian market, the Sorento will be a mid-sized SUV that will square off against the Jeep Compass and Hyundai Tucson in terms of price and positioning. It’ll sit above the Kia Seltos, the only vehicle that the automaker currently sells in India. Like the Telluride, the Sorento is a global model that’s sold in multiple markets across the globe.

The Stinger sportscar will rival the likes of the Skoda Octavia on the lower end of the spectrum, and the Ford Mustang on the higher end of the price band. It’s likely to sit between the Octavia and the Mustang in terms of pricing and positioning. It’s expected to be Kia Motors’ most expensive offering in the Indian market, and will underscore the brand’s capability of producing high performance, fun to drive cars. It’ll be a brand builder for Kia in India, and volumes will not be the aim. The Soul/Niro electric crossovers will lead Kia’s push into electric mobility in India, and will be Kia Motors’ answer to the Hyundai Kona Electric.