PROS PHEV drivetrain enables limited electric running at speeds up to 135km/h Excellent blend of everyday comfort, refinement and performance 3500kg towing capacity It shares its drivetrain with the Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid
CONS PHEV drivetrain adds handsomely to the weight Li-ion battery robs 70L of boot space Lacks the traditional hardened performance focus for which Volkswagen R models are renowned
“A curious mix of speed and efficiency with a big dollop of comfort. It's just not especially fun ”
PROS Comfy, plush, quick and a company car bargain
CONS Not as nimble as a Cayenne
The VW Touareg R is comfortable, well-equipped and effortless to drive, but not sharp or engaging enough to be considered a true sports SUV. That leaves it in somewhat of a no man’s land. Put simply, those looking for a fast yet relatively frugal sports SUV would be better served by the similarly priced Porsche Cayenne e-Hybrid, while those wanting a luxurious and well-rounded plug-in hybrid luxury SUV would be better off with the BMW X5 xDrive45e.
PROS Well-equipped Spacious inside for up to five people Very quiet in electric mode
CONS Cheap-feeling interior Fussy infotainment system Not very exciting to drive
Available on the mid- and upper-level EX and SX Telluride trims, the Nightfall Edition package gives the SUV altogether darker vibe in keeping with the industry's various blacked-out "night edition" models. The Telluride's roof rails, skid plates, front bumper air ducts, and logos have all been painted black. A black-painted grille features an eye-catching pattern unique to the Nightfall Edition, and Kia tops it all off with unique 20-inch black wheels and LED headlamps and fog lamps with black inner bezels. Even though every Nightfall Edition wears the darkened exterior trim, customers can order it with paint in shades of white, silver, gray, dark red, or dark green.
The 2021 Kia Telluride earns our Best Car To Buy nod with its excellent features, warranty, space, and style.
Pros Spacious, airy interior Chic looks Standard safety gear Comfortable
Cons So-so mpg Turbo rivals are quicker May be too big for some
Pros Attractive styling Cavernous interior Comfort in all three rows Plenty of power Quiet ride Solid value
Cons Head-up display disappears with polarized sunglasses No automatic parking feature No power third-row seats Unimpressive audio systems No rear entertainment option Over-aggressive lane keep assist
