Leslie Massey
The Kia Telluride, which won the 2020 World Car of the Year award, is not available in Australia and there are no plans for it to be introduced to the market. Kia Australia's Kevin Hepworth stated that the car is offered in left-hand drive only and that there are no plans to change this. Kia Australia executives have also denied rumours that the Telluride will enter production in Korea and be available in right-hand drive. While there is strong demand for the Telluride in North America, it is unlikely that a right-hand drive model will be produced.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Kia Telluride's availability in Australia | Not available in Australia |
| Kia Telluride's drivability in Australia | Left-hand drive only |
| Kia Telluride's production in Australia | Not in production in Australia |
| Kia Telluride's popularity in North America | High demand in North America |
| Kia Telluride's award | World Car of the Year in 2020 |
| Kia Telluride's engine | 3.8-litre V6 engine |
| Kia Telluride's power | 217kW |
| Kia Telluride's torque | 355Nm |
| Kia Telluride's transmission | Eight-speed automatic transmission |
| Kia Telluride's drive | Front-wheel or all-wheel drive |
| Kia Telluride's seating | Seven or eight seats |
| Kia Telluride's features | 10.0-inch screen, 12.3-inch screen, heated and ventilated seats, 16 cupholders, seven USB charge points |
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What You'll Learn
Kia Telluride is left-hand drive only
The Kia Telluride, named the World Car of the Year in 2020, is currently not available in Australia. The award-winning SUV is only offered in North America, and there are no plans to introduce it to the Australian market.
Kia Australia's Kevin Hepworth confirmed that the Telluride is "offered in left-hand drive only," and that there are "currently no plans" to change this. The vehicle is exclusively manufactured in Kia's US factory in West Point, Georgia, which only produces left-hand drive models.
While there were rumours that Kia would start building the Telluride in its home market of Korea, potentially allowing for a right-hand drive version, these rumours were quashed by Kia Australia executives. They confirmed that there are no plans to build the Telluride in South Korea and that production will remain limited to the US factory.
Kia Australia has expressed interest in expanding its SUV offerings and acknowledged the strong demand for the Telluride in North America. However, they believe that a body-on-frame ute and a more rugged off-road capable SUV are better suited to the Australian market. The company is focusing on introducing a compact SUV below the Sportage and a work-grade commercial ute to increase their sales and market share in Australia.
While Australians will not be able to purchase the Kia Telluride, they can consider other large SUVs in the market, such as the Hyundai Palisade, which is similar in size and features.
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Kia Australia wants a body-on-frame ute and SUV
The Kia Telluride, an eight-seater SUV, won the 2020 World Car of the Year award. However, it is not available in Australia and will remain off-limits to the market. The SUV is only offered in left-hand drive and is manufactured in Kia's US factory in West Point, Georgia.
Kia Australia has expressed interest in expanding its offerings in the country with a body-on-frame ute and SUV. The company believes that adding a ute to its portfolio is critical for its growth in Australia. Kia Australia product planning chief Roland Rivero stated that a light commercial ute and an off-road capable three-row large SUV could propel the company's sales to new heights.
Rivero suggested that a large SUV with a rugged, ute-like design would be well-received in Australia. He highlighted the market gap for such a vehicle and the potential for increased revenue. He also noted that a simpler approach would be to adapt a wagon-style 'top-hat' to a ute's ladder frame rather than engineering a bespoke platform.
Kia Australia is lobbying for a high-riding light commercial utility vehicle, and the company's COO, Damien Meredith, has indicated that there is room for bigger SUVs in the local line-up. However, the company has not announced any plans to introduce a ute or a large SUV to the Australian market.
While the Kia Telluride is not coming to Australia, the company is considering other options to expand its presence in the country and increase its sales.
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Kia Telluride is an eight-seat SUV
The Kia Telluride is an eight-seat SUV that has been named the World Car of the Year. It is the first time a Korean brand has taken top honours at the awards. The Telluride has won praise for its space and premium feel on a budget. It features a 3.8-litre V6 engine producing 217kW of power and 355Nm of torque, with either front- or all-wheel drive. Despite its success, the Telluride is not currently available in Australia and there are no plans for it to be released there. Kia Australia's Kevin Hepworth stated that the vehicle is "offered in left-hand drive only" and that "there is currently no plan for that to change."
Kia Australia has expressed interest in expanding its SUV offerings, but has prioritized the development of a compact SUV below the Sportage and a work-grade commercial ute. The company has also stated that a large SUV is a "gap" in their product lineup that they would like to fill. However, they have concerns about the manufacturing complexity and believe that a body-on-frame ute or SUV may be more suitable for the Australian market.
The Telluride is only offered in North America and is produced in Kia's US factory in West Point, Georgia. Its sister brand, Hyundai, has faced a similar challenge with its Palisade SUV, which is also not initially available in Australia. Hyundai has since found a way to bring the Palisade to Australia, but Kia has quashed rumours that the Telluride will enter production in Korea and be available in right-hand drive.
While there is strong demand for the Telluride in North America, it is unlikely that Kia will produce a right-hand-drive model for the Australian market. Kia Australia executives have stated that the Telluride may not suit the local product mix and that even if it were available in right-hand drive, it may not be the right vehicle for the Australian market.
Despite the high demand and acclaim for the Kia Telluride, it seems that the vehicle is not coming to Australia anytime soon. Kia Australia has expressed interest in expanding its SUV offerings, but has other priorities and concerns about the vehicle's suitability for the local market.
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Kia Telluride is only offered in North America
The Kia Telluride is an eight-seater SUV that won the 2020 World Car of the Year award. Despite its popularity, the Kia Telluride is currently only offered in North America. There are a few reasons why the Kia Telluride is not available in Australia. Firstly, the vehicle is only manufactured in left-hand drive, which is not suitable for the right-hand drive market in Australia. Kia Australia's Kevin Hepworth confirmed that there are "currently no plans" to change this.
Secondly, the Kia Telluride is produced in Kia's US factory in West Point, Georgia, and there are no plans to expand production to include a right-hand drive model. Given the strong demand for the vehicle in North America, it is unlikely that Kia will prioritize a right-hand drive version for the Australian market.
Kia Australia has also indicated that their current focus is on adding a ute-based off-road wagon to their portfolio, rather than a large SUV like the Telluride. They believe that a ute would provide greater commercial opportunity and help them reach their sales targets.
While there was some speculation that Kia might start building the Telluride in Korea, potentially making it available in right-hand drive, these rumours were quashed by Kia Australia executives. For now, it appears that the Kia Telluride will remain exclusive to the North American market.
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Kia Australia prioritises small SUV production
The Kia Telluride, an eight-seater SUV, has been named the World Car of the Year in 2020. However, it is not currently available in Australia and there are no plans for it to be introduced to the market. Kia Australia's Kevin Hepworth confirmed that the Telluride is only offered in left-hand drive, and there are no plans to change this.
Kia Australia has different priorities when it comes to their vehicle lineup. They believe that a body-on-frame ute and SUV are what is needed to boost their sales and take the brand beyond 100,000 sales. According to Kia Australia product planning chief Roland Rivero, their first priority is to introduce a small SUV to the market. He also mentioned that a compact SUV that sits below the Sportage, a work-grade commercial ute, and an off-road capable three-row large SUV would be ideal.
Kia Australia is focusing on vehicles that can provide greater commercial opportunities. They are considering a ute-based off-road wagon similar to models offered by Ford, Toyota, and Mitsubishi. A high-riding light commercial utility vehicle is also being considered, as it would be technologically simpler to adapt a wagon-style 'top-hat' to a ute's ladder frame rather than engineer a bespoke platform for a Landcruiser rival.
While Kia Australia is not planning to bring the Telluride to the country, they are committed to expanding their SUV offerings. They recognize the strong demand for large SUVs and are exploring options that align with local market demands and manufacturing capabilities.
Kia Australia is also aware of the popularity of small SUVs and is working towards introducing a compact SUV model to their lineup. By prioritizing small and large SUVs, Kia Australia aims to capture a wider range of consumers and strengthen their position in the highly competitive SUV market.
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Frequently asked questions
No, the Kia Telluride is not coming to Australia. It is only offered in North America.
The Kia Telluride is only manufactured in left-hand drive, which is not suitable for the Australian market. There are currently no plans to produce a right-hand-drive version.
The Hyundai Palisade is a similar-sized SUV to the Kia Telluride and is available in Australia.
