Vehicles

Can a Kia Telluride Tow a Travel Trailer or Popup Camper?

The Kia Telluride comes with a maximum towing capacity of 5000 lbs. This towing capacity is constant throughout all the trims of the Telluride and is the highest of any Kia model. This would mean that the it is powerful enough to tow a small travel trailer, utility trailer, or boat.

Kia Telluride Engine

The Telluride has only one engine throughout its trims which is the 3.8 L Lambda II GDi V6. The engine is a six-cylinder engine with a gasoline direct fuel injection system, is a part of Hyundai’s Lambda engine family of all-aluminum V6 engines. The engine in the Telluride SUV can produce 291 hp at 6000 rpm and 262 lb-ft of torque at 5200 rpm.

Tow package

A towing package is available at a premium while purchasing the Telluride that installs a trailering hitch and harness to it. This would make it possible to tow with the it. Additionally, purchasing safety chains from aftermarket stores is recommended as it would make towing safer.

However, it is worth noting that the 2020 model comes with a four-pin connector that only operates the trailer’s lights, while the 2021 model is reported to come out with a seven-pin connector that would allow the vehicle to power and operate the brakes of the trailer too.

Towing with the Kia Telluride is not recommended during the break-in time, which lasts for the first 1200 miles of the vehicle’s run. Failure to comply with this criterion may cause significant damage to the engine and transmission of the vehicle.

The Telluride features Trailer Stability Assist, which is designed to stabilize the vehicle and trailer if the trailer sways or oscillates due to conditions such as strong crosswinds, uneven roads, or overloading of the trailer.

This feature works by using sensors mounted on the vehicle to detect irregular motion of the trailer upon which the vehicle will attempt to stabilize the vehicle by applying brakes on the front wheels. If this is not enough to eliminate swaying, brakes on all wheels would be applied, and the engine power is reduced appropriately.

The Kia Telluride is a mid-size crossover SUV built by the South Korean car manufacturer Kia. It was introduced in early 2019 for the model year 2020. The Telluride derives its name from the town of Telluride, Colorado, and is the largest vehicle built by Kia for the US. The vehicle, by default, is a front-wheel-drive (FWD) but has the option to be upgraded to an all-wheel drive. The Telluride is available in four trim levels: the base LX, the slightly upgraded S, the mid-level EX, and the high-end SX.

The Telluride is a powerful vehicle with a maximum towing capacity of 5000 lbs once equipped properly. It is on par with all the competitors in its class range. However, the 2020 model is incapable of applying brakes to the trailer due to the limitation of its four-pin connector.

If you wish to use brakes on your trailer, it would be wise to wait for the 2021 model as it is reported to feature a seven-pin connector in its towing package.