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2020 Kia Telluride SX AWD

Is it a Good Idea to Buy a Used Kia Telluride?

Ever since the Kia Telluride was introduced into the market last year, it’s been selling faster than toilet paper during a pandemic. So much so that internal Kia representatives even nicknamed the car the “Sell-U-Ride.” However, it’s popularity has been a blessing and a curse for the brand as many prospective Telluride buyers across the …

Ever since the Kia Telluride was introduced into the market last year, it’s been selling faster than toilet paper during a pandemic. So much so that internal Kia representatives even nicknamed the car the “Sell-U-Ride.” However, it’s popularity has been a blessing and a curse for the brand as many prospective Telluride buyers across the country have been put on a waitlist for up to six months and they’re not happy about it. However, if you happen to be in the market for a highly coveted Telluride, then one solution would be to look at the current used market for one.

There are plenty of used Kia Tellurides for sale

A nationwide search for used Kia Tellurides on Cargurus yields a result of 117 current listings, which means that there are definitely plenty of them go around. However, you just might not be able to find the exact configuration that you hoped for. But if you can overcome that slight drawback, then the good news is that you will not only be able to get your family into Kia’s super-popular three-row SUV sooner, but you’ll also likely pay a lower price.

2020 Kia Telluride parked with mountain scenery
2020 Kia Telluride | Kia

A certified pre-owned model is a good idea

If you do happen to decide on buying a used Kia Telluride, then we suggest finding a certified pre-owned model. The reason for this is that Kia’s CPO vehicles come with an extra 12-month/12,000-mile Platinum coverage warranty in addition to the 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. A 164-point inspection from a factory-trained Kia technician, a free Carfax report, and a full reconditioning using factory parts are also included. So while a CPO Telluride might not be everything you hoped for in a new, it can definitely come very close.

The 2020 Kia Telluride's grey cloth interior
2020 Kia Telluride interior | Kia

Be careful of Kia Tellurides with high miles

While there are plenty of used Kia Tellurides to choose from, including some pristine certified pre-owned models, we came across come with really high miles on the clock. It’s interesting, considering that the car has only been out for a year and the average miles driver per year is 10,000 to 15,000. However, there are exceptional examples like this 2020 Kia Telluride EX that has a whopping 52,618 miles on it. The Autocheck vehicle history report looks clean, but we couldn’t figure out how that car has so many miles on it.

Maybe it belonged to a cross-country Uber driver? Regardless of the reasoning, we suggest being wary of the examples with really high miles on them mainly because they are only a year old or less. As always, if you do plan on buying one, make sure to get a third-party pre-purchase inspection done first because it most likely won’t be a Kia-certified unit.

2020 Kia Telluride | Kia-00
2020 Kia Telluride | Kia

Buying a used Kia Telluride could be better than a new one

While the laws of vehicle depreciation might not have hit the used Telluride market very hard yet, the beauty of buying a used one now is that there are a lot of examples with really low miles on them. We saw some listing with fewer than 2,000 miles on them posted for sale and while their prices were only a little lower than the new-car MSRP, it’s still better than paying full sticker and having to wait for a new one. Sure, you might have to travel to get the Kia Telluride that you want, and it may or not be exactly what you’re looking for, but at least you’ll get one sooner rather than later. And that’s more than the people on a waiting list can currently say.

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Why Is the Kia Telluride So Popular?