You might expect the best American-made SUVs to come from American automakers. But it turns out that the highest-ranking option comes from a Korean brand. Let’s see where this top SUV is made. 

What is the best American-made SUV? 

According to U.S.News, the 2024 Kia Telluride is the best American-made SUV. They gave it a score of 8.7 out of 10. 

The Lincoln Navigator came in second place with a score of 8.6. It was followed by the Hyundai Santa Fe, which also earned an 8.6. The Genesis GV70, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sorento, and Hyundai Ioniq 5, are other top-ranking SUVs manufactured on American soil. 

Kia’s only manufacturing plant in the United States is the Kia Motor Manufacturing Georgia, in West Point Georgia. This is where the Kia Telluride, Sorento, Sportage, and K5 are built.

The plant currently employs 2,700 people and has the capacity to pump out 340,000 vehicles per year. Kia and its suppliers also produce roughly 14,000 jobs in the West Georgia region. It produces 40% of all Kia models sold in the United States. 

But what makes the Kia Telluride so great? The U.S.News gives each vehicle a score based on a combination of published reviews, third-party data, safety, and reliability. Each score reflects what critics share about the performance, style, interior, comfort, fuel economy, and more. 

The Telluride ranks highly as the best American-made SUV because it has a spacious cabin with upscale materials, a smooth ride, a long list of standard features, and straightforward tech. 

One potential drawback includes its fuel economy. It only gets an EPA-estimated 20 mpg in the city and up to 26 mpg on the highway. Adding AWD reduces these figures by one to two mpg. 

However, the 3.8-liter V6 engine with 291 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque is no slouch. It can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 7.5 seconds, which is average for the class.