The 2020 Kia Telluride marked the debut of this popular SUV, quickly earning accolades for its design, features, and importantly, its safety. For families and individuals prioritizing safety, understanding vehicle crashworthiness and safety technology is paramount. This article delves into the safety ratings of the 2020 Kia Telluride, providing a comprehensive overview based on evaluations from leading safety organizations.
Crashworthiness Evaluations: Protecting Occupants in Accidents
The core of vehicle safety lies in its ability to protect occupants during a crash. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts rigorous crash tests to assess vehicle performance in various accident scenarios. The 2020 Kia Telluride underwent several of these tests, and the results are detailed below.
Small Overlap Frontal Crash Test: Driver-Side
The small overlap frontal test simulates a crash where only a small portion of the vehicle’s front end (driver’s side in this case) impacts a barrier. This is a demanding test as it concentrates crash forces on a smaller area, bypassing the main energy-absorbing structures.
The 2020 Kia Telluride achieved a “Good” rating in the driver-side small overlap front test. This is the highest rating possible, indicating excellent protection in this type of collision. Key evaluation criteria and their corresponding “Good” ratings include:
- Overall evaluation: Good
- Structure and safety cage: Good
- Driver injury measures:
- Head/neck: Good
- Chest: Good
- Hip/thigh: Good
- Lower leg/foot: Good
- Driver restraints and dummy kinematics: Good
These “Good” ratings across all categories demonstrate that the 2020 Telluride’s structure effectively maintained its integrity during the test, and the restraint systems worked well to protect the driver dummy from significant injuries.
Technical measurements from the driver-side small overlap test provide further insights into the vehicle’s performance.
Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side:
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Lower occupant compartment | |
| Lower hinge pillar max (cm) | 9 |
| Footrest (cm) | 8 |
| Left toepan (cm) | 5 |
| Brake pedal (cm) | 4 |
| Rocker panel lateral average (cm) | 2 |
| Upper occupant compartment | |
| Steering column | 0 |
| Upper hinge pillar max (cm) | 5 |
| Upper dash (cm) | 5 |
| Lower instrument panel (cm) | 6 |
These measurements indicate the extent of intrusion into the occupant compartment. Lower numbers generally suggest better performance, as less intrusion means more space is preserved around the driver, reducing injury risk.
Driver injury measures:
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 109 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | no contact |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 1.1 |
| Extension bending moment (Nm) | 18 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.29 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 25 |
| Femur (kN) | |
| Left | 1.2 |
| Right | 1.4 |
| Knee displacement (mm) | |
| Left | 0 |
| Right | 3 |
| Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%) | |
| Left | 0 |
| Right | 0 |
| Maximum tibia index | |
| Left | 0.38 |
| Right | 0.35 |
| Tibia axial force (kN) | |
| Left | 1.4 |
| Right | 1.3 |
| Foot acceleration (g) | |
| Left | 58 |
| Right | 41 |
These injury measures record forces and accelerations experienced by the driver dummy in critical body regions. Lower values are better, indicating lower injury risk. The measurements for the 2020 Telluride are all within acceptable ranges, contributing to the “Good” rating.
Small Overlap Frontal Crash Test: Passenger-Side
Recognizing that passenger safety is equally important, IIHS also conducts a small overlap test on the passenger side.
Similar to the driver-side test, the 2020 Kia Telluride earned a “Good” rating in the passenger-side small overlap frontal test. This reinforces the vehicle’s robust frontal crash protection for all occupants. The “Good” ratings extended across all evaluation areas:
- Overall evaluation: Good
- Structure and safety cage: Good
- Passenger injury measures:
- Head/neck: Good
- Chest: Good
- Hip/thigh: Good
- Lower leg/foot: Good
- Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics: Good
- Driver injury measures: While focused on the passenger side, driver-side measurements are also taken in this test to ensure overall structural integrity.
- Head/neck: Good
- Chest: Good
- Hip/thigh: Good
- Lower leg/foot: Good
- Driver restraints and dummy kinematics: Good
The consistent “Good” ratings in both driver and passenger-side small overlap tests highlight the 2020 Telluride’s commitment to providing a safe environment for everyone in the vehicle.
Technical measurements for the passenger-side small overlap test offer detailed data.
Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on passenger side:
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Lower occupant compartment | |
| Lower hinge pillar max (cm) | 8 |
| Footrest (cm) | 11 |
| Right toepan (cm) | 14 |
| Center toepan (cm) | 4 |
| Rocker panel lateral average (cm) | 2 |
| Upper occupant compartment | |
| Center dash (cm) | 3 |
| Upper hinge pillar max (cm) | 2 |
| Upper dash (cm) | 4 |
| Right lower dash (cm) | 5 |
Similar to the driver-side test, these intrusion measurements are low, indicating good structural performance on the passenger side.
Passenger injury measures:
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 119 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | no contact |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 0.9 |
| Extension bending moment (Nm) | 30 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.34 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 24 |
| Femur (kN) | |
| Left | 0.5 |
| Right | 0.7 |
| Knee displacement (mm) | |
| Left | 0 |
| Right | 1 |
| Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%) | |
| Left | 0 |
| Right | 0 |
| Maximum tibia index | |
| Left | 0.47 |
| Right | 0.42 |
| Tibia axial force (kN) | |
| Left | 1.3 |
| Right | 1.7 |
| Foot acceleration (g) | |
| Left | 43 |
| Right | 52 |
Driver injury measures (passenger-side test):
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 163 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | no contact |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 1.2 |
| Extension bending moment (Nm) | 10 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.20 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 26 |
| Femur (kN) | |
| Left | 0.4 |
| Right | 0.4 |
| Knee displacement (mm) | |
| Left | 1 |
| Right | 1 |
| Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%) | |
| Left | 0 |
| Right | 0 |
| Maximum tibia index | |
| Left | 0.34 |
| Right | 0.27 |
| Tibia axial force (kN) | |
| Left | 1.4 |
| Right | 1.0 |
| Foot acceleration (g) | |
| Left | 42 |
| Right | 48 |
The injury measurements for both passenger and driver dummies in the passenger-side small overlap test are low, further supporting the “Good” rating and demonstrating comprehensive frontal crash protection.
Moderate Overlap Frontal Crash Test: Original Test
The moderate overlap frontal test simulates a collision where a significant portion of the vehicle’s front end impacts a barrier. This test is less severe than the small overlap test but still critical in assessing frontal crash protection.
The 2020 Kia Telluride achieved a “Good” rating in the moderate overlap frontal test as well. This consistent top rating across different frontal crash scenarios speaks volumes about the vehicle’s structural design and safety engineering. The “Good” ratings encompass:
- Overall evaluation: Good
- Structure and safety cage: Good
- Driver injury measures:
- Head/neck: Good
- Chest: Good
- Leg/foot, left: Good
- Leg/foot, right: Good
- Driver restraints and dummy kinematics: Good
The “Good” rating in this test further solidifies the 2020 Telluride’s strong frontal crash performance.
Technical measurements from the moderate overlap frontal test offer additional detail.
Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side:
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Footwell intrusion | |
| Footrest (cm) | 6 |
| Left (cm) | 10 |
| Center (cm) | 10 |
| Right (cm) | 8 |
| Brake pedal (cm) | 7 |
| Instrument panel rearward movement | |
| Left (cm) | 0 |
| Right (cm) | 0 |
| Steering column movement | |
| Upward (cm) | -2 |
| Rearward (cm) | -4 |
| A-pillar rearward movement (cm) | 0 |
These intrusion measurements are again indicative of good structural integrity, with minimal intrusion into the driver’s footwell and occupant space.
Driver injury measures:
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 211 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | no contact |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 0.8 |
| Extension bending moment (Nm) | 16 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.19 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 30 |
| Legs | |
| Femur force – left (kN) | 1.2 |
| Femur force – right (kN) | 1.2 |
| Knee displacement – left (mm) | 1 |
| Knee displacement – right (mm) | 2 |
| Maximum tibia index – left | 0.26 |
| Maximum tibia index – right | 0.57 |
| Tibia axial force – left (kN) | 2.0 |
| Tibia axial force – right (kN) | 2.1 |
| Foot acceleration (g) | |
| Left | 51 |
| Right | 84 |
The injury measurements in the moderate overlap test also remain low, reinforcing the “Good” rating and demonstrating effective occupant protection in this common crash type.
Side Impact Crash Test: Original and Updated
Side impacts are another significant real-world accident scenario. IIHS conducts side crash tests to evaluate how well vehicles protect occupants in these collisions. The 2020 Kia Telluride was subjected to both the original and updated side impact tests.
Side: Original Test (Rating applies to 2020-23 models)
In the original side impact test, the 2020 Kia Telluride achieved a “Good” rating, the highest possible. This rating is based on both IIHS and Hyundai/Kia conducted tests, demonstrating consistent performance. The “Good” ratings were awarded across all categories:
- Overall evaluation: Good
- Structure and safety cage: Good
- Driver injury measures:
- Head/neck: Good
- Torso: Good
- Pelvis/leg: Good
- Driver head protection: Good
- Rear passenger injury measures:
- Head/neck: Good
- Torso: Good
- Pelvis/leg: Good
- Rear passenger head protection: Good
Alt text: Side impact crash test of a 2020 Kia Telluride, showing the vehicle and barrier just after impact, demonstrating the forces involved in a side collision.
Alt text: Post-crash view of a 2020 Kia Telluride with doors removed, revealing deployed side airbags and structural damage to the occupant compartment after a side impact test, highlighting airbag deployment and energy absorption.
Alt text: Grease paint on the side airbag of a 2020 Kia Telluride, indicating head protection for the driver dummy during a side impact test, demonstrating effective airbag coverage and head injury prevention.
Alt text: Grease paint on the side airbag, showing head protection for the rear passenger dummy in a 2020 Kia Telluride side impact test, confirming rear passenger head safety due to side airbag deployment.
These images visually illustrate the side impact test and the effectiveness of the side airbags in protecting occupant heads.
Side: Updated Test (Rating applies to 2020-22 models)
IIHS updated its side impact test to be more demanding, using a heavier barrier and higher impact speed to better reflect real-world side collisions, particularly involving larger SUVs and trucks.
In the updated side impact test, the 2020 Kia Telluride received a “Marginal” overall rating. While still offering “Good” protection for head/neck and torso for both driver and rear passenger, and “Good” head protection, the pelvis protection for the driver was rated “Poor,” and torso protection for the rear passenger was “Acceptable.” The structural performance was also rated “Marginal.”
- Overall evaluation: Marginal
- Structure and safety cage: Marginal
- Driver injury measures:
- Head/neck: Good
- Torso: Good
- Pelvis: Poor
- Driver head protection: Good
- Rear passenger injury measures:
- Head/neck: Good
- Torso: Acceptable
- Pelvis: Good
- Rear passenger head protection: Good
Alt text: Updated side impact crash test of a 2020 Kia Telluride, showcasing the vehicle immediately after impact, demonstrating the more severe nature of the updated test.
Alt text: Post-updated side impact test view of a 2020 Kia Telluride with doors removed, revealing side airbag deployment and occupant compartment damage, highlighting structural deformation and airbag functionality in a more challenging test scenario.
Alt text: Grease paint on the driver-side airbag after an updated side impact test of a 2020 Kia Telluride, indicating driver head protection, even in a more rigorous side crash evaluation.
Alt text: Rear passenger side airbag with grease paint in a 2020 Kia Telluride updated side impact test, confirming head protection for rear occupants in the enhanced side collision scenario.
These images provide a visual representation of the updated side impact test and the vehicle’s performance. While head protection remained “Good,” the “Marginal” overall rating indicates areas for potential improvement in side impact protection, particularly for pelvis and rear passenger torso in the more demanding test scenario.
Roof Strength Test
Roof strength is crucial in rollover accidents. The IIHS roof strength test measures how much force a vehicle’s roof can withstand before crushing a certain amount.
The 2020 Kia Telluride achieved a “Good” rating in the roof strength test. This indicates that the roof is strong enough to protect occupants in a rollover crash. The strength-to-weight ratio of 4.63, exceeding the requirement for a “Good” rating, demonstrates a robust roof structure.
| Overall evaluation | Good |
|---|---|
| Curb weight | 4,243 lbs |
| Peak force | 19,634 lbs |
| Strength-to-weight ratio | 4.63 |
This “Good” roof strength rating adds another layer of safety for the 2020 Telluride, especially in scenarios where rollovers are a risk.
Head Restraints & Seats
Head restraints and seats play a vital role in preventing whiplash injuries in rear-end collisions. IIHS evaluates these based on dynamic testing and geometric measurements.
The 2020 Kia Telluride received a “Good” rating for head restraints & seats. Both the dynamic rating (how well the seat and head restraint prevent whiplash in a simulated rear-end collision) and the seat/head restraint geometry (measuring the position of the head restraint relative to the head) were rated “Good”.
| Overall evaluation | Good |
|---|---|
| Dynamic rating | Good |
| Seat/head restraint geometry | Good |
This “Good” rating signifies effective whiplash protection in rear-impact crashes for the 2020 Telluride.
Headlight Evaluation: Seeing and Being Seen
Visibility is a critical aspect of safety, especially at night. IIHS evaluates vehicle headlights for their performance in providing adequate illumination without causing excessive glare.
The 2020 Kia Telluride has two different headlight variations depending on the trim level.
SX Trim Headlights:
The SX trim comes with LED projector low beams and LED reflector high beams, and features high-beam assist. These headlights received an “Acceptable” overall rating.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Low-beam headlight type | LED projector |
| High-beam headlight type | LED reflector |
| Curve-adaptive? | No |
| High-beam assist? | Yes |
| Overall rating | Acceptable |
While “Acceptable” is not the highest rating, it indicates that these headlights provide adequate, though not optimal, visibility. Low beam visibility was good on straightaways and curves, but with some glare. High beam visibility was inadequate on straightaways but good on most curves, with high-beam assist compensating for low beam limitations on straight roads.
LX, S, and EX Trim Headlights:
LX, S, and EX trims are equipped with halogen projector headlights for both low and high beams, without curve-adaptive features or high-beam assist. These headlights received a “Poor” overall rating.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Low-beam headlight type | Halogen projector |
| High-beam headlight type | Halogen projector |
| Curve-adaptive? | No |
| High-beam assist? | No |
| Overall rating | Poor |
The “Poor” rating indicates significant deficiencies in headlight performance for these trims. Low beam visibility was fair on straightaways but inadequate on curves. High beam visibility was fair on the right side of straightaways and inadequate elsewhere.
The headlight ratings highlight a significant difference in visibility performance depending on the trim level of the 2020 Kia Telluride. Choosing the SX trim with LED headlights is clearly preferable for maximizing nighttime driving safety.
Front Crash Prevention: Vehicle-to-Vehicle and Pedestrian
Beyond crashworthiness, crash prevention technologies are increasingly important for safety. IIHS evaluates front crash prevention systems in vehicle-to-vehicle and pedestrian scenarios.
Vehicle-to-Vehicle Front Crash Prevention:
The 2020 Kia Telluride comes standard with Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist. This system earned a “Superior” rating.
| Overall evaluation | Superior |
|---|
The system meets forward collision warning requirements and successfully avoided collisions in both 12 mph and 25 mph vehicle-to-vehicle tests. This “Superior” rating demonstrates highly effective automatic emergency braking in preventing or mitigating frontal collisions with other vehicles.
Pedestrian Front Crash Prevention (Day):
The 2020 Kia Telluride also features standard Forward Collision Avoidance (FCA) with Pedestrian Detection. This system also achieved a “Superior” rating in daytime pedestrian tests.
| Overall evaluation | Superior |
|---|
In pedestrian tests, the system avoided collisions with a crossing child at 12 mph and 25 mph, and with a crossing adult at 12 mph and 25 mph. It also avoided collisions with a parallel adult at 25 mph and 37 mph, issuing a warning in the 37 mph test. This “Superior” rating highlights the effectiveness of the 2020 Telluride’s pedestrian detection and automatic emergency braking system in preventing or mitigating pedestrian collisions during the day.
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH)
For families, the ease of installing child seats is a key safety consideration. IIHS evaluates LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) systems for their usability.
The 2020 Kia Telluride received an “Acceptable” rating for child seat anchors.
| Overall evaluation | Acceptable |
|---|
The Telluride has 3 rear seating positions with complete LATCH hardware and 2 additional positions with tether anchors only. While rated “Acceptable” overall, some LATCH positions were noted as being too deep in the seat, and one position had difficult lower anchor maneuverability.
Details by seating position:
| Position | Rating |
|---|---|
| 1 | Acceptable |
| 2 | Not Rated |
| 3 | Acceptable |
| 5 | Not Rated |
| 6 | Marginal |
While most positions are rated “Acceptable,” position 6 received a “Marginal” rating due to difficult lower anchor maneuverability. Parents should test child seat installation in their preferred seating positions to ensure ease of use.
Conclusion: 2020 Kia Telluride Safety – A Strong Performer
The 2020 Kia Telluride demonstrates strong safety performance across most IIHS evaluations. It earned “Good” ratings in all crashworthiness tests except for the updated side impact test where it received a “Marginal” rating. Its front crash prevention systems achieved “Superior” ratings, and head restraints & seats and roof strength were rated “Good”. Headlight ratings vary significantly by trim, with the SX trim’s LED headlights rated “Acceptable” and lower trims’ halogen headlights rated “Poor”. Child seat LATCH system usability was rated “Acceptable”.
Overall, the 2020 Kia Telluride is a safe SUV, particularly excelling in frontal crash protection and crash avoidance technology. However, the “Marginal” rating in the updated side impact test and “Poor” headlight rating for lower trims indicate areas for potential improvement in future models. For buyers prioritizing safety, opting for the SX trim with LED headlights is advisable, and understanding the nuances of the side impact rating is important. Prospective buyers should consider these safety ratings in conjunction with their individual needs and priorities when choosing a family SUV.
