We spent a week instrumenting a 2024 Kia Telluride SX-Prestige AWD to quantify real-world climate control performance, with a focus on cabin cool-down/warm-up times, rear-seat airflow, and the effectiveness of the heated and ventilated seats.
Test vehicle: 2024 Kia Telluride SX-Prestige AWD (tri-zone climate, heated/ventilated front seats, available heated/ventilated second-row). Equipment: calibrated dataloggers at the driver’s shoulder, second-row outboard headrest, and third-row center; K‑type thermocouples at front center vent and rear roof vent; vane anemometer for airflow; Class 2 sound meter at driver’s ear. Conditions: hot-soak at 95°F ambient, 60% RH, full sun until cabin reached 118°F; cold-soak at 20°F ambient, light wind. Tests run on 93-octane, HVAC in Auto unless noted.
Hot cool-down (Max A/C, recirc on, fan high, front windows cracked for 30 seconds, then up): front center vent temperature dropped below 45°F in 1:35 and stabilized at 41–43°F by 3 minutes. The driver-side logger crossed 80°F at 6:28 and 75°F at 9:31. Second row hit 80°F at 8:47 and 76°F at 14:52. Third row trailed, reaching 78°F at 16:27.
Cabin average reached 75°F in 13:42. Fan noise measured 64 dBA at max, 56 dBA once the system pulled back in Auto. Using rear climate on High from the outset cut third-row time to 14:38. Cold warm-up (remote start, HVAC 72°F Auto, seat/steering heat on High): lukewarm air arrived at the front vents in 1:30, surpassing 100°F by 3:20.
Driver logger reached 70°F at 14:10. Second row followed at 16:45; third row at 18:02. With Defrost Max selected from start, a uniformly frosted windshield cleared an 80% viewing area in 2:32. Driving off (1–3k rpm) trimmed warm-up times by roughly 2 minutes across rows versus idling.
The system modulates fan speed early to reduce draft; selecting manual fan High knocks 30–45 seconds off initial warmth at the expense of noise. Rear-seat airflow: with the front system on Auto and rear climate linked, airflow at a second-row roof vent measured 2.2–2.6 m/s on fan level 5/7, peaking at 2.9 m/s on High. Third-row roof vent airflow registered 1.6–2.1 m/s on the same settings. In Auto, the system favors upper vents until cabin approaches setpoint; using rear controls to bias foot outlets helps warm feet but slows third-row average temperature rise by ~1 minute.
Distribution is even side to side; roof placement avoids the knees-and-shins chill common with low-mounted vents. Heated/ventilated seats (front): on High, the driver’s seat cushion surface climbed from 61°F to 93°F in 2:45, peaking at 101–103°F by 6:00 before cycling; backrest trailed by ~3°F. Medium holds ~96–98°F steadily; Low sits near 90–92°F. In heat, localized warmth arrives within 30 seconds and is noticeable through jeans.
Ventilation in a 90°F cabin dropped cushion surface temperature 9°F in 3:00 and 12–13°F by 8:00, with audible fan whir measured at 44 dBA at the headrest—present but unobtrusive. Perforation density cools thighs effectively; lower back relief is milder. Second-row seat heating/ventilation: heating performance mirrors the front but with a gentler profile—about 3:15 to 90°F and a 97–99°F peak. Ventilation is less forceful: 6–8°F cushion drop at 5 minutes, 9–10°F by 10 minutes.
Passengers still reported a clear reduction in sticky-back discomfort during the hot-soak runs. Rear climate on High materially aids the second and third rows during both extremes; pairing seat ventilation with recirc for the first 10 minutes yields the best comfort spread. Overall, the Telluride’s HVAC is strong for a large, three-row SUV: fast vent pull-down, stable Auto logic, and genuinely effective front seat cooling and heating. Rear comfort is good, not exceptional—the third row needs the dedicated rear fan on High in heat waves and cold snaps to keep pace with the first two rows.
For best results, precondition when parked in full sun, start with recirc and fan High for the first 5–10 minutes, then revert to Auto. Families prioritizing rear-most rapid warm-ups might consider vehicles with more aggressive rear blower output, but the Telluride earns high marks for real-world usability.
