KIA Telluride is one of the most popular SUVs currently in the US. While all other cars dropped in sales because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Telluride didn't even notice these problems growing its sales twice in 2021 compared to 2019. The vehicle is really wanted by American buyers and this, as you may know, causes some problems in form of lines and waiting time.
So, how long will you have to wait to get your hand on the KIA Telluride? We'll answer this question in this article and will also tell you some key facts about the vehicle. Well, we'll concentrate on the way to buy the Telluride so that you could take your Korean SUV much faster than average. And this is going to be fun!
Let's get started!
What's the waiting time for the KIA Telluride?
If you just visit a KIA dealership, they will tell you that the waiting time is about one and a half months. But they never sign a paper proving their words. Actually, the waiting time for the Telluride is from 4 to 7 months currently. It may be even longer if you want some exclusive trim with personal add-ons.
We hate the idea of waiting up to 7 months until we get our new car. Yes, you won't need to pay all the money at once - you will only need to pay a deposit. But still, you arrive at the dealership because you already want a new car. Why do they make you wait for more than half a year?
Why is the delivery time that long for the Telluride?
You may think that the vehicle is made in Korea and that's why it is delivered that long. But no, the Telluride is assembled in the US (West Point, Georgia). The problem is that every assembly plant in the Hyundai-KIA company is hugely loaded with work and just can't manufacture more vehicles than planned.
Telluride is not the only model in the KIA and Hyundai lineup in America. So, these models just have a limited time in the assembly plant. It means the plant can make, say, 10,000 vehicles a month. This answers the question of why you need to wait: other buyers have already paid their deposits and are now waiting for their cars to be assembled in West Point and delivered to them.
You may ask a fair question: why wouldn't KIA just increase the production of these SUVs if they are so popular? The problem is that when the sales drop eventually, the company will suffer from huge losses and will have to immediately reschedule the work in the assembly plant. Also, the main production places in Korea won't be able to produce and deliver some parts for the Telluride.
It means KIA prefers making you wait 6 months rather than losing their money. Which is pretty fair from the business point of view.
How can you get your KIA Telluride faster than 4-7 months?
Even though there aren't many ways to make the KIA dealer work faster and get your vehicle in one or two months, we have some ideas. There are basically three methods for you to try:
1. Speak to your dealer and ask if there are some ways
For example, your dealer may see that the next delivery truck will have one Telluride for their showroom. This may be a base LX or S model with FWD and some other poor things which is usually used for test drives and as an advert car for some events. But sometimes, the dealer may sell this car right after an event. This way, you'll be able to get your new Telluride much faster than other buyers.
2. Buy the test-drive car
We don't know why many people hate buying test-drive cars. They are new cars that come with a warranty and a mileage of about 1,500 miles. They are just as good as new vehicles which may also come with 500 miles on them. So, we wouldn't care if we had a chance to buy the Telluride without any waiting time and with a fair discount.
3. Buy a used Telluride
Even though these vehicles have been available since 2019 only, some buyers are already selling their vehicles because of numerous reasons. You may find a Telluride with 10-15K miles on it and $5000-$7000 cheaper than the new one. But the best thing is that this KIA SUV is available right now, without any waiting time.
Sometimes, buying a 1-3-year-old car is really more reasonable than buying a new vehicle. You can save some money and still get the vehicle under the warranty.
About the authors
The CarAraC research team is composed of seasoned auto mechanics and automotive industry professionals, including individuals with advanced degrees and certifications in their field. Our team members boast prestigious credentials, reflecting their extensive knowledge and skills. These qualifications include: IMI: Institute of the Motor Industry, ASE-Certified Master Automobile Technicians; Coventry University, Graduate of MA in Automotive Journalism; Politecnico di Torino, Italy, MS Automotive Engineering; Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Mechanical University in Skopje; TOC Automotive College; DHA Suffa University, Department of Mechanical Engineering
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