Kia Telluride earns Top Safety Pick status

Lack of 'good' headlights disqualified the SUV from the Top Safety Pick Plus club.

Kia's 2020 Telluride has joined the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's Top Safety Pick ranks.

The SUV aced all six crashworthiness tests, including the driver- and passenger-side small overlap impact, while its standard front-crash prevention system earned a 'superior' rating by avoiding collisions at 12 mph and 25 mph.

The Telluride's optional LED headlights, available on the SX trim, earned an 'acceptable' rating but fell short of a 'good' rating due to glare that could cause problems for other motorists. The SUV's base halogen headlights were deemed 'poor.'

The SUV is among many models that lost out on the 2019 Top Safety Pick Plus honor roll due to headlight performance.