What are the must-have interior accessories for a new Kia Telluride?

Question

So we finally bit the bullet and picked up our 2024 Telluride last week and man I am terrified of ruining the interior already. We went with the light gray interior because it looked so clean on the lot but now that I have the kids and the dog jumping in and out I realize I might have made a huge tactical error lol. I am looking to spend maybe $400 or $500 right now just to get the essentials before the winter hits here in Denver and the mud starts getting tracked in everywhere.

I am basically torn between a few different directions for the floor mats and the cargo area protection. I have been looking at the TuxMats because everyone says they cover every single inch of the carpet and they look a bit more premium than the standard rubbery ones. But then there are the WeatherTechs which are basically the gold standard for durability but they look kinda industrial? My husband thinks we should just stick with the Kia OEM all-weather ones because they have the Telluride logo on them and he likes that they are guaranteed to fit but I am worried they dont have high enough walls to catch the slush.

The other thing is the cargo area. I am looking at that Canadian Kia folding cargo mat that supposedly covers the back of the third row seats too vs just a standard flat mat from Amazon. If I get the expensive TuxMats for the whole car I probably wont have enough left in the budget this month for the nice seat protectors I wanted for the second row captains chairs. The dog is the main concern there with his claws on the leather.

What do you guys think is the better play for a family that actually uses the third row a lot? Should I go for the maximum coverage of the TuxMats even if it means waiting on the seat covers or is the OEM stuff actually good enough for heavy snow and mountain mud? I really want to keep this car looking new for as long as possible but I also dont want to go broke on day one...

ixnefixuuq · Accepted Answer

I totally feel your pain on that light interior!! We did the same thing with our last SUV and I was literally hovering over the kids with a vacuum every day lol. You absolutely have to get the Kia Canada Reversible Cargo Tray though!! It is a total life-saver because it protects the back of the third row when the seats are down, which is huge for hauling gear and keeping mud off. I actually found mine on a discount site to save a few bucks! For the floors, I went with TuxMat Kia Telluride 2020-2024 Floor Mats and they are freaking fantastic! They cover every single bit of that light carpet. To save money for the dog, I just grabbed a Vailge Dog Seat Cover for Back Seat instead of the expensive custom ones. It works amazing for my lab and keeps his claws off the leather perfectly!!

txizhpgfyl · Answer

Like someone mentioned, that light interior is a real test of patience. I have spent twenty years driving SUVs through mountain winters and if there is one thing I have learned, it is that looks should always come second to containment. I actually disagree with the idea of going for the most premium-looking mats right away just because they cover more surface area. In my experience, the WeatherTech FloorLiner DigitalFit is the only way to go when you are dealing with Denver slush. I once had a softer set of liners that looked great but they were so flexible that every time I tried to pull them out to clean, the melted snow just poured right over the edge into the floor vents. tbh it was a total disaster and my car smelled like damp carpet for months. If you are using that third row a lot, you really need something that lets the seats slide without catching. I usually tell people to grab the Smartliner All-Weather Floor Mats for Kia Telluride for the back because they are a bit more budget-friendly, which lets you save cash for the seats. For the dog, honestly, do not wait. Those claws will destroy light gray leather in one trip to the trailhead. I have used the Meadowlark Dog Seat Cover with Mesh Window for years because it creates a solid barrier for the side doors too. It is much better to have a reliable, rigid floor setup and a heavy-duty dog cover than to blow the whole $500 on pretty mats and leave your leather exposed to the elements...

ElectricSage · Answer

Jumping in here because I have spent way too much time obsessing over these exact things for my own Telly. Over the years I have tried everything from the basic dealership stuff to high-end liners, and honestly, if you are in Denver dealing with that slushy mess, dont waste your money on the OEM mats. The walls just arent high enough and the salt will ruin that light carpet around the edges pretty fast.

Get the TuxMat Kia Telluride Custom Floor Mats 3rd Row. I have used these and the coverage is insane. They basically cover every square inch of carpet, even up the sides of the center console. In my experience, they are the only ones that actually keep the melt-off from soaking into the floorboards. Plus they look way classier than the industrial plastic ones.

If you want to save some budget for the dog stuff, look at SMARTLINER Custom Fit Floor Mats for 2020-2024 Kia Telluride. They are a bit more rubbery than TuxMats but way cheaper and still have high walls for mud. Kinda a good middle ground if you are worried about cash.

For the dog and the back of the seats, check out the Mabett Backrest Protector for 2020-2024 Kia Telluride. These are a total game changer because they velcro right to the carpet on the back of the seats. Even when you have the third row folded down for the dog, the leather is safe from claws... super helpful when loading gear too.

Tbh, you should also grab a Issyzone Kia Telluride Center Console Cover. Dogs love to put their paws on that armrest to look out the front window and it will get scratched to death in like two days without a cover.