Comments by "Stephen Hendricks" (@stephenhendricks103) on "" video.

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  3. The Hyundai/KIA conglomerate appears to have mastered the trick of building vehicles that share components, features, and platforms while appealing to slightly different market sub-segments. The Genesis G70 is a sports sedan; the Kia Stinger is a true GT. In the trendy "Goldilocks Tweener" CUV segment, KIA's Sorento offers a naturally aspirated V6 and three rows of seats while the Hyundai Santa Fe is a turbo4 two row version of essentially the same vehicle. Now the Palisade and the Telluride offer slightly different takes on what Americans call "midsize" CUV's and the rest of the world calls "gigantic." Where the Palisade seems to be designed to have a "near luxury" vibe, the Telluride aims to have a more "active," "adventurous" look and feel. The forthcoming Genesis CUV will likely shoot for a "true luxury" feel to complete the hat trick. It's significant that KIA opted for the same 3.8L NA V6 as the Palisade. Since the HP numbers are virtually the same as the 3.3L V6 in the Sorento, I suspect the reason for that choice is to improve torque, especially at the low end of the RPM range. One of the weaknesses of the Sorento V6 is its relatively anemic torque. Those hoping for a "performance" version from either the Palisade or the Telluride are going to be disappointed, I think. The only turbos in the category are four bangers from Mazda and Subaru while a naturally aspirated V6 gives smoother, more linear performance. A twin scroll turbo may well show up in the forthcoming Genesis SUV but I suspect it won't be a big seller compared to the 3.8L and 5.0L naturally aspirated choices. Comparisons between the Telluride and the Sorento are also interesting. Their profiles are very similar and each offers third row seating. The big differences, of course, are exterior length, accessibility of the third row and cargo space behind that third row. For a vehicle the Sorento's size the third row offers a surprising amount of space and amenities. (It has more legroom, for example, than the much larger CX-9 and the Highlander.) It works well for occasional use, especially for local trips. But where it falls short is cargo space behind the third row. While a Sorento is flexible enough to carry more than five passengers on a short trip, it lacks the cargo space required for those passengers' gear on a longer trip and easy access to the third row. The Telluride resolves both of those weaknesses. It has more than twice as much space behind the third row, enough for five or six suitcases. It's worth noting, though, that unless the Telluride offers a second row bench option it's still realistically a six passenger vehicle (maybe 7 with kids), the same as the Sorento. once everyone is in place. As a Sorento owner it's not surprising that I find the Telluride more appealing than the Palisade. Hyundai designs strike me as overly "fussy" and the KIA CUV's look more European to my eye. In fact, though, I don't need or want either, preferring the "Goldilocks" size of the Sorento for my family of 3+ (two adults, a teenager and a big dog.) But for those looking for a larger vehicle, I think each of these is going to be a major threat to their rivals in the midsize CUV segment.
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