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

@atl3630 Nonsense.So much nonsense in your post it's not worth correcting.
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One advantage of being late to the party is that you get to see what everyone else is wearing. The Pilot is a VERY good vehicle. Honda does an excellent job of designing and packaging their offerings but KIA (and its sibling Hyundai) have been knocking it out of the park for several years and according to this (EXCELLENT) detailed comparison that continues with the Telluride. Full disclosure. I own a 2018 KIA Sorento, my second, and I love it for its overall size (189"), its extremely efficient allocation of interior space, and its upscale features in the SX-L trim. I chose it over the Pilot last year and I'd still select it over either the Pilot or the Telluride this year based on my family's priorities. (But that's a different comparison.) Having said that, I'd add a few quibbles and kudos for points raised in the review. () Price. I realize that reviewers have to stick to MSRP comparisons but in my experience there's more than a small advantage for KIA's in real world price negotiations. I purchased my KIA Sorento last year for $8000 under MSRP, making it several thousand dollars less than the best offer I received for comparable models/trims from Honda, Toyota, and Mazda. I wouldn't expect anything approaching that discount on the new Telluride but I'm fairly confident that the small advantage the Pilot (Touring) enjoys in MSRP would be more than erased in serious negotiations. (Edit: Subsequent events have somewhat altered the situation. The demand for the Telluride is so great that unless one has already purchased or ordered one, it may be a wait until the 2020 model is introduced. And if a model, especially in SX trim, can be found, it's likely to be available only at several thousand dollars (or more) over MSRP.) () Performance/Power Train/Handling In this category traditional performance measures (e.g. 0-60, quater mile, etc) are pretty silly unless there are huge differences. The KIA has a slightly larger engine but it runs the Atkinson cycle that sacrifices performance in favor of fuel economy and the Honda's 10 speed transmission might have a slight advantage over the KIA's eight speed box. I'd expect to see a slight advantage for the Pilot in terms of performance but it's unlikely to be important or consistent from one reviewer to another. If you're into stop light drag racing with your 3 row crossover, look at a Durango with a V8 mill. Although KIA claims to have "torque vectoring," the Pilot's version of SH-AWD is a superior system. KIA's version is essentially a "brake-based" system that doesn't offer the same level of sophistication or capabilities of Honda's mechanical system. I doubt that most drivers will be in situations where the differences are obvious but it's worth noting. () Size. It's a very small point but I believe the length of the Pilot is incorrect in the review. The specs I've seen indicate it's 196.5" in length rather than 194.5." That makes the two vehicles virtually the same length. This is a nit to most folks. But for me it's important to being able to fit a vehicle in my garage and believe it or not two inches can make a difference, especially if you hang a large bike rack off the rear end. () Interior amenities/quality/size. Honda excels in family friendly interior design. But if you want near luxury, the KIA's nappa leather upholstery, larger infotainment screen and features and other amenities are obviously superior to the Touring trimmed Pilot. You really have to step up to the Elite trim of the Pilot and even then it trails the Telluride. Kia is king of the legroom competition in all their vehicles. If you're tall with long legs, look at a KIA model and the extending thigh support in the Telluride only adds to that advantage. Overall cargo and passenger space is almost identical. But if you want to transport six or more people AND their gear on a trip, the Telluride is significantly superior in terms of space. () Potential Resale. I don't buy a depreciating asset as an investment but if replacing a vehicle every three years or so is your (very expensive) hobby, the Pilot is probably a better choice. Nevertheless, the notion that KIA's crater in terms of resale value is an outdated notion. Last year I traded my 2012 Sorento for an identical 2018 model. The dealer gave me within $800 of the Kelly Blue Book estimate of the trade-in value of a comparable Toyota Highlander (the resale champ.) Considering that I originally paid about $8000 less than the best offer I received for a 2012 Highlander purchased new, I made out like a bandit. () Bottom Line. Given my experience with two Sorentos, I'd go for the Telluride in a heartbeat. No contest. And since the Pilot is a very good vehicle, superior to most others in the category, that's a strong endorsement. The review strikes me as truly excellent and not just because I agree with the conclusion. :)
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Ironically, the CX-9 is larger and much, much smaller. At 199" inches it's among the largest "midsize" crossovers. Only the Durango and the GM twins (Traverse and Enclave) are larger. The CX-9 is even larger than the humungous VW Atlas. At the same time, the CX-9 has less interior space than ANY midsize crossover. It's even smaller than the KIA Sorento in terms of overall cargo space and passenger space. (153 cubic feet of passenger space in the Sorento versus 134 cf in the CX-9). Total cargo space is less than a Subaru Forester! The CX-9 is very good looking due to the fact that the distance from the base of the windshield to the front bumper is over a foot longer (!) than the KIA Sorento while the interior space barely exceeds that of vehicles in the compact class. In short, the CX-9 is a triumph of form over function. A better and cheaper solution to achieving the same result when driving the CX-9 is a Viagra prescription.
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@Visher Remote start on KIA's is something of a puzzle. Remote start on my 2018 Sorento was a $450 option with a separate key fob. I didn't opt for it when my dealer told me to try pushing the top and bottom buttons on my regular fob and see what happens. My car starts right up. But others I've spoken to don't have that capability. I believe that the undocumented feature on my specific car was the result of a changeover from the dealer installed dual key fob to the app-based version. Puzzling but a nice benefit for me. :)
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Telluride versus Palisade. Considering the fact that so many people are interested in that comparison, here are some things to keep in mind. Hyundai/KIA have more or less perfected the practice of offering near identical vehicles that share systems, components, and parts while appealing to somewhat different sets of consumers. That's not a new idea, of course. For decades the Big Three US makers had different brand offerings that were close to identical under the skin at different price points. But Hyundai/KIA have applied those cost saving measures to vehicles at similar price points that appeal to somewhat different market segments. Recent examples are the KIA Sorento and the Hyundai Santa Fe and the Stinger versus the Genesis G70. The most obvious and most closely related recent examples are the KIA Telluride and Hyundai Palisade. The Telluride is already in some dealer showrooms while the details of trim levels for the Palisade are not as readily available but there are some obvious comparisons. Platforms, engines, drive trains, AWD systems, etc. are virtually identical. In terms of differences, first and foremost, the styling of the Telluride projects an "adventurous" vibe while the Palisade appears to be aimed at a more family oriented and (in upper trims) more luxurious look and feel. Pay your money and take your choice in terms of overall style. Personally, I prefer the simpler and (imo) more elegant lines of the Telluride. And it's obvious that the Telluride is meant to have a masculine appeal. I find Hyundai's design language to be a little "fussy" in most of their vehicles and that's the case for the Palisade. But as always in terms of styling, YMMV. In terms of specifics, the top trim SX Telluride is essentially a six passenger configuration (seven at a stretch) with captain chairs alone offered in that trim. (The EX trim has a bench second row and the lower S trim offers a choice.) I'm not certain about the Palisade but I'd bet the farm that the top trim "Ultimate" Palisade will offer bench seating in the second row and claim a full eight passenger capacity. That would continue the marketing direction of the discontinued Santa Fe XL.
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@OlJackBurton Of course the vehicles are different. But it's not as if Hyundai and KIA designers and engineers simply shop in the same parts bins and pursue their designs independently. The results suggest that vehicles from the two brands are carefully designed to appeal to somewhat different market segments that cover a broader range of customers with coordination to avoid cannibalizing one another's sales. Thus, the Stinger is pitched as a classic GT sedan, modernized with a fastback hatch while the Genesis G70 is aimed at appealing to a sports sedan customer who wants a more compact vehicle. The Hyundai Santa Fe is a two row crossover with a turbo 4 cylinder mill offering what KIA provided in one version of the Sorento in 2017 and dropped when the Santa Fe was introduced. Though the Santa Fe and Sorento are virtually the same size, inside and out, one is pitched as a large "compact" crossover while the other is promoted as a small "midsize" vehicle. The Telluride and Palisade are the most closely related examples but the Hyundai is aimed at customers who want a "near luxury" look and feel while the Telluride presents a more rugged, "adventurous" image.
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