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Kia Telluride vs Buick Enclave Luggage Test | What actually fits behind that third row?

So, you want to buy a three-row crossover. Before plunking down $40,000 on a new sport utility vehicle, might we dissuade you with the prospect of minivan ownership? The Pacifica Hybrid, perhaps ... no? Fine. Good thing crossovers (especially the Telluride and comparable Palisade) are so nice to drive these days. We’ll assume you want the big three-row crossover, as you intend to seat folks in all three rows. Unfortunately, raising that third row reduces the luggage area from cavernous to crawl space. ItÂ’s rather devastating from a pure numbers perspective to the two models we have today. The 2019 Buick Enclave goes from a monstrous 58 cubic-feet with the second-row in place down to 23.6 cubic-feet (which along with the nearly identical 2020 Chevrolet Traverse is still best-in-class). Meanwhile, the 2020 Kia Telluride takes a similar hit, going from 46 cubic-feet down to 21 cubic-feet. Just looking at the numbers, it would seem that the EnclaveÂ’s big advantage all but disappears with the third row up, boasting just 2.6 cubic-feet of storage more than the Telluride. But as West Coast Editor James Riswick has discovered in the numerous luggage tests he's conducted, the numbers don't always tell the whole story. Let's see how the Enclave and Telluride compare when you actually put things inside.  Boom. The Enclave swallows all of the test luggage we have for it without any fuss. The distance between the back of the seats to the hatch opening is enough to fit our full-size suitcase horizontally, making it easy to stack every other bag around it. It even fits below the seatbacks, so the driver will have an uninhibited view out the rear of the vehicle.  At our Michigan HQ, our test luggage consists of the following pieces: 28-inch upright suitcase, 24-inch upright suitcase, 19-inch upright suitcase, two small tote bags and one backpack. ItÂ’s likely enough luggage for a quick weekend getaway with the family, given there are no strollers involved. As we attempted to pack it all into the Telluride, weÂ’re glad we didnÂ’t have anything else. The loss of 2.6 cubic-feet of space was indeed felt much harder than what it looks like on paper. We knew we were in trouble when the 28-inch suitcase didnÂ’t fit along the floor as it did so neatly in the Enclave. We were forced to stack it up next to the rear seats, which left it sitting rather tall back there. As a result, the other suitcases didnÂ’t have a neat or convenient place to go.

Kia reveals images of updated ’Mohave the Master’ SUV

Kia on Wednesday released the first images of a heavily refreshed full-size SUV, calling it the “Mohave the Master.” ItÂ’s heavily based on the Mohave Masterpiece Concept that Kia rolled out at the Seoul Motor Show in March, and reports suggest the company plans to launch the SUV in Korea in September. The Mohave is the overseas brethren of the short-lived Borrego, a body-on-frame, offroad-capable SUV that was sold in the U.S. and pulled after two model years and negligible sales. As was the case in March, thereÂ’s no information about the new vehicle beyond photos, leaving us to speculate. But the Master carries on most of the Masterpiece ConceptÂ’s styling, if somewhat toned down, with its boxy design, raised profile and upright body. The Master features the same matching head- and taillight design as the concept, plus the illuminated Mohave nameplate on the tailgate. The stacked LED headlights and fog lamps also carry over from the concept, although much of the chrome trim appears to have been cut from production plans. Also similar: ThereÂ’s no Kia badge anywhere to be seen, which is interesting. Skid plates at front and rear, along with the 4WD logo on the tailgate, add to the suggestions that this SUV is capable of being taken offroad. Kia eventually replaced the Borrego in the U.S. with the Sorento family hauler, but it lived on in Korea and other markets. The Borrego had the misfortune of being released in 2008 as a gas-guzzling ‘ute with the Great Recession raging and gas prices hovering around $4 per gallon, pushing consumers toward smaller, more fuel-efficient options. It also won no plaudits for its looks. Our 2009 review noted, “The new Borrego breaks no new ground in terms of styling” and added that, given the unforeseen spike in gas prices at that time and its effect on SUV sales, “Kia will likely be happy if it can just eke out enough sales to break even on the project.” The new Mohave is undoubtedly more handsome and sculpted than the bland Borrego, looking like a beefier, more imposing version of the Telluride. Rumors have swirled that the Mohave will eventually return to the U.S. If that's true, weÂ’ll have to wait to see whether itÂ’s with this version or a future update.

Tesla exec calls rival EVs 'little more than appliances'

Tesla's Vice President of Business Development Diarmuid O'Connell called the company's competition "little more than appliances" at the Center for Automotive Research's Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City, MI yesterday. "In essence, [mainstream automakers] delivered little more than appliances," O' Connell said. "Now, appliances are useful. But they tend to be white. They tend to be unemotional." According to Automotive News, O'Connell's main critique is that vehicles like the Nissan Leaf and BMW i3 don't deliver enough performance or range to draw the attention of consumers outside of a small group. The solution, in O'Connell's mind, is more power, more range, more excitement and a lower price – that last point is particularly rich coming from an automaker whose cheapest current offering, the Model S 60, costs $66,000 – although the cheaper Model 3 is on the horizon, way out there, somewhere. But some EVs are better than none, O'Connell added. "On balance, I'm happier that [traditional automakers are] doing these cars than not," O'Connell said. "I just wish they would do them better and faster." O'Connell also used his appearance at the Management Briefing Seminars to launch a volley at the Michigan legislature, blaming its opposition to Tesla's direct-sales model for the lack of available EVs in the Wolverine State. "I think if the Michigan Legislature would allow Tesla to sell cars in Michigan, we could probably address [the lack of available electric cars]," O'Connell said. Related Video: