Ever Heard a Kia Telluride With an Aftermarket Exhaust? Well, Here’s One
The new-car market’s shift to crossover SUVs has been going on for so long that it’s hardly worth remarking upon, but the aftermarket has been slow to take full advantage of it. Yes, there are plenty of companies ready to sell you adventure gear for midsize crossovers like the Kia Telluride, but have you ever heard one with an aftermarket exhaust system?
Such a thing does exist, as it turns out. MBRP is launching an axle-back system for the critical and sales success that is the Telluride. The company recently dropped a YouTube video showing off the system and how it enhances the Telluride’s sound.
MBRP via YouTube
Made from 2.5-inch mandrel-bent tubing, the system includes a 6-inch muffler that replaces one of the two stock units, as well as dual round tips that look a bit sportier than the stock square tips, which are designed to blend in with the rear bumper. As the name implies, the aftermarket parts bolt up behind the rear axle, leaving everything ahead of the axle stock. That includes one of the factory mufflers and the catalytic converter and associated emissions-control sensors, making this an easy install that doesn’t raise any legal questions.
The system is compatible with 2020-2025 Telluride models with the 3.8-liter V6, as well as Hyundai Palisades from the same model years (the two SUVs share a platform and powertrain). After skipping the 2026 model year, the Telluride dropped the V6 for 2027 in favor of more fuel-efficient turbo-four and hybrid powertrains, while gaining questionable new styling. It wouldn’t have been my first choice, but it clearly doesn’t matter to customers, who can’t get enough of the updated Telluride.
It may not be the most fuel-efficient option, but a V6 can sound surprisingly good with the right exhaust system, and MBRP definitely nailed it here. The noise is dialed up just enough without being too loud, and there’s a nice sharpness that builds along with the revs. It may not be as characterful as a traditional American V8 or a high-revving Italian V12, but it’s pretty good for something powering an ordinary family hauler. That’s something V6 haters will never understand.
And it’s always cool to see something that makes a normal car more fun. Automakers and aftermarket companies should do more of this, and not just for SEMA concepts. Practical cars don’t have to be boring. That was true when the aftermarket embraced affordable compacts like the Honda Civic, and it’s still true now.
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