An aftermarket exhaust system is often among the first modifications sought by owners of performance-oriented vehicles. While the benefits are mostly aesthetic, enhancing the engine's exhaust note and replacing some dull-looking factory exhaust components with polished stainless or some other flashy material, aftermarket exhausts have been known to increase horsepower by allowing the engine to more efficiently expel spent gases.

It would be hard to argue that the 2020 Kia Telluride is in any way a performance-oriented vehicle, yet that hasn't stopped Borla Performance from introducing an aftermarket axle-back exhaust kit for the Korean family-hauler. We're struggling to picture the target market.

"[S]pecifically tailored for the Telluride's 3.8L V6 engine," per Borla Performance, the 2020 Kia Telluride "S-Type" exhaust kit is an "axle-back" design, meaning it only replaces the factory components from the rear axle rearward - the mufflers, essentially. It's made from T-304 stainless steel and features a set of snazzy-looking polished tips.

Borla's "S-Type" exhaust systems are in the middle of a soniferous hierarchy, with "Touring" exhausts at the bottom with their mild growl, and the full-on aggressive roar of Borla's "ATAK" systems on top. As you can hear in the video, the exhaust note is still plenty fierce for a 3.8L V6 - especially one that's under the hood of a big, pedestrian three-row crossover.

Brand-new for 2020, the Kia Telluride is the largest vehicle Kia has ever sold in the US market. A 3.8L gasoline V6 and 8-speed automatic transmission are standard, and it can be optioned with either front- or all-wheel drive. Borla's S-Type exhaust system is compatible with both drivetrains.

That's all well and good, but the question remains: why would one want a more aggressive exhaust noise from their practical three-row family-hauler? What sort of a customer is modifying the exhaust on their Kia Telluride? We may never have the answer.