The 2023 KIA Telluride was unveiled at the New York Auto show. While the new 2023 Hyundai Palisade looks ready to conquer the urban jungle, the Telluride looks ready to go off the beaten path. It is available in two new trims
X- Line - Appears Visually Rugged
X- Pro - Packs some actual off-road kit
Overview
Given how successful and popular the Telluride has been for the Korean Automaker (93705 units in 2021), Kia decided not to stray too far away from the formula that has made it one of the best-selling three-row crossovers in the United States. This mid-cycle update included refreshed exterior styling, up-to-date tech, and more driver assistance features.
Exterior
Let's talk exterior design. We already knew what to expect from the teaser. and spy shots and thankfully Kia hasn’t done much here apart from subtle nip and tuck as the Telluride was a pretty handsome car, to begin with, in my opinion. If you look closely at the headlamp cluster, gone are the orange rectangular lighting elements, and in its place are twin vertical LED bars and LED fog lights.
The Grille (Tiger Nose) has also been tweaked now and the TELLURIDE lettering has now been omitted on the hood. Depending on the trim you choose, you get blocky grey inserts in the bumper. The changes are even harder to spot from the side and the rear, aside from a pair of refreshed LED strips for the taillights. You’ve got new wheel designs across the range.
The X-Line model adds a unique radiator grille design, bridge-type roof rails, and body-colored door handles.
Three new colors are available for the telluride,
- Midnight Lake Blue
- Dawning Red
- Jungle Wood Green
Interior
On the inside, we find a new dashboard that is definitely very striking it takes a design cue from the likes of the KIA EV6 and features large optional 12.3-inch displays for both the instrument cluster and the infotainment screen.
Other gubbins includes Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, digital key functionality that works with iPhones, Apple Watch, and Samsung Galaxy smartphones, and a bigger 8.5” color heads up display. A WiFi hotspot and over-the-air updates are also part of the package. You’ll also notice the new steering wheel and redesigned trim pieces and air-con vents. But anyone familiar with the cabin of 2022 will feel right at home here.
KIA has played it smart to retain physical buttons to operate stuff like the climate control and the radio. There are new interior color packages available on the new Telluride. The X-Pro gets a 110-volt inverse in the cargo area.
Powertrain
Under the hood, we find the same 3.8-Liter V-6 GDI engine that produces 291 horsepower and 262 pounds-feet of torque. It sends power to the wheels via an 8-speed auto. Hill descent control is standard across the range, while the X-Line trims get AWD out of the box and feature a snow mode and AWD lock. Tellurides can now be had with self-leveling suspension.
The X-Line models also get +10mm ground clearance, improved approach and departure angles, a tow-mode that is optimized for trailering with sway control, and an upgraded traction control system. Step it up to X-Pro and your towing capacity goes up from 5000 lbs to 5500 lbs. The X-line sits on 20” rims while the X-Pro sits on 18” rims on all-terrain tires.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
We are going to get a high level of standard feature kit across the board, with the highway driving assistant, which is a great aggressive lane-centering feature. The semi-autonomous cruise control also adds lane-change functionality.
Blind Spot Monitoring and the latest version of Kia's highway driving assist software, nav-based cruise control, steering assist and so much more.
Pricing And Availability
Kia hasn’t announced pricing but for reference, the current model starts at $34,015 + destination.} It is safe to assume that there might be a small bump in price given all the upgraded kits you get now.
Conclusion
This midcycle refresh sees some substantial changes, both visual and in terms of kit. Now all that's left to see is how the Telluride fares against the competition. If you are indeed in the market looking at stuff like a Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander, or Nissan Pathfinder, the Telluride should definitely be on your shopping list. Expect to see the refreshed Telluride hit dealer lots a little later in the year.