The Kia Telluride has been a regular attendee on the world stage ever since it made its debut, with the full-size SUV not only receiving multiple awards and accolades but also exorcising our bad memories of the ill-fated Kia Borrego in the process. The Korean car giant hopes to continue this trend by lightly updating the Telluride for 2023 and even giving it an all-new X-Line model like some of its corporate teammates, but does X truly mark the spot for Telluride luxury and fun?
Light Updates Retain Telluride Fundamentals
All 2023 KiaTellurides benefit from a mild styling update that aims to make them even more attractive to look at. The front grille of our X-Line example benefits from some polish, with the headlights now featuring a jeweled look to them. The front bumper has also been reworked, and while the changes here are not radical, they are enough to add depth to the Telluride’s look while also retaining its core DNA. X-Line and X-Pro models go for a more off-road-focused look, but while the X-Line is more of a styling package that features 20-inch wheels, X-Pro models swap them out for smaller 18-inch wheels with all-terrain tires.
Our tester also arrived at the same time as the Toyota Sequoia. If we had to choose between the two in a figurative style comparison, we would actually have to give the nod to the Telluride. The Sequoia does do a better job using its size to make the styling pop, but the Telluride is ultimately the more polished of the two, and it does a better job putting the key details together to help the styling flesh out better. Of course, the Kia Telluride also faces some internal competition from its sister model, the Hyundai Palisade, but choosing between those two will depend on personality and consumer tastes.
X-Line Interior Blends Telluride Luxury and Tech Into One Cohesive Package
Slip inside the Telluride X-Line, and you’ll see that the biggest change for 2023 is the addition of a fully digital instrument cluster. This new cluster merges with the larger 12.3-inch screen to provide one cohesive slice of screen real estate, and it also looks very stylish. The SX Prestige trim helps provide a solid backbone for some of the other updates that permeate through the cabin. While the new KN logo on the steering wheel still looks like a random blend of lines and squiggles, the reworked Nappa leather seats provide plenty of comfort, and they even come with an automatic lumbar adjustment feature that makes incremental adjustments every few minutes in an attempt to reduce driver fatigue on long trips.
The second-row seats are also heated and ventilated and offer plenty of room for both kids and adults. The third row is best left for children, but like others of its breed, they can be folded down to help improve cargo space. The Kia’s appointments even managed to outdo the Toyota Sequoia Capstone that happened to visit during the Kia’s stay with us. While the pricier Toyota did have a leg up on the Kia in interior materials, looks aren’t everything, and ultimately the Kia managed to beat it with superior interior ergonomics and storage.
Performance Still Makes Commendable Showing, Fuel Economy Is Middling
Performance for all 2023 Kia Telluride models still comes from the carryover naturally aspirated 3.3-liter V6 that makes 291 horsepower and is mated to an eight-speed automatic. Like its sibling, the Hyundai Palisade, the V6 in this Kia is consistent, but it will not win any awards for its eagerness, with the engine preferring to go through the motions at its own pace versus being rushed about by the driver.
The sprint to 60 is completed in 6.8 seconds, but as we mentioned earlier, the Telluride is not a performance model, and for the moment, Kia does not have any plans to infuse the utility with the Stinger’s turbocharged V6. Fuel economy is also a sore spot, with the EPA rating the 2023 Telluride at only 21 mpg in combined driving while the city figure drops to 18 mpg. A hybrid version would help improve the Telluride’s appetite for fuel, but with the company seemingly pushing customers into the all-electric EV9 if they want maximum fuel economy, chances are good that this option will not be coming to the model either.
As for the X-Lne package, while we appreciate the all-terrain tires and some of the chunkier styling, it’s still an appearance package that won’t make the likes of Jeep or Ford lose any sleep. But put all of those niggles aside, and the Telluride still manages to be a cohesive package. It won’t shock, and awe audiences with raw performance or capability, but its ability to seamlessly go through the motions will win over many family buyers that want a no-nonsense kid-hauling machine that can also tow 5,500 lbs.
Value Quotient
Pricing for the 2023 Kia Telluride starts at $37,355, which gets you a base LX model that comes with LED headlights, one-touch sliding second-row seats, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. However, the Kia’s ability to be a value player for buyers has taken a beating over the years, and that becomes evident as you climb higher up the trim ladder, with the EX starting at $42,955 and the SX ringing in at $47,155.
Our SX Prestige X-Line tester had a base price of $51,650, with a light sprinkling of options helping the price go up to a final as-tested price of just over $53,000. That’s a large slice of change to pay for an SUV, and it serves to highlight just how much inflation and supply-related shortages have helped push the Tellurides price up to a point where it’s out of reach for some family buyers. Thankfully, it’s slightly less expensive than the Palisade, and it’s still in the thick of it with rivals like the Ford Explorer, Chevrolet Traverse, and the Honda Pilot.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.