2023 Kia Telluride Reviews, Pricing & Specs

During our time in Texas, we sampled the new 2023 Kia Telluride X-Line and X-Pro models, so our commentary is based on these versions of the SUV.

All Tellurides get fresh front and rear styling, updated headlights and taillights, and new wheel designs. New 2023 Telluride paint colours include Midnight Lake Blue, Dawning Red, and Jungle Green, and the fresh interior colours are Terracotta, Navy, and Sage Green.

The Telluride X-Line replaces the Nightfall Edition in the lineup. In addition to a raised suspension, the X-Line has a unique grille design, raised roof rails, body-colour door handles, and black 20-inch wheels. The X-Pro takes that a step further with exclusive 18-inch wheels and all-terrain tires. In combination with the updated bumper designs, both look the part of a mildly aggressive off-roader.

Kia’s interior updates are not as obvious. The biggest difference is the available digital instrumentation panel and the standard 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. They reside side-by-side on the dashboard under a curved 24-inch piece of glass, and together they give the Telluride a shove into the future.

Otherwise, 2023 Kia Telluride interior changes amount to new colours, minor trim changes, a new steering-wheel design, and modifications to make the centre console more functional than before. Both the X-Line and the X-Pro have their trim names embossed into the upper portion of the front seatbacks.

In Canada, Kia offers the 2023 Telluride in EX, SX, SX Limited, X-Line, and X-Pro trim levels. Prices start at a manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of $50,195 for the EX with standard all-wheel drive (AWD), while the X-Pro caps the line-up at $62,795. The destination charge bumps those values up by another $1,950.

We sampled two models, an X-Line and an X-Pro.

Mechanically, the 2023 Kia Telluride’s powertrain is largely the same as before. That means it has a 3.8-litre V6 engine making power specs of 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. Drivers can select from Eco, Comfort, Smart, Sport, and Snow driving modes, and the AWD system also has a low-speed Lock setting that evenly distributes power between the front and rear wheels.

The V6 easily motivates the Telluride, and we averaged 9.8 litres per 100 kilometres in the X-Line. The drive included some heavy traffic and twisty roads, but otherwise it was all highway. We used Comfort mode except when on the more entertaining sections of the route, for which we switched into Sport mode. The X-Pro was less efficient, returning 11.5 L/100 km, but that included half an hour of off-roading with the drivetrain in Lock mode. According to official Natural Resources Canada fuel economy ratings, the 2023 Telluride should get 11.4 L/100 km in combined driving.

To put some substance behind the Telluride X-Line and X-Pro styling updates, Kia raises the suspension 10 mm to a ground clearance of 21.3 mm, improves the approach and departure angles, and modifies the traction control system for improved performance off-road. The Telluride also gets a new Downhill Brake Control system, which worked great after a briefly terrifying moment during which the SUV picked up more speed than we expected. (Kia says most people won’t fully release the brake pedal while going downhill, like we did.)

The Telluride X-Pro is the one to get if you’re heading off-road. It has 18-inch wheels and all-terrain tires, plus an improved cooling system that bumps towing capacity from 2,268 kilograms (5,000 pounds) to 2,495 kilograms (5,500 pounds). A self-leveling rear air suspension is also available.

Kia took us off-roading on a ranch in Texas hill country, and the Telluride performed well. The terrain showcased the AWD Lock mode, all-terrain tires, ground clearance, wheel articulation, Downhill Brake Control system, forward camera view system, and the SUV’s stability while driving laterally on a slope.

Was it challenging? Not in a lead-and-follow situation in a controlled environment, but if you were in the backcountry and encountered similar situations, you’d think twice about tackling them. So, we know the Telluride X-Pro can likely exceed most owners’ expectations in this regard, as long as their expectations are not that this Kia will match a Jeep or a Land Rover on an off-road trail.

On the highways and byways between San Antonio and Austin, the Telluride was terrific to drive. It has a soft, smooth ride quality, yet it never feels disconnected from the road surface, and aside from some wind noise at highway speeds, the Telluride is quiet inside. We did notice that with the 245/60 all-terrain tires, the SUV felt a little squishier in turns, but that’s to be expected with the off-road rubber. Also, in Sport mode, we think the steering firms up too much, so an Individual mode would be nice to have. Otherwise, the 2023 Telluride is delightful to drive.

Depending on the second-row seating configuration, the Telluride accommodates seven or eight passengers. Our test vehicles had premium Nappa leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, and heated and ventilated front- and second-row captain’s chairs. That’s right: the second-row seats are ventilated from the Kia Telluride SX Limited trim. Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel are standard equipment in Canada.

There is plenty of room inside the 2023 Telluride. Both the driver’s seat and front passenger seat proved comfortable during our test drive, and a new power lumbar stabilization system aims to stimulate drivers every 30 or 60 minutes to keep them fresh and alert on long trips.

The second row is quite comfortable. The test vehicles had manual side-window sunshades, adjustable inboard armrests, USB ports conveniently located on the front seatbacks, and storage pockets including separate slots for smartphones. Overhead controls for the triple-zone climate system give rear-seat riders a say in their temperature setting.

A button on the second-row captain’s chairs moves the seat forward, clearing a path to enter the third-row seating area. Larger adults can enter this section with greater ease than in some of the Telluride’s competitors, and the third-row seat is more comfortable than what you’ll find in some midsize SUVs. It still can’t match the Volkswagen Atlas for leg support and overall room, but the Telluride is better than most models in its segment.

Storage space is plentiful in the SUV’s front and second rows, and Kia offers a “smart” power tailgate with proximity-sensing to make it easy to load the cargo area when your hands are full. Of course, if you turn this feature on via a menu within the infotainment system, it will also open the tailgate when you may not wish it to. New for 2023 is an automatic closing function.

Cargo space remains generous. Similar to other three-row midsize SUVs, volume behind the third-row seat is tight, at 601 litres. Fold the third row down to create 1,304 litres of cargo space. The maximum volume with both rear rows folded down amounts to 2,455 litres.

Kia makes a new 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system standard equipment in all 2023 Telluride models. It includes Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, a navigation system, and Kia Connect services. We tested the voice recognition system using a standard set of commands and prompts, and this infotainment system passed the evaluation with ease. However, it does not accept commands to adjust the climate control system, so you’ll need to do that manually.

Over-the-air (OTA) updates keep the infotainment system up to date over time, and the Bluetooth software supports the pairing of two devices simultaneously. Kia also equips the Telluride with six USB charging ports, giving passengers in every row of seats access to power.

Every Telluride includes Driver Talk and Quiet Mode. The first system allows drivers to speak to passengers in the second- and third-row seats without yelling by projecting their voice through the stereo speakers. The second system allows parents to easily turn off only the SUV’s rear speakers for those late-night rides home when the kids are sleeping in the back.

Impressively, a wireless phone charger is standard in Canada, and an impressive 10-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system is standard from the SX grade. New digital-key technology is also available, transforming your smartphone or smartwatch into the vehicle’s key. It works with the iPhone, Apple Watch, and Samsung Galaxy devices. New to Kia, the 2023 Telluride offers a Full Display rear-view mirror that shows a video view of what’s behind the SUV, which is great when the cargo area is packed to the roof with gear.

The Telluride still offers an optional head-up display (HUD), but now it has a larger, full-colour 10-inch viewing area showing additional information including turn-by-turn navigation, driving assistance system status, blind-spot warnings, and more. We forgot to put on polarized sunglasses to see if it remains visible, but a co-driver wearing them confirmed that, while faint, he could still use the information shown on the HUD.

Lastly, and this is one of our favourite features, the Telluride has a Leading Vehicle Departure Alert system. Imagine that you’re sitting at a traffic light, chatting with a passenger in the back seat. Traffic starts moving, but you fail to notice. If you have this feature turned on, the Telluride will kindly remind you that the car ahead is moving and now it is your turn. Brilliant.

Kia offers a long list of standard safety features on the 2023 Telluride, and it has expanded the number of available advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS), so bear with us.

Every version of the SUV has forward-collision warning, pedestrian and cyclist detection, a new-for-2023 junction turning system that can sense when it’s not safe to turn left across traffic, and an automatic emergency braking system to try to avoid a collision.

In addition, the Telluride includes blind-spot monitoring, rear parking sensors, rear cross-traffic alert with automatic braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centring assist. A Safe Exit Assist system can sense when it isn’t safe to open the SUV’s doors, and it will warn occupants not to do so.

An adaptive cruise control system with stop-and-go capability is standard on the 2023 Telluride, and now it can automatically reduce speed based on navigation system data that shows when the SUV is about to enter a curve. For 2023, a new Intelligent Speed Limit Assist feature can help drivers stick to the posted speed limit.

Kia also adds Highway Drive Assist as a standard driver assistance feature. It’s rebranded as Highway Drive Assist 1.5, and it combines the adaptive cruise control and lane-centring assist systems to provide semi-autonomous driving assistance on highways. Advanced Highway Drive Assist is a step up; it’s new, and it adds a Lane Change Assist function. This system is standard starting with SX trim.

Choose SX trim or higher and you also get a slew of new collision avoidance features related to oncoming traffic, evasive steering assist, and preventing lane-change accidents. Front parking sensors, low-speed automatic braking while parking, a surround-view camera with a forward view for off-roading, and a Blind-Spot View Monitor that shows a live video feed of what’s in the SUV’s blind spots within the digital instrumentation are also available features.

Hold on. We’re not done. You also get automatic high-beam headlights and a driver attention warning system on every Telluride. Plus, and perhaps one of the most important ones, a Rear Occupant Alert system with ultrasonic sensors is standard. That way, if your routine changes and you forget to drop your child off at daycare, and he or she is sleeping in the back, and you lock and leave the Telluride, as soon as those ultrasonic sensors detect movement in the SUV you’ll get a smartphone notification while your Telluride’s lights flash and horn honks to get the attention of passers-by.

Now, how does this stuff work out on the road? We got a chance to sample the forward collision warning system during our driving experience when the vehicle ahead slowed and began moving out of the lane to turn right, and it gets your attention without startling you into cardiac arrest, so that’s good.

As for Advanced Highway Drive Assist, during our drive north out of San Antonio, it was about as good as these kinds of systems get. You’re aware of the steering inputs and corrections, but you never feel like you must struggle to override what the ADAS thinks is best. Plus, it worked exceptionally well in stop-and-go traffic, leading us to trust it perhaps a little too much.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rates the 2023 Telluride as a Top Safety Pick+, its highest rating. Crash-test results for the 2023 Kia Telluride from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) were unavailable as this review was published.

Modern Kias can stand on their own with confidence, and this is especially true of the 2023 Telluride. It is almost impossible to criticize this three-row SUV, and while no vehicle is perfect, this Kia comes darn close. Simply put, it is a fantastic all-arounder and easy to recommend from among its pool of competition, which includes the related Hyundai Palisade as well as the Honda Pilot, Mazda’s new CX-90, Subaru Ascent, and the Toyota Highlander.

The long list of standard features, and the attractive pricing, are just the so-called icing on the cake.

Note: Images show a US model.