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The 2023 Kia Telluride is a promising three-row SUV built for America alright, but we pick that one trim that gives the most value for your money.
If capability, power, and refinement were attributes you could closely relate to a non-American SUV, it would have to be the 2023 Kia Telluride. The 2023 model year has been introduced in two new trim levels: X-Line and X-Pro.
With the Telluride, Kia is aiming at drivers who'd like to take their SUV off the road every once in a while. This cool-looking Kia SUV also brings some design improvements - and this applies to all grades it is sold in, giving it a solid presence.
The changes are not only on the outside but on the inside as well. The dashboard and center console are brimming with the latest technology, including a pair of panoramic display screens. Apart from the new additional features, the Telluride now packs a lot of standard kits that's impressive.
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Kia's three-row SUV is available in multiple trims that include the LX, S, EX, SX, and SX-Prestige. Prices range from $35,690 for the base LX AWD while the range-topping SX-Presting, available in the X-Pro AWD model, will set you back by $52,785.
Of all the trims available, we'd recommend the SX trim, which undercuts the $50,000 mark slightly. It comes with the best safety and technology features possible. To list out a few, it gets dual sunroofs for the first and second row, 20-inch black sport alloy wheels, LED headlights, and fog lights, surround view monitor, blind-spot view monitor, a Harman-Kardon 10-speaker audio system, integrated memory for driver's seat and outside mirrors.
It also features captain chairs in the second row, park distance warning for the front, a head-up display, and Nappa leather seats, and more. Two ADAS features that come standard across all trims include Intelligent Speed Limit Assist and Forward Collision-Avoidance with Junction Turning.
The new Telluride looks a lot nicer with its refreshing new front and rear. It gets vertically-stacked LED headlights and does not come with the orange running lights from the model it replaces. The lower half of the grille seems to narrow-in initially and then expand, housing the fog lights.
Towards the rear, the taillights flow downwards, below the tailgate, and straight into the bumper; quite different from the previous model. The side sills, Kia says, help add some muscle to the overall profile, while the wheel arches and rugged proportions further give it the typical American SUV appeal.
The X-named trims add further to the SUV's looks, like the X-Line for instance, features 20-inch wheels, higher ground clearance, roof rails, and slightly different bumpers that are useful when it comes to approaching and departure angles. The traction control system has been updated, plus it gets an in-built Tow mode that adds more grip. Apart from the X-Line improvements, it gets its wheels wrapped in all-terrain rubber.
The cabin of the Telluride is definitely very typical of a Kia: well-built, beautifully finished, with all the right design elements in the right places. The Koreans have indeed come a long way to rival the Germans in terms of quality.
The cabin keeps noise from outside away; the proportions are the same, so there continues to be a good amount of space, with a lot of cubbyholes. With the third row up, 21 cubic feet of space for storage is available.
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The X-models come standard with all-wheel drive and a center-locking differential that can lock the axles equally for off-roading at a crawling pace. The standard model, as mentioned above, gets front-wheel-drive. The 3.8-liter V6 engine produces 291hp and 262 lb-ft of torque, with power being sent through an eight-speed automatic transmission.
The 2023 Kia Telluride features a self-leveling rear suspension, wherein the ride height is adjusted automatically, depending on the vehicle load to optimize control and stability. The three-row SUV comes with four drive modes: Smart, Eco, Sport, and Comfort. All four modes adjust the settings of the powertrain, drivetrain, and steering effort mapping to help improve the driving experience.
Apart from the four drive modes, it gets AWD, so drivers can select between Snow and AWD Lock, based on the driving conditions. Active on-demand all-wheel drive helps in improving the overall performance by actively distributing torque between the front and rear wheels, based on the driver's input.
The system makes use of electro-hydraulic AWD coupling to precisely activate the multi-plate clutch, constantly redistributing the power sent to the front and rear wheels. In normal driving circumstances, power is distributed according to the drive mode selected. Eco and Comfort modes can send up to 30% of power to the rear, while Sport, Smart, and Snow can send up to 50% of the power to the rear. Power is distributed equally in AWD Lock mode.
Rehan got published for the first time at the age of 17, having written a feature on a Triumph Herald in print. He uses his writing as a tool to express his fondness for all things automotive even today, aged 28. Collecting scale models is a hobby close to his heart, and he wishes to sprinkle pixie dust on them only to see them grow into full-sized cars. He now represents HotCars.com.