Less than four years after its 2019 debut as a 2020 model, the Kia Telluride is receiving a mild refresh and two new trims to complement the lineup.
Successful by any measure, the Kia Telluride snagged industry awards and sold over 133,000 units by the end of 2020 and over 93,000 units in 2021. Rather than resting on its laurels, Kia is forging ahead while the proverbial iron is still hot.
2023 Kia Telluride Styling Updates
Exterior cosmetic updates include a new grille design, a re-shaped front bumper and revised headlamp enclosures with standard LED illumination. The rear fascia gets fresh styling elements and updated taillamps and trim bits.
Additionally, the entire line benefits from new wheels designs, and three new exterior colors join the pallet: Midnight Lake Blue, Dawning Red and Jungle Wood Green.
The interior gets attention too, offering a redesigned dashboard with available dual 12.3-inch digital displays [the previous center screen was 10.3-inch, the digital gauge cluster is optional], a fresh steering wheel design and a modernized trim and HVAC vents. Kia says new interior color packages will also be on offer.
2023 Kia Telluride X-Line
Cognizant of the current industry trend of dressing up average SUVs in the latest rugged outdoor fashion styles—think Ford Explorer Timberline and Subaru Forester Wilderness—Kia created the X-Line and X-Pro trims to accompany the current LX, S, EX and top tier SX trims.
The Telluride X-Line distinguishes itself cosmetically with a unique grille design, trim-specific roof rails, body-color door handles, X-Line badging, and, significantly, exclusive 20-inch wheels. Interior touches include specific color packages and “X-Line” seat embossing.
Lending some credence to the X-Line name are 10 millimeters [approximately 3/8”] of increased ground clearance, improved approach and departure angles of an as-of-yet unspecified amount and an upgraded traction control system. The tow mode has been tweaked with revised shift control and sway control.
2023 Kia Telluride X-Pro
The Telluride X-Pro swaps the X-Line 20-inch wheels for 18-inchers shod with Continental all-terrain tires. It’s an easy swap that pays instant dividends in terms of off-road capability as well as any ride and comfort benefits provided by the presumably taller sidewalls. Kia also found some reserve capability to up the tow rating to 5500 pounds from the standard Telluride’s 5000-pound rating.
2023 Kia Telluride Mechanical Specifications
Little changes under the sheet metal for 2023. The Telluride’s 3.8L V6 engine rated for 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque and eight-speed automatic transmission continue on as the sole powertrain. All Tellurides get four drive modes—Smart, Eco, Sport and Comfort—and all-wheel drive models also get a snow mode and all-wheel drive lock option; an automatic all-wheel drive on-demand system is available.
Expanded Safety and Tech Options
Several new safety and tech features join the long list of features for 2023. New standard items include Intelligent Speed Limit Assist [ISLA], which, depending on settings, recognizes traffic signs, alerts the driver and also limits the speed of the car. Also included is Forward Collision Avoidance-Junction Turning [FCA-JT] which detects oncoming vehicles while turning left at an intersection; If a collision appears likely, the system applies the brakes to stop the car.
2023 Kia Telluride Pricing and On-Sale Date
Kia hasn’t detailed any pricing for the 2023 Telluride, but we don’t expect it to stray far from the current lineup’s $34,385 to $44,285 [including $1,295 destination] price range. Expect the X-Line to fall mid-pack and the X-Pro hit close to or in excess of the $44k mark. The Kia Telluride is built in West Point Georgia while its Hyundai Palisade cousin, also updated for 2023, is built in Korea.