2023 Kia Telluride Review: More of a Very Good Thing

The 2020 Kia Telluride was a bit of a revelation when unveiled; it was a three-row SUV with a truck-like design that offered plenty of room, value, comfort, and style. Tellurides were selling out before they had arrived off the delivery trucks due to its widespread success and numerous major industry honours. Customers were having problems locating any to buy.

The SX-Prestige X-Pro and X-Line variants performed nearly identically to the previous Telluride. The 3.8-litre V-6 engine, which hasn’t changed since its introduction, produces 291 horsepower and 262 pounds-feet of torque. It pairs with an eight-speed automatic transmission for seamless shifting. There are choices for both front and all-wheel drive.

The 2023 Telluride feels hefty but substantial, similar to its predecessor; performance is tepid and leisurely unless you hammer the accelerator pedal. When you do so, the massive V-6’s power comes on smoothly and quickly, accompanied by a pleasant exhaust burble. The Telluride can pull up to 5,500 pounds when fitted with the necessary equipment.

Overall, Telluride’s handling is excellent, offering good input frequently absent in this class and a well-weighted heft. The brakes of the Telluride provide solid and dependable stopping capability when necessary as it travels down a winding back road at a decent speed. However, Telluride’s bulky proportions and mass are obvious, and the SUV doesn’t encourage you to drive spiritedly.

However, without underbody protection, low-range 4WD, more wheel travel, or even an off-road drive mode, the huge Telluride isn’t much more capable of going through into the dirt than any other crossover. Kia argues that the X-Pro is better at transporting families from cities to campsites on fire paths that may occasionally have washouts.

Although it’ll get the job done, this is more of a replacement for a family station wagon or minivan than an actual rock climber. The Telluride will work fine if you keep on dirt roads and stay away from two tracks. The Telluride now features a 12.3-inch touchscreen on top of the dashboard, and a second 12.3-inch screen is offered for the instrument panel.

Even with the huge screens, Kia has not integrated Telluride’s auxiliary controls, such as the temperature system, into the touchscreen. You now have a sizable, easily navigable screen above the dash. Additionally, there are obvious and simple-to-use climate control knobs and buttons and a menu button strip for navigating between features like the media player, map, etc.

The Telluride’s interior package and driving position are close to perfection. The seats are comfy and roomy, and the low beltline and console enable a commanding view outside the car. Even though Kia describes it as a mid-size crossover, the vehicle is enormous inside. The first two rows have plenty of space, while the third row can easily fit adults of average size.

Other interior upgrades include a new optional rearview camera mirror, a new optional 360-degree video system with 3D vision, and optional Nappa leather on top trims. The additional technology and equipment in the 2023 model only serve to maintain the top-of-the-line Tellurides’ fantastic value offer, which previously involved superior products at standard costs.

The original Telluride garnered honours for combining the above elements, and the most recent iteration enhances the original concept. We do not doubt that the brand will be able to put all of the additional production capacity at its factory to good use since Telluride remains a top choice in the competitive three-row SUV segment.