2023 Kia Telluride

The 2023 facelift year of the first-generation (ON) Telluride kept the sole 3.8L Lambda II GDI V6 at 291 hp; there is no optional engine, so the volume trim and range max are the same figure.

Peak torque arrives high at 5,200 rpm, typical of a naturally aspirated V6 and well behind turbocharged rivals that peak low in the rev range.

Instrumented 2023 tests bracket 6.9–7.5 seconds depending on trim and tires; the midpoint is adequate for a three-row family SUV but mid-pack against turbo rivals.

The naturally aspirated V6 is smooth and lag-free with linear throttle response, but has to be revved for real thrust and sounds strained near redline or fully loaded.

The 8-speed torque-converter automatic shifts smoothly and selects gears sensibly without CVT drone or hunting, though kickdowns for passing can be a beat slow.

New for 2023, the X-Line and X-Pro trims are rated to 5,500 lbs thanks to a more powerful cooling fan; other trims remain at 5,000 lbs — strong for a unibody three-row.

AWD is available across the range (standard on X-Line/X-Pro) with an AWD lock and Snow/Mud/Sand terrain modes — sophisticated for a unibody crossover, though there is no low range.

The new 2023 X-Line/X-Pro raise ground clearance to 8.4 in and the X-Pro adds all-terrain tires, giving light-duty trail credibility, but there are no lockers, no low range and no real underbody protection.

A single naturally aspirated 3.8L V6 with an 8-speed automatic is the only powertrain on every trim — no turbo, hybrid, PHEV or EV option.

The AWD V6 that most buyers choose is rated 21 MPG combined — typical for a naturally aspirated three-row and well behind hybrid rivals.

City economy is the V6's weakest figure — a heavy three-row with no hybrid assist in stop-and-go driving.

The 8-speed automatic helps on the highway, but 24 MPG AWD is still modest for the class.

The large 18.8-gallon tank partly offsets the thirsty V6, giving respectable touring range.

At 21 MPG combined the AWD Telluride's EPA annual fuel cost is among the higher figures for a mid-size SUV, though it runs on regular.

The 3.8L V6 runs on 87-octane regular with no premium recommendation and no charging to arrange — the simplest, cheapest fuel requirement.

NHTSA rates the 2023 Telluride 5 stars overall in both FWD and AWD form; the 4-star frontal and rollover sub-ratings are typical for a tall three-row SUV.

The 2023 Telluride earned an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ with Good ratings in every crashworthiness test, including the tougher updated moderate-overlap (rear-passenger) and updated side tests that many 2023 rivals failed to clear.

Kia Drive Wise is essentially complete on the base LX: forward collision-avoidance with pedestrian/cyclist detection, lane keeping and lane following, blind-spot and rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance, Safe Exit Assist, driver attention warning and Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go (Highway Driving Assist 1.5) all standard. Only HDA2, Blind-Spot View Monitor and the surround camera are trim-gated.

IIHS rated the 2023 Telluride's pedestrian front crash prevention Superior both by day and at night — the nighttime result being the hard one — on top of the vehicle-to-vehicle capability that underpinned its TSP+ eligibility.

Blind-spot and rear cross-traffic systems actively brake/steer rather than only warn, are standard from the LX, and are joined by Safe Exit Assist; SX and up add the Blind-Spot View Monitor camera. No trailer-aware coverage keeps it off the very top.

Lane Keeping Assist and Lane Following Assist (centering) are standard on every trim and are generally described as smooth on marked highways, though they hunt on faded lines and in construction zones.

Full-speed Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go is standard, combined with lane following as Highway Driving Assist 1.5; HDA2 on SX/SX Prestige adds assisted lane changes. Smooth and well integrated, but still hands-on.

No hands-free highway driving is offered on any 2023 Telluride trim; HDA2 requires hands on the wheel.

With the 2023 refresh every trim gets LED projector headlights with High Beam Assist, and IIHS rates them Good — no trim-split weak point.

The upright, boxy body with large side glass and a near-vertical tailgate gives good sightlines for a three-row; surround-view and Blind-Spot View Monitor on upper trims fill the remaining gaps, though the LX gets only a rear camera.

IIHS rates the LATCH hardware Good, with three rear positions carrying full LATCH hardware plus a tether-only position, and the wide rear doors and roomy second/third rows make multiple car seats practical.

The 2023 facelift year keeps the first-generation three-row layout. The volume EX keeps the 60/40 second-row bench for 8 seats, which is the top of the SUV band.

The upright roofline gives generous front headroom. Per prompt guidance the no-sunroof figure is used; the sunroof on the volume EX costs 1.4 in.

Front legroom of 41.4 in is adequate but lower-third for the SUV band. The wheelbase is spent on rows two and three.

The volume EX has a single front sunroof, so second-row headroom is the full 40.2 in, at the top of the SUV band. Dual-sunroof SX trims drop to 38.8 in, which is still strong.

Second-row legroom of 42.4 in exceeds the top of the SUV band. Few mid-size three-rows match it.

With 31.4 in of legroom and 38.1 in of headroom, the third row seats teens and average adults on shorter trips. One-touch slide-and-fold second-row seats make access easy. A low cushion and knees-up posture keep it below the Grand Highlander/Traverse tier.

At 46.0 cu ft, space behind row two is mid-pack. The 21.0 cu ft behind the third row is a real everyday strength with every seat in use.

87.0 cu ft is solid for a mid-size three-row, helped by a nearly flat load floor and a square tailgate opening.

Competitive storage: a deep console with a pass-through tray, large door bins, an underfloor bin behind the third row, and USB ports in all rows. The 110V inverter is limited to the SX-P X-Line/X-Pro, so the volume EX misses it.

The front seats are widely praised for long-trip support, and the volume EX has power, ventilated front seats with lumbar. Nappa leather and heated/ventilated second-row seats are SX-P only. The low third-row cushion caps the score.

The well-damped, absorbent ride is a Telluride signature, and upper trims add self-leveling rear suspension. The new 2023 X-Pro on all-terrain tires rides slightly busier.

Quiet for a mainstream three-row. The V6 is audible when worked hard, and the cabin is not luxury-silent.

Tri-zone automatic climate control with vents for all rows, plus ventilated front seats from the volume EX up. A heated steering wheel is optional on EX. Heated second-row seats are SX-P only, which keeps it a few points below a fully loaded rival.

The LX FWD is the entry point of the refreshed 2023 Telluride; the first-year-of-facelift price stepped up from 2022 but stayed well below most three-row rivals.

Telluride volume concentrates in the EX/SX band with high AWD take-rate, so EX AWD is the representative configuration; MSRP is retrieved, the volume-trim choice is a judgement.

The naturally aspirated 3.8L V6 and conventional 8-speed automatic carry no turbo or hybrid hardware, and the long Kia warranty absorbs most early repairs. Published estimates diverge, so a mid-point between the CarEdge figure and broader mid-size three-row class data is used.

Telluride has been one of Kia's strongest residual performers, but 2023 cars were often bought over sticker during the shortage, and that premium has normalized; the 2027 second-generation redesign adds mild pressure on gen-1 residuals.

Kia's 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty applies to the 2023 Telluride and tops the mainstream norm of 3 yr/36,000 mi.

Kia's 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain coverage is the segment benchmark, though it drops to 5/60 for second owners.

Kia includes no complimentary scheduled maintenance in the US, unlike sibling Hyundai's 3 yr/36,000 mi plan on the Palisade or ToyotaCare on the Highlander. The Telluride does get 5-year/60,000-mile roadside assistance and a Kia Connect trial, placing it in the roadside-only band.

$44,625 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (53% retained, or about $23,651) leaves about $20,974 in depreciation. Add the projected $4,200 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $25,174 in total.

The two main sources disagree on the 2023 facelift year. J.D. Power rates it 'Great' (83/100) for quality and reliability, but Consumer Reports rates the 2023 as less reliable than average for its model year, a typical stumble for the first year of a refresh with a new 12.3-inch cluster and new electronics. That puts it mid-band, below the class reliability leaders.

Kia has been one of the stronger mass-market brands in J.D. Power's Initial Quality and Vehicle Dependability studies over recent years, and it sits in the upper-middle of Consumer Reports' brand rankings. It is not consistently top-5, and the Hyundai/Kia group carries a heavy recall load, so it lands in the upper part of the mid-pack band.

This is the 2023 model's weakest area. Six NHTSA campaigns cover this model year. Two are fire-risk recalls on the front power-seat motor (462,869 units), both with a park-outside advisory; the second was needed because the first remedy did not fully fix the problem. The others cover a driveshaft engagement roll-away risk, second-row side-airbag harnesses specific to 2023 builds, a blank instrument cluster, and detaching door-belt trim. Repeated safety-system and fire campaigns put it in the framework's 'major or repeated recalls' band.

The 2023 Telluride keeps the naturally aspirated 3.8L Lambda II V6 (291 hp) and Kia's in-house 8-speed automatic. That combination has been in use since 2020, is shared with the Palisade, and has no systemic failure pattern like the Theta II four-cylinder engines had. The driveshaft-engagement recall concerns assembly, not powertrain wear. Minor oil-consumption and shift-quality complaints keep it from the top of the band.

The Telluride's cabin is widely praised as near-luxury for the price. The 2023 refresh added the 12.3-inch twin-screen layout, and upper trims get quilted Nappa leather. The volume EX/S trims use more hard plastic low in the cabin, so it scores at the top of the competitive band rather than as class-leading.

Assembly at Kia Georgia (West Point) is generally solid. However, the 2023 refresh year has several build-quality warning signs: a door-belt trim delamination recall, an airbag-harness manufacturing-error recall, and owner complaints about peeling paint and glass defects. It therefore sits in the middle of the 'generally solid with scattered complaints' band.

Kia has roughly 750–775 US dealers, which gives practical nationwide coverage. Its service satisfaction is about average, and the network is thinner than Toyota's, Ford's or Chevrolet's.

The Telluride is a high-volume three-row SUV whose powertrain is shared with the Palisade, so parts are plentiful and reasonably priced. Kia's 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty also protects early owners. Aftermarket support is good but thinner than for domestic SUVs, and refresh-specific parts (LED lighting, 12.3-inch displays) cost more.

The 2023 refresh made a 12.3-in navigation touchscreen standard across the line, so the volume trim and the range max are the same.

The new 2023 12.3-in system is quick and logical, and it keeps physical volume and tuning knobs. Reviewers dislike the toggling capacitive climate/audio bar. The volume EX pairs the big screen with a dated 4.2-in cluster, so the panoramic look is SX-only.

The 2023 refresh moved every trim to the 12.3-in navigation unit, which supports only wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. No trim offers wireless projection, a step back from the pre-facelift 8-in base screen.

Embedded navigation became standard on all 2023 trims, with map OTA updates and Kia Connect live services. Voice recognition is the older command-style engine, not a natural-language assistant.

The volume EX has a basic 6-speaker system. The Harman Kardon premium system is reserved for SX and up; it is a good upgrade but not a class benchmark.

On the volume EX the cluster is analog gauges with a 4.2-in color TFT center display. The 12.3-in full-digital panoramic cluster, which also shows the Blind-Spot View Monitor feed, starts at SX. Full-digital is available but not standard on the volume trim.

The 2023 model adds map/navigation OTA updates through the standard 12.3-in unit. There is no whole-vehicle or feature-adding OTA on this pre-ccNC generation.

Kia Connect (telematics unit) is standard, covering remote start with climate, lock/unlock, find-my-car and diagnostics. Digital Key 2 Touch (phone/NFC key) comes on SX and up. Services become a subscription after the complimentary term.

USB ports reach all three rows, including second-row seatback ports. A wireless charger is standard from S up, so the volume EX has one. The 110V inverter is limited to the top SX-P X-Line/X-Pro.

Smart key with push-button start and remote engine start are broadly available, and the smart power liftgate is standard from EX. Digital Key 2 Touch is SX and up only.

A rear camera and parking sensors are standard. Surround View Monitor and Blind-Spot View Monitor are SX and up only, so the volume EX lacks the most useful aids for a vehicle this big.

A large 10-in color HUD exists, but only on the SX-P X-Line and X-Pro, the very top of the range. The volume EX cannot get one.

Family logistics are the core strength: large rear doors, a low step-in, 42.4 in of second-row legroom, a one-touch sliding second row and 8-seat capacity on the volume EX. The 21 cu ft behind row three takes a stroller with every seat up.

Strong standard safety: FCA with junction turning, lane following assist, rear occupant alert and safe exit assist. NHTSA rates it 5 stars overall and the 2023 model earned IIHS Top Safety Pick+. Blind-Spot View Monitor and surround view are SX-only, and the 4-star frontal/rollover sub-scores hold it back slightly.

Tri-zone climate with vents to rows two and three, ventilated front seats on EX, a Driver Talk intercom, USB ports in every row and 46 cu ft behind row two for five people's luggage. Heated second-row seats are SX-P only, and there is no rear entertainment screen.

Easy to live with: the naturally aspirated V6 and 8-speed pull away smoothly, the driving position and visibility are excellent, and HDA 1.5 adaptive cruise with lane centering is standard on volume trims. Its size is the main daily tax.

The weakest use case: 21 MPG combined on the volume AWD trim, about $3,200/yr in fuel, and no hybrid offered in 2023. Regular fuel and Kia's long warranty soften it only slightly.

At 196.9 in long and 78.3 in wide with a 38.8 ft turning circle, tight urban parking takes care. Surround view and blind-spot view are SX-only, so the volume EX makes do with a rear camera and sensors. The big glass area helps.

Light-to-moderate work only: 5,000 lb towing (5,500 lb on the new 2023 X-Line/X-Pro) and 87 cu ft of enclosed cargo. It is a unibody family SUV with no bed, and its high-revving V6 has to work under load.

The proven 3.8L V6 and 8-speed are backed by a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. Carpeted floors and a suburban-spec interior make it unsuited to abuse, and there is no fleet trim.

Provisions are basic: roof rails, cargo tie-downs and an available hitch. The 110V inverter is limited to top SX-P X-Line/X-Pro trims, and there is no bed and no upfit ecosystem.

A good mile-eater: about 395 miles per tank, supportive and quiet seats, a calm ride, and standard HDA lane-centering cruise. Mid-20s highway mpg means more fuel stops than a hybrid rival.

The 2023 model adds the X-Line and X-Pro, with 8.4 in of ground clearance; the X-Pro also gets all-terrain tires and a 5,500 lb tow rating. AWD lock, Snow/Mud/Sand modes and roof rails broaden its range, but it remains a unibody with road-biased approach angles.

Very flexible: 21/46/87 cu ft, a flat-folding third row, an underfloor bin, roof rails and an available hitch. The 2023 smart power liftgate with auto-close helps loading. Segment leaders offer about 10 cu ft more maximum volume.

Tuned for calm: secure and composed, with less float than a Pilot or Ascent, but it rolls in quick transitions and grip is modest. Confident, not engaging.

Accurate and consistently weighted, so it is easy to place, but numb. The extra effort in Sport mode is artificial.

Four-wheel discs give adequate, fade-free stops with a firm pedal. Distances are class-average for a 4,300-4,450 lb three-row.

The naturally aspirated 3.8L V6 and conventional 8-speed are smooth and linear, with no turbo lag or CVT droning. Kickdown is a beat slow, and it must be revved to deliver.

Hushed at a steady cruise with no driveline vibration, but the V6 turns coarse near the top of its rev range when the vehicle is loaded.

Kia lists a 19.4 ft turning radius, about 38.8 ft curb-to-curb. That is mid-pack in the 34-42 ft SUV band for a 114.2-in wheelbase.

A tall, commanding seat, a big square greenhouse with excellent sightlines, wide doors, and physical HVAC/volume knobs kept through the 2023 dash redesign. The touch-capacitive mode bar is a small ergonomic step back.

Satisfying in a solid, premium-feeling way, but numb steering, comfort-first damping and a V6 that needs revs mean it is not engaging. The X-Pro adds rugged character, not on-road fun.

The 2023 refresh made dual 12.3-inch panoramic displays with navigation, a Wi-Fi hotspot, tri-zone climate, LED lighting and the full Kia Drive Wise ADAS suite (including Highway Driving Assist) standard on the $37,025 LX with a 291-hp V6. Base Pilot, Explorer and Highlander buyers get less screen and driver-assist content at that price. Heated/ventilated seats, power liftgate and 360 camera still require EX and above.

In 2023 Telluride was the content-per-dollar benchmark among three-row SUVs: near-luxury SX-Prestige cabin for ~$51,700, a usable third row, a 291-hp V6 and a 10-year powertrain warranty. The main drag was the transaction price: widespread dealer markups in 2023 eroded the sticker advantage for many buyers.

A wide trim walk of 12 priced configurations from LX FWD to SX-Prestige X-Pro, with FWD/AWD, 7- or 8-seat layouts and new X-Line/X-Pro rugged variants for 2023. It is held below the top of the band because a single V6 powertrain is the only engine choice.

Calendar 2023 was the Telluride's best US sales year to that point, at 110,765 units, up 11%. Demand outran production through much of the year, and the model ranked among the top mid-size three-row sellers behind the Explorer and Highlander.

Telluride is Kia's halo mainstream product, cross-shopped against luxury three-rows and credited with lifting the brand. The new 2021 Kia logo and identity helped too. Kia as a brand still trails Toyota and Honda on default-choice status and brand-wide residuals.

Through most of the 2023 model year the Telluride transacted at or above MSRP, often with dealer add-ons and markups, and Kia ran little to no national incentive money on it. Modest APR support appeared only late in the model year as inventory recovered.

2023 was the mid-cycle refresh year. Redesigned front styling, a new dashboard with dual 12.3-in screens and the X-Line/X-Pro trims made it current, but the platform and V6 dated to the 2020 launch. The second generation would not arrive until the 2027 model year, so a 2023 buyer faced no imminent replacement.

This is the most decorated mainstream three-row SUV of its era: 2020 World Car of the Year, NACTOY Utility of the Year, MotorTrend SUV of the Year and repeated Car and Driver 10Best Trucks and SUVs selections. The refreshed 2023 car kept winning three-row comparison tests on cabin quality and packaging.