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291
8 speed, Automatic w/OD
Regular Unleaded V-6
All Wheel Drive, Front Wheel Drive
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
The Kia Telluride competes in the Upper Midsize SUV market segment. According to data collected from verified new-vehicle buyers for the JD Power 2022 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study, 49 percent of new Kia Telluride buyers are female (vs. 48 percent for the segment), and the median age of a new Telluride buyer is 47 years (vs. 52).
As part of the APEAL Study, owners rated the Telluride in 10 primary categories. Listed below in descending order, you'll find their preferences, from their most favorite thing about the vehicle to their least favorite:
In the 2022 APEAL Study, the Telluride ranks second out of 15 Upper Midsize SUV models.
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
Telluride owners tell JD Power that their favorite thing about the SUV is the exterior styling, and Kia certainly knows that. So the changes for 2023 are minor, amounting to new front and rear bumper styling, revised headlights and taillights, updated grille inserts, and fresh aluminum wheel designs. Three new paint colors are also available, including Jungle Green, Dawning Red, and Midnight Lake Blue.
Similarly, aside from a new steering wheel, the interior is much the same as before. However, Kia now offers revised trim and updated colors such as Gray and Navy, Terracotta, and Sage Green. Both SX Prestige test vehicles had premium Nappa leather in Terracotta and a simulated suede headliner, giving the cabins a rich, upscale appearance.
Kia also pairs a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with an available 12.3-inch digital instrument panel under a curved piece of 24-inch glass, employing the same approach as BMW and Mercedes-Benz. It adds a high-tech look and feel to the cabin.
The infotainment system's screen is larger than before. The technology includes navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and Kia Connect connected services, including access to a new Wi-Fi hotspot. Over-the-air updates keep the infotainment system current, and the system is compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant technology. A 10-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system is available, and both test vehicles had it.
The new infotainment system and its Kia Connect technology worked flawlessly during the evaluation. Using my standard set of commands, the system responded quickly and accurately to a variety of directives. However, you cannot adjust the climate control using voice commands.
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
To give the 2023 Telluride some added off-road capability, Kia introduces the X-Line and X-Pro packages. Both raise the suspension nearly half an inch, increasing maximum ground clearance to 8.4 inches while improving the approach, breakover, and departure angles. A new Downhill Brake Control system is also available for the Telluride, and Kia says it has revised the traction control system for improved off-road performance.
Choose the X-Line package, and the Telluride gets a set of black 20-inch wheels with all-season tires. Upgrade to the X-Pro package and Kia swaps those out for black 18-inch wheels and all-terrain tires with a taller sidewall and more aggressive tread. Improved cooling helps the X-Pro tow a maximum of 5,500 pounds—a new high for the Telluride.
Otherwise, the 2023 Telluride's hardware is unchanged from the previous year. It has a 291-horsepower 3.8-liter V6 engine, an 8-speed automatic transmission, and FWD or AWD. Driving modes include Eco, Comfort, Smart, Sport, and Snow. Tellurides with AWD also have a Lock mode that Kia says evenly splits the engine power to the front and rear axles at lower speeds.
Kia arranged a lead-and-follow off-roading session in the Texas Hill Country. The course was challenging enough to showcase the Telluride X-Pro's capabilities. If you encountered some of the same terrain and obstacles while driving through a remote area by yourself, you'd be tempted to turn around and return from whence you came. Overall, the Telluride impressed me, considering its status as a midsize 3-row crossover SUV.
On the roads between San Antonio and Austin, the Telluride remains the same smooth operator it's always been. The SUV does a good job of communicating with the driver while providing a softer, smoother ride than you might expect. This is particularly true with the X-Pro's 245/60 all-terrain tires, though they produce a little more noise on the highway and can feel a little less assured when pitching the Telly into a turn.
As for fuel economy, the EPA says a 2023 Kia Telluride with AWD should get 21 mpg in combined city/highway driving. That squares with my time in the X-Pro, which included half an hour of four-wheeling followed by a 45-mile haul on highways back to San Antonio. Earlier in the day, the Telluride AWD X-Line averaged 24.1 mpg in mostly highway driving.
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
In 2022, the Telluride's corporate cousin, the Hyundai Palisade, was the only Upper Midsize SUV to outrank the Kia in overall vehicle appeal. Kia's changes for 2023 could help the Telluride vault past the Palisade for top honors, but we'll need to wait until June 2023, when the next APEAL Study results are available.
In the meantime, the 2023 Kia Telluride is an excellent choice in a 3-row, family-sized crossover SUV. I think so, and based on JD Power data, verified owners think so, too. And, since Kia is increasing production of this popular model, it could be easier to get one in 2023.
Christian Wardlaw is a veteran digital automotive journalist with nearly 30 years of experience in test-driving vehicles. He has held editorial leadership roles with Edmunds, JD Power, the New York Daily News, and others. In addition to JDPower.com, his work has appeared in numerous new- and used-car buying guides, newspapers, and automotive industry trade journals, including Autotrader, Capital One Auto Navigator, CarGurus, Kelley Blue Book, WardsAuto, and more.
