The new king of Mid-size SUVs? Kia's flagship three-row family hauler gets a rugged makeover

The 2023 KIA Telluride made its debut at the New York International Auto Show along with the Hyundai Palisade. Given the Telluride's success and popularity since it first hit the road back in 2019, Kia decided not to deviate too far from the equation that has made it among the best-selling three-row SUVs in the U.S.

This mid-cycle facelift brings a rugged makeover to the exterior styling, improved onboard technology along with a plethora of driver assistance features. Here's what's new on the Kia Telluride for the 2023 model year.

The 2023 Kia Telluride will come in five trim levels. Under the hood, the 2023 Kia Telluride retains the tried and tested 3.8-Liter V-6 GDI engine, which produces 291 horsepower and 262 pounds-feet of torque. An 8-speed automatic transmission sends power to the wheels. Front-wheel drive Tellurides have a rating of 23 MPG combined while that number drops on the all-wheel drive variants at just 21 MPG.

While all-wheel drive is available as an optional extra, the X-Line grades come standard with AWD, a snow mode, and an AWD lock, while hill descent control is a feature that comes across the range. Also available on the Telluride facelift is the new self-leveling suspension.

Additionally, the X-Line variants feature a revised traction control system, that can send up to 50 percent of torque to the rear axle. You also get an improved tow mode, better approach and departure angles, and an additional 10mm of ground clearance. Upgrade to the X-Pro and the Tellurides’ towing capability has now gone up from 5000 pounds to 5500 pounds.

Coming to the exterior styling, the Telluride was already quite attractive, to begin with. Thankfully Kia hasn't changed much on the outside aside from a couple of minor tweaks to bring it in line with other models in Kia’s portfolio. The Telluride looks largely the same as the previous model. With this refresh, Kia really wanted to give it a rugged makeover and at that, they’ve clearly succeeded.

Starting up front, the orange rectangular lighting elements are no longer present in the headlamp cluster; instead, you now get twin vertical LED bars and LED fog lights in their place. The TELLURIDE lettering on the hood is now gone, and Kia has tweaked the Tiger Nose Grille. Based on the trim you select, you get blocky gray inserts in the bumper.

Aside from a pair of updated LED strips for the taillights, the changes made to this Telluride refresh are even more difficult to spot. The Kia Telluride brings updated wheel designs across the range. You get new wheel designs on both trims. The X-Pro rides on 18" rims with all-terrain tires, while the X-Line rides on 20-inch rims.

X-Line-only features include a distinctive radiator grille finished in gloss black and roof rails. The X-Line model also features body-colored door handles, a distinctive radiator grille, and roof rails in the shape of a bridge. The Telluride sits 8.4 inches off the ground.

The 2023 Kia Telluride gets three new colors:

On the inside, there is a brand-new dashboard that is undeniably eye-catching. It sure does draw some inspiration from the KIA EV6 and has two highly configurable 12.3-inch displays for both the instrument cluster and infotainment screen, housed within a curved panel.

The air conditioning vents and trim pieces have been redone, and the steering wheel is all new as well. KIA has also retained actual physical buttons for things like the drive selector mode, radio, and climate control.

The updated feature set includes a larger 8.5" color heads-up display, a 10-speaker Harmon Kardon audio system, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, wireless charging, and digital key capability that works with iPhones, Apple Watches, and Samsung Galaxy devices. The package also includes over-the-air upgrades and a WiFi hotspot.

The refreshed Telluride comes with some new color options for the cabin with either imitation or real Nappa leather options. Given that you can choose from nine different themes on the current Telluride, the 2023 model will add more options. The top-end trims also pack 12-way power adjustable seats, a premium suede headliner along with a dual-pane sunroof, and ventilated and heated seats in the first and second rows. The ambient lighting spruces up the cabin further.

One area where the Kia Telluride has never had an issue is with interior space. Thanks to the 114.2-inch wheelbase and boxy proportions, the 2023 Telluride continues to be incredibly roomy. You get excellent head and leg room in all three rows. You can configure the Telluride to either seat seven or eight people.

With over 20 cubic feet, the Kia Telluride has one of the roomiest cargo areas amongst rivals. With the second and third rows down, the cargo room opens up to an impressive 87 cubic feet. Also in the cargo area, the X-Pro gets a 110-volt inverter. One update at the rear is to the tailgate. If you have the key on you, it will not only automatically open but also automatically close.

Official pricing for the 2023 Kia Telluride isn't out yet but the outgoing model started in LX trim and carried an MSRP of $33,390. The range-topping SX topped out at $43,290. Given the level of additional equipment on offer with this latest Telluride, you can expect a marginal bump in prices. The new flagship X-Line and X-Pro models could cross the $$50,000.

Scheduled to go on sale this summer, expect the 2023 Kia Telluride to show up at your local Kia dealer with deliveries to follow soon.

Kia and Hyundai models generally come with a plethora of safety features and this latest Telluride is no exception. With the highway driving assistant, a lane-centering feature, you get a high level of standard feature kit throughout the range. The lane-change capability comes as part of the semi-autonomous navigation-based cruise control system.

- Forward Collision Warning with Pedestrian Detection

You can expect the 2023 Telluride to score well in crash test safety ratings as the outgoing model received the maximum five stars by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) while it was the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety's (IIHS) Top Safety Pick for 2022 in the Midsize 4-Door SUV category.

The Japanese offerings are a mainstay of the three-row mid-size SUV space, but the Korean trio in the form of the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade have managed to make in-roads into this crowded segment with some truly compelling packages. The 2023 Kia Telluride goes up against established rivals like the Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander, or Nissan Pathfinder. The Ford Explorer and the Volkswagen Atlas also compete in this space.

With this mid-cycle update, there are several significant cosmetic and kit updates that will certainly help Kia’s flagship SUV to continue to have an edge over the competition. Kia hasn’t messed with the powertrain, but a power bump was a missed opportunity on an otherwise fantastic package. Having said that, here are 10 reasons why you can't go wrong with the Kia Telluride.

There’s also no hybrid or diesel option. But considering this is a mid-cycle refresh, that is totally understandable. Perhaps Kia is prepping for an all-electric variant for the next generation. To summarize, what should keep the Kia Telluride ahead of the competition is its bold and handsome styling, feature-packed interior and the low entry point price.

Khris is a classic car aficionado and adores his Jags and Alfas, although he keeps tabs on everything from super exotics like an old EB 110 to the latest from Lucid. Formula One is very close to his heart, and he diligently makes time to tune in for the Grand Prix on Sundays. Khris also loves his road trips and he prefers a stick shift over an auto any day.