It is exhausting to recollect a extra fast success than the Kia Telluride. This car was successful and contributed to Kia’s gross sales skyrocketing; sellers began marking up their stock, which was beforehand remarkable for the Kia model, and the model lovingly adopted the nickname “Selluride.” For the primary time within the mannequin’s younger life, the Telluride obtained a significant facelift for the 2023 mannequin yr, which embrace reasonably up to date styling and an enhanced inside.
Consumers clearly love the Telluride, so Kia did not want to alter the system a lot apart from making slight tweaks to the way it appears and the way it feels inside. DrivingOnRoad was despatched a fully-loaded Telluride SX Status with the X-Line Bundle, a brand new addition for the 2023 mannequin yr. Over our week with the automotive, we discovered that Kia one way or the other managed to enhance on perfection, holding the Telluride on the high of our most extremely beneficial three-row SUVs.
Styling: The Ambers Are Again
The styling adjustments to the Telluride are minimal; why repair what is not damaged? However Kia reshaped the headlights, changing the sq. LED operating lights with two little Tic-Tac-looking ones. Talking of operating lights, the 2024 Telluride is already transport to dealerships, and it brings again the amber coloring from the pre-facelift mannequin, due to buyer demand. Within the again, the taillights are the identical normal form, however the lighting signature is up to date.
Two new look packages have been added for 2023, the X-Line and X-Professional. The X-Line Bundle is on the market on the EX, SX, and SX Status fashions, using on styling 20-inch black wheels with black accents and roof rails. This bundle additionally will increase the trip peak barely. Adventurous households might favor the X-Professional, obtainable on the SX and SX Status, which swaps the bigger 20-inch wheels for 18s wrapped in all-terrain tires.
New colours embrace Midnight Lake Blue, Dawning Crimson, and Jungle Inexperienced. Kia despatched us a Wolf Grey instance, which appears very good however refined on the SX Status X-Line.
Inside: Enhancing Perfection?
We had nothing to complain about within the pre-facelift Telluride, aside from an absence of wi-fi Apple CarPlay, and issues have not modified a lot. Kia nonetheless does not provide wi-fi smartphone mirroring (oddly) on its bigger screens, however the remainder of the expertise stays usually glorious. A 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment display is made normal for 2024 and is normal greater up within the 2023 vary along with an identical digital gauge cluster (decrease trims get a half-digital setup). A ten-inch head-up show can also be obtainable, and it consists of blind-spot warning, turn-by-turn navigation, good cruise management, and velocity data. Mixed with the blind-spot warning indicators on the outside mirrors, it is practically inconceivable to mess up a merging maneuver within the Telluride.
Kia made some minor adjustments to the dashboard, too, however fortunately left the tactile button association. It is a small element, however it’s price a point out: The three middle air vents really feel like an icy hurricane blasting your face, which is great on a sizzling Florida day. There are a number of new inside coloration choices, and we liked the non-compulsory Terracotta Nappa leather-based on our check car as seen under.
Practicality: Consolation In All Rows
It does not matter which row you sit in, the Telluride gives options for all. Just like the steering wheel, the entrance seats are heated and ventilated on higher trims. Kia was among the many first automakers to supply heated and ventilated second-row seats as effectively, which has now been copied in rivals just like the Mazda CX-90. It is also price noting that far dearer SUVs just like the Audi Q7 and BMW X7 don’t provide this function.
Kia sells the Telluride as an eight-seater with a second-row bench, however the SX is simply obtainable as a seven-seater with captain’s chairs. These chairs are simply moved out of the best way with a spring-loaded button, making it straightforward to hop into the spacious third row. Not like the Telluride’s sister car, the Hyundai Palisade, the third row doesn’t function heating. There are many USB ports in all three rows, although. Kia quotes 42.4 inches of legroom within the second row and 31.4 inches within the third – that is beneficiant, however now not class-leading numbers because the Toyota Grand Highlander arrived.
When it comes to cargo house, the Telluride continues to be one of many largest automobiles within the mid-size, three-row SUV phase, however the Chevrolet Traverse and Toyota Grand Highlander have it beat on pure quantity. With the third row in place, there’s 21 cubic ft of house, sufficient for a number of well-positioned carry-on luggage. The trunk turns into cavernous with the third row down, opening to 46 cubes.
It is price noting the Palisade gives an influence third row, which stays unavailable on the Telluride. The second row does provide an influence perform to drop the seats down from the trunk, a helpful function {that a} shocking variety of SUVs fail to supply at the next worth. With all seats folded, the Telluride turns into a carrying king with a cavernous 87 cubic ft of house.
Driving Impressions: Close to-Luxurious Expertise
There is just one a part of the Telluride expertise that does not really feel plucked from a luxurious automotive: the engine. It is not a weak level, so to talk, however it’s the closest factor to an Achilles Heel on this car. 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft from a relatively giant 3.8-liter V6 engine is class-average at finest, translating to acceleration that is okay relatively than good, in addition to leading to middling gasoline economic system. Entrance-wheel-drive Tellurides ought to yield 20/26/23 mpg metropolis/freeway/mixed, with all-wheel-drive (which is a $2,000 choice on relevant trims) dropping these numbers to 18/24/21 mpg. We averaged 19.3 mpg in every week of blended driving. A hybrid choice would take the Telluride’s powertrain from simply okay to glorious.
As for the remainder of the driving expertise, there’s nothing to complain about. The eight-speed transmission shifts easily, the steering is correct for one thing on this measurement class, and the physique management is on-par with far dearer SUVs with luxurious badges. It is quiet on the freeway, the trip is not too agency, and the obtainable security options like Freeway Driving Help 2 make it a pleasure to cruise in for lengthy highway journeys. We suspect the Telluride’s electrical sibling, the Kia EV9, can be glorious to drive whereas having the advantage of fuel-free commutes – however it is going to value much more.
Pricing: Nonetheless A Cut price
Whereas it isn’t the most cost effective car within the phase, the Telluride gives great worth, particularly when put next with the luxurious phase that nearly feels overpriced in a feature-by-feature comparability. Pricing for the 2024 mannequin yr is already obtainable, beginning at $35,990 for the LX trim with FWD. Consumers searching for probably the most bang for his or her buck ought to think about the mid-level EX trim, which begins at $41,590. That trim gives all the pieces you want in a contemporary SUV for an reasonably priced worth, and it is even obtainable with the sleek-looking X-Line Bundle for $45,885, do you have to be so inclined.
The SX Status trim begins to overlap with luxurious rivals from Acura and Infiniti, however the beneficiant function checklist simply justifies the $50,690 price ticket. If you’re already keen to spend over 50 grand on a Kia, the sporty SX Status X-Line ($52,185) and rugged X-Professional variant ($53,185) aren’t considerably dearer.
There aren’t many issues we would do to enhance the Telluride at this level, besides maybe add a frugal hybrid mannequin. We predict it is as near an ideal household SUV as there might be.