2023 Kia Telluride X-Line Video, Review, And Pricing

By: Joshua Lee
June 11, 2023

There are a few reasons why the Kia Telluride is one of the most appealing midsize SUVs on the market today. As mentioned in our review last year, the Telluride is wonderfully designed inside and out, nicely equipped, and feels like a premium product without that premium price tag. How will Kia maintain its momentum for the new year?

Kia Canada let us take their 2023 Kia Telluride X-Line for the week to see what’s new for their third-row SUV. The naturally aspirated 3.8L V6 engine and eight-speed automatic transmission carries over from last year with 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque at 5,200RPM. Power is acceptable for a vehicle this size and is quite enjoyable to drive with the smooth shifts from the transmission. There are also a few drive modes to suit your driving needs, but we kept it in Smart as it automatically switches between modes when driving. Operating the Telluride isn’t difficult; the steering is light, and the suspension absorbs bumps well.

The Telluride gets a styling refresh for the new year! There is an updated grille insert, revised headlights and taillights, and redesigned front and rear bumpers. The Telluride lettering on the hood is gone, which gives the front a cleaner look. There are two new trim levels; X-Line and X-Pro. Keeping up with the current trend of giving SUVs some off-road personality, these two new trims have an 0.4″ increased ride height, Tow Mode (all models can tow up to 5,000 pounds, while the X-Pro can tow up to 500 pounds more), higher roof rails, and gloss black exterior accents. Our Wolf Gray X-Line has a dark satin beltline garnish and 20-inch black alloy wheels, while the X-Pro gets unique 18-inch black alloy wheels and all-terrain tires.

The spacious cabin is one of the best we’ve ever seen. We love the terracotta brown leather that contrasts so well with the Wolf Gray exterior. The layout feels upscale, with dual 12.3-inch displays for the driver’s display and infotainment and a 10-inch heads-up display. The infotainment system is responsive and user-friendly; we feel that it’s positioned just right so that it’s not distracting while driving. The graphics for the driver’s display are detailed, and the dynamic gauge cluster changes with the time and weather. The Telluride has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, which connected quickly, and the Harman Kardon premium audio system sounded great. Outward visibility is good, and a 360-degree camera helps if you’re in a tight situation. The front and second rows feature heated and ventilated seats, while the driver’s seat adds a lumbar stabilization system that operates every 30 or 60 minutes. The captain’s chairs in the second row offer lots of adjustments, and with a one-touch button, they slide away to access the third row, which is comfortable as well with its large windows, air vents, and USB ports. Cargo capacity behind the 50/50 third row is 601L, 1304L behind the second row, and 2455L behind the first row.

The Telluride comes standard with a lot of safety features, like forward collision warning with junction crossing, high beam assist, parking sensors, adaptive cruise control, and blind spot monitoring. A unique feature found in this SUV is the blind-view monitor that gives you live video in the gauge cluster when you activate the turn signal. It provides a clear view of what’s approaching when you’re switching lanes or making a turn.

Kia rates the Telluride’s fuel economy as 12.8L/100KM city, 9.8L/100KM highway, for a combined 11.4L/100KM. Our rating for the week was 10.2L/100KM which impressed us as we didn’t think the smart driving mode would do much.

The Kia Telluride starts at $52,883 for the EX, $57,883 for the SX, $61,883 for the SX Limited, $63,883 for the X-Line, and $65,483 for the X-Pro. Ours comes to $72,752.79 after taxes with the optional paint finish and leather interior.

A mid-cycle update is a great touch by Kia. The Telluride remains a very good-looking SUV that drives well and is comfortable to be in. The interior is versatile and offers loads of headroom and legroom for all passengers. Its safety features and user-friendly tech work well with no hiccups. With its two new trims, Kia hasn’t made an off-road version of the Telluride, but it might just make you want to go for more weekend trips outside.