- Roomy cabin
- Generous standard equipment
- Excellent warranties
- Robust resale values
- Pricing starts at $35,690 (plus $1,335 destination) | Price yours
- On sale now | See listings near you
The love-fest continues. Ever since the Kia Telluride launched back in 2020, there’s never been another winner of this category. For the fourth year running, then, the Telluride remains all-conquering.
For good reason. The 2023 Telluride performs all the tasks required of a 3-row midsize SUV, and to a high degree. But the pricing is absolutely reasonable once all the standard features are taken into account.
We’re not the only members of the Telluride Appreciation Society. Kia can sell every single one it makes, while demand keeps resale values at the top of our midsize 3-row SUV ratings. It seems we all recognize a good product when we see it.
A Revamp Keeps It Fresh
It doesn’t seem so long ago that the Telluride was the new SUV on the block. Yet the 2023 model represents a mid-generation update, with styling changes, extra equipment, and a couple of new variants.
Style-wise, the 2023 Telluride retains that chunky/cool essence, offering new designs of alloy wheels and fresh paint choices. The base trim, LX, is far from basic. Now it comes with a dual-display setup with driver information and the infotainment touchscreen set into one unit that dominates the dashboard — the kind of thing found in Mercedes-Benz and BMW vehicles.
The two additions to the 2023 Telluride lineup are the X-Line and X-Pro, both riding on the wilder side of midsize family SUVs. They both come with all-wheel drive as standard, featuring Snow and AWD Lock modes for slippery surfaces, and have slightly higher ground clearance than the rest of the line. The X-Line has downhill brake control and rides on 20-inch wheels and tires. The X-Pro has unique styling cues and colors, and black 18-inch wheels specifically for this trim level, with all-terrain tires.
Standard safety systems are now enhanced by junction turning assistance. This is especially useful when waiting to turn left at an intersection and oncoming traffic is difficult to see.
Exemplary Interior
This is where the 2023 Telluride delights. In its basic form, this 3-row midsize SUV has seating for eight. And yes, a couple of adults can fit in the third row, as long as they’re not on the basketball team.
Higher trims bring a pair of captain’s chairs into the second row, reducing the occupant count to seven, but raising comfort levels while making access to the third row a little easier. Each row is a little higher than the one in front, an arrangement called “stadium seating.” This adds to the open feeling of the Telluride’s cabin.
If the Kia badge were removed from the steering wheel and replaced with a luxury-vehicle logo, no one would think twice about it. That’s how upmarket both the design and the materials are.
At the higher trim levels, the Telluride brings truly premium features like fine Nappa leather seating surfaces, ambient cabin lighting, and a Harman Kardon surround-sound system (also found in many BMWs).
Since we’re singing the praises of the 2023 Telluride lineup as a whole, though, there are a couple of standard features that illustrate how good it is as a family vehicle. Driver Talk pipes the driver’s voice through the speakers so even those in the third row can hear it. And the audio system’s Quiet Mode uses just the front speakers when the little bundles of joy in the back are napping.
This year’s revamp brings over-the-air updates for the standard navigation system, which also gains a Connected Routing function — planning routes with traffic information factored in. A digital key enables access through a smartphone or smartwatch. Every version of the Telluride has at least five USB ports. Naturally, a rear-seat entertainment system is also offered.
Practical Examination
Let’s not forget the utility part of a sport utility vehicle. As well as plenty of headroom and legroom for all occupants, the 2023 Telluride has a luggage area behind the third row of 21 cubic feet. That’s about the size of a refrigerator.
Fold down the second and third rows to reveal 87 cubic feet. Those trips to IKEA might even start to feel like fun. From the EX trim and up, the smart powered tailgate has hands-free opening and automatic closing.
Every new Telluride SUV comes with a comprehensive array of driver assistance systems like forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian/cyclist detection, plus blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and rear parking sensors.
If circumstances spiral beyond the control of person and machine, it’s reassuring to know that the Telluride has been given a maximum 5-Star overall score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) after going through crash tests.
V is for Vroom
A midsize 3-row SUV full of people and their stuff needs a good engine. The 2023 Telluride definitely has one of those. It’s a refined 3.8-liter V6 developing 291 horsepower — muscular enough for any road trip.
Kia offers an unsurpassed powertrain warranty of 10 years or 100,000 miles, whichever happens first. The new-vehicle warranty is also one of the best: five years or 60,000 miles.
The new Telluride X-Pro version can tow up to 5,500 pounds. The rest of the range can handle 5,000 pounds, which is where most rivals are at.
Dollars and Sense
Starting with a manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of $35,690, the 2023 Telluride represents a significant value among 3-row midsize SUVs.
Take almost any other contender and add options to bring it up to a comparable equipment level, and the Telluride comes across as a bargain. With strong resale values having a beneficial effect on overall ownership costs, it also looks good in the bigger picture. That’s why we’ve made the Kia Telluride 3-row midsize SUV a Best Buy Award winner. Yet again.
Photo Tour: 2023 Kia Telluride
More 2023 Kia Telluride
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Our 2023 Best Buy Award Winners
- Best New Model: 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5
- Best Subcompact SUV: 2023 Kia Seltos
- Best Compact SUV: 2023 Honda CR-V
- Best 2-Row Midsize SUV: 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe
- Best Full-Size SUV: 2023 Ford Expedition
- Best Subcompact Luxury SUV: 2023 BMW X1
- Best Compact Luxury SUV: 2023 Genesis GV70
- Best Midsize Luxury SUV: 2023 Genesis GV80
- Best Compact Car: 2023 Honda Civic
- Best Midsize Car: 2023 Honda Accord
- Best Luxury Car: 2023 Lexus ES
- Best EV Under $35,000: 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EUV
- Best Electric Vehicle: 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5
- Best PHEV: 2023 Kia Sportage Plug-in Hybrid
- Best Compact Truck: 2023 Ford Maverick
- Best Midsize Truck: 2023 Toyota Tacoma
- Best Electric Truck: 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning
- Best Minivan: 2023 Toyota Sienna
- 2023 Best Buy Awards Home
