“The Telluride is a great looking car with nice features. The display is great and easy to use. The gas mileage is ok. The sound system isn't the best and the trunk is hard to close. Also, car seats/booster seats don't fit well in the captain seats.”
2023 Kia Telluride: What's New, Specs & Features
Last updated August 4, 2026
The 2023 Kia Telluride gets a substantial mid-cycle refresh, led by updated styling, a redesigned cabin, and new X-Line and X-Pro variants. It also gains a standard 12.3-inch navigation touchscreen and a broader standard safety package.
About the 2023 Kia Telluride
1st generation (2020-2025), mid-cycle refresh year
The Telluride is Kia’s large three-row family SUV with an upscale feel, generous passenger space, and a strong value story built around comfort, safety, and everyday usefulness. Kia markets it as a roomy, confident, American-focused SUV that blends premium-looking design with family-friendly practicality, strong standard driver-assistance features, and available adventure-themed versions. For most shoppers, the Telluride’s appeal is simple: it feels more expensive than it is while still doing the core family-hauling job extremely well.
The 2023 Telluride ranges from the family-focused, eight-seat LX to the leather-trimmed EX and tech-heavy SX, which has a curved dual-screen dashboard, premium audio, and advanced driving aids. SX-Prestige emphasizes luxury with Nappa leather and heated and ventilated second-row captain’s chairs. The AWD X-Line models add a rugged look and extra ground clearance, while X-Pro versions are the towing-focused choices with a 5,500-pound rating.
What changed, by category
Styling
Kia refreshed the front and rear design with new lighting details and wheel designs. New X-Line variants added darker exterior trim, raised roof rails, standard AWD, extra ground clearance, and Tow Mode, while new X-Pro variants added a more towing-focused setup and upgraded traction control.
Tech
A 12.3-inch touchscreen with built-in navigation became standard on every trim, and the dashboard and center console were redesigned. SX-based trims gained a curved dual-screen layout, phone-as-key capability, and upgraded highway driving assistance. On the S trim, the power moonroof moved from standard equipment to an option.
Safety
The standard safety package added speed-limit assistance and forward collision braking that can detect traffic while turning at a junction. Downhill Brake Control and second-row side airbags also became standard across the lineup.
2023 Kia Telluride specs and features by trim
| Feature | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | V6, GDI, 3.8 Liter | V6, GDI, 3.8 Liter | V6, GDI, 3.8 Liter | V6, GDI, 3.8 Liter | V6, GDI, 3.8 Liter | V6, GDI, 3.8 Liter | V6, GDI, 3.8 Liter | V6, GDI, 3.8 Liter | V6, GDI, 3.8 Liter | V6, GDI, 3.8 Liter |
| Transmission | Automatic, 8-Spd | Automatic, 8-Spd | Automatic, 8-Spd | Automatic, 8-Spd | Automatic, 8-Spd | Automatic, 8-Spd | Automatic, 8-Spd | Automatic, 8-Spd | Automatic, 8-Spd | Automatic, 8-Spd |
| Drivetrain | FWD | AWD | FWD | AWD | AWD | AWD | AWD | AWD | AWD | AWD |
| Fuel Type | Gas | Gas | Gas | Gas | Gas | Gas | Gas | Gas | Gas | Gas |
| MPG City | 20 mpg | 20 mpg | 20 mpg | 20 mpg | 18 mpg | 18 mpg | 18 mpg | 18 mpg | 18 mpg | 18 mpg |
| MPG Highway | 26 mpg | 26 mpg | 26 mpg | 26 mpg | 24 mpg | 24 mpg | 24 mpg | 24 mpg | 24 mpg | 24 mpg |
| Horsepower | 291 hp | 291 hp | 291 hp | 291 hp | 291 hp | 291 hp | 291 hp | 291 hp | 291 hp | 291 hp |
| Torque | 262 lb-ft | 262 lb-ft | 262 lb-ft | 262 lb-ft | 262 lb-ft | 262 lb-ft | 262 lb-ft | 262 lb-ft | 262 lb-ft | 262 lb-ft |
| Max Towing | 5000 lb | 5000 lb | 5000 lb | 5000 lb | 5500 lb | 5000 lb | 5000 lb | 5000 lb | 5500 lb | 5000 lb |
| Trunk/Cargo | 87 cu-ft | 87 cu-ft | 87 cu-ft | 87 cu-ft | 87 cu-ft | 87 cu-ft | 87 cu-ft | 87 cu-ft | 87 cu-ft | 87 cu-ft |
| Rear Legroom | 31.4 in | 31.4 in | 31.4 in | 31.4 in | 31.4 in | 31.4 in | 31.4 in | 31.4 in | 31.4 in | 31.4 in |
| Seats | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Doors | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Adaptive Cruise Control | ||||||||||
| Alarm System | ||||||||||
| Blindspot Sensors | ||||||||||
| Lane Departure Warning | ||||||||||
| Rain Sensing Windshield Wipers | ||||||||||
| Rear View Camera | ||||||||||
| 360 Camera | ||||||||||
| Alloy Wheels | ||||||||||
| Fog Lights | ||||||||||
| LED Tail Lights | ||||||||||
| Memory Exterior Mirrors | ||||||||||
| Power Moonroof | ||||||||||
| Power Close Liftgate/Trunk | ||||||||||
| Power Folding Exterior Mirrors | ||||||||||
| Rear Spoiler | ||||||||||
| Roof Rails | ||||||||||
| Head-Up Display | ||||||||||
| Navigation System | ||||||||||
| Premium Audio | ||||||||||
| Smartphone Interface | ||||||||||
| Subwoofer | ||||||||||
| Auto-Dimming Interior Mirror | ||||||||||
| Dual Power Front Seats | ||||||||||
| Dual-Zone Climate Control | ||||||||||
| Heated Front Seats | ||||||||||
| Heated Steering Wheel | ||||||||||
| Integrated Garage Door Opener | ||||||||||
| Interior Ambient Lighting | ||||||||||
| Leather Seats | ||||||||||
| Memory Driver's Seat | ||||||||||
| Power Driver Seat | ||||||||||
| Proximity Keyless Entry | ||||||||||
| Push-Button Engine Start | ||||||||||
| Rear Window Shades | ||||||||||
| Remote Start | ||||||||||
| Third Row Seat | ||||||||||
| Ventilated Front Seats | ||||||||||
Frequently asked questions
What is the biggest change to the 2023 Kia Telluride?
The biggest change is a broad mid-cycle refresh. The 2023 Telluride has revised front and rear styling, a redesigned dashboard and center console, a standard 12.3-inch navigation touchscreen, expanded safety equipment, and new X-Line and X-Pro variants.
Were the Telluride X-Line and X-Pro new for 2023?
Yes. The 2023 lineup added EX X-Line, SX X-Line, SX X-Pro, SX-Prestige X-Line, and SX-Prestige X-Pro variants. X-Line models emphasize rugged styling, standard AWD, extra ground clearance, and Tow Mode, while X-Pro models add towing-focused hardware and a 5,500-pound tow rating.
Does every 2023 Kia Telluride have the larger touchscreen?
Yes. Every 2023 Telluride trim has a 12.3-inch touchscreen with built-in navigation, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. SX-based trims pair it with a 12.3-inch digital instrument display in a curved dual-screen dashboard.
What safety features changed on the 2023 Kia Telluride?
The 2023 Telluride added speed-limit assistance, junction-turning detection for its forward collision braking system, Downhill Brake Control, and second-row side airbags as standard equipment across the lineup. SX-based trims also gained more advanced highway driving assistance and a broader collision-avoidance suite.
Is the 2023 Kia Telluride meaningfully different from the 2022 model?
Yes. The 2023 is meaningfully updated if you value newer styling, a redesigned cabin, a larger standard navigation screen, broader standard safety equipment, or the rugged X-Line and towing-focused X-Pro variants. Its basic three-row layout and 3.8-liter V6 carry over, so the changes are substantial but stop short of a full redesign.
2023 Kia Telluride Reviews
What owners are saying about the 2023 Kia Telluride.
4.3
2023 Kia Telluride
(225 reviews)
“If you're looking for a good SUV, with room for 4-5 adults, quiet inside, nice handling, modest fuel economy, and a leading powertrain warranty, you may want to consider the KIA Telluride. Easy to drive, good visibility, and comfortable ride.”
“Comfortable to drive. More road noise than I expected but not too bad. Has excellent safety features.”