The Kia Telluride is one of the best three-row crossover-SUV options on the market today. It’s a top pick from many review outlets and we have little reason to disagree with that assessment.

The 2023 Kia Telluride follows in this new SUV’s well-earned top choice placement. We consider the Telluride to be one of the best three-row family sport utility options available today. The 2023 model year adds some great technology updates, a couple of new versatile options packages, and nice exterior updates.

In the three-row crossover segment it’s in, the Telluride stands apart for its larger third row, comfortable and roomy passenger space, and strong looks. The Telluride carries panache with its design and drive appeal. All other aspects, such as towing and capabilities, are on par with segment expectations.

Our only complaint with the 2023 Telluride is with transmission shifting when under loads, but most drivers probably won’t notice those things all that often. Unless pulling a trailer near the Telluride’s towing capacity or hauling a lot of passengers and trying to accelerate hard, the powertrain in the Telluride is a good match. And while a hybrid option isn’t available for the Telluride, its fuel economy is better than many in the same segment.

We’re more than comfortable in calling the Telluride a top choice as a three-row.

With over four decades of doling out trusted automotive advice and extensive vehicle knowledge, both behind the wheel and under the hood, Car Talk's founder and original Tappet Brother Ray Magliozzi shares his first-hand experience test driving the Kia Telluride.

One of the best-selling and longest-running three-row crossovers, the Pilot is a very well-done and competitive option. It’s a good choice, given Honda’s reputation for longevity and quality, but the Telluride offers more interior room and a better warranty.

The closest competitor to the Telluride is sister company Hyundai’s Palisade model. Closely related in platform and powertrain, the Palisade offers a more upscale interior experience and higher levels of comfort. The Palisade is the only competitor we’d consider to be better than the Telluride for those reasons. But it is more expensive by comparison.

The most popular of the three-row segment offerings, the Highlander has a few points that might be worth considering over the Telluride. Electrified powertrains, including a well-done hybrid option, is a big one. The Kia cannot compete for fuel economy against that. But the Telluride has a more livable third row, a better warranty, and an easier day-to-day feeling about it.

The 2023 Telluride has a good starting price for the segment, especially given the numerous standard features it includes. Most buyers will be in the SX trim levels, which run in the $47,000-$50,000 range.

The table below shows the most common trim levels and how much they will run you.

The 2023 Telluride is a full refresh from the debut model that entered the market in 2020. Changes to the front and rear fascias add a little more detail, slightly modified headlamps, and a less truck-like look overall.

Two new trim levels, the X-Line and the X-Line Pro, are more like options packages than full trim level additions. Nonetheless, Kia is calling them trim points, so we’ll go along with that. The X-Line adds to the EX, SX, and SX Prestige models, bringing roof rails, body-colored door handles, and larger 20-inch wheels. A slight lift of not quite half an inch is also added.

The X-Line Pro adds to the SX and SX Prestige models with similar upgrades for the X-Line, but also adding a 120-volt outlet in the cargo area and raising towing to 5,500 pounds. That comes from a new transmission cooler. Wheels stay at 18 inches, but all-terrain tires increase its capability off-pavement.

A big across-the-board change for the 2023 Kia Telluride are interior updates. The most obvious of those will be the new display screens for the driver’s information and infotainment. Both are 12.3 inches, one behind the steering wheel and the other at center of the dashboard. The dashboard sees some changes to accommodate these larger screens. The larger infotainment screen is standard on all Telluride models while the larger driver information screen comes on the SX model and above.

Apart from those obvious changes, new technologies to improve on the driver’s aids and advanced safety systems are added as well. The Telluride now gets Intelligent Speed Warning, which works with the speed limit sign recognition system to automatically change cruise control to match if toggled on. The front collision avoidance system now has a wider frame of view to work with cross-traffic at intersections as well as oncoming traffic. Finally, the Highway Drive Assist System (optional) can now make lange changes when the driver taps the turn signal.

The 2023 Kia Telluride comes standard with a 3.8-liter V6 and eight-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard and all-wheel drive is optional on all trims except the SX Prestige, in which AWD is standard. The 291 horsepower and smooth power delivery curve of the engine are perfect for the Telluride’s size under most conditions.

Our greatest complaint with the Telluride, however, is its jerky transmission shifts when under load or when accelerating hard. Pushing up a freeway onramp to merge, for example, will result in jumpy shifts that don’t inspire confidence. The Telluride still makes freeway speeds in most situations, but the driver will be left feeling nervous about whether that will happen every time. The same happens when a downshift to accelerate to pass becomes a clunky hesitation.

Other than those situations, and perhaps when towing near the top of the Kia Telluride’s 5,000-pound capacity, this SUV handles itself well. As an everyday driver around town, getting kids to and from activities, or road tripping, the Telluride is a smooth and surprisingly maneuverable SUV.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has not crash tested a 2023 model year Telluride, but its assessment of the mechanically similar 2021 model resulted in a 5-star rating.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has awarded the 2023 Telluride a Top Safety Pick+ rating, its highest accolade. This is a result of perfect scores for crash testing as well as advanced safety equipment.

With these results, we’re confident in saying that the 2023 Kia Telluride is one of the safest vehicle options on the road.

The reliability expectation of the Kia Telluride depends a lot on who is being asked. Consumer Reports rates it as “about average” while RepairPal and U.S. News both give it very high marks. Given Kia’s class-leading warranty, we’re more inclined to give the Telluride high marks as well.

We think that the Kia Telluride is one of the more reliable options in the three-row, midsize segment of crossover-SUVs.

The new X-Line and X-Pro packages are worth considering if you need a little more capability out of your Telluride. Both add standard AWD and a little more ground clearance. Better all-season tires on the X-Line and more rugged all-terrain tires on the X-Pro are also nice upgrades.

We would also recommend considering the towing package option, available on Kia Telluride EX and SX models. This adds some functionality such as the ability to not only tow a trailer, but to add racks and other accessories to extend the cargo carrying and versatility of the Telluride. Kia’s towing kit also adds a self-leveling rear suspension and wiring harness.

The Kia Telluride has the best warranty available in the segment, rivaled only by sister company Hyundai’s similar offering. While Mitsubishi has a similar warranty as well, the Outlander is far lower in sales quantities by comparison. Kia’s warranty is about double the average warranty offered for the segment.

• Basic: 5 years / 60k miles
• PowerTrain: 10 years / 100k miles
• Roadside Assistance: 5 years / 60k miles
• If buying used look at our best extended warranties

There are a lot of new things added for the 2023 model year Kia Telluride, but it has now been on the market long enough that used models are becoming available. New or used, the transferable warranty the Telluride includes makes it a hot seller on the used market. Buyers can expect to save some money when buying used, but should carefully consider whether those savings are enough to justify not buying new with a fresh warranty and the new upgrades added this model year.

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