2023 Kia Telluride SX Prestige X-Pro review: Is it better than last year’s model?

By now, you might be tired of hearing about the Kia Telluride. With so many awards and accolades under its belt in just a few short years of production, it’s like the overachieving favorite child in the midsize SUV family (“Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!”). My husband and I were among the many who fell under the Telluride spell. After buying a 2022 Kia Telluride SX Prestige about a year and a half ago, we’re happy to report that it’s held up very well to our high expectations. Even after test driving dozens of cars over the past couple of years, we’ve fallen in love with a lot of vehicles — but nothing has displaced the Telluride in our hearts.

So, when we learned we’d be getting the 2023 Kia Telluride SX Prestige X-Pro — the latest and greatest in the model lineup — we were anxious to see how our old one compared with the newbie. Overall, the differences are very slight, but here’s a look at what’s changed — and which model year I’d rather drive. Browse Kia listings

2023 Kia Telluride Price and Trims

Brace yourself. The 2023 Kia Telluride comes in 10 — that’s right, 10 — different trim levels with two new packages called X-Line and X-Pro. The MSRP range is $35,890 for the base LX and $52,985 for the top-tier SX Prestige X-Pro trim. Each 2023 Telluride comes with the same 291-horsepower, 3.8-liter V6 engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is standard on all trims except the LX, S, EX and SX, but you can add that option for $2,000 on those trims. 

Some of the major differences in trim levels are noted below.

LX: $35,890 See listings

• 12.3-inch touch screen

• SynTex seats

• 8-passenger seating

• 5,000-pound towing capacity

• Automatic emergency braking technology

• Blind spot detection technology 

• Smart cruise control with stop/start technology 

S: $37,790 See listings

• 20-inch alloy wheels

• Roof rails

• 7-passenger seating 

• 8-way power driver’s seat

• Heated front seats

• Leather-wrapped gear shift knob

• Wireless charger

• Sunroof package available 

EX: $41,490 See listings

• Sunroof

• Smart power tailgate

• Leather seat trim

• 8-way power passenger seat

• Ventilated front seats

• 8-passenger seating

• Second row sunshades

• LED tail lights

• Sound-absorbing front door window glass

EX X-Line: $45,685 See listings

• Active on-demand all-wheel drive

• X-Line exclusive 20-inch alloy wheels

• X-Line styling

• High utility roof rails

• More ground clearance

• Exclusive interior colors 

SX: $45,690 See listings

• Two sun roofs

• 12.3-inch dual panoramic displays

• Blind spot view monitor

• Surround view monitor

• Harman Kardon audio system

• Front parking sensors

• Digital key

SX X-Line: $49,085 See listings

• EX X-Line standard features 

• SX standard features

SX X-Pro: $50,085 See listings

• X-Pro 18-inch alloy wheels with all-terrain tires

• X-Pro styling

• Tow mode with 5,500-pound capacity

• 110-volt power inverter

• Exclusive interior colors

SX Prestige: $50,590 See listings

• Digital display rearview mirror

• Head-up display

• Nappa leather seat trim

• Heated and ventilated second row 

• Rain-sensing wipers

• Premium headliner

• Heated steering wheel

SX Prestige X-Line: $51,985 See listings

• X-Line standard features

• SX Prestige standard features

SX Prestige X-Pro: $52,985 See listings

• X-Pro standard features

• SX Prestige standard features 

Our top-level SX Prestige X-Pro was a beauty, inside and out. The Midnight Lake Blue paint, Terracotta interior package, carpeted floor mats and shipping costs brought the price up to $55,120. Though the $35,890 tag on the LX may sound more appealing, I honestly can’t think of which features I’d be willing to ditch to hit the lower price point. Even at $55K, you still get an impressive assortment of standard tech and safety features — not to mention that third row, which is generously spacious for a car this size. 

Worst case scenario: You buy the Telluride, decide it’s not for you and resale it for a competitive price. Don’t forget that this thing won the 2021 Kelley Blue Book award for Best Resale Value in the midsize three-row SUV segment.

Changes I Liked

When I first climbed inside the new 2023 Kia Telluride SX Prestige X-Pro, my first thought was, “Wow. Pretty.” While not much has changed from the 2022 to 2023 models, I will say that the interior design updates were a nice improvement — particularly the color scheme in our tester. The Terracotta interior package made me feel like I was driving something a little more upscale than my all-black interior in the 2022 model. 

Upgraded safety features are always a bonus in my book as well. The newest Telluride offers features that timid drivers (such as myself) will appreciate. There’s a lane-change assist feature, as well as an upgraded adaptive cruise control feature that can automatically adjust for speed limit changes. In general, the tech is a little more fine-tuned than the 2022 version. Kia gets some points for this attention to detail.

Changes I Didn’t Like

As for the things I didn’t like, the list is short and more a matter of personal preference than a criticism of the car. First, I happen to be a fan of those orange/amber-colored rectangle headlights the Telluride had in 2022. Kia replaced these with vertical, white bars and they’re not my favorite. Also, I miss the bold “Telluride” lettering on the front as well as the old grille. And even though it looks nice to have the infotainment screen merge seamlessly with that all-digital instrument cluster, I actually preferred having the screens separate. My 2022 screen is separate, centered and sits slightly higher than the integrated 2023 one. I appreciated that the 2022 one helped me keep my eyes a little more focused on the road.

Overall, though, these are negligible concerns. I’d still recommend the 2023 Telluride to anyone who’s looking for a good midsize three-row SUV. 

2022 or 2023: Which Telluride Would I Rather Drive?

Since it’s got the same engine under the hood and the same basic layout, I can’t tell much of a difference between the 2022 and 2023 Kia Telluride models. I even forgot that I was driving the 2023 after a few days of driving. Though the 2023 SX Prestige X-Pro’s interior looks sharp, I have to say that I’m still partial to my 2022 SX Prestige. The Wolf Gray paint with those now extinct amber headlights will likely always be my favorite combo and just barely tips the scales in favor of the 2022 Telluride. 

Want to test this car out for yourself? Check out KSL Cars to find a new or used Kia Telluride today.

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