Facelifted Kia Telluride gets a mean makeover, inside and out
Hyundai wasn’t the only Korean automaker present during the 2022 New York International Auto Show. Also making their presence felt during the annual auto show was Kia, and just like Hyundai, they revealed their refreshed flagship SUV.
Ladies and gentlemen, this is the 2023 Kia Telluride. Sporting a tougher-looking exterior as well as a more high-tech cabin, the three-row SUV gets a much-needed update after it first debuted way back in 2019.
While it may not be obvious at first, Kia was busy changing up the Telluride’s exterior. It has a more rugged and bolder look courtesy of revised LED headlights, new front and rear bumpers, and redesigned tiger-nose grille. Rounding up the exterior changes are the refreshed LED taillights, new rear fascia and trim, restyled lower door garnish/side sills, and new alloy wheel designs for every variant.
For those that prefer their Telluride to have a more outdoorsy look, Kia also introduced two new adventure-ready variants, the X-Line and the X-Pro. Beginning with the former, the X-Line comes with a unique grille finish, bridge-type roof rails, body-colored door handles, massive 20-inch wheels, and X-Line badging all-around. As for the X-Pro, it gets the following modifications; 18-inch alloy wheels wrapped in all-terrain tires, and X-Pro badging on its exterior.
Inside, Kia installed a bigger 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. It replaces the previous 10.3-inch screen from before and comes with navigation, Bluetooth, USB, Wi-Fi hotspot, as well as over-the-air updates (OTA). There’s also a bigger heads-up display that now measures 10-inches, growing from the previous 8.5-inch display from before.
Other cabin amenities carried over from the pre-facelift version include Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, a Harmon/Kardon 10-speaker sound system, captain seats on the second row, full-leather interior, wireless smartphone charging, and up to 6 USB charging ports.
Just like its Hyundai cousin (the Palisade), the 2023 Telluride continues to be powered by a 3.8-liter direct-injection V6 with dual CVVT. It produces 295 PS with 355 Nm of torque and is married to an 8-speed automatic transmission with manual select. Available as an option is an active on-demand all-wheel-drive system that can automatically distribute torque between the front and rear axles. Moreover, the Telluride has four drive modes to choose from; Smart, Eco, Sport, and Comfort.
A wide array of intelligent driver aids will ensure the occupants are safe while on the road. Some of these features include forward collision warning, forward collision avoidance with pedestrian detection, high-beam assist, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot collision avoidance, blind-spot view monitor, smart cruise control with stop & go, rear-cross traffic alert, lane-following assist, and a 360-degree surround-view monitor.
With the 2023 Kia Telluride now in the US, will it actually make its way to the Philippines? Unfortunately, there’s little to no chance that we’ll ever get it. According to Manny Aligada, president of Kia Philippines, the Telluride is not made in Korea. Instead, the Telluride is actually produced at Kia’s West Point, Georgia factory in the U.S. Because of that, the Telluride will not be able to benefit from the ASEAN-Korea Free Trade Agreement.
Should you really want to get one for yourself in the Philippines, there could be private dealers in the country that may offer to sell you one. Be warned, though, that they charge a premium over manufacturer-sold units. But should money be no problem for you, have at it.
Keyword: 2023 Kia Telluride is the Palisade's tougher-looking cousin