
Stepping inside, the quilted leather seats, large centre display, digital instrument cluster and mix of metals and quality plastics combine to provide a truly luxurious environment. Most SUVs in this segment can’t transport everyone’s luggage if all three rows are occupied.

That’s more than any other similar SUV, including the Highlander, Pilot, Atlas, Hyundai Palisade, Mazda CX-9, and Ford Explorer. The 2023 Kia Telluride offers class-leading second-row passenger space, while the cargo area gives you over 600 litres, even with the rear seats in place. Moreover, the Telluride delivers the goods in terms of versatility and interior space. Only the Volkswagen Atlas comes close in terms of overall refinement and giving the owner the feeling of driving something a little more upscale than its mainstream counterparts. Kia’s three-row top-of-the-line SUV might count models like the Toyota Highlander and Honda Pilot as direct competitors it feels more upscale, luxurious and even exclusive than any of those and any other midsize SUV in its segment. The Telluride has garnered a ton of praise since launch and that praise is well-deserved. The 2023 Kia Telluride received some upgrades, but essentially this is the same Telluride from four years ago, and that’s ok. That’s the model we had the opportunity to evaluate for this first drive review of the new Telluride, a three-row SUV that has made quite an impact since it was introduced four years ago. One of those versions, the X-Line, features higher ground clearance, blacked-out roof rails, and exclusive 20-inch wheels. The 2023 Kia Telluride received a few enhancements this year, including a revised front design with new headlights, new standard features, enhanced technology like an available digital key (your smartphone can serve as the keyfob) and two new distinct versions. Missing some features like wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.Infotainment isn’t all that easy to use.The new 2023 Kia Telluride received some improvements this year and we take the new-and-improved version for a first test drive.
