The Kia Telluride three-row midsize SUV has been an enormous success. It won numerous automotive awards, and consumers buy it in droves. However, Kia is not resting on its laurels for the Telluride, as the new 2023 Telluride made its debut at the New York Auto Show. For the 2023 model year, the Telluride has a new design, greater capabilities, and new technologies, as well as new off-road-focused X-Line and X-Pro trims. Find out what we know so far about the release date, price, specs, and new features of the 2023 Kia Telluride.

When will the 2023 Kia Telluride be available?

The release date of the 2023 Kia Telluride midsize SUV is expected to be in October 2022, according to Kia. It will be available to buy at Kia dealerships throughout the United States and Canada. Also, the trims offered for the 2023 Telluride include LX, S, EX, SX, and SX-Prestige, along with X-Line and X-Pro variants of the upper trim levels. 

How much does the 2023 Kia Telluride cost?

The starting price of the new 2023 Kia Telluride ranges from $35,890 MSRP for the LX trim up to $52,985 MSRP for the SX-Prestige X-Pro trim. Also, the 2023 Telluride costs $2,500 more than the 2022 version, which has a starting base price of $33,390 MSRP.

2023 Telluride specs: Engine output, towing, and fuel economy

The 2023 Kia Telluride has the same 3.8-liter V-6 engine as the 2022 Telluride. Mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, it generates an output of 291 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque. Kia didn’t yet release the fuel economy estimates for the 2023 Telluride. However, given that the engine and transmission are unchanged, the 2023 Telluride will likely have a similar gas mileage as the 2022 Telluride (up to 20 city/26 highway mpg).

The 2023 Telluride still has a standard towing capacity of 5,000 pounds. However, the new Telluride X-Pro trim has a towing capacity of 5,500 pounds. A new performance addition is the Hill-Descent Control feature, which is standard for all Telluride models. Buyers of the 2023 Telluride have a choice of either a front-wheel drive or an all-wheel drive system.

2023 Kia Telluride: Exterior and interior design and features

The 2023 Telluride has a sleek new look. New exterior design features include:

• New bumpers and grille
• Revised vertical headlamp design with standard LED and available foglights
• New rear fascia and trim
• Revised taillights 
• New wheel designs
• Revised lower door garnish trim/side sills

Also, the 2023 Telluride offers three new exterior paint color options:

• Jungle Wood Green
• Dawning Red
• Midnight Lake Blue

For the interior, the biggest change for the 2023 Telluride is the massive curved dual 12.3” display screens. They are similar to the ones in the redesigned 2023 Kia Sportage. Other interior upgrades include a redesigned steering wheel, a redesigned dashboard with revised trim panels and HVAC vents, and new interior color packages. 

Features in the off-road-focused 2023 Telluride X-Line and X-Pro trims

Like the 2023 Sportage, the 2023 Telluride offers two new off-road-focused trims: X-Line and X-Pro. Both trims have a standard all-wheel drive system and an upgraded Traction Control System. Also, the X-Line and X-Pro have higher ground clearance (+10mm) and improved approach and departure angles. Additionally, both trims have a Tow Mode to maximize towing capabilities. And as mentioned earlier, the X-Pro trim has an increased towing capacity from 5,000 pounds to 5,500 pounds.

Exterior features in the Telluride X-Line include “X-Line” badging, exclusive 20-inch wheels, body-color door handles, bridge-type roof rails, and a unique radiator grille design. For the interior, the Telluride X-Line offers exclusive color packages and “X-Line” embossing on the front seat upper backrest.

The Telluride X-Pro has many of the same features as the X-Line. However, instead of 20” wheels, it rolls on 18” black wheels and 18” all-terrain tires. The X-Pro also features X-Pro badging, “X-Pro” embossing, and a 110-volt inverter outlet in the cargo area.

As detailed earlier, the expected release date of the 2023 Kia Telluride is in October 2022. Also, with a starting base price of $35,890 MSRP, the 2023 Telluride costs $2,500 more than the 2022 model.

The Kia Telluride is built at Kia’s plant in West Point, Georgia.

This article was updated on 10/8/2022 with the latest vehicle information.