Kia Telluride - Review, Specs, Pricing, Features, Videos and More

Kia’s Telluride in a few short years went from unknown quantity to segment standout. The stylish three-row SUV has been a star in a competitive class and recently received a significant refresh. One of the biggest standouts about the boxy Telluride has been the vehicle’s stylish looks inside and out. With the recent refresh, it’s just as true as ever, even if the cool rectangular amber daytime running lights are now gone.

As was the case before the refresh, the interior draws a lot of praise for its premium look and feel.

The Kia Telluride continues as a well-equipped midsize SUV, offering a range of trims with front- and all-wheel drive. Known for its spacious interior and practical design, the Telluride remains a strong option in the segment, now with pricing starting at $36,190 for the LX FWD and topping out at $53,385 for the SX-P X-Pro AWD.

What’s New for 2025

For 2025, the Telluride receives a range of updates across the lineup. All trims now include second-row side airbags and Highway Driving Assist 1.5 as standard features. The X-Pro AWD trim benefits from an increased towing capacity of 5,500 lbs. and an additional 10mm of ground clearance. X-Line and X-Pro models add new interior details such as a Terracotta color option and embossed front seats. A 12.3-inch dual-screen display is standard on these trims, and Digital Key 2 Touch is available from the SX trim upward. Exterior changes include Gloss Black accents on roof rails and emblems.

We sent out the call. A request to every manufacturer, looking for new, significantly updated, or strong contenders in the mainstream three-row SUV segment. We need the best of best for a special AutoGuide Three-Row SUV Shootout Comparison brought to you by Weathertech. Our goal: to find the best 3 row SUV.

Quickly, manufacturers responded and entries poured in. Representing Korea are two strong options in the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade. From Japan, we have the usual players, the Honda Pilot, Nissan Pathfinder, Subaru Ascent, and Toyota Highlander.

Also, there’s Mazda. The brand was eager to get the tried-and-true CX-9 in our shootout, but what they offered next was huge; both literally and figuratively. Mazda was granting us early access to the brand’s yet unreleased, all-new, CX-90 three-row SUV for this shootout. For those unfamiliar with the CX-90, it’s built on a completely new rear-wheel drive bias platform, featuring an equally new turbocharged inline-six.

Read the full comparison here

The 2023 Kia Telluride X-Line is one of the toughest vehicles I’ve had to review.

Not that it’s a bad car—far from it. Pretty much from the moment the Telluride launched in 2019, it has won plaudits from critics (AutoGuide included) and been a sales success for dealers. Kia’s three-row is in such heavy demand that it regularly sells for more used than new.

The thing is, the Telluride was already at the front of the class when we last drove it mere months ago. The 2023 refresh looked light on surprises, too. Could I really just say “the same, but better?”

Uh, yes, because that’s exactly what this is.

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Going into this comparison, it almost didn’t seem fair.

It’s no secret that the Telluride has been a smash hit for Kia. The brand’s larger three-row has won awards right out of the gate, and folks are paying over list for used examples. The Telluride has immediately become one of the very best choices in the three-row crossover set.

The Subaru Ascent had its own time in the spotlight, roughly six months before the Telluride’s debut. A far cry from the maligned Tribeca before it, the Ascent leans into the modern Subaru values of pragmatic practicality and a learning curve as steep as playing Pong.

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