2023 Kia Telluride vs 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid

During our time in Texas, we sampled the new 2023 Kia Telluride X-Line and X-Pro models. All Tellurides received fresh front and rear styling, updated headlights and taillights, and new wheel designs. New paint colors included Midnight Lake Blue, Dawning Red, and Jungle Green, while the interior offered new colors like Terracotta, Navy, and Sage Green. The X-Line replaced the Nightfall Edition, featuring a raised suspension, unique grille design, raised roof rails, body-color door handles, and black 20-inch wheels. The X-Pro took it further with exclusive 18-inch wheels and all-terrain tires, enhancing its off-road appeal. Interior updates included a digital instrumentation panel and a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, giving the Telluride a modern edge.

Lexus invited us to Santa Barbara, California, to drive the redesigned 2023 RX models, focusing on the RX 350h and RX 500h F Sport Performance hybrid versions. The RX 350h Luxury test vehicle, equipped with 21-inch wheels, looked identical to the standard RX 350, lacking any hybrid-specific badges. The RX 500h F Sport Performance stood out with its Copper paint job, blacked-out grille, matte-black 21-inch wheels, and aggressive bumper designs. The 2023 RX models maintained their blunt-nosed appearance, with a wheelbase stretch reducing the SUV’s rear overhang. Inside, the RX adopted a cleaner, more minimalistic appearance with fewer switches and a new Lexus Interface infotainment system, featuring contemporary textures and backlit ambient lighting.

Mechanically, the 2023 Kia Telluride remained largely unchanged, featuring a 3.8-liter V6 engine producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Drivers could select from Eco, Comfort, Smart, Sport, and Snow driving modes, with the available AWD system offering a low-speed Lock setting. The V6 easily motivated the Telluride, averaging 24.1 mpg in the X-Line and 20.4 mpg in the X-Pro, which included off-roading. The Telluride’s suspension was raised by 10mm, with ground clearance increased to 8.4 inches, improving off-road performance. The X-Pro model featured 18-inch wheels, all-terrain tires, and an improved cooling system, increasing towing capacity to 5,500 pounds. The Telluride performed well off-road, showcasing its AWD Lock mode, ground clearance, and stability. On highways, it offered a smooth ride, with some wind noise at high speeds and a slightly squishy feel in turns due to the off-road tires.

The new 2023 RX 350h was expected to be more efficient, averaging 36 mpg in combined driving, but it was less powerful, producing 246 hp and 233 lb-ft of torque from a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. Lexus claimed the RX 350h could accelerate to 60 mph in 7.4 seconds. The RX 500h F Sport Performance, with a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, produced 366 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque, accelerating to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds. It featured an adaptive damping suspension, upgraded brakes, and rear-wheel steering, making it more athletic. However, accessing Sport mode required navigating the infotainment system, and the RX 500h averaged 20.9 mpg, short of its estimated 27 mpg. The RX 350h averaged 32 mpg, offering a quieter cabin and better gas mileage. The RX 500h F Sport Performance provided a more engaging driving experience, but the RX 350h was preferred for its efficiency and comfort.

The 2023 Kia Telluride accommodated seven or eight passengers, with premium Nappa leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, and heated and ventilated front- and second-row captain’s chairs. The second-row seats were comfortable, with manual side-window sunshades, USB ports, and storage pockets. The third-row seat was more comfortable than in some midsize SUVs, though not as spacious as the Volkswagen Atlas. The Telluride offered a “smart” power tailgate with proximity-sensing and an automatic closing function. Cargo space was generous, with 21 cubic feet behind the third-row seat, 46 cubic feet with the third-row folded down, and 87 cubic feet with both rear rows folded.

The RX 350h Luxury trim featured ten-way power-adjustable front seats, premium leather, and standard seat heating and ventilation. The RX 500h F Sport Performance had eight-way power-adjustable front seats with larger side bolsters and standard leather. The hybrids’ battery packs were placed under the back seat, providing excellent leg support but tight rear headroom. The RX offered 29.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat and 46.2 cubic feet with the back seat folded down, an improvement over the old RX 450h but still short compared to some rivals.

The 2023 Kia Telluride featured a new 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, a navigation system, and Kia Connect services, including a Wi-Fi hotspot. The voice recognition system worked well, though it didn’t control the climate system. The Kia Access smartphone app allowed remote control of some vehicle functions, and OTA updates kept the system up to date. The Telluride included six USB charging ports, Driver Talk, and Quiet Mode. Upgrades included a 10-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, wireless smartphone charging, digital-key technology, a Full Display Mirror, and a head-up display (HUD). The Leading Vehicle Departure Alert system was a favorite feature, reminding drivers when the car ahead was moving.

The 2023 Lexus RX featured a new infotainment system, requiring a subscription for connected services after the trial period. The Lexus Interface offered Drive Connect, a cloud-based navigation system with an Intelligent Assistant digital voice assistant. The system worked well, though it had some issues with specific requests. The touchscreen displayed only one menu at a time, and the screen suffered from reflections. The RX had an available head-up display with dual-function touch-sensing control pads on the steering wheel, which were unmarked and distracting to use, especially with polarized sunglasses.

The 2023 Kia Telluride offered a long list of standard safety features, including forward-collision warning, pedestrian and cyclist detection, junction turning system, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear parking sensors, rear cross-traffic alert with automatic braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, Safe Exit Assist, adaptive cruise control, and Intelligent Speed Limit Assist. Highway Drive Assist 1.5 was standard, with Highway Drive Assist 2.0 available on higher trims. The Telluride also included front parking sensors, low-speed automatic braking, a surround-view camera, Blind-Spot View Monitor, automatic high-beam headlights, driver attention warning, and Rear Occupant Alert system. The forward collision warning system worked well, and Highway Drive Assist 2.0 was effective in stop-and-go traffic. Crash-test ratings were unavailable at the time of review.

Every 2023 RX came with Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, including motorcycle detection, evasive steering assistance, intersection turn assistance with front cross-traffic alert, and curve-speed reduction for adaptive cruise control. Proactive Driving Assist was also available, slowing the RX when the accelerator was released. The front cross-traffic alert system provided visual indicators on the HUD, which were not visible with polarized sunglasses. The curve-speed reduction tech was reactive, and the driver monitoring system could be blocked by one-handed driving. Traffic Jam Assist and Advanced Park were available but not tested. The safety features operated mostly with refinement and accuracy, though some irritations were noted.