2024 Kia Telluride vs 2023 Kia Telluride

Both the 2023 and 2024 Kia Telluride models were designed to make a statement, though the updates for each year brought subtle but significant changes. The 2023 Telluride refreshed its front and rear styling, boasting newly updated headlights, taillights, and wheel designs. Paint colors such as Midnight Lake Blue, Dawning Red, and Jungle Green offered fresh looks, while the interior was adorned with new color options, including Terracotta, Navy, and Sage Green.

The X-Line package was notable for visual changes like a unique grille design, body-color door handles, and 20-inch black wheels, while the X-Pro took it up a notch with 18-inch wheels and all-terrain tires, enhancing its rugged appeal. On the inside, updates were subtle, excluding a new digital instrumentation panel and standard 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The 2023 Telluride moved closer to a future-ready vehicle with these alongside a new steering wheel design and a more functional center console.

The 2024 Telluride retained the fundamental attractiveness of its predecessor but went further by unifying the X-Line package's rugged aesthetic. It featured all-wheel drive (AWD) with a center-locking differential, increased ground clearance to 8.4 inches, unique grille, and 20-inch wheels. The X-Pro added matte-black 18-inch wheels and heavy-duty engine cooling to push towing capacity to 5,500 pounds.

Continuing with the updated aesthetics from 2023, the 2024’s Wolf Gray paint complemented the blacked-out X-Line styling. The interior featured premium Nappa leather seats in a variety of color options, along with a dual-pane sunroof adding light to the cabin.

Both the 2023 and 2024 Kia Telluride models were powered by a 3.8-liter V6 engine producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. The performance and driving experience, however, were shaped by subtle differences in features and tuning.

For the 2023 model, the drive was smooth, with fuel economy averaging 24.1 mpg in Comfort mode for the X-Line and 20.4 mpg for the X-Pro, which included off-road driving in Lock mode. Drivers had a variety of modes to choose from, such as Eco, Comfort, Smart, Sport, and Snow. On highways between San Antonio and Austin, the ride quality was soft and smooth, offering a delightful drive, though the X-Pro's 245/60 all-terrain tires added a bit of squishiness in turns.

The 2024 model retained the same engine and horsepower but introduced new enhancements. The towing capacity for the X-Pro increased to 5,500 pounds thanks to an improved cooling system. The AWD system with a locking center differential and multiple driving modes like Comfort, Sport, Smart, and Snow ensured adaptability across various terrains. Its ride quality was firm at lower speeds on city streets but soft at higher velocities, creating a comfortable experience, especially with head-toss minimized on winding roads with pavement undulations. Fuel economy wasn’t its strongest suit, averaging 19 mpg on mountainous drives and 17.5 mpg in city driving.

Interior space was a strong point for both models, with the 2023 Telluride offering premium Nappa leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, and heated and ventilated seats for both the first and second rows. Additionally, it provided plenty of room and comfort, especially in the second row, equipped with manual side-window sunshades, USB ports, and storage pockets.

By comparison, the 2024 Telluride also excelled. It included premium Nappa leather seats across higher trims, with heated and ventilated options for both the first and second rows, promoting a luxurious feel. The layout of controls was user-friendly, with physical buttons being a welcomed feature. Thoughtful details such as a changing digital instrumentation panel, along with generous storage both at the front and in the door panel bins, contributed to the interior’s functionality.

In terms of cargo capacity, both years performed equally well. Both the 2023 and 2024 models offered 21 cubic feet of space behind the third-row seats, expandable to 46 cubic feet with the third row folded down, and a generous 87 cubic feet with both rear rows folded.

Technological features in both models were quite impressive, each offering a 12.3-inch touchscreen. The 2023 Telluride’s infotainment system included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, a navigation system, and Kia Connect services. Voice recognition passed various tests with ease, despite lacking climate control commands. Notable features included a Wi-Fi hotspot, digital key technology, a Full Display Mirror, and a 10-inch head-up display.

The 2024 model continued to impress although it lacked wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Its Bluetooth pairing was seamless, and while an active Kia Connect subscription was needed for some features, four different Kia Connect plans offered diverse functionalities, from emergency services to remote control capabilities. The infotainment system featured a blue-light filter, a fantastic Quiet Mode, and a digital key function. A camera-based rearview mirror provided excellent clarity, complemented by an exceptional 10-inch head-up display and a comprehensive 360-degree camera system.

Safety was a priority for both the 2023 and 2024 Tellurides. The 2023 model came with an extensive list of standard features, including forward-collision warning, pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping and lane-centering assist, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high-beam headlights, among others. New features included Intelligent Speed Limit Assist and Highway Drive Assist 2.0, enhancing semi-autonomous driving capabilities.

The 2024 model, in turn, maintained the standard Kia Drive Wise collection of safety features and introduced Highway Driving Assist 2.0 for higher trims, offering automatic lane-changing capabilities. Though it sometimes performed poorly in moderate traffic, the lane-keeping system without the assist was notably intrusive. Additional safety feature upgrades included cross-traffic alert, evasive steering assist, and a camera-based Blind-Spot View Monitor.

Both versions were equipped with a comprehensive collection of driving aids, but the 2024 Telluride was the first to receive safety ratings: a five-star overall score from NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from IIHS.