2023 Kia Telluride vs 2024 Lexus GX

Kia can barely keep up with demand for the Telluride, and its dealers and customers have told the company not to change a single thing, so you’d think it unnecessary for the automaker to invest a single penny upgrading the popular three-row crossover SUV.

Kia would disagree.

This year, the 2023 Telluride gets minor styling changes, new technologies, and some off-roading attitude in the form of new X-Line and X-Pro trim levels. We headed to San Antonio, Texas, which has somehow become the seventh most populous city in the U.S., to sample the Telluride’s new kit. And we remain impressed with this excellent family-size sport-ute.

Search for a Kia Telluride on CarGurus

Redesigning a long-running vehicle requires a big swing, and after fourteen years since the second-generation model debuted, building the all-new 2024 GX was a tall order. Lexus’s engineers struck out to make this midsize SUV better in every way: better tech, a better engine, more capability, and more luxury. They succeeded.

Verdict: Comfortable but rugged, the thirsty, body-on-frame Lexus GX isn’t the right luxury SUV for every shopper. However, for those in the market for this particular blend of lavish capability, it may be the best option on the market.