After almost six months since its debut at the 2022 New York Auto Show, the updated Kia Telluride flagship SUV has gone on sale in the US. The revised range of Kia Telluride now gets five variants – LX, S, EX, SX, and SX Prestige – across four trim levels, namely FWD, AWD, and the two new additions, X-Line AWD and range-topping X-Pro AWD. Among all these variants and trims, the SX-Prestige X-Pro AWD is the most expensive variant, with its pricing touching almost $56,000, including the shipping charges.
The top-spec Kia Telluride SX-Prestige X-Pro AWD is almost $20,000 more expensive than the base-spec LX FWD variant due to a long list of additional features and cosmetic enhancements. The new X-Pro AWD variant sits above the newly-introduced X-Line AWD, which replaces the erstwhile Nightfall Edition. We look at all the improvements that make the X-Pro AWD feel like the most exclusive variant in the Kia Telluride lineup, including all the changes the facelifted Kia Telluride has received as part of the facelift.
The X-Pro AWD Is The Most Rugged Looking Variant Of The Kia Telluride
The Kia Telluride was always a bold-looking SUV with massive road presence, and with this new X-Pro AWD, it has got a touch of ruggedness too. This new range-topping variant features a unique radiator grille design, bridge-type roof rails, 18-inch black alloy wheels wrapped with all-terrain tires, and X-Pro badges.
In addition to these highlights, it gets all the tweaks that the Kia Telluride has received in its 2023 update, including revised vertical LED headlamps, fog lamps, tweaked front grille, side sills, and tail lamps. Along with the already existing color options like Dark Moss, Everlasting Silver, Glacial White Pearl, Ebony Black, Gravity Grey, and Wolf Grey, the new Telluride also comes in three new color options – Dawning Red, Midnight Lake Blue, and Jungle Green.
The X-Pro AWD Has The Richest-In-Feel Cabin For The Kia Telluride
On the inside, the Kia Telluride X-Pro AWD exclusively gets a few additional color packages not available in other variants, in addition to X-Pro badges on the front seat upper backrests and a 110V inverter outlet in the cargo area.
Apart from these minor additions, the cabin also gets a whole range of updates that Kia has introduced across the entire range of Telluride. The biggest highlight is the inclusion of dual 12.3-inches display screens for the instrument cluster and infotainment system in a curved and seamless panel, in place of 10.3-inches screens in the previous version. Other changes in the cabin of the new Kia Telluride include a new steering wheel and a redesigned dashboard with tweaked AC vents. As before, the new Kia Telluride retains the essence of a family SUV with is three-row seating arrangement offering flexible seating options.
The X-Pro AWD Is The Best Equipped Variant Of The Kia Telluride
The list of features offered in the Kia Telluride has also become longer than ever before. This top-spec SX-Prestige variant comes equipped with a full display mirror with HomeLink functionality, updated C-type USB charging ports, a larger 10-inches head-up display, and an electric liftgate with ‘auto close’ functionality.
The new Telluride also gets an updated Kia Connect with a digital key, a Wi-Fi hotspot with connectivity for up to five devices, a Kia Access app with smartwatch compatibility, stolen vehicle tracking, connected routing, and smart speaker integration. Even the ADAS suite now gets a few new features like intelligent speed limit assist (ISLA), navigation-based smart cruise control – curve (NSCC-C), and highway driving assist 2 (HDA 2). The biggest highlight of this updated ADAS suite is the improved forward collision avoidance for junction turning, junction crossing, lane change oncoming, lane change side, and evasive steering assist.
The updated Kia Telluride continues to have features of the erstwhile version, like a 10-speaker Harman-Kardon audio system, Android Auto and Apple Carplay, wireless smartphone charging, multi-Bluetooth wireless connectivity, driver talk with quiet mode, and rear occupant alert.
The Best Off-Road Spec Kia Telluride
Apart from the rugged-looking elements, the X-Pro AWD variant of the Kia Telluride also gets a few mechanical advancements like an increased ground clearance by 0.39 inches, improved approach and departure angles, tow mode for better-trailering performance, downhill brake control, updated traction control and the best-in-lineup towing capacity of 5,500 lbs.
In addition to these enhancements, the new Telluride continues to have a 3.8-liter V6 GDI Lambda II Atkinson cycle engine. Available with an 8-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel independent suspension as standard, this engine produces 291 hp of maximum power and 262 lb-ft of maximum torque. It also gets four drive modes – Smart, Eco, Sport, and Comfort – as standard, with the all-wheel-drive versions also getting two different drive modes – Snow and AWD Lock. While the Snow mode allows the transfer of 50 percent of the power to the rear wheels, an equal amount of power output gets transferred to all four wheels in the AWD Lock mode.