Kia Telluride: Top Alternatives for 2023
John Goreham is a life-long car nut and recovering engineer. John’s focus areas are technology, safety, and green vehicles. In the 1990s, he was part of an academic team that built a solar-electric vehicle from scratch. His was the role of the battery thermal control designer. After earning his engineering degree, John also completed a marketing program at Northeastern University. For 20 years, he applied his engineering and sales talents in the worlds of semiconductor manufacturing, biopharmaceutical production, and automotive electronics supply chain. Always a writer, John has published numerous articles in technical journals such as Chemical Processing Magazine. In 2008 he retired from that career and dedicated himself to chasing his dream of being an auto writer. In addition to online publications such as Car Talk, John’s work has appeared in print in dozens of American newspapers, and he provides reviews to many vehicle shopping sites.
If an auto expert suggested ten years ago that Kia would reset the bar for the three-row SUV segment, it would have elicited more than a few laughs. Kia’s progress was steady in small quirky vehicles, but it hadn’t had a breakout hit with large vehicles. Yet.
Kia did reset the bar, and the Telluride has that special something. Drivers who think many full-size SUVs are too large say, “Hmm, I think that could work…” and drivers who don’t like compact SUVs say the same thing.
Here’s our take on vehicles we feel compete well with the Kia Telluride.
Table of Contents
Kia Telluride Weaknesses
The Takeaway: The Kia Telluride is a very popular 3-row SUV, but finding a good deal may be challenging.
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The Telluride is also sold out. So when you can find one, dealers are marking them up to levels that make buyers wince. Even Hyundai, a sibling brand to Kia, has had to react to the Telluride’s success.
As good as the Telluride is, and we haven’t found a flaw to report, shoppers still like to have alternatives to consider.
What's New for 2023 Kia Telluride?
The Kia Telluride gets new front and rear bumper styling as well as revised headlights and taillights. Other updates include refreshed grille inserts and all-new aluminum wheel designs. The Telluride also gets three new paint color options for 2023: Jungle Green, Dawning Red, and Midnight Lake Blue.
Kia Telluride vs. Competitors
| Model | Max Cargo Volume | Passenger Volume | Consumer Reports Reliability Rating | IIHS Safety Score |
| Kia Telluride | ||||
| Jeep Grand Cherokee L | ||||
| Hyundai Palisade | ||||
| Dodge Durango | ||||
| Ford Explorer |
1. All-New Jeep Grand Cherokee L
The Jeep Grand Cherokee has long been a favorite of reviewers and owners. The reasons why we loved it include its near-luxury accouterments and driving satisfaction, off-road capability, and variety. Now in a three-row, 2-3-2 or 2-2-2 seating layout, the lengthened Grand Cherokee L offers shoppers the best of what the model has always offered, but in a package that can accommodate a larger family.
The Grand Cherokee L offers more variety than the Telluride. The Telluride offers just one engine. Jeep’s Grand Cherokee L offers three, including a V8 and a plug-in hybrid. The Jeep is also the defacto standard of off-road excellence in this segment. Jeep considers its Grand Cherokee L “Trail Rated.” And we believe that it is.
One another area in which Jeep offers more is with regard to included maintenance. The Grand Cherokee L comes with three years of included maintenance, part of what Jeep calls the Jeep Wave program.
What's New for 2023?
After a complete redesign in 2022, the Jeep Grand Cherokee L gets some minor updates for the 2023 model year. These changes include a 30th Anniversary Edition with black out interior accents and the introduction of a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) edition.
The Takeway: The Jeep Grand Cherokee L offers a wider variety of powertrains, more off-road capability, and comes with included maintenance.
Current Grand Cherokee L Deals & Incentives
| Year | Make | Model | Cash Incentives (up to) | Best Avail. APR | Lease Offers | Expiration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Jeep | Grand Cherokee L |
You may qualify for additional deals and incentives, check out this month's Jeep deals.
2. Hyundai Palisade
We won’t belabor the point that the Hyundai Palisade is this brand’s Telluride.
While the styling is unique to Hyundai, the basic mechanical aspects are the same or similar. Both vehicles ride on the same 114.2-inch wheelbase. However, the Telluride has a more aggressive look, while the Palisade aimed for a luxurious aesthetic.
So what does Hyundai offer that Kia does not? Again, three years of included maintenance.
What's New for 2023?
For the 2023 model year, the Hyundai Palisade adds new driver assistance technology, including Remote Smart Parking Assist and Parking Collision Avoidance Assist. Also, the second-row gets side impact airbags for the first time.
The Takeaway: The Palisade is Hyundai’s version of the Kia Telluride and comes with included maintenance.
Current Hyundai Palisade Deals & Incentives
| Year | Make | Model | Cash Incentives (up to) | Best Avail. APR | Lease Offers | Expiration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Hyundai | Palisade | $1,000 | 4.49% | $462/month for 36 months, $4,002 due at signing | 1/2/24 |
| 2024 | Hyundai | Palisade | $1,000 | 4.49% | $489/month for 36 months, $0 due at signing | 1/2/24 |
You may qualify for additional deals and incentives, check out this month's Hyundai deals and average prices paid.
3. Dodge Durango
The Dodge Durango is similar in many ways to the Jeep Grand Cherokee L. Both are Stallantis brands and use similar engine and infotainment technology. That is pretty much where the similarities end.
What Dodge brings to the table is a high-performance option. Actually two options. Dodge is the muscle car fan’s alternative in this segment, with high-performance engines approaching 800 hp (not a typo).
The Durango is also a body-on-frame SUV that has a reputation for ruggedness combined with comfort for passengers.
What's New for 2023?
The Durano brings back the popular supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 for the 2023 model year. Also, the Durango adds new Plus and Premium trims. Each of these new trims add leather upholstery, a power sunroof, and premium audio equipment.
The Takeaway: Those shoppers looking for a three-row SUV alternative to the Kia Telluride that really want a muscle car will find the Durango from Dodge is the ideal solution.
Current Dodge Durango Deals & Incentives
| Year | Make | Model | Cash Incentives (up to) | Best Avail. APR | Lease Offers | Expiration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Dodge | Durango | ||||
| 2023 | Dodge | Durango | $3,250 | 6.90% | 1/2/24 |
You may qualify for additional deals and incentives, check out this month's Dodge deals and average prices paid.
4. Ford Explorer
It would be unfair not to include the Ford Explorer in any three-row SUV comparison story. Ford arguably created this segment and has never stopped making Explorers. Ford also breaks the rules. The company has bounced back and forth between front-wheel drive layouts, rear-wheel drive, and even chassis designs. Today’s Explorer is built on a rear-wheel layout with a unique chassis design that adopts all of what Ford wants in a 3-row SUV.
Ford also offers outstanding EcoBoost turbocharged engines, a sporty ST option, and a hybrid in the current Explorer. Like Jeep and Kia, Ford is a leader in infotainment and constantly updates its vehicles to keep them modern and efficient. Interestingly, the Ford Explorer is also the safety leader in this segment, having earned the Top Safety Pick Plus rating from IIHS.
What's New for 2023?
For the 2023 model year, the Ford Explorer get s wider grille as well as new chrome accents. Other updates include redesigned LED headlights and 21-inch alloy wheels. FInally, the Explorer gets wider taillights as well as Explorer lettering at the rear of the SUV.
The Takeaway: How can the safest and longest-running three-row SUV model of the modern age not be a consideration when shopping for a vehicle in this segment?
Current Ford Explorer Deals & Incentives
| Year | Make | Model | Cash Incentives (up to) | Best Avail. APR | Lease Offers | Expiration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Ford | Explorer | $475/month for 48 months, $4,311 due at signing | 1/2/24 | ||
| 2024 | Ford | Explorer | $497/month for 48 months, $4,514 due at signing | 1/2/24 |
You may qualify for additional deals and incentives, check out this month's Ford deals and average prices paid.
