The grille was also modified, although larger changes may be made to the interior.
When a Kia-designed SUV prototype was seen in heavy camouflage, the updated Telluride was first noticed. The family hauler has been quiet since, with the exception of a trademark filing that suggested a rugged XPro trim. Our spy team, currently located in northern Sweden, has just discovered some details about the test vehicle.
The front has seen the most significant change, with the new LED daytime running lamps replacing the old headlights. The turn signals were also changed. This new design enhances the vertical layout and efficiency of the lighting clusters. The rectangular DRL from the Telluride is gone. Instead, Kia has placed two parallel strips light on top.
The grille has been redesigned with a honeycomb pattern and is now vertically arranged, as opposed to horizontally like the 2022 Telluride. This grille already has Kia’s new corporate badge. It is still hidden in the middle of the grille. There will be some tweaks to the bumper, but nothing that is noteworthy.
We are only doing a mid-cycle facelift so we don’t expect any major changes to the side profile. However, new wheels may be available for the 2023MY. The thick mask at the back makes it difficult to notice if something has changed. Although the taillights appear to have been carried over, this could be changed for the production version. The bumper is barely visible, and the exhaust tips seem almost identical.
Although our spy team was not able to see inside the cabin, we were able to notice something quite interesting in one of the photos. Since we get the impression that the dashboard has undergone a redesign, the left-hand image has been zoomed in. Although we aren’t sure, it appears that Kia will install side by side screens in the same way as the smaller Sportsage.
It seems that the tablet-like infotainment has disappeared as the touchscreen appears as though it is on the same level with the driver’s display. This is not surprising considering analog dials are slowly disappearing. The 2022 Telluride is a little outdated, with its analog speedometer and tachometer flanked by a small digital screen.
The 2023 Kia Telluride will be revealed later in the year. It will need to take on some major roles as the midsize SUV’s current success has proved to have been a huge commercial success for South Korean brands. The Hyundai Palisade is due for a makeover before the end.