Kia is assembling many X-Line/X-Pros with different colored bumpers (light vs. dark)

[ymehu]

After looking carefully at many different pictures/videos of different 2023 vehicles, I'm fairly convinced that Kia is installing different color bumpers on different X-Line/X-Pro vehicles. There are many pictures where the color/shade of the Kia logo is consistent across cars but the bumpers are very clearly different shades of chrome/silver. Some people on this forum have attributed this to lighting, but I've included some examples below showing that this can't be the case. Happy to hear if anyone has a different opinion.

Sample Case 1:
The below are both dark moss X-Pros. Example A's front is clearly getting stronger/more direct sunlight than Example B, as you can tell by how much lighter/brighter the paint and Kia logo are in Example A than Example B. But when you look at Example A's bumper, it is undeniably several shades darker than Example B's. If it were a lighting issue, Example B's bumper would be much darker.

Example A with a dark bumper:


Example B with a light bumper:




Sample Case #2
Another 2 dark moss X-Pros. Example C's front is clearly more exposed to direct sunlight than Example D's front, as you can tell by the slightly brigther Kia logo and lighter color of the paint (at least on the right half), yet it has the clearly darker bumper. Notably, Example C and Example A's bumpers look very similar in color/shade, and would match that of Kia's online builder.

Example C - dark bumper:


Example D - light bumper:




Other examples of dark-bumper X-Pros/X-Lines with direct sunlight hitting the front. Note how similar in color they look to Example A and Example C above, as well as the online builder:




Examples of light-bumper X-Pros/X-Lines. Note how similar they look to Example B and Example D above.

 

[bruesjoh04]

You can tell those are all X-model bumpers because they have the ribbing at the bottom. Which is the telltale difference of the X-model and regular bumper (which is flat all the way across).

Lighting and the color of the subject car make a huge difference.

 

[ymehu]

You can tell those are all X-model bumpers because they have the ribbing at the bottom. Which is the telltale difference of the X-model and regular bumper (which is flat all the way across).

Lighting and the color of the subject car make a huge difference.

The shape/structure of the bumpers are the same but the colors are different. Some have bumpers that are several shades darker than others and it is not due to lighting or the color of the car, as shown by the sample cases above.

 

[skeetermx1825]

so funny! I was in the process of building the exact same type of post (I was assembling different pictures) I completely agree with you! at first I thought it could just be the lighting, but not anymore...

The ONLY way to know for sure (unless Kia tells us) is to get both example vehicles side by side in the SAME light...

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[bruesjoh04]

The shape/structure of the bumpers are the same but the colors are different. Some have bumpers that are several shades darker than others and it is not due to lighting or the color of the car, as shown by the sample cases above.

I just think it’s impossible to make any sort of definitive conclusion when you’re comparing pictures taken by different cameras in different locations under different lighting of cars with different colors.

 

[ymehu]

Here's a snapshot from a video that's been posted and referenced on this forum before. SX-P X-Pro, SX-X-Line, and EX lined up side-by-side, all facing essentially the same direction. The X-Line and EX clearly have the same color bumper, which is several shades lighter than the X-Pro bumper.



If you watch the video from 0:30 to 1:00 and 10:15 to 10:25, the camera moves around the bumper colors stay pretty constant. No way the two lighter bumpers could be confused for the dark one on the X-Pro. To me, it's very hard to argue that the differences here are a result of lighting.

 

[Slack Attack]

Here's a snapshot from a video that's been posted and referenced on this forum before. SX-P X-Pro, SX-X-Line, and EX lined up side-by-side, all facing essentially the same direction. The X-Line and EX clearly have the same color bumper, which is several shades lighter than the X-Pro bumper.

View attachment 28536

If you watch the video from 0:30 to 1:00 and 10:15 to 10:25, the camera moves around the bumper colors stay pretty constant. No way the two lighter bumpers could be confused for the dark one on the X-Pro. To me, it's very hard to argue that the differences here are a result of lighting.

It’s all in the lighting. In this video you posted you can clearly see the difference in the details at the bottom of the x-line bumpers vs the non-X bumper…

 

[ymehu]

It’s all in the lighting. In this video you posted you can clearly see the difference in the details at the bottom of the x-line bumpers vs the non-X bumper…

Yes, there is a difference in the shape ridges between x-line and non-x bumper, but do you disagree that there is a significant difference in darkness between the x-pro and x-line bumpers? The cars are right next to each other and facing the same direction, so how could it be a difference in lighting? And if it is a difference in lighting, why are the x-line and non-x-line the same shade of silver?

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[Familyman20]

Yes, there is a difference in the shape ridges between x-line and non-x bumper, but do you disagree that there is a significant difference in darkness between the x-pro and x-line bumpers? The cars are right next to each other and facing the same direction, so how could it be a difference in lighting? And if it is a difference in lighting, why are the x-line and non-x-line the same shade of silver?

So whats you're point? What would you like?

 

[ymehu]

So whats you're point? What would you like?

Super fair question and sorry for not being clear.

I'm in the process of purchasing an X-Pro right now. I have one reserved and it's supposed to land in the next week or so. I'm disappointed by the idea that my vehicle might end up looking different from what Kia is marketing. If I'm paying $1.5k+ for what is largely an aesthetic upgrade, I expect to get the aesthetic I'm paying for.

So my intent is to:

1. See if there are others who have noticed this same issue / can confirm that it's in fact a Kia supply chain/assembly issue (I'm glad to have seen multiple other members pointing it out in various different threads)
2. Bring awareness to the issue to potential 2023 Telluride buyers, given A.) how controversial the light silver/chrome bumpers have been to Telluride fans, and B.) how Kia has marketed the X-Pro/X-Lines as having significantly darker bumpers (i.e., a near-"Nightfall" replacement) in its early marketing and website builder
3. Over the longer-term, hope this awareness will result in enough customer complaints to force Kia to resolve the issue for the X-Line/X-Pro customers who ended up with the lighter bumpers (long shot - I know)

 

[Tellmeride]

I am putting this to bed. It's an optical illusion, they may appear very different, but they are THE SAME GREY. Dont believe me? Check this out.

 

[Familyman20]

Super fair question and sorry for not being clear.

I'm in the process of purchasing an X-Pro right now. I have one reserved and it's supposed to land in the next week or so. I'm disappointed by the idea that my vehicle might end up looking different from what Kia is marketing. If I'm paying $1.5k+ for what is largely an aesthetic upgrade, I expect to get the aesthetic I'm paying for.

So my intent is to:

1. See if there are others who have noticed this same issue / can confirm that it's in fact a Kia supply chain/assembly issue (I'm glad to have seen multiple other members pointing it out in various different threads)
2. Bring awareness to the issue to potential 2023 Telluride buyers, given A.) how controversial the light silver/chrome bumpers have been to Telluride fans, and B.) how Kia has marketed the X-Pro/X-Lines as having significantly darker bumpers (i.e., a near-"Nightfall" replacement) in its early marketing and website builder
3. Over the longer-term, hope this awareness will result in enough customer complaints to force Kia to resolve the issue for the X-Line/X-Pro customers who ended up with the lighter bumpers (long shot - I know)

It's just an imperfect world. That's what the aftermarket is for, to make things more to your liking. To be fair KIAs online configurator has never been dead accurate in 3+ yrs and a lot of NF owners are fighting with KIA now for new window trim due to deficiencies/quality control issues. Just the way it is. I wouldn't lose sleep over it if you can try.

Seeing them all lined up in person one day at a dealer, I'm sure you'll see how the lighting affects the perceived color of this trim in real life. GL

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[takeitdown]

Here is the picture again with the 2 bumper colors shown below the X-Pro and X-Line. I zoomed in on the same spot in each bumper and grabbed a sample. An imperfect world, indeed.

 

[Familyman20]

And we haven't even discussed accident repairs yet?! Ha
Are we gonna demand a new vehicle after the replacement trim comes in different shades?

 

[weezer]

X-Line and X-Pro each have their own unique shade for the bumper. If you look at a sample of 50 X-Pro's they will all have the same shade bumper. X-Line's and X-Pro's side by side will always look different because they are different. As lots fill up with both top trims this can all be confirmed in person. The online configurator does not accurately represent the bumper shades. Find a dealer that has an X-Pro and X-line in stock and look at them side by side, they will always be different. I believe the trim surrounding the grill is also different on the X-Pro's and X-lines as well. Kia did not communicate this well and there should be something that clearly shows the differences as this is causing a lot of trim confusion.

 

[takeitdown]

X-Line and X-Pro each have their own unique shade for the bumper. If you look at a sample of 50 X-Pro's they will all have the same shade bumper. X-Line's and X-Pro's side by side will always look different because they are different. As lots fill up with both top trims this can all be confirmed in person. The online configurator does not accurately represent the bumper shades. Find a dealer that has an X-Pro and X-line in stock and look at them side by side, they will always be different. I believe the trim surrounding the grill is also different on the X-Pro's and X-lines as well. Kia did not communicate this well and there should be something that clearly shows the differences as this is causing a lot of trim confusion.

So the X-Pro is the darker one, correct? I wish this would have been clear before orders were updated for 2023. Not sure it would be a good idea to attempt an update to a 12 month old order that was already updated 2 months ago to a 2023. I guess just keep waiting and settle for what you get in today's world.

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[ymehu]

X-Line and X-Pro each have their own unique shade for the bumper. If you look at a sample of 50 X-Pro's they will all have the same shade bumper. X-Line's and X-Pro's side by side will always look different because they are different. As lots fill up with both top trims this can all be confirmed in person. The online configurator does not accurately represent the bumper shades. Find a dealer that has an X-Pro and X-line in stock and look at them side by side, they will always be different. I believe the trim surrounding the grill is also different on the X-Pro's and X-lines as well. Kia did not communicate this well and there should be something that clearly shows the differences as this is causing a lot of trim confusion.

I thought maybe that was the case also, but then came across this post, which has an X-Pro and X-Line right next to each other. In this instance, the bumpers appear to be the same (dark) shade. Grill trim appears to be the same shade also.

So we now have two different instances where we have pictures of a Dark Moss and Gravity Gray X-Pro and X-line side by side. In one instance (in my post above), the two bumpers are clearly different shades. In another instance (below), the two bumpers are the same shade. In both instances, the Kia logo and grill trim are the same shade across both vehicles. Lighting seems an unlikely explanation.

 

[hdat]

I asked the person in the video if the X Pro and X Line bumpers were different in color/shades. They said they did not notice any difference. They also have more pictures on their blog (gtgaragetalk?).

 

[ymehu]

I asked the person in the video if the X Pro and X Line bumpers were different in color/shades. They said they did not notice any difference. They also have more pictures on their blog (gtgaragetalk?).

Here are the pictures of the X-Pro and X-Line taken straight from his blog post, placed side by side. Compare the color/shade of the two cars' grill trims and Kia logos. Then compare the color/shade of their bumpers. Then reach whatever conclusion you want .

 

[SC300ES]

The mystery continues...lol