2023 Kia Telluride Facelift Spied Showing Redesigned Headlights

[Sal Collaziano]

The grille has also been tweaked, but bigger changes might be planned for the interior.​

The updated Telluride was first spotted back in July 2021 when a prototype of Kia's facelifted SUV was seen wearing heavy camouflage. There hasn't been any news about the popular family hauler since then, save for a trademark filing suggesting a rugged X-Pro trim might happen. Thankfully, our spies currently based in northern Sweden have just spotted a test vehicle revealing some details. The most obvious change has occurred at the front where the headlights have new LED daytime running lights. Consequently, the turn signals have also been changed and this new look enhances the vertical layout of the lighting clusters. Gone is the rectangular DRL of the current Telluride, replaced by two parallel strips of light, on top of which Kia has installed the main beams.

Peeking through the mesh camo at the front is a redesigned grille with a familiar honeycomb pattern, but arranged vertically instead of horizontally as it’s the case with the 2022 Telluride. The latter already uses Kia’s updated corporate badge, which remains hidden here in the center of the grille. Tweaks to the bumper are also coming, but nothing to write home about. Being only a mid-cycle facelift, we are not expecting any changes to the side profile, although some new wheels could arrive for the 2023MY. At the back, the thick disguise gets in the of noticing whether something has changed. The taillights seem to be carried over, but that could change for the production version. The dual exhaust tips appear to be virtually identical, while the bumper is barely visible. Click here for more...

 

[Hangfire]

If it ain't broke, do go a fixin' it. Except the instrument cluster, fully digital would be sweet.

 

[Rocketdog]

The iconic and unique rectangular DRL, in yellow, are gone! That so sucks. It was so easy to pick out an oncoming Telly by the DRLs. Now it's another run of the mill SUV. No other SUV had that unique look. And the huge screen " to copy" others now on the market. We don't need more and bigger electronic flashy things in our face while we try to drive. I've had mine for a year and a half and still don't know or want to know all what the current infotainment screen does. I hate digging out the owners manual and try to find out how to do something that used to be simple, basic.

 

[SC300ES]

The iconic and unique rectangular DRL, in yellow, are gone! That so sucks. It was so easy to pick out an oncoming Telly by the DRLs. Now it's another run of the mill SUV. No other SUV had that unique look. And the huge screen " to copy" others now on the market. We don't need more and bigger electronic flashy things in our face while we try to drive. I've had mine for a year and a half and still don't know or want to know all what the current infotainment screen does. I hate digging out the owners manual and try to find out how to do something that used to be simple, basic.

You may not agree but there will be people that will trade in their 1-2 year old cars for the new dash, because the market allows it. Crazy times.

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[Batman3365]

We may find out next wk. NY autoshow is 4/15 - 4/24

New York International Auto Show – The oldest and largest-attended Auto Show in North America

autoshowny.com

 

[Patsfan29]

The iconic and unique rectangular DRL, in yellow, are gone! That so sucks. It was so easy to pick out an oncoming Telly by the DRLs. Now it's another run of the mill SUV. No other SUV had that unique look. And the huge screen " to copy" others now on the market. We don't need more and bigger electronic flashy things in our face while we try to drive. I've had mine for a year and a half and still don't know or want to know all what the current infotainment screen does. I hate digging out the owners manual and try to find out how to do something that used to be simple, basic.

I agree, but the initial pics still leave room for different colors on different trims like they currently have. I am guessing there will be more than just the white.

 

[Batman3365]

I agree, but the initial pics still leave room for different colors on different trims like they currently have. I am guessing there will be more than just the white.

Agree. I really wanted a wolf grey with grey interior but that is currently not offered. Since I spend most of my time looking at interior of the car, I went with Nappa grey interior and Gravity grey exterior. But that Wolf grey exterior is hot.

 

[Patsfan29]

Agree. I really wanted a wolf grey with grey interior but that is currently not offered. Since I spend most of my time looking at interior of the car, I went with Nappa grey interior and Gravity grey exterior. But that Wolf grey exterior is hot.

Yeah, my neighbor and I ordered at the exact same time and he ordered the Everlasting silver, then they saw the wolf gray and his wife changed her mind, so they cancelled their ordered and placed the Wolf Gray EX order. I have another neighbor with the Gravity gray and its looks really nice as well. Did you go Nightfall?

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[Batman3365]

Yeah, my neighbor and I ordered at the exact same time and he ordered the Everlasting silver, then they saw the wolf gray and his wife changed her mind, so they cancelled their ordered and placed the Wolf Gray EX order. I have another neighbor with the Gravity gray and its looks really nice as well. Did you go Nightfall?

2022 Gravity Gray | Nappa Gray | SX Prestige | AWD | Night Fall | Tow

 

[Patsfan29]

2022 Gravity Gray | Nappa Gray | SX Prestige | AWD | Night Fall | Tow

Damn, my bad, you did but a lot of work into that signature line. When I hit reply, it cut that off, still, lazy on my part

 

[gman1868]

Kia will debut the new Telluride on 4/13:

2023 Kia Telluride Will Debut April 13 in New York

Kia America on You Tube

 

[SC300ES]

Here's the Palisade

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[hamride]

Here's the Palisade
View attachment 25973

Very busy grill IMO ! Will wait to see if the 2023 Telluride is worth the leap from the 2021 SX-L/P Nightsky design wise ! I m still not fan of the right logo on the 2022...

 

[SC300ES]

I know the market allow it but I just cannot grasp the idea of trading in a 2 year old car for design changes. Unless, of course it's a lease that need to be turned it.

 

[gman1868]

Here's the Palisade
View attachment 25973

MOAR GRILLAGE! #facepalm

 

[Andrewh2020]

@SC300ES Here's how the idea of trading up makes amazing sense....
Let's say I have a 2021 telluride with a payment of $900 a month over 60 months. Financed 52,000 at msrp otd.

Let's say 12 months pass between 2021 purchase and 2023 trade in and purchase.
12m×900= 10,800
Well say 9,000 went to principle of the 2021.
So between 9,000 paid toward principal and approximately 2,000 in extra value due to the market, thats 11,000.
So let's say after that 12 months they give you 54,000 and you owe 41,000. So you net 13,000.
So we'll say the same comparable telluride for 2023 sells for 1,000 more at 53,000 msrp otd. You put your 13,000 on it and finance 40,000. And now your financing a brand new 2023 for the same payment ($900)over 48 months or if you extend back to 60 months a much lower payment of ($700). For a brand new car. It's like you had the 2021 free of rent for 12 months.

This is all estimated, but not far off from how it goes in this market.

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[Hangfire]

I know the market allow it but I just cannot grasp the idea of trading in a 2 year old car for design changes. Unless, of course it's a lease that need to be turned it.

If you can get as much or more for your 1-2 yr old Telluride than a new one costs, and you want the fully digital dash or some other new feature, why wouldn't you?

 

[2020Telly]

 

[trimbornunc86]

I like it!

 

[findthedr]

if this is accurate, it seems the 2023 will replace the standard transmission shifter for a dial, which would be a deal breaker for me. That was a major reason I considered a Telluride over the Palisade initially.