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| 310 | Horsepower (hp) | 291 |
| 98.2 | Cargo Space (cu.ft.) | 87 |
| 27 | Highway Fuel Economy (MPG) | 26 |
If you're looking for a great deal on a three-row SUV, you may have narrowed your search down to the Chevy Traverse and Kia Telluride. What are the pros and cons of both options and which will be the best pick for you? Let's delve into the question of the 2023 Chevy Traverse vs 2023 Kia Telluride and see which option is the better choice. We'll look at which of the two SUVs offers more interior space, performance, affordability, and functionality. Which ride you choose will depend on your individual needs, but it is always a good idea to be informed.
When considering the many factors that make these two SUVs distinct, it is necessary to focus on certain features which are important to a buyer. Engine power, towing capacity, and performance are all important elements of any vehicle. The interior layout is also a big concern for SUV owners, especially when considering eight-passenger models. One of the major benefits of a three-row SUV is the interior space, which makes interior design and layout very important. Finally, last but far from least is affordability. The cost of a vehicle is a major concern for all buyers for obvious reasons.
These two three-row SUVs are very similar in many ways, but there are some notable differences. The 2023 Chevy Traverse is more affordable than the 2023 Kia Telluride and has considerably more interior room. The Kia Telluride does have more options for colors and trims, though the Traverse has many options of its own. The Chevy has a more powerful engine and a smoother transmission, and both vehicles have the same towing capacity on most trims. Both SUVs offer a great combination of features, safety, and performance. However, the Traverse provides more value for your money.
Performance is a top concern for many drivers and can often be a major deciding factor in determining which vehicle they want to purchase. Engine size is important, but how much horsepower and torque an engine delivers is more important. The 2023 Kia Telluride has a 3.8-liter V6 engine that produces 291 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque. In contrast, the 2023 Chevy Traverse has a 3.6-liter V6 engine generating 310 hp and 266 lb-ft of torque. Although the engine in the Chevy is a bit smaller, it provides more power, making the Traverse the superior machine between these two SUVs. You will feel that extra power whenever you pull away from a stop light or merge onto a highway.
The transmissions in these two SUVs are very similar. However, while the Kia has an eight-speed automatic, the Chevy has a nine-speed automatic. The difference between an eight-speed and nine-speed transmission is not always noticeable from the driver's seat, but the nine-speed does have some mechanical advantages. That extra gear helps the engine stay in its optimum RPM range longer, providing a better balance of fuel economy and power. In the area of transmission capability, the Traverse has a slight edge over the Telluride.
All-wheel drive can be very important if you ever plan on traveling off-road or in difficult weather conditions. Mud, snow, gravel, and heavy rain make for dangerous driving conditions, but all-wheel drive helps substantially. Thankfully, both of these vehicles have available all-wheel drive for every trim. However, Chevy provides a few more drive mode options that can help in tricky terrain. Both SUVs offer a Snow Mode, which probably won't see much use here in Georgia, but only the Traverse provides an Off-Road Mode. Chevy also makes Tow Mode standard, while Kia only provides it on the more expensive X-Line trim.
Towing capacity is not a concern for every buyer, but many SUV owners want to use their vehicles for towing trailers, campers, and boats. If you have any need for towing, you'll want to see which of the two vehicles is better. Both the Telluride and the Traverse have a standard towing capacity of 5,000 lbs. The Kia does have the option to increase the towing capacity by 500 lbs, but only on the two top-of-the-line X-Pro trims, which start at nearly $50,000. So while the Telluride does have a small advantage in towing capacity in theory, in practice, the Traverse gives you more towing capability for less.
The 2023 Chevy Traverse and the 2023 Kia Telluride both offer a well-designed interior with many great features. However, the cabin of the Traverse is significantly larger than the Telluride. For instance, the Chevy SUV has 98.2 cu.ft. of space behind the front row, while the Kia has 87 cu.ft. of cargo volume. The Traverse also has noticeably more legroom in the third row, allowing passengers in the back to stretch a bit more with 33.5 inches of legroom rather than the 31.4 inches in the Telluride. The Traverse also has more shoulder room in all three rows. If you frequently have a lot of passengers or need more cargo space, the Chevy Traverse is likely the better choice for this consideration.
The interior tech features of these two SUVs are similar but have some key differences. Probably the largest difference is that the 2023 Chevy Traverse comes standard with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto across its entire trim lineup. Although the 2023 Kia Telluride has a slightly larger infotainment screen, you will need to plug your phone in to enjoy all of its features.
If you are searching for custom luxury features, you can't go wrong with either of these models. Both vehicles offer available leather seating, as well as heated first and second-row seats on select trims. They can also be equipped with high-end options like dual-pane sunroofs and hands-free power liftgates. While the Chevy Traverse and Kia Telluride may be affordable family SUVs, that doesn't mean you will have to sacrifice comfort and convenience.
Safety is the top priority for many midsize SUV buyers. When you plan on taking your whole family places, you want to make sure that you all arrive at your destination safely. Thankfully, most car manufacturers also have safety as a priority. Both the 2023 Kia Telluride and the 2023 Chevy Traverse have excellent driver-assist technology. While the driver should always drive defensively, extra safety features can provide an added level of protection on top of a safe driver. For regular driving or unexpected events, high-quality driver-assist features help put everyone's mind at ease.
The 2023 Chevy Traverse comes standard with the Chevy Safety Assist suite, which includes Automatic Emergency Braking, Front Pedestrian Braking, Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Alert, IntelliBeam automatic high beams, and a Following Distance Indicator. These features are really helpful for preventing collisions. Two other features included on all but the base trim are Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Alert. Enhanced Automatic Emergency Braking, Rear Park Assist, and Rear Pedestrian Alert are available on select trims or as an upgrade. Every version of the 2023 Traverse has a standard rear vision camera, but that can be upgraded to an HD camera or even to the HD Surround Vision system, which provides a view of the entire area around your SUV.
The 2023 Kia Telluride comes with several Kia Drive Wise features standard on all trims, including Forward Collision Warning, Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Lane Departure Warning, and Lane Keeping Assist. Available as an upgrade is an enhanced version of Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Evasive Steering Assist Detection, Highway Driving Assist 2, Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist––Reverse, and a Surround View Monitor. In short, both SUVs offer a substantial amount of safety and provide a high level of peace of mind for even nervous drivers.
Here at Rick Hendrick Chevrolet of Buford, we have an amazing selection of new and used Chevy models, including the 2023 Chevy Traverse. Our knowledgeable sales staff can't wait to show off our loaded inventory and walk you through all of the features available in the latest models from Chevy. We never pressure buyers; we only inform our customers as best we can. When you're looking for a great deal on a Chevy, come visit our dealership, and we will do our best to find you the perfect vehicle.
If you're looking for a top-of-the-line Chevy with all the latest features or an affordable used model, we have a lot of great options. From the most practical cars to high-end luxury vehicles, our dealership is well stocked. Sorting through so many options may seem intimidating, but whether you know exactly what you want or have no idea where to begin, our sales staff helps all of our customers find the right car at a great price. We can analyze your needs, wants, and budget to find a vehicle that matches your requirements. Come in today and see what we have to offer here at Rick Hendrick Chevrolet of Buford!
*Images, fuel economy, and other stats, may reflect higher trim levels, options, or features that may result in a higher cost from the starting MSRP.
MSRP excludes tax, license, registration, additional options, and possible destination charges. Dealers set own prices.