2023 Volkswagen ID.4 vs 2023 Kia Telluride

During our time in Texas, we sampled the new 2023 Kia Telluride X-Line and X-Pro models. All Tellurides received fresh front and rear styling, updated headlights and taillights, and new wheel designs. New paint colors included Midnight Lake Blue, Dawning Red, and Jungle Green, while the interior offered new colors like Terracotta, Navy, and Sage Green. The X-Line replaced the Nightfall Edition, featuring a raised suspension, unique grille design, raised roof rails, body-color door handles, and black 20-inch wheels. The X-Pro took it a step further with exclusive 18-inch wheels and all-terrain tires, giving both models a mildly aggressive off-road look.

Kia’s interior updates were less obvious but significant. The most notable change was the available digital instrumentation panel and the standard 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, housed under a curved 24-inch piece of glass. Other interior changes included new colors, minor trim updates, a new steering-wheel design, and a more functional center console. Both the X-Line and X-Pro had their trim names embossed into the upper portion of the front seatbacks. The 2023 Telluride was available in LX, S, EX, SX, and SX Prestige trims, with prices starting at $35,690 for the LX with front-wheel drive and rising to $52,785 for the SX Prestige X-Pro with all-wheel drive.

VW made subtle styling changes for the 2023 ID.4. The front bumper featured gloss black trim, while the rear bumper had a more squared-off design to improve aerodynamics. All wheel designs and colors were new for 2023, and the rear VW logo now lit up. The ID.4, based on VW’s MEB platform, was easily distinguished as an EV but lacked the upright profile and added ground clearance of traditional SUVs, which might have been a drawback for some buyers. However, this was a common trait among many current electric vehicles.

The interior of the ID.4 carried over the best qualities from recent VW gasoline-car interiors, including a minimalist design and an overall feeling of quality. The base ID.4 Standard model, aside from a manual driver’s seat, didn’t seem like much of a downgrade from the higher-level ID.4 Pro S. Leatherette upholstery with seat and door-panel inserts made partly from recycled fibers were standard for 2023. The ID.4 offered more interior space than other affordable EVs, with more front-seat and rear-seat legroom than a Chevrolet Bolt EV or Nissan Leaf, and more headroom than the 2023 Kia Niro EV.

Mechanically, the 2023 Kia Telluride remained largely the same as before, featuring a 3.8-liter V6 engine making 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Drivers could select from Eco, Comfort, Smart, Sport, and Snow driving modes, and the available AWD system had a low-speed Lock setting for even power distribution. The V6 easily motivated the Telluride, averaging 24.1 mpg in the X-Line and 20.4 mpg in the X-Pro, which included off-roading. The Telluride’s suspension was raised by 10mm, ground clearance increased to 8.4 inches, and the traction control system was modified for improved off-road performance. The X-Pro model, with 18-inch wheels and all-terrain tires, had an improved cooling system that increased towing capacity to 5,500 pounds.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 offered a new 62-kWh battery pack for the base Standard and S models, available only with RWD. The Pro, Pro S, and Pro S Plus retained the 82-kWh pack, available with RWD or AWD. Single-motor RWD models were rated at 201 horsepower and 229 pound-feet of torque, while dual-motor AWD models produced 295 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque, achieving zero to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds. The smaller battery pack reduced curb weight by 240 pounds, improving acceleration and handling. The ID.4’s AWD version had acceleration comparable to hot hatchbacks but lacked the handling prowess. The ID.4 used regenerative braking but did not offer one-pedal driving, providing a more familiar experience for EV first-timers.

The 2023 Kia Telluride accommodated seven or eight passengers, depending on the second-row seating configuration. Test vehicles featured premium Nappa leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, and heated and ventilated front- and second-row captain’s chairs. The second-row seats were comfortable, with manual side-window sunshades, adjustable inboard armrests, USB ports, and storage pockets. The third-row seat was more comfortable than in some midsize SUVs, though it couldn’t match the Volkswagen Atlas for leg support and overall room. Cargo space was generous, with 21 cubic feet behind the third-row seat, 46 cubic feet with the third-row folded, and 87 cubic feet with both rear rows folded.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 offered more interior space than other affordable EVs, with more front-seat and rear-seat legroom than a Chevrolet Bolt EV or Nissan Leaf, and more headroom than the 2023 Kia Niro EV. It had 30.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 64.2 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The ID.4 also offered some towing capability, with a quoted towing capacity of 2,200 pounds for RWD models and 2,700 pounds for AWD models. VW made small changes to the interior for 2023, including a conventional lid for the center console, a better spot for a phone, and three-zone climate control with rear-seat controls and heated outboard rear seats.

Kia made a new 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system standard in all 2023 Telluride models, including Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, a navigation system, and Kia Connect services with a new Wi-Fi hotspot. The voice recognition system performed well, though it didn’t accept commands to adjust the climate control system. The Kia Access smartphone app allowed remote control of some vehicle functions, and over-the-air updates kept the infotainment system up to date. The Telluride also included six USB charging ports, Driver Talk, and Quiet Mode. Upgrades included a 10-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system, wireless smartphone charging, digital-key technology, a Full Display Mirror, and a head-up display.

For 2023, the Volkswagen ID.4 made the formerly optional 12.0-inch touchscreen standard on all models, replacing the 10.0-inch screen on lower trims. The infotainment system received software updates to improve responsiveness, while wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto remained standard. The ID.4’s user interface included sharp graphics, natural-language voice recognition, and haptic touchpads on the dashboard and steering wheel. The ID.Light system, part ambient lighting and part AI assistant, changed color depending on the drive mode and flashed to indicate navigation directions.

Kia offered a long list of standard safety features on the 2023 Telluride, including forward-collision warning, pedestrian and cyclist detection, a new junction turning system, and automatic emergency braking. Other features included blind-spot monitoring, rear parking sensors, rear cross-traffic alert with automatic braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. The Telluride also had Safe Exit Assist, adaptive cruise control, Highway Drive Assist 1.5, and Highway Drive Assist 2.0 with Lane Change Assist. Additional features on higher trims included front parking sensors, low-speed automatic braking while parking, a surround-view camera, and a Blind-Spot View Monitor. A Rear Occupant Alert system with ultrasonic sensors was also standard.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests, and four stars in rollover crash tests. The 2022 model received the IIHS’ highest “Top Safety Pick+” rating, with top scores in all crash tests and high ratings for front crash prevention. The ID.4 included standard driver-assist features like forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear park distance control, automatic high beams, traffic-sign recognition, and VW’s Travel Assist 2.0. For 2023, the ID.4 added standard Park Assist Plus, an automated lane-change feature, and a 360-degree camera system.