The three-row SUV segment has seen fierce competition in recent years, with various automakers vying for the top spot. Among the many contenders, the 2023 Buick Enclave and Kia Telluride stand out as two highly-regarded options. Both vehicles have earned their reputation by delivering a perfect blend of style, performance, and functionality.
This article delves into the details of both SUVs, comparing them side-by-side to help prospective buyers make the best decision based on their preferences and requirements.
Exterior Design:
The 2023 Buick Enclave features a refreshed exterior design, combining elegance and modern sophistication. With its signature winged grille, sleek LED headlamps, and dynamic lines, the Enclave boasts a commanding presence on the road. Its sculpted body and refined chrome accents give it an upscale appearance that sets it apart from the competition.
The 2023 Kia Telluride exudes a rugged and bold appearance with its boxy shape and wide stance. The Telluride’s distinctive front grille, LED lighting, and aggressive body cladding create a powerful presence. Despite its rugged demeanor, the Telluride retains a sense of refinement with its tasteful use of chrome accents and available 20-inch alloy wheels.
Interior Design:
The Enclave’s interior is designed to provide a luxurious and comfortable experience for its occupants. High-quality materials, such as premium leather and soft-touch surfaces, are used throughout the cabin. The Enclave also offers an intuitive infotainment system with a user-friendly interface, making it easy to access various features like navigation, smartphone integration, and climate control.
Inside the Telluride, you’ll find a modern and spacious cabin with a well-designed layout. The use of high-quality materials and attention to detail give the Telluride a premium feel. The SUV comes with a standard 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which is both responsive and easy to use, offering various features like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth connectivity.
Seating:
The 2023 Buick Enclave offers comfortable seating for up to seven passengers. Its standard second-row captain’s chairs provide ample space for passengers, while the third row can easily accommodate adults thanks to its generous legroom. The front seats offer available heating and ventilation options, ensuring a comfortable ride regardless of the weather.
The Kia Telluride can seat up to eight passengers, with a standard second-row bench seat. Alternatively, you can opt for second-row captain’s chairs, reducing the seating capacity to seven. The Telluride’s third row is spacious enough for adult passengers, and the front seats come with available heating and ventilation features for added comfort.
Storage:
The Enclave offers ample storage space, with 23.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row. Folding the third-row seats down increases the cargo capacity to 58 cubic feet, while folding both the second and third rows provides a total of 97.6 cubic feet. The Enclave also features a hands-free power liftgate for easy access to the cargo area.
The Telluride has a slightly larger cargo area, with 21 cubic feet behind the third row, 46 cubic feet behind the second row, and a maximum of 87 cubic feet with all rear seats folded down. Like the Enclave, the Telluride comes with a hands-free power liftgate for added convenience.
Performance:
The 2023 Buick Enclave is powered by a 3.6-liter V6 engine that produces 310 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque. This engine is paired with a smooth-shifting 9-speed automatic transmission, delivering a refined driving experience.
The Enclave is available in both front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive configurations, offering a well-balanced ride and responsive handling. The Enclave can tow up to 5,000 pounds when properly equipped.
The 2023 Kia Telluride comes with a 3.8-liter V6 engine generating 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. It is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission that ensures smooth and efficient gear shifts.
The Telluride is also available in both front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive configurations and offers a comfortable and composed ride. With the proper equipment, the Telluride can tow up to 5,000 pounds, matching the Enclave’s towing capacity.
Fuel Efficiency:
The 2023 Buick Enclave offers competitive fuel efficiency for its class. The front-wheel-drive models are rated at an EPA-estimated 18 mpg city, 26 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined. The all-wheel-drive models deliver slightly lower figures, with 17 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 20 mpg combined.
The 2023 Kia Telluride’s fuel efficiency is comparable to the Enclave. The front-wheel-drive models achieve an EPA-estimated 20 mpg city, 26 mpg highway, and 23 mpg combined. The all-wheel-drive models offer 19 mpg city, 24 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined.
Safety:
The 2023 Buick Enclave comes with a host of standard safety features, including forward collision alert, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and rear cross-traffic alert. Additional available safety features include blind-spot monitoring, a surround-view camera system, and adaptive cruise control.
The 2023 Kia Telluride offers an impressive suite of standard safety features, such as forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. Additional available safety features include blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a surround-view camera system.
Trim Levels:
The 2023 Buick Enclave is available in four trim levels: Preferred, Essence, Premium, and Avenir. Each trim offers a different level of features and options, ranging from the well-equipped base model to the luxurious Avenir trim with its exclusive styling and premium amenities.
The 2023 Kia Telluride comes in four trim levels as well: LX, S, EX, and SX. Each trim level offers a variety of standard and available features, with the base LX model offering a strong set of standard features and the top-of-the-line SX trim providing a more luxurious experience.
Pricing:
The 2023 Buick Enclave starts at $42,800 for the base Preferred trim and goes up to $57,700 for the top-of-the-line Avenir trim. Prices vary depending on the chosen trim level and additional options.
The 2023 Kia Telluride has a starting price of $33,415 for the LX trim, while the range-topping SX trim starts at $44,715. Like the Enclave, pricing varies based on trim level and additional options.
Key Differences:
When comparing the 2023 Buick Enclave and Kia Telluride, several key differences can help you decide which SUV is the better choice for you. Here are the main distinctions between these two vehicles:
Seating:
The Buick Enclave offers seating for up to seven passengers, while the Kia Telluride can seat up to eight passengers with a standard second-row bench seat. Both vehicles provide the option of second-row captain’s chairs, reducing the seating capacity to seven.
Cargo Space:
The Enclave offers slightly more cargo space, with a maximum capacity of 97.6 cubic feet when both the second and third rows are folded down. The Telluride, on the other hand, has a maximum cargo capacity of 87 cubic feet with all rear seats folded.
Fuel Efficiency:
The Kia Telluride offers marginally better fuel efficiency compared to the Buick Enclave. The Telluride’s front-wheel-drive models achieve an EPA-estimated 20 mpg city, 26 mpg highway, and 23 mpg combined, while the Enclave’s front-wheel-drive models are rated at 18 mpg city, 26 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined.
Safety Features:
Both vehicles come with a comprehensive suite of standard safety features. However, the Kia Telluride offers adaptive cruise control as a standard feature, whereas it is an available option on the Buick Enclave.
Pricing:
The Kia Telluride has a lower starting price compared to the Buick Enclave, with the base LX trim starting at $33,415. The Buick Enclave’s base Preferred trim starts at $42,800. This price difference is also reflected across other trim levels, with the Telluride generally being more affordable.
Final Thoughts:
After analyzing the 2023 Buick Enclave and Kia Telluride across various aspects, it’s evident that both SUVs have a lot to offer. The Enclave excels in providing a luxurious and sophisticated experience, while the Telluride shines with its rugged appeal and value-oriented approach.
Ultimately, the choice between these two impressive vehicles boils down to personal preferences, priorities, and budget. By considering the key differences and features highlighted in this comparison, you’ll be well-equipped to make an informed decision that best suits your needs.
Features Breakdown
Buick Enclave:
- Exterior Design:
- Elegant and sophisticated styling
- Signature winged grille and sleek LED headlamps
- Refined chrome accents
- Interior Design:
- Luxurious and comfortable cabin
- High-quality materials and soft-touch surfaces
- Intuitive infotainment system
- Seating:
- Comfortable seating for up to seven passengers
- Standard second-row captain’s chairs
- Available heated and ventilated front seats
- Storage:
- 23.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row
- Maximum cargo capacity of 97.6 cubic feet
- Hands-free power liftgate
- Performance:
- 3.6-liter V6 engine with 310 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque
- 9-speed automatic transmission
- Available all-wheel-drive configuration
- 5,000-pound towing capacity
- Fuel Efficiency:
- EPA-estimated 18 mpg city, 26 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined (FWD)
- EPA-estimated 17 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 20 mpg combined (AWD)
- Safety:
- Standard forward collision alert, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist
- Available blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control
- Optional surround-view camera system
- Trim Levels:
- Four trim levels: Preferred, Essence, Premium, and Avenir
- Pricing:
- Starting price of $42,800 for the base Preferred trim
Kia Telluride:
- Exterior Design:
- Rugged and bold appearance
- Distinctive front grille and LED lighting
- Aggressive body cladding and tasteful chrome accents
- Interior Design:
- Modern and spacious cabin
- High-quality materials and well-designed layout
- Standard 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Seating:
- Seating for up to eight passengers with a standard second-row bench seat
- Optional second-row captain’s chairs
- Available heated and ventilated front seats
- Storage:
- 21 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row
- Maximum cargo capacity of 87 cubic feet
- Hands-free power liftgate
- Performance:
- 3.8-liter V6 engine with 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque
- 8-speed automatic transmission
- Available all-wheel-drive configuration
- 5,000-pound towing capacity
- Fuel Efficiency:
- EPA-estimated 20 mpg city, 26 mpg highway, and 23 mpg combined (FWD)
- EPA-estimated 19 mpg city, 24 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined (AWD)
- Safety:
- Standard forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist
- Standard adaptive cruise control
- Available blind-spot monitoring and surround-view camera system
- Trim Levels:
- Four trim levels: LX, S, EX, and SX
- Pricing:
- Starting price of $33,415 for the base LX trim
