The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) promotes and regulates vehicle safety. Each year, the U.S. agency conducts assessments and tests to evaluate the safety and performance of vehicles. Its New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) provides safety ratings so consumers can make informed buying decisions. Shoppers who value safety are more likely to consider vehicles that perform well on NHTSA tests. One of those vehicles is the Kia Telluride.

Every year since its 2020 debut, the Telluride has earned a perfect five-star overall score from the NHTSA. Can it continue its winning streak?

The Kia Telluride has earned perfect overall NHTSA scores

Since the Kia Telluride launched in 2020, it has established itself as a top contender in the highly competitive SUV market. While it has much to offer, the Telluride’s outstanding safety features and performance in NHTSA’s crashworthiness tests make it a popular choice for shoppers who prioritize vehicle safety.

The NHTSA evaluates the safety performance of vehicles via thorough tests: frontal crash, side crash, and rollover resistance. The Telluride has consistently scored perfect five-star overall scores in NHTSA testing each year.

The 2023 Kia Telluride offers an impressive list of standard safety features. They include forward collision warning, blind-spot warning, and rear cross-traffic collision avoidance assist. The Kia Telluride was designed with strong structural integrity to aid those safety features. Its solid construction, along with crumple zones and airbag systems, effectively protects passengers during crashes.

But the popular SUV did not get perfect scores in frontal crash and rollover testing

Though the Kia Telluride has earned perfect overall scores in NHTSA testing, the midsize SUV didn’t earn perfect scores on every test. The Telluride earned four out of five on the frontal crash and rollover tests each year since its debut. 

The frontal crash test assesses the ability of a vehicle to protect occupants in a head-on collision. The rollover tests evaluate a vehicle’s rollover resistance and stability. Just because the SUV didn’t earn perfect scores on each test doesn’t mean there’s a significant safety issue. The Telluride performed well on both tests, providing a high level of safety overall.

On side crash tests, the Telluride has earned five-star ratings each year since its debut. The side crash test simulates what happens if the SUV slides off a road and crashes into an object such as a utility pole and assesses the vehicle’s ability to protect occupants.

Overview of the 2023 Kia Telluride

The NHTSA hasn’t fully evaluated the 2023 Kia Telluride yet. For this year’s model, the SUV has completed the frontal crash and rollover tests, earning four out of five stars on each test. Based on the brand’s commitment to safety and its consistent performance in the tests for the past three years, there’s little reason to think it won’t perform well in the side crash and earn a five-star overall NHTSA safety score.

Did Kia make many changes to the 2023 model? The latest Telluride got some stylish updates, improving on an already attractive vehicle. It received a refreshed grille, redesigned headlights, and a new front bumper. Kia gave the Telluride a new all-digital instrument panel with dual 12.3-inch screens for gauges and infotainment. Navigation and an onboard Wi-Fi hotspot are now standard across the lineup.

Those who wish to ensure the 2023 Telluride will earn top NHTSA marks must wait for final testing to assess the SUV’s ability to protect passengers.