10 Best Things About the 2027 Kia Telluride

2027 Kia Telluride X-Pro SX Prestige ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Success can be hard to repeat. The first-generation Kia Telluride was a smash hit, and over its six years of production, buyers flocked to this three-row crossover’s combination of high-end design and amenities, family-friendly space and functionality, and reasonable prices. 

The redesigned 2027 Kia Telluride keeps those same advantages – while also freshening the styling, adding new amenities, and introducing an economical new hybrid model. Not every former owner will welcome the changes, and the competition also continues to evolve. But as we’ll explain in this review, the 2027 Telluride remains one of the best three-row crossovers. 

We just spent a week testing this all-new SUV, which is priced from $39,190. Here are our 10 favorite things about the 2027 Kia Telluride. 

1. Bold New Design

The new Telluride's design strikes an appealing balance. It pays homage to the beloved original design – with its upright shape and slim vertical lights – while also becoming new and fresh. Crisp LED lights, straight lines, and smooth sides evoke a Range Rover without looking like a ripoff. A big black grille fills all the space between the slim, wide-apart headlights; to some eyes, it’ll be too much black on the front end, but it’s a rugged look that complements the utilitarian side of the Telluride’s boxiness. 

Our test car is the off-road-themed X-Pro model with a blacked-out front bumper below the grille, all-terrain tires, and a higher ground clearance. Its Terrain Brown Matte paint is especially striking, blending the off-road tan of a safari vehicle with a sleek matte effect. 

Not all owners will love two of Kia’s tricks for a clean design. First, the retractable door handles look great, but they’re fussy to use and introduce a potentially costly failure point. And second, the optional extra-cost matte paint isn’t our first choice for genuine safari duty because it requires extra care when washing. But the looks are definitely striking. 

2027 Kia Telluride X-Pro SX Prestige ・ Photo by Brady Holt

2. Two Powerful Turbo Engines

Last year’s 2025 Telluride (it skipped the 2026 model year) came with a traditional high-displacement non-turbo engine: a 3.8-liter V6 with 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. That engine is gone in favor of two new four-cylinder turbos. 

Our X-Pro test car came with a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine making 274 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque, which is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The old Telluride was a little bit quicker, and some people will miss the traditional sound of a V6 engine. But part of the speed is due to a weight gain rather than the engine change. And the Telluride is noticeably quicker than the new version of its Hyundai Palisade cousin, which still has a non-turbo V6. It’s also smoother and quieter than some four-cylinder rivals, such as the Chevrolet Traverse and Subaru Ascent. 

The four-cylinder didn’t make the Telluride into a fuel-sipper. (Again, remember that it’s heavier than before.) The most economical front-wheel-drive model gets 20 mpg in the city, 26 mpg on the highway, and 22 mpg combined. Most all-wheel-drive Tellurides with this engine get 18 mpg city, 24 mpg highway, and 20 mpg combined. And our AWD X-Pro with a higher ground clearance and all-terrain tires gets just 17 mpg city, 22 mpg highway, and 19 mpg combined. 

We did beat EPA figures to average 21 mpg in a week of mixed driving. But whether you want power or fuel economy, we recommend getting the Telluride’s other engine: the first-ever Telluride Hybrid. Let’s cover that one next. 

2027 Kia Telluride X-Pro SX Prestige ・ Photo by Brady Holt

3. Economical New Hybrid Model

The Telluride Hybrid takes the four-cylinder turbo and adds two electric motors for a mighty 329 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque. Expect it to shave about a second off the Telluride’s sprint to 60 mph if you floor the accelerator. But if you’re less lead-footed, you’re more likely to hit the Telluride Hybrid’s EPA fuel economy estimates: up to 34 mpg in the city, 36 mpg on the highway, and 35 mpg combined. 

Those numbers are for an EX trim level with front-wheel drive and 18-inch wheels. A front-drive SX, with larger 20-inch wheels and a bit more weight (due to more amenities), gets 2 mpg less. And if you want AWD, the EPA estimates you’ll average 30 mpg city, 32 mpg highway, and 31 mpg regardless of trim level. Those numbers slot between the much less powerful Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid and the equivalently quick Grand Highlander Hybrid Max. 

The downside to the hybrid is price and availability. It costs $2,700 extra versus a comparable non-hybrid trim level. That’s not insignificant, but it could pay for itself – while giving you more power in the bargain. But not all trim levels offer a hybrid version. It’s missing from entry-level Tellurides and the off-road-focused X-Pro. 

2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid ・ Photo by Kia

4. Reasonable Prices and a Long List of Features

As we mentioned, the Telluride starts at $39,190 (before a mandatory $1,545 destination charge). That’s less than most similarly sized three-row crossovers. Kia offers a dizzying array of trim levels, but our pick is the EX Hybrid ($46,490 plus destination). In addition to the fuel-sipping engine, it has leatherette upholstery with heated and ventilated front seats, a hands-free power liftgate, a moonroof, an eight-speaker stereo, second-row retractable window shades, and power-folding side mirrors. It’s luxurious, economical, and powerful for less than $50,000. 

Higher trim levels have some desirable add-ons, too. These include a self-leveling rear suspension, a 14-speaker Meridian stereo, genuine leather upholstery, heated and ventilated second-row seats, massaging front seats, a heated steering wheel, a second moonroof over the rear seats, the ability to use your phone as a key, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and extra cameras: a surround-view parking camera, a see-through off-road camera, a rearview camera mirror, and blind-spot cameras that activate when you put on the turn signal. A fully loaded SX Prestige Hybrid still comes in below $60,000, and most of these features are available on some lower trims as well. 

2027 Kia Telluride X-Pro SX Prestige ・ Photo by Brady Holt

5. High-Tech, Well-Finished Interior

The redesigned 2027 Kia Telluride has a cleanly styled, well-finished interior with a mix of digital displays and physical controls. The attractive dashboard stretches horizontally, with a strip of dashboard trim above another strip containing the climate system’s vents. A single panel contains a digital gauge cluster, a touchscreen dedicated to climate controls to its right, and a main touchscreen beyond that. The 12.3-inch touchscreen now supports wirelessly connected Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring. That's an upgrade from the old Telluride’s requirement to plug in a cable to use your phone’s mobile apps on the car’s screen. 

The old Telluride had more physical buttons and knobs, and more “warm” interior colors. It also had a more SUV-like character, with sturdy grab handles built prominently into the center console and a traditional console-mounted gear selector. The new console prioritizes storage space, including for a pair of wireless phone chargers; the grab handles are more subtle, and the gear selector is now mounted on the steering column. Some fans of the old model won’t appreciate the changes. But overall, the Telluride’s new interior is contemporary and brings some welcome changes without being too hard to use. 

2027 Kia Telluride X-Pro SX Prestige ・ Photo by Brady Holt

6. Three Roomy Rows of Seats

A longtime Telluride strength has been its spacious, comfortable seats. Many three-row SUVs have cramped far-back accommodations. Some even have tight second-row seats to make room for a third row. That’s not the Telluride’s case. 

The Telluride seats up to eight passengers (or seven if you get second-row captain’s chairs instead of a bench seat). The front seats are comfortable and supportive, and as we mentioned, they’re widely available with both heating and ventilation. Our test car also had a massage function with a choice of settings; we felt it pushed us around more than pressing deliberately like in some cars, but it’s rare to have any massager at this price point. 

The second row has outstanding legroom, which has two benefits. One, when there’s no one in the far back, second-row passengers enjoy ample room to stretch out. And two, when someone uses the third row, there’s plenty of room to scoot the second row forward without pinching anyone. We fit in the third row even with the second-row seats all the way back, too. As we mentioned, the second row is available with heating and ventilation, just like the front seats. And the third row is heated on top models. 

2027 Kia Telluride X-Pro SX Prestige ・ Photo by Brady Holt

7. Ample Cargo Room

The Telluride also has plenty of room for your cargo. Unlike some three-row SUVs, there’s even decent luggage space when the third row is in place: 22 cubic feet behind the third row, 49 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 89 cubic feet behind the front seats. All three figures are up slightly from the old Telluride. A few competitors have even more space, especially with all the seats folded, but the Telluride will hold plenty of stuff easily. 

Unlike its Hyundai Palisade cousin and some other competitors, the Telluride doesn’t offer a power-folding third-row seat. In our experience, power-folding seats are slower and fussier than manual ones, but some people may miss that amenity. 

Towing capacity is 5,000 pounds for the gas-only engine and 4,500 pounds for the Telluride Hybrid. That’s competitive but unexceptional for a three-row crossover SUV. And some 2025 Tellurides could tow up to 5,500 pounds. 

2027 Kia Telluride X-Pro SX Prestige ・ Photo by Brady Holt

8. Comfortable and Easy to Drive

The first-generation Telluride was a standout on many fronts – including design, interior quality, passenger accommodations, and value for the money. But it wasn’t anything special to drive. It was comfortable and quiet, but pretty anonymous. That was good enough for plenty of buyers. And we expect that’ll continue with the new model. As before, it has a smooth ride and light, accurate steering. There’s no extra level of agility, perfectly polished fluidity in the steering or throttle, or tight-as-a-drum composure. But the ride isn’t bumpy or loud, and the Telluride isn’t too clumsy or hard to park. 

The Telluride is also more capable off-road than before. Most trim levels have a modest 7.4 inches of ground clearance, but the X-Pro like our test vehicle now sports an excellent 9.1 inches. And its upgraded off-road tech includes a limited-slip differential, a center differential lock, all-terrain tires, a selectable Terrain mode, displays showing the SUV’s pitch and roll, and a camera that shows the ground as you maneuver at low speeds. Any AWD Telluride can handle some snow or unpaved roads, but the X-Pros can go farther and with more confidence. 

2027 Kia Telluride X-Pro SX Prestige ・ Photo by Brady Holt

9. Slicker Than the Competition

Today’s Telluride faces tougher competitors than the first-generation model did seven years ago. But the new 2027 Telluride stands apart in some meaningful ways. 

One top rival is the Toyota Grand Highlander, which pairs simplicity and fuel efficiency with a ton of cargo room. It gets better gas mileage than the equivalent Tellurides in most cases. But as we mentioned, if you want power and efficiency, the Telluride Hybrid does that better than the Grand Highlander Hybrid Max. The Kia also has next-generation style inside and out versus the simpler Toyota, along with longer warranty coverage, a longer list of interior amenities, and a lower price. 

The Honda Pilot is another perennial favorite in this class. Unlike the Telluride, it sticks with a traditional non-turbo V6 engine. But also unlike the Telluride, it has a plain and functional interior without the Kia’s extra dose of style – all while costing more. And it’s not available as a hybrid. 

Two more best-selling three-row crossovers are the Ford Explorer and Chevrolet Traverse. The Explorer has less room than the Telluride, and its interior isn’t as swanky. But it’s more fun to drive, with responsive handling and punchy engines. Even its optional 400-hp V6 matches the four-cylinder Telluride’s EPA ratings. But there’s no hybrid option. The Traverse, meanwhile, is all about interior space, and it gets better mileage than the non-hybrid Telluride – but we didn’t find much else that stands out. The Telluride is otherwise more luxurious for less money. 

Among value-focused competitors, the Volkswagen Atlas is another strong choice in this segment. It has an extra-roomy interior, an upscale dashboard, and more cargo space than the Telluride – at competitive prices to the Kia. Its standard engine gets better mileage than the gas-only Telluride, too. But there’s no hybrid option, its controls are harder to use than the Telluride’s, and it tops out at seven passengers rather than eight. 

Finally, we’d shop the Telluride against its cousin, the Hyundai Palisade. The Palisade has a more exuberant interior design and its own flavor of off-road luxury for the exterior. And as we mentioned, it has a less-powerful V6 engine versus the Telluride’s four-cylinder turbo (though they share the same hybrid powertrain), plus conventional door handles. See which cousin looks or feels better to you. 

2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid Nightshade ・ Photo by Brady Holt

10. A Class Leader’s Thoughtful Evolution

The 2027 Kia Telluride looks new but familiar, it’s still both functional and luxurious, and it’s still less expensive than some key rivals. Plus, the new hybrid version is both quick and economical. 

We miss last year’s simpler controls, and not everyone will appreciate the change to a four-cylinder engine and retractable door handles. But it’s a welcome modernization that preserves the old Telluride’s best qualities while adding new ones. 

2027 Kia Telluride X-Pro SX Prestige ・ Photo by Brady Holt