Kia continues to be a force to be reckoned with. The stereotypes of car parts falling off while you’re driving on the highway are far in the rearview mirror for Kia, and the new Telluride proves just that. Today at the Los Angeles Auto Show, Kia released the all-new 2027 Kia Telluride, which has been redesigned from the ground up.
Kia’s Flagship SUV Reimagined
The second-generation Telluride seeks to build upon the first generation, and that begins with the overall size of the Telluride. Both wheelbase and overall length have increased, which ,of course, means a slightly larger SUV. The overall aura of the Telluride hasn’t changed: it’s still a boxy SUV.
The Telluride maintains its boxy body style while adding some fluid lines to stay with the times. The biggest change in the Telluride is just how aggressive the design is. The front end is unapolegtically boxy and rigid, and the fenders are triangular and just as chiseled. All this boxy business is interrupted with flowing lines on the side profile of the Telluride. Even the door handles are flowy, as they’re now flush with the body panels, just like the Kia EV6 or a Tesla.
A “Sanctuary”
Thanks to the length of the 2027 Telluride being increased, the interior is roomier than the first-gen Telluride. Kia describes the interior of the new Telluride as “sanctuary-like,” and while that might be a bit of a stretch, there’s no denying the luxury in the 2027 Kia Telluride.
New for 2027 quietness. While the new Telluride isn’t an EV, Kia would sure like for you to believe it is with how quiet they claim this SUV to be. Kia fits certain Tellurides with a Noise Vibration and Harshness (NVH) Package. All that word salad means is that the Telluride has better door insulating, thicker windows, and an increased use of sound-proofing materials to allow for a quieter cabin.
Seating has also been reimagined for the new Telluride. The front seats are now wider and feature power leg rests. Available Ergo Motion driver’s seats now have massage capabilities, as well as adjustable cushioning.
Materials like wood and SynTex suede adorn the interior of the Palisade. Whether or not these specs make the Palisade’s interior a “sanctuary” is up to you, but there’s no question these upgrades are nice touches.
The second row receives plenty of love in the features department. Available captain’s seats with heated and ventilated seats match the front occupants. Hell, even the third row passengers get heated seats. In a Kia!
Kia boasts an army of cup holders for occupants to conquer all drink-storage battles. An additional array of USB Type-C chargers adorn the first, second, and third rows to charge your iPhones, electric razors, or whatever else you need to charge.
Technology
As is the case for most new cars, the Telluride has plenty of technology to be spoken of. The core of this technology comes from the Telluride’s available dual 12.3-inch panoramic digital displays. These screens have over-the-air software update capabilities- useful for updating the standard navigation system. Oh, you can also make the theme of your infotainment system based on some of Disney’s most popular brands, like Star Wars or Frozen. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto now come standard. An additional screen comes in the unlikely place of the rearview mirror, which, if so desired, uses a camera to allow you to see what’s behind you.
With the help of AI, Kia is attempting to fix the frustratingly useless voice assistants. Drivers will now be able to say “Hey, Kia” and (supposedly) the car will do what you asked of it.
What’s for certain, however, is the available Meridian sound system, which offers 14 speakers plus a 10-inch subwoofer. It’s honestly surprising Kia called the new Telluride a sanctuary and not a concert venue.
Speed and Power
Standard on the new Telluride is a 2.5L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. Yup, that’s right, the 6-cylinder is gone. Those two cylinders aren’t likely to be missed, however, as that turbo-four banger produces 274 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque. That’s a loss of exactly 17 horsepower and a gain of 49 lb-ft of torque from the original. Power for this engine is routed through an 8-speed automatic transmission.
The big news is the introduction of a hybrid powertrain. Alongside that 2.5L 4-cylinder, Kia will also throw in two batteries on your Telluride, making the Telluride a hybrid. What this means is 329 horsepower (38 horsepower more than the outgoing generation) and 339 lb-ft of torque (77 lb-ft of torque more than the outgoing generation. A 6-speed automatic transmission comes with the hybrid powertrain.
The big headline with this new hybrid powertrain is the efficiency. Kia says hybrid-equipped Tellurides sport up to 35 miles per gallon and will go over 600 miles on one tank. 600 miles. That’s a lot of miles, people. So many miles that you’d be able to go from Philadelphia, PA, to Detroit, Michigan, without stopping for gas once.
The Telluride comes equipped with a tow hitch from the factory. The Telluride can also tow quite a large load. The standard engine is rated up to 5,000 pounds of towing, while the hybrid setup is good for 4,500 pounds.
Those who opt for the X-Pro all-wheel-drive model, or the top-of-the-line Telluride, will enjoy an electronic limited-slip differential. This helps control where power goes and when, making offroading that much easier.
An additional quirk-and-feature (shoutout Doug Demuro) with the 2027 Kia Telluride is Stay Mode, which is only available on the hybrid models. What Stay Mode does is use the hybrid powertrain to operate the climate control, cabin lighting, stereo, and other systems for 20 minutes without turning on the actual engine.
What about this X-Pro Trim?
The Telluride X-Pro is the “cream of the crop” of Kia Tellurides. It makes the Telluride offroad capable by adding an exclusive off-road suspension and that electronic limited-slip differential we mentioned earlier.
X-Pro models come with 9.1 inches of ground clearance and an array of drive modes tailored to different terrains. Being an offroad model, the Telluride X-Pro comes with a tool called the Ground View Monitor, which does exactly what you think it would. When driving under 6 miles per hour, onboard cameras will show you what you’re about to drive on, which will be particularly useful for trails. Additional offroad features include ground lighting and off-road vehicle status tools found on the infotainment system. Oh, and of course, all-terrain tires.
Kia says the 2027 Kia Telluride will be available before April 2026. Pricing will be announced at a later date.
