Kia Telluride is a Proven Winner
Kia debuted the mid-sized Telluride in 2019. Since then, the Kia Telluride has set a record-winning streak, earning the Kelley Blue Book Best Midsize SUV for six consecutive years—all that during its first generation. For 2027, Kia launched the second generation of the Telluride with an all-new design and engine options, including a hybrid.
Now, trying to improve a product with a winning formula is a gamble. There are dozens of examples where this gamble came up snake eyes. As a fan of the Kia Telluride, I was worried this new generation might mess with the key factors that made people fall in love with the SUV in the first place. Thankfully, the 2027 Kia Telluride hybrid put my mind at ease by surpassing expectations.
Improving Something That Isn’t Broken
I tip my hat to the designers and engineers at Kia for improving something that wasn’t broken with the 2027 Kia Telluride. They have succeeded in making a sequel that’s better than the original. In that regard, it’s the Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) of mid-size SUVs.
The 2027 Kia Telluride keeps what works and sharpens it with a more radical design and more power.
Sharper Angles, Same Size
The 2027 Kia Telluride debuted wearing an all-new look. This new design strips away the polished lines of its predecessor and replaces them with sharp angles. It’s aggressively boxy and stiff, like it was dipped in a bucket of starch before being painted. The front end is blocky and squared off like a closed fist. Even the new wheels feature a four-spoke cross with a square in the middle.
The only curves are around the wheel arches and the subtly sloped roofline.
The front-end design changes by trim level. For example, the X-Line SX-Prestige shown in photos has a far more rugged look than the SX-Prestige. Furthermore, the new Black Jade shade of green ($495) is outstanding. It makes you wonder why more automakers don’t offer dark green as a color option.
Elegant Interior Decor with Room for More
Photos show the 2027 Kia Telluride X-Line SX-Prestige interior dressed in SynTex with suede accents. I appreciate an interior where you feel a different texture everywhere you touch. Moreover, the new Telluride interior design keeps it simple and elegant. You get a wide center console with retractable cup holders for plenty of storage space. The center screen is vibrant and offers a balanced mix of analog controls to navigate the screen or adjust the climate controls and audio system.
The X-Line SX-Prestige is a top-tier trim level that adds extras like retractable sunshades for second-row passengers. Second-row seats are also heated/ventilated, a feature you can’t even get on SUVs with double the MSRP. Accessing the third row is easy thanks to straightforward mechanisms to move and adjust the second-row seats.
Rear cargo space is decent with the third-row seats up, allowing enough space to store medium-sized items like a five-gallon fuel canister. Naturally, if you fold them down, the cargo area vastly improves with an almost completely flat floor.
The cThe cabin is quiet and spacious, with ergonomics that rival SUVs larger than a mid-size. Every passenger that rode in the new Telluride remarked on how comfortable it was to sit and ride.
Hybrid Power for Speed and Towing
Kia offers two engines for the 2027 Telluride. The standard engine is a 2.5L turbocharged four-cylinder that produces 274 horsepower and pairs with an 8-speed automatic transmission.
Hybrid variants use a 2.5L turbocharged four-cylinder and two electric motors to produce a combined 329 horsepower. The Telluride Hybrid uses a six-speed automatic transmission. Both gasoline and hybrid variants come standard with front-wheel drive and the option for all-wheel drive.
The new Telluride’s driving impressions were excellent. This mid-size SUV handles itself well with a responsive, springy agility during harsh maneuvers. It can dive into a turn and swerve without losing composure, which really impressed me. Moreover, the 329-horsepower hybrid engine delivers a satisfying surge of power that’ll make you audibly say “whoa!”
Towing capacity on the 2027 Kia Telluride is rated at 5,000 pounds for the gasoline variant and 4,500 pounds for hybrid models. You’ll need the optional Tow Package ($625), which adds a factory trailer hitch.
To access the trailer hitch, remove two plastic clips from a panel cover and pull downward. Afterward, you can attach the trailer hitch that comes included in a bag under the rear cargo floor mat.
Towing with the 2027 Kia Telluride
I rarely get an opportunity to tow something as part of a road test. By pure coincidence, the week I had the Telluride, I needed to transport a 1969 Volkswagen Beetle 150 miles to another city. Given that the classic Beetle’s curb weight was well within the Telluride’s pulling capacity, I decided to hitch up and go.
On the highway, the Telluride hybrid’s power handled the extra weight of towing a car with ease. I was constantly checking my mirrors to make sure the car was still attached because I couldn’t feel the weight being towed. Moreover, the fuel economy was still great. After traveling 150 miles while towing a car in triple-digit Texas summer heat, the 2027 Kia Telluride averaged over 22 mpg on regular gasoline.
When the Telluride isn’t towing, the hybrid powertrain (with AWD) is capable of averaging 30 mpg.
Priced to Compete That’s Hard to Beat
The 2027 Kia Telluride (gasoline) starts at $40k, and the hybrid starts at $47k. The top-of-the-line Telluride hybrid X-Line SX-Prestige starts at $58K. What I took away from this SUV is how well equipped it is compared to other luxury-branded mid-size SUVs. The Telluride offers more for less – period.
I wouldn’t be surprised if this second generation carries on the torch of the winning streak its predecessor started. There’s very little to complain about with the 2027 Telluride.