First Drive: 2027 Kia Telluride Makes a Good Thing Better

It’s always a challenge making a good thing better. But that’s what Kia set out to do with the 2027 Telluride. The original model won an assortment of awards. And the Korean automaker is determined to score again with the second-generation SUV.  Check out this review of the 2027 Kia Telluride to find out whether it’s succeeded.

Kia hit a grand slam when the original 2020 Telluride rolled out, the 3-row SUV winning the auto industry’s big four awards: North American Utility Vehicle of the Year, World SUV of the Year, Motor Trend SUV of the Year and Car & Drive 10 Best.

“It certainly redefined the brand,” said Eric Watson, the Korean manufacturer’s U.S. sales chief. But it also posed a big challenge for the automaker to not just match but exceed what Telluride delivered the first time around as it prepared to roll out a complete makeover for the upcoming model year.

To see if Kia hit it out of the park once again, Headlight.News headed out to Santa Barbara, California earlier this month for the first drive of the second-generation 2027 Telluride. Here’s what we discovered.

What’s new

Kia describes the 2027 Telluride as “bigger and bolder” than the original and, indeed, it grows more than 2 inches and length and adopts a more distinctive take on the brand’s now-familiar “Opposites United” design language.

But this is far more than just your typical mid-cycle refresh. The gen-2 SUV adds a variety of new comfort, performance and safety features. There are twin 12.3-inch digital displays, and new connectivity functions, including the ability to stream YouTube, Netflix and Disney+. Kia even offers third-row heated seats with the 2027 model, which can make the wayback a bit less of a penalty box.

For the first time, Telluride is available with a high-mileage hybrid drivetrain. And the off-road capabilities of the X-Pro package have been markedly upgraded, as we discovered during some time well off pavement.

Updated design

The 2027 Telluride is 2.3 inches longer than the outgoing model, with a 3-inch stretch of its wheelbase. It gains about an inch in height, as well.

The second-gen design won’t shock those already familiar with Telluride. But there are a number of notable changes. The grille carries over only the faintest elements of the traditional Kia “tiger nose” grille. It adopts a bolder, more squared-off look, framed by vertical bar headlights which, explained designer Kurt Kahl, “frame…and sharpen the Telluride’s…Star Map lighting graphic (while) the amber-hued DRL lighting returns with this sleeker, more modern expression.”

The grille and the broad hood give the newly revised Telluride a wider, more planted shape. Gently sculptured body elements include upward-floating character lines designed to give the crossover a tall, athletic stance. The rising beltline connects with broad rear fenders to keep the overall look well planted. The overall look is more aerodynamic, however, emphasized by details such as the flush door handles used in Kia’s 3-row battery-electric SUV, the EV9.

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Roomier, more tech-forward interior

The 2027 Telluride’s larger dimensions pay off for passengers, with more head, leg and shoulder room, especially in the third row – which is now easier to access, especially in trim packages equipped with a power tilt/fold seat.  And there’s more cargo space, as well – 22.3 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to a cavernous 89.3 cf with both the second and third rows folded down.

The cabin adopts a more tech-oriented theme, with a seamless glass panel covering twin 12.3-inch gauge and infotainment displays on most trim packages. To Kia’s credit, its product team listened to the market and avoided the trap of forcing motorists to use that touchscreen for frequently accessed functions, notably climate settings now accessed through physical buttons and switches.

Telluride’s front doors gently wrap into the IP, giving the cabin a wider, yet more upscale look and feel. That’s enhanced by the use of real metal accents.In the rear, the center console can be transformed into a “functional” table, said Kia, while there’s “a folding luggage table with integrated ruler markings and a removable partition, a nod to outdoor adventure that merges form with function.

First-ever hybrid

Timing is everything, or so it’s said, even if it’s just a matter of luck.

The 2027 Kia Telluride gets a first-ever hybrid drivetrain delivering an EPA-estimated 35 mpg combined. Hybrid-electric models have more than doubled their share of the market since the beginning of the decade – and Kia is particularly upbeat when it comes to the Telluride Hybrid. During a visit to the Westpoint, Georgia factory last month, officials told Headlight.News they’re initially gearing up so the gas-electric package will account for 58% of overall production. Considering the current run-up in gas prices as the Iran War drags on, however, they may need to ramp up that target.

The new hybrid drivetrain pairs a 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-four with two electric motors, power going through a 6-speed automatic. The package delivers up to 329 hp and 339 lb-ft to all four wheels – 38 hp and 77 lb-ft more than the drivetrain the hybrid replaces. The new package has a tow rating of 4,500 pounds.

The alternative package, a 2.5-liter Turbo-4 makes a more modest 274 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque – up 49 lb-ft from the old ICE package. But it boosts tow capacity to 5,000 pounds. The turbo drivetrain is mated to an 8-speed automatic and will be available in both two- and all-wheel-drive configurations.

Driving impressions

Often, it’s what you don’t see that matters most. To Kia’s credit, the product development team spent a significant amount of time upgrading Telluride’s ride and handling. That’s not to disparage the original SUV which was, itself, a significant improvement over older Kia products.

As is the case with most SUVs, Telluride’s emphasis is on Utility, rather than sport. That said, I found the steering precise, with just the right amount of boost for everyday driving. The suspension felt more composed than on the outgoing model, comfortably composed in tight corners and yet able to soak up all but the harshest bumps on rough pavement.

Kia took pains to decrease road, wind and engine noise with new sound-deadening materials, including thicker glass. The hybrid engine can barely be heard under all but flat-out acceleration. The turbo-four is a bit more obvious, though still less intrusive than before.

Pushing boundaries with the updated X-Pro

Kia offered plenty of opportunities to test out the 2027 Telluride, including a meandering off-road course that cut through the back of an old cattle ranch, While it wasn’t quite what you’d find in a place like Moab, it provided more challenges – and off-road thrills – than I expect the vast majority of X-Pro owners will ever experience.

The 2027 Telluride X-Pro packages are more differentiated than before. They now get 9.1 inches of ground clearance – up from 8.4 inches on the gen-1 SUV – and ride on all-terrain tires.

They’re also more visually differentiated, with tow hooks, as well as blacked-out wheel arches, side mirrors, beltline trim, and D-pillars. Add to the list raised roof rails. X-Pro models feature new ground lighting, including new puddle lamps. X-Pro models also feature a trailer hitch built into the back bumper which can be covered when not in use. (This feature is optional on other trims.)

Unlike some earlier Kia “off-road” packages, the 2027 Telluride X-Pro is as much “go” as “show,” adding a number of useful features, including the Ground View Monitor that functions almost like a transparent hood. If I have one complaint it’s the fact that the forward-facing camera view cuts out at just 6 mph. Most competitors’ systems keep operating up to 10 or 11 mph. As a result, I found the system routinely dropping out in between moguls and hills.

A real plus with X-Pro is the ready access to various Drive and Terrain Modes. The latter, in particular, allowed me to switch between settings like Snow, Sand and Mud, each automatically adjusting a variety of vehicle settings that primarily adjusted how torque was distributed to ensure maximum grip under varying conditions. That proved particularly effective as our off-road course varied from loose sand to corrugated rock, as well as a short run down a stony creek.

Technology

These days, the merits of a family hauler can be measured in terms of onboard technology. And the 2027 Kia Telluride has plenty to offer. Most trims feature the twin 12.3-inch displays, though base packages swap out the gauge cluster for a smaller 4.2-inch screen. The gen-2 SUV also gets a larger 12.0-inch head-up display, depending upon trim and options.

Not only can you stream family-friendly videos – when parked, of course – but you can opt for a number of unique display themes, including all 30 NBA teams. As one would expect, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard. Telluride also is equipped to permit smartphone-style over-the-air updates of much of its onboard software.

Other useful features include twin wireless smartphone chargers. A Meridian audio upgrade provides 15 speakers, including a 10-inch subwoofer.

Safety being a top priority for most family buyers, the 2027 Telluride includes advanced driver assistance systems including Highway Driving Assist, Lane Following Assist, Forward Collision Avoidance Assist, Safe Exit Warning, Driver Attention Warning, and Intelligent Speed Limit Assist.

The last word

Kia’s second-generation Telluride arrives roughly a year after its Korean sibling, Hyundai rolled out a complete makeover of its own 3-row Palisade model. The two share many of the same underpinnings but have adopted significantly different styling and offer some notably different features. The original Telluride outperformed its erstwhile twin in the awards category. But Palisade did well the second time around, among other things being named North American Utility Vehicle of the Year.

Somewhat surprisingly, the two Korean models seem to attract different buyers. And, for its part, Kia is confident it will continue to grow demand in the coming years. During my visit to the Georgia factory I learned that it’s tooling up to roll out fully 180,000 of the SUVs this year, which would be a massive jump from the 123,281 Tellurides sold in 2025. After spending time behind the wheel of the new model, however, I can’t argue with Kia’s optimism.

As for pricing, turbo packages start at $39,190 and run as high as $56,790 – before options. The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid packages start at $46,490 and run up to $57,590. Add $1,545 to those figures for destination fees.