The 2027 Telluride Gets Bigger, Quieter, Smarter, and More Off-Road Capable
The amazingly popular Kia Telluride is getting a full redesign for 2027. The new vehicle was unveiled at the 2025 LA Auto Show, with Kia positioning it as their flagship 3-row SUV. Kia’s objective with this redesign is to balance modern tech, luxury comfort, and real off-road capability.
What Kia did with the new styling on the Telluride is not my favorite in the front, but the rest is pretty good-looking. Compared to the last version, the 2027 model has new vertical headlights, a mesh grille, and some flush door handles that are there for better aerodynamics. But those handles actually reduce the coefficient of the car from 0.33 to 0.30, so a pretty small difference, but I guess every amount of drag efficiency that they can shave off counts.
The new dimensions give the second row more legroom and let people in the third row have better access. The new SUV also gets a new turbo-hybrid option for a combined mpg of 35, with a long cruising range of up to 600 miles. All of this makes this car even better than ever. Just maybe they should not have done what they did to the front, but let’s stop talking about that!
The theme of the cabin is Sanctuary, with the quieter ride due to more sound-dampening, thicker glass, and redesigned seals. Some nice new optional features are the front relaxation seat with leg rests, how the Driver seat can massage, how there are both heated and ventilated second-row captain's chairs, heated third-row seats, dual wireless chargers for the front passenger, and a power/tilt telescope steering wheel with memory. So ya, there are a lot of cool options for this vehicle!
The tech in this Kia Telluride feels like a step forward from the last generation with things like the dual 12.3” panoramic displays using the ccNC infotainment system, how there is Wireless CarPlay and Android Auto standard on all trims, a larger 12” head-up display and digital rearview mirror for the SX-Prestige trim, and also the Kia digital key available on phones and smartwatches for Apple and Samsung.
Another cool tech feature is how you can stream Netflix, Disney+, and YouTube, but only when parked, for safety reasons. There are also custom display themes for NBA teams and Disney bands, which make this vehicle a lot more fun.
There are two main engine setups: a 2.5-liter turbo with 274 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque and a turbo hybrid with 329 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque. The towing capacity is 5,000 lbs for the gas model and 4,500 lbs for the hybrid one.
Some of the off-road features on this SUV include: E-LSD, which is a feature that electronically controls traction and shifts power side-to-side and front-to-rear through rough terrain. Terrain mode is a selectable drive mode for mud, snow, and sand, and there is also Ground LED lighting around the vehicle, which is meant for camping or night driving.
Safety features on this car are great, with 10 airbags, including a new center airbag between front seats, and a radar-based rear occupant alert system that even sends a phone notification. There is also a highway assist system and lane-following assist, blind-spot monitoring, and updated collision avoidance systems.
The new Tellurode will be produced in Georgia, with a targeted sale of the vehicle sometime in Q1 of 2026. Pricing is expected to start at around $38,000
Does the hybrid powertrain that gives the Telluride a 600-mile cruising range make it more compelling than similar SUVs? How do you feel about built-in streaming services in a vehicle like Netflix and Disney+? Let us know in the comments!
Source and Images: Kia