It’s a game we play: If you could only drive one car for the rest of your life, what would it be? After driving the 2027 Kia Telluride, this might be it.
I like a full-size SUV so I can have all my people with me all the time. I like a sleek, modern car with a nicely organized cabin, lots of storage, a multimedia touch screen with quick functions and solid features. I like luxury—I’m just going to be honest about that—and I like the advanced technology that feels and functions smartly for years to come.
And I like having all those things included standard, so I don’t have to pick and choose and end up disappointed that I didn’t get what I wanted. Clearly, Kia gets this.
This story is 100% human-researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks. Additionally, I was Kia’s guest for this test drive, but all opinions are my own.
The 2027 Kia Telluride Was Redesigned For the Future
When the Kia Telluride made its debut in 2020, it was heralded for its boxy shape, roomy cabin and attention to the needs of every passenger. It combined the old-school look and feel of a rugged SUV with the modern needs of families who love SUVs, adding technology like a touch screen, driver assist features and wireless charging, all at an approachable price for all it delivered.
When the trend toward adventure SUVs blossomed, Kia quickly got in the swing with X-Line and X-Pro trims that combine all-wheel drive capability with the other necessities— all-terrain tires, towing and of course, adventure accessories.
Fast forward just six years and the wants and needs of SUV buyers haven’t changed as much as evolved: They want all that and more. So, Kia responded.
The result is an even more modern SUV that maintains its boxy shape yet draws a sleek silhouette with sublime details like flush door handles and a rear windshield wiper that’s tucked up under the roof spoiler. It has an all-new face and rear end and delivers on the things that Kia’s customers—or all SUV buyers, really— want, such as wireless phone charging for two phones, leatherette seating, more cargo space and an easier to reach 3rd row.
The 2027 Kia Telluride Has Two All-New Engine Options
Probably the biggest news for the new Telluride, outside of the design and new look, are the new engine options, which include a hybrid estimated to get 35 MPG. Hybrid has been the holy grail of new cars and while Kia’s offered them, now they’re really getting it right: The new engine not only gets great fuel economy but it delivers more power than the gas-only engine option (the Telluride shares this powertrain with the Hyundai Palisade hybrid). Here’s how it breaks down:
The four-cylinder turbo generates 274 HP and 311 pound-feet of torque; it has all-wheel drive (standard in all but LX and S trims, which offer it for $2,000) and gets an estimated 22 MPG; it can tow up to 5,000 lbs. and is priced from $39,190 – $56,790.
The hybrid also runs on a four-cylinder turbo engine but generates 329 HP and 339 pound-feet of torque; it’s estimated to get 35 MPG and can tow up to 4,500 lbs. AWD is standard in all but the entry hybrid model (which offers AWD for $2,000) and it’s priced from $46,490 – $57,590.
What’s New For 2027
Once you get past the new exterior design, and I can’t say enough how much I love its sleek, modern look, Kia really tried to load up the Telluride with all the things buyers want and need, layering on the luxury at the top end and equipping it with even more off-road features in the X-Pro models. Here are the standard features and new details that I was really taken with:
- Power driver’s seat
- Adjustable steering column
- Front memory seats
- Dual wireless phone chargers
- 12.3” touch screen with “hey Kia” voice activated assistance
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Heated front seats in all but the base model and heated second and 3rd row seats in the top two trims
- Puddle lights that illuminate the ground around the car as you approach with the key
- More cargo behind the 3rd row, which is now 22.3 cubic feet
- Flush door handles
- Cargo area work lights on the ceiling and tailgate
- Leatherette seating
- 3-zone climate
- Driver assist and safety features that include a blind spot monitor, lane keep assist, and auto high beam headlights
- A rear occupant alert with radar sensors—even a breathing baby can be detected
- Navigation-based cruise control with stop and go
- Rear view camera with a washer
- A spare tire
- All wheel drive is standard in most models—a huge win for buyers
Driving the 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid
The real ‘tell’ in the Telluride is getting behind the wheel. There are a lot of skeptics when it comes to 4-cylinder engines in large SUVs like this one, though it’s the trend and automakers stand by the technology.
For a 3-row SUV, I generally think you need about 300 HP to have enough power at higher speeds when you have butts in all the seats and a full load of luggage and gear. Adding a trailer, roof box, or other weight and straining the engine is no fun—and could be scary.
I was able to get behind the wheel of both the hybrid SX Prestige and the gas-only X-Pro models and found both to be quite capable. The added torque, which Kia’s engineers appropriately and thankfully called “passing power,” will give the Telluride the necessary muscle to get up to speed on the highway. One thing that old Telluride drivers might note versus the outgoing V6 is the turbo lag: When you floor the accelerator at a low speed, the system takes a beat before kicking in. Once it does deliver power, though, it’s completely capable.
On the highway, I definitely felt the size and scale of this SUV, though true to a mid-size SUV, it rides and handles more like a car than an SUV. It managed narrow back roads and highways like a champ.
I spent most of the day in the hybrid, which is not available in the adventure-ready X-Pro model; this only offers the gas-only turbo engine. Interestingly, though, the gas-only model has a higher tow rating. So, what was it like off-road?
And Then, Really Driving the 2027 Kia Telluride — Off Road
This was a huge surprise. I never expect a car maker to put us out on a course that their car can’t handle, so it was not a surprise that the Kia Telluride could handle some solid trail riding. What I didn’t expect was to get a bit lost on the off-road course and have to truly off-road on my own—no spotters, no guides, no map. The course was well worn, but it was also a little muddy from recent rain. I followed my guide through the first half of the course and then cut off to head back to basecamp. That’s where I got turned around. And of course, I was running late; I had a deadline to meet, which is why I cut my off-road time short. Or so I thought.
After making a couple of wrong turns, I finally found a marked trail and followed it. But I was late, so I *probably* drove a little faster than Kia would have liked me to. I found the X-Pro’s ground view camera to be invaluable when heading over a hill that I couldn’t see over, but that I could see dropped off severely. I found the extra ground clearance, which sits at 9.1”, to be a huge advantage for driving faster on the trail than you might usually—and for driving through water, which I also did. And I found the all-wheel drive system to perfectly grab and hold muddy hillsides; I never slid at all. Again, surprised.
I was not just surprised at how capable the Telluride was, but also at how speedy it was on the trail. That is my favorite type of driving and this was up there with the fun factor.
How Families, and Kids Car Seats, Fit in the Kia Telluride
Once I came down from my off-road adrenaline charge, it was time to get to know the rest of the cabin. Kia increased the overall length of the Telluride by 2.3”, the wheel base, which stretches between the wheels, by 2.7” and added a half inch or more to the height. That translates to more space in every row, including the 3rd row, and to a wider ingress to climb past the slide-and-tilt center row seats into the rear seat.
I tried this and it was incredibly easy. Much easier than in the past; it’s incredible how much difference a wider step-in space makes.
I also let the center seat fall back into its natural, fully aft position and it didn’t touch my knees (I’m 5’8”, so that was a surprise). Then, I asked, sotto voce, for Kia to change the cabin temperature. The system heard me clearly and changed the temperature in the 3rd row. Very impressive.
Adding to the impressive cabin are four full LATCH sets for installing child car seats, and slide and tilt second row outboard seats that allow you to move the seat with a kid’s car seat installed.
Slide and Tilt Seats are Everything, But Skip the Power (for Now)
One note of caution regarding power second and 3rd row seats: Hyundai is issuing a recall on these seats in the 2026 Palisade and this may extend to the Kia Telluride; the company is looking into this to see if the issue is the same. I can say with confidence that it’s similar enough that I hope a fix will be made; the power center row seats in the 2027 Telluride have a more sensitive pinch point, so they’ll reverse if they meet resistance.
But the seats should really not power forward at all with weight in the seat, and this is what I hope Kia changes. My recommendation is to avoid buying a model with power rear seats until the issue is fixed.
Expect to See (Even) More Kia Tellurides On the Road
For its design alone, the Kia Telluride stands out; it builds on the “baby Rover” look and feel of the original Telluride, this time going a bit more toward Range Rover than Land Rover. The sleek, modern look and feel push it solidly into the future, a design that should hold up nicely over time. Kia is so confident about the new design that they’ve expanded manufacturing capacity in the company’s West Point, Georgia, plant to avoid the shortages and wait lists that original Telluride buyers faced.
Luckily, Kia is offering 10 exterior paint colors, 5 interior choices (though not all choices are available on all trims), 9 trims in the turbo model and 5 in the hybrid, so every driver can find the Telluride that best fits their needs.
