2027 Kia Telluride First Drive Review: Bigger, Bolder, Still Boxy

Kia is a bit of an automotive Cinderella story. The company hit the U.S. market in 1994 with the scrappy Sportage SUV and Sephia sedan. It has grown to be the fifth-bestselling car brand in the U.S., with the fourth-best resale value of any brand.

In 2020, Kia introduced the three-row Telluride SUV, which led the brand’s move upmarket, proving Kia had what it takes to make a very good, very popular mid-sized SUV. Now with seven Telluride model years under its belt, Kia is taking this award-winning formula and modernizing it with the completely redesigned 2027 Telluride.

In short: Completely new, the second-generation Telluride aims to continue the model’s flagship status. Bigger, bolder, and still boxy (but 10% more aerodynamic), the SUV moves forward with more of what buyers want. But it’s, but reimagined with more luxury, turbocharged and turbo-hybrid engines, and newfound off-road capability and style.

2027 Kia Telluride Review

Kia’s been on the upswing for years with a growing reputation for great-looking, quality vehicles, and Telluride has been a major part of that. The company says it’s not looking to evolve the second-generation Telluride but rather reimagine it. This is because Telluride’s formula is working, offering buyers the right combination of features, size, power, and price. But after seven model years, it’s time for a redesign.

Made in West Point, Ga., the updated three-row SUV gets a 2.7-inch-longer wheelbase and grows 2.3 inches in length, offering more space and comfort.

Two New Engines

The 2020-2026 Telluride had a 3.8L V-6 with an eight-speed automatic transmission making 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque.

The ’27 models offer a 2.5L turbocharged four-cylinder making 274 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. Or a 2.5L turbocharged four-cylinder hybrid with two motors making 329 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of twist.

The turbo gets a six-speed automatic, the turbo-hybrid gets an eight-speed auto. Both are available in FWD or AWD.

Tested: Two Telluride Personalities

During the SUV’s launch in Santa Barbara, Calif., I drove the AWD SX Prestige Hybrid on-road, and the AWD X-Pro SX Prestige off-road. They’re like fraternal twins, one that likes to go to the country club, and the other that prefers to go hiking.

The SX Prestige Hybrid was more of a highway star. Equipped with 255/50R20 Kumho Majesty X Solus tires on black 20-inch wheels; a flush, smooth grille; and wheel arches with double black striping, it had a luxury appearance, though I’m not a fan of the flares. Inside was the two-tone Blackberry and Sand Beige motif with “engineered wood” accents.

Conversely, the X-Pro SX Prestige is the off-roader. It wore chunky 255/60R18 Continental CrossContact ATR all-terrain tires. It had more ground clearance (at 9.1 inches), two front and rear tow hooks, a blacked-out egg-crate grille, and different fender flares. The unique Terrain Brown Matte paint adds to the rugged character, and the black interior has “engineered carbon” accents.

So, while one might be more “caviar” and the other more “granola,” they both offer Terrain Mode with Snow, Mud, and Sand settings. There are also drive modes, including Normal, Sport, Eco, and MyMode. The X-Pro does get more off-road accoutrements. More on that in a bit.

All the sheet metal is new, and I really like the looks (maybe I’ll warm up to the grilles and fender flares). The recessed door handles, clean lines, and modern touches make this a handsome, uniquely styled SUV. 

Unique, Luxurious Interiors

I first hopped in a Glacial White Pearl Telluride Hybrid SX Prestige for the on-road portion. The hybrid’s Blackberry and Sand Beige SynTex interior with SynTex suede interior looked and felt luxurious and distinct, even if the “maroon” color wasn’t my thing.

The interior was exceptionally comfortable and was equipped with 10-way-adjustable heated and cooled massaging seats. The massage function was operated using a button on the door; kudos to Kia for not burying this feature 12 menus deep in the infotainment.

Speaking of infotainment, it consisted of two screens for a combined 29.6 inches of viewable area. One annoyance: the steering wheel blocked part of the screen’s climate control area at the left. Occasionally, it also blocked the oddly placed column-mounted gear shifter located above your right leg.

Thankfully, Kia hasn’t abandoned interior buttons and knobs. There was a just-right combo of the two, including a volume wheel in the dash’s center. But all gauges and infotainment were easy to see and mostly easy to use.

I really liked the vehicle’s center console. It had twin wireless phone chargers, cupholders, and built-in grab handles. The center armrest had a cool split opening design, too. This interior is a really good place to spend time.

Cargo-Carrying & People-Moving Ability

Telluride’s middle and rear seats fold to provide up to 89.3 cubic feet of storage. That’s more than a Ford Explorer (85.8 cubic feet), but less than a Chevrolet Traverse (97.6 cubic feet). Regardless, there are plenty of cubbies and places to put stuff.

The power middle seats move/tilt more than the last generation, allowing easier entry and exit for the third row. Also, all three rows can be equipped with heated seats. The middle row has ample leg room, and even the far back isn’t bad.

Like the 2026 Sportage, the front seat’s seatbacks have built-in USB-C and provide a grip by the headrest for passengers to get in and out. It also has some of the best map pockets ever to exist. Another cargo note: the roof rails have an 880-pound static and 220-pound dynamic load rating.

Kia even showcased a custom Telluride X-Pro with a rooftop tent and a host of other adventure accessories. 

Hitting the Highway in the Hybrid

The Telluride Hybrid was easy to drive on the road, feeling smaller and lighter than other seven- (or eight-) passenger SUVs, and offered very good visibility.

Power was sufficient and its delivery linear, however, I wouldn’t call it fast. Turbo-hybrid buyers will be rewarded with up to 36 mpg on the highway (EX FWD trim). Our tester was rated at 32 highway — impressive for a seven-passenger AWD SUV.

Rolling on 20-inch wheels and tires, this Telluride Hybrid had a good ride and handled predictably on the highway and twisty backroads. It isn’t sporty, but body roll was well controlled.

Quiet and comfortable, it would make an excellent road trip vehicle, just like the previous Telluride. FYI: Kia says Telluride has triple door seals and thicker glass to provide a quieter driving experience than before.

The Telluride X-Pro SX Prestige: An Impressive AWD Off-Roader

A working 7,000-acre cattle ranch was the scene for our off-road testing. Here, Kia set up an extensive course to show off the Telluride X-Pro SX Prestige’s off-road abilities.

Kia had us climb hills, cross streams, navigate off-camber hillsides, and drive down dusty descents. This was an impressive off-road test compared to some other manufacturers have offered (aka, a dirt road). We jumped into a Terrain Brown Matte model and hit the trail.

The X-Pro SX Prestige offers the non-hybrid turbocharged 2.5L. While it makes less horsepower than the outgoing 3.8L V-6, it offers more torque — a useful thing when off-roading (and towing). I didn’t get to put the pedal to the metal, as we were crawling off-road.

Speaking of off-roading, X-Pro gets extra off-road chops versus other trims. It has 9.1 inches of ground clearance, an off-road tuned suspension, and factory all-terrain tires. It also exclusively gets the Ground View Monitor and Off Road Display, which offers a forward-facing camera, letting you view the trail ahead of you.

These vehicles also get functional front and rear tow hooks for vehicle recovery. Our tester had an aluminum front skid plate, which is a separate OEM accessory. X-Pro also has one more trick up its sleeve: an electronic limited-slip rear differential (E-LSD) for added off-road traction.

Driving in the Dirt

The tuned off-road suspension did a great job soaking up the trail’s bumps, offering a supple off-pavement ride. When things got steeper, the E-LSD helped get the SUV through situations with ease.

The Ground View Monitor helped me see over the tall hood when we came to blind obstacles. Unfortunately, the camera shuts off at just 6 mph; I wish it would stay on to around 10-12 mph.

I played around with the three terrain modes — Snow, Mud, and Sand. Each offered different throttle calibrations and transmission performance. All had markedly different feels.

Also, the SUV’s hill descent control worked seamlessly. Some systems make loads of noise and vibration when in use, but not Telluride’s. It provided a confident, smooth, and quiet downhill experience.

I was really impressed with the X-Pro off-road. It felt lightweight, easy-to-drive, and surprisingly nimble. It didn’t feel like a lumbering seven-passenger three-row SUV, and I liked that. Having recently driven the Ford Explorer Tremor, I’d love to have a head-to-head off-road test to see which is the king of the three-row AWD off-roaders. But if I’m buying a Telluride, the X-Pro is what I’m spending my hard-earned greenbacks on.

A Super Seven- (or Eight-) Seat SUV

The 2027 Telluride offers more style, tech, comfort, and capability than the outgoing model. Between the turbo and turbo-hybrid models, FWD and AWD variants, and the multiple trim levels, buyers can get the version that best suits them. Add to it a 10-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty and 5-year, 60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, and you’ve got an impressive package. 

The last Telluride made waves in the SUV market, and this one likely will, too. If you’re in the market for a three-row SUV, the 2027 Kia Telluride should be on your shopping list. It’s really good.