2027 Kia Telluride Is Bolder, Boxier, And Range Rover Coded

Kia has not revealed full details about the new second-generation Telluride, as specifications about the powertrains and information about pricing will come at a later date. However, the Korean automaker did provide a full look at the vehicle, both inside and out. Here's our first look at the latest SX Prestige and X-Pro trims, the latter of which has been part of the Telluride lineup since the 2023 facelift.

"With Telluride, it was a matter of being tailored and restrained – dare I say, anti-design. With that approach, it was about capturing strength and luxury, tradition and modernness, into a single expression. That's what Opposites United enabled us to do."
– Tom Kearns, vice president and senior chief designer, Kia Design Center America.
Affordable Range Rover

It may not be a full-size body-on-frame SUV, but the second-generation Telluride has grown by 2.3 inches with a nearly 3.0-inch increase to the wheelbase, and it's also an inch taller. The front end is radically different from the previous model, adopting much larger vertical headlights but keeping the popular amber lights on the higher trims. It appears the SX Prestige has a more flush-looking grille, while the X-Pro adopts a more chiseled look with orange recovery hooks.

Along the side, a tall greenhouse and flush door handles that pop-up hint at Telluride's Range Rover aspirations. Wheel sizes include 18, 20, and 21 inches, and are finished in black on the X Series models. The X-Pro takes the rugged look even further with all-terrain tires and 9.1 inches of ground clearance. At the back, it's impossible not to make comparisons to the Range Rover, since both SUVs feature slim vertical bars tail lights.

Kurt Kahl, chief designer at Kia Design Center America, had this to say about the new Telluride:

"The original Telluride has these instantly recognizable vertical bar tail lamps. In the second generation, we reinforced this strong light signature by applying it to the front as well. The twin LED vertical strips that frame the grille and sharpen the Telluride’s face feature Kia's Star Map lighting graphic. The amber-hued DRL lighting returns with this sleeker, more modern expression. Their crisp geometry not only modernizes the SUV but also provides a beacon-like quality, recalling trail markers that guide the way through changing terrain. At the rear, the tail lamps adopt an architectural character. Body color separates the twin light bars, accentuating their graphic clarity. The lighting signature evolved, but the essence stayed. It's still geometric, vertical, clean and unmistakably Telluride."

Even though it wasn't the newest SUV on the market, the first-generation Telluride remained one of the nicest and most well-equipped vehicles at its price point. This new Telluride makes major upgrades with real metal trim, wood-like accents, and other premium touches. The increased length and height improves passenger space and ingress/egress into the second/third rows.

Up front, Kia's latest infotainment system should deliver some improvements over the old unit, but we will need to wait for more details. Rear seat occupants get a new passenger console that transforms into a table and there is another foldable luggage table in the trunk as well. Buyers who want a luxury feel on the affordable trims will have a choice of some cool interior colors, including Deep Navy with Tuscan Umber and Blackberry (a rich purple) with Sand Beige. The X Series colors are more traditional: all-black, deep khaki, and saddle brown.

Kia did not share any details about the Telluride's engines, but it's safe to assume they will be shared with the 2026 Hyundai Palisade. That means there should be a 3.5-liter V6 engine under the hood, producing 287 horsepower and 260 lb-ft. If Kia follows Hyundai's product cadence, a hybrid should join the lineup later, sporting a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder delivering 329 hp and 330 lb-ft.

Not only will the Telluride Hybrid be the more powerful choice, but it should be significantly more fuel efficient. The Palisade Hybrid achieves up to 35 MPG combined, while the gas model only gets up to 21 MPG combined. Kia will show off the 2027 Telluride at the 2025 Los Angeles International Auto Show, and the vehicle is set to go on in Q1 2026.