It’s difficult to believe that the Kia Telluride is only 6 years old yet has never undergone a true redesign, aside from minor upgrades over the years. The next-generation midsize SUV from Kia is here, following rumors, sightings in disguise, and recent teasers. The company described the new redesign as more of an evolution for the Telluride.
The new Telluride is giving Range Rover vibes, and I'm here for it.
This was crafted by Kia’s Opposites United design philosophy, which has been the thought process behind the look of the latest Kia vehicles and continues here. It also borrows heavily from the many stunning designs from recent Kia vehicles, such as flush door handles from the EV6 and EV9; wheel covers and a clean interior layout from the EV9; and the front tiger grill is inspired by the latest Sorrento redesign.
The new Telluride is 2.3 inches longer and 1 inch taller, and the wheelbase is nearly 3 inches longer. This notable increase in size adds more interior headroom and allows for easier access to the 2nd and 3rd rows. Kia added a ground lighting feature, which projects soft light from the rearview mirrors, rear bumper, and under the rear doors. This feature is a welcome addition, as it’s already on vehicles like select BMWs, Nissans, Toyotas, and the Jeep Wagoneer, to name a few.
Also new are mesh headrests for the 1st and 2nd rows, a passenger console that transforms into a functioning table, and a cargo area that can be reconfigured into a folding luggage table. And lastly, Kia provides new color options for both the exterior (Black Jade Green and Terrain Brown) and the interior (Deep Navy, BlackBerry, and San Beige).
Kia will offer several trims of the new Telluride, including the more rugged X-Pro trim, which adds front and rear hooks, all-terrain tires, 9.1 inches of ground clearance, blacked-out wheel arches, side mirrors, a mesh-style grille, raised roof rails, and a black bumper. The 2027 Kia Telluride is expected to arrive in Kia showrooms sometime during the 1st quarter of 2026.
We got a good look at the goods, but that’s about it. We still don’t know if Kia will offer a hybrid, a turbocharged 4-cylinder, or maintain its V6 offering. Unfortunately, we’ll have to wait a little longer for those questions, along with pricing and availability details, to emerge.
Until it’s officially available, you can check out our review of the previous-gen model below.
