Last week, we showed you what the 2nd-gen Kia Telluride would look like, and today at the 2025 LA Auto Show, we have more details revealed about the mid-sized SUV. Kia revealed the 2027 Telluride now offers a standard turbocharged engine, a turbo-hybrid option, and its X-Pro trim gets better off-roading, more tech, and more safety features inside—all within a mildly larger three-row SUV.
Kicking things off is what’s new under the hood, as the standard model gets an upgrade to a turbocharged 2.5-liter, 4-cylinder engine capable of 274 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque, which is available on both front- and four-wheel drive trains. The Telluride will still retain its 8-speed automatic transmission and up to 5,000 lbs of towing capability, which includes an integrated tow hitch on the hybrid and higher trims. Kia is using its all-wheel drive for proper distribution of torque for improved off-road traction. It also has Electronic Limited Slip Differential (or E-LSD), which calculates driving conditions and controls the AWD to balance power from the front to the rear and from left to right. This feature is in conjunction with a center differential lock to maintain a 50/50 front/rear torque split.
And speaking of the Telluride’s new turbo-hybrid model, it utilizes a combination of a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, a 1.65-kWh lithium-ion battery, a 6-speed automatic transmission, and electric motors, which Kia suggests will have a 600 mile-range with a total of 35 mpg. It will also provide a combined 329 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque, which is an increase from its predecessor’s 291 hp and 77 lb-ft of torque. And yes, the hybrid comes in all-wheel drive. It uses an electronic dynamic torque vectoring control (or E-DTVC) to improve stability and handling by accessing braking and motor control. The Telluride Hybrid also has something called Stay Mode, where it utilizes the battery pack to operate HVAC, cabin lighting, stereo, etc., for 20 minutes, until the battery gets down to 20% without accessing its gasoline engine.
On its X-Pro models, the new Telluride offers a total of 9.1 inches of ground clearance, compared to the 8.4 inches of the previous model. It also adds a Ground View Monitor (an X-Pro trim exclusive), which offers a composite view of the ground when driving under 6 mph by using its onboard cameras and can be viewed on its infotainment screen. It also includes ground lighting on the front, rear, and sides of the vehicles, and multiple drive modes.
The new Telluride is now up to 2.7 inches longer with its 116.9-inch wheelbase and 199.2-inch overall length, which equates to improved legroom in the 2nd and 3rd rows. All models include a folding luggage table with integrated cupholders coupled with a lower storage area with removable dividers. Unfortunately, the turbo-hybrid has a bit less cargo space behind the 3rd-row seats: the hybrid’s 21.3 cubic ft vs. the gasoline’s 22.3 cubic ft.
However, its infotainment screen is still comprised of dual 12.3-inch panoramic displays and a Meridian stereo system option with up to 14 speakers and a 10-inch subwoofer. It supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto across all trims, Kia’s AI voice assistant to access features and play voice games, and Digital Keys, which allows users to use NFC smart cards and compatible iPhones, Apple Watches, and Galaxy smartphones to lock, unlock, and remote start the SUV. The SXP trim adds a full-display digital rearview mirror, a 12-inch heads-up display (HUD), and its own entertainment and data services, which support streaming for Disney+, Netflix, and YouTube.
The 2027 Telluride includes 10 standard airbags and adds a front-row center airbag, which is located between the driver and front passenger to reduce impact in certain collisions. It also comes equipped with the usual suspects of driver assistance features, such as Highway Driving Assist, Lane Following Assist, Forward Collision Avoidance Assist, Safe Exit Warning, Driver Attention Warning, Blind-Spot Collision Warning, Blind-Spot View Monitor, Rear Occupant Alert System, and Intelligent Speed Limit Assist.
The new 2027 Kia Telluride is expected to go on sale sometime during Q1 of 2026, and will arrive in LX, S, EX, SX, SX-Prestige, X-Line, and X-Pro trims to choose from. Kia will reveal pricing details closer to when the SUV goes on sale. The Kia Telluride has been our favorite mid-sized, 3-row SUV, and it sounds like it’s only gotten better. We’ll have to wait until it goes on sale to see if it actually did improve.
