Three-row crossovers aren’t typically thought of as enthusiast vehicles, but as someone who was there when the Kia Telluride dropped in 2019? Oh boy, that thing tapped into car passions that people didn’t even know they had. It was a mainstream crossover that elicited desire, a critically acclaimed hit. Now it’s time for that tricky sophomore album, so say hello to the new 2027 Kia Telluride.
The Telluride wasn’t Kia’s first shot at a North American flagship – remember the Amanti, or the Cadenza, or the K900, or even the image-maker Stinger GT? However, the Telluride was the first one that really stuck. With devilishly handsome styling, the right sort of gadgets, and decent material spend, Kia made a three-row crossover that transcended class. It looked equally at home whether parked outside a YMCA or an actual mansion, and the result was a sales sensation. People were willing to pay more than sticker price for loaded examples, and more than half a million have been sold in America since the model launched. Plus, the Telluride’s best-selling year was last year. It’s been on sale since 2019, yet it keeps breaking sales record after sales record.
It’s safe to say that Kia simply had to get the second-generation Telluride right. Remember the outrage when the 2023 model got rid of the amber daytime running lights? We’re talking about a machine that brought a whole new set of clientele to Kia, so the brand’s designers and engineers had to try their absolute hardest with this thing.
Right out of the gate, there’s a whole lot of faux grille on the new Telluride, but I’m starting to warm to this bezel-free look. You don’t often see clean shut lines between hoods and grilles these days, and there’s far less blackout trim on this SXP model than on the soft-roady X-Pro trim. The much-loved amber daytime running lights make a reappearance on the second-generation Telluride, now leaning into a waterfall look. It’s quite a blunt front end, but with boxy being in, it’s probably just what buyers are looking for.
Around the side, the new Telluride mostly just takes what worked about the old one and amplifies it. There’s a general minimalism to the profile, square and confident, without a ton of unnecessary creases. There are two things here I’m not so sure about, however: The rectangular elements atop each wheel arch are bizarre, and the flush-mount retracting door handles aren’t the most user-friendly choice for those with kids.
However, I’m calling the rear of the new Kia Telluride an absolute success. Not only do those vertical taillights recall the headlights, there’s something Range Rover-ish about the whole treatment back here. It just looks expensive, and part of the appeal of the old Telluride was that it looked far pricier than it actually was.
Moving inside the new Telluride, one word comes to mind: Rich. Huge swaths of textiles, satin wood, metallic accents, and even a Bentley-like two-tone steering wheel all combine to make a cabin that looks expensive. While the basic layout is familiar to anyone who’s been inside an EV9, the overall execution is just neater in the Telluride. Also, some of the touches on display in the press photos are intriguing to say the least. Firstly, a glimpse at the driver’s door panel reveals what appears to be a button for massaging front seats. On the other side, there’s a strange QR code on the bezel for the front passenger seat heating and cooling controls. Scanning it takes you to a webpage about sustainable materials. Interesting.
While we don’t yet know what powers the new Kia Telluride, it isn’t difficult to take an educated guess. The three-row Hyundai Palisade platform-mate offers a 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V6 or a turbocharged hybrid four-cylinder powertrain, so something along those lines is likely in the cards.
Given that the 2027 Kia Telluride will be unveiled in full at the Los Angeles Auto Show later this month, we won’t have to wait long to learn a whole lot more about the brand’s range-topping combustion-powered crossover. With looks this elegant and an interior this premium, expect to see a whole lot of new Tellurides on the roads near you when it makes its way to showrooms early next year.
Top graphic image: Kia
Between the front of the Santa Fe and the rear of this, H/K managed to design one attractive vehicle. Unfortunately they split it in two and let their interns fill in the blanks.
That front end will get redone quickly in the next few years. Sides and back look great.
Hm. Not bad, but I’ll warm up to it, I’m sure. Better from the front than the left-in-the-sun-too-long Palisade, for certain. Side feels a bit busy by comparison.
Will it keep most of its 7.0 quarts of oil for 5000 miles or shall I keep quarts of 0w30 on permanent subscription on my Costco app?
Exactly the issue with my dads ’20 Telluride. Burns through oil and coolant since 80k miles. Kia said “within spec” so nothing was done about it. Needless to say, my parents aren’t interested in any Kia/Hyundai products anymore after this.