Fast Facts | 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid
🔋 Hybrid System: Next-gen Hyundai Motor Group setup with two motor-generator units in the transmission
⚡ Power: 329 horsepower and 339 lb-ft net output (as stated)
🌳 Fuel Economy: Up to 34 mpg combined FWD, 31 mpg AWD (as stated)
📦 Cargo Space: 21.3 cu-ft behind row three, up to 88.3 cu-ft with rows folded (as stated)
🖥️ Cabin Tech: Dual 12.3-inch displays on most trims, up to nearly 30-inch glass panel (as stated)
🛞 Weight: Roughly 4,700 to nearly 5,100 pounds depending on trim (as stated)
💵 Pricing: Hybrid starts $48,035 (EX) with $1,545 delivery, AWD adds $2,000 (as stated)
The Three-Row Telluride That Finally Makes Sense at the Pump
Seven years after launching the first-generation Telluride, Kia is finally ready to launch an all-new model this spring. The Telluride shares the same basic platform as its sibling, the Hyundai Palisade, but you’d never know from taking a look at it. The new edition is a completely new style and marks the first time Kia has paired the Telluride with a hybrid powertrain. Kia recently invited me to California to spend some quality time with the 2027 Telluride Hybrid. Here are my thoughts.
How’s It Look?
The new Telluride brings a very different look to the Kia brand, building on the boxiness of the last generation while borrowing a few cues from other brands, most notably Range Rover at the rear. The lighting theme at both ends is more vertical, and the taillights definitely channel British luxury. Up front, the small dual vertical amber running lamps of the old model have been stretched vertically, with small stacked LED headlamps tucked just inboard that stay nearly invisible until they're on.
There are two groups of trims for the Telluride: Core and X. The Core models get a smoother front fascia that's mostly black with body-color bumpers, plus a trio of body-colored vertical bars flanking the headlights on hybrid versions. The X trims — X-Lines and X-Pros — are more off-road oriented, and get a grid of rectangular blocks on the front that feels reminiscent of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 XRT. The X-Pro off-roaders are only available with the gas engine, while the hybrid tops out at the X-Line SX Prestige.
If you want the Palisade sibling context without duplicating this drive story, here’s the overview: Hyundai Palisade adds hybrid option ➜
The flanks of the Telluride are clean with slightly bulging fenders. The one slightly divisive detail is the small black plastic trim piece at the top of each wheel arch. Kia's designers say it's meant to tie the top of the wheel arch together with the downward sweeping arches above the wheels. It’s purely aesthetic with no functional purpose. On darker colors, it blends in, but on lighter colors, it’s quite noticeable.
Cabin Life and Tech
Inside, the Telluride gets many of the features found in other recent Kias. All but the base EX get the nearly 30-inch glass panel housing dual 12.3-inch displays for the gauge cluster and infotainment, plus a smaller 5-inch display in between for some climate controls. As on the EV9 and the compact K4, that middle screen gets partially blocked by the steering wheel, so you'll need to lean over to see it clearly. There are physical controls for front passenger temperature and fan speed, as well as a range of controls on the steering wheel. Two wireless charging pads sit in front of the center console, and there are three USB-C ports in the front row and more in the second and third rows.
If you want the quick baseline on how hybrids work without the jargon, use hybrid car overview ➜
The new Telluride is 2.5 cubic feet roomier than before, with an additional 2.7 inches of wheelbase, 2.3 inches of overall length, and most major interior dimensions within about an inch of the previous values. Third-row seats are even available with heating. Cargo space behind the third row has grown to 21.3 cubic feet with up to 88.3 cubic feet when both second and third rows are folded.
What’s Under the Hood?
The 2027 Telluride uses Hyundai Motor Group’s next-generation hybrid system, which features two motor-generator units (MGU) in the transmission. One connects directly to the engine, while the other connects to the gears with a clutch in between. Despite squeezing in two MGUs, the six-speed automatic transmission is nearly an inch shorter than in Kia’s previous hybrid setup. The combined electrical output of 89 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque pairs with the turbocharged four-cylinder for a net output of 329 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque, which really moves it. Fuel economy jumps to as much as 34 mpg combined for the front-wheel-drive models and 31 mpg for all-wheel drive, according to Kia.
The suspension architecture is similar to the old model, with MacPherson struts up front and multi-link in the rear, but it's been retuned to handle the Telluride's slightly larger footprint and curb weight, which ranges between 4,700 pounds and nearly 5,100 pounds.
How Does It Drive?
One thing I noticed right away when climbing into the new Telluride is how comfortable the seats are. They’re quite supportive with just the right amount of padding to hold you in place. When I selected Sport mode, the lateral bolsters even tightened up slightly to help hold me in place.
Hyundai Motor Group’s hybrid system is the star of the show here. The turbo four and two motors provide more-than-adequate performance and impressive fuel economy. My drive took me from the Pacific coastline up into the mountains past Los Olivos, ending at a 7,000-acre ranch for some off-roading and lunch. Along the way, I drove on highways and rural back roads, where I wasn't always trying to maximize fuel efficiency. I still averaged just shy of 28 mpg in the SX Prestige, which is EPA-rated at 31 mpg combined, according to Kia. That’s a very good result for a vehicle this size.
I also got to experience Kia’s Highway Drive Assist 2, a hands-on lane-centering and adaptive cruise control system, which works well on the highway, but isn’t really suitable when the roads get twisty, so I took full control of the steering in the mountains. Despite sharing a platform with the Palisade, the Telluride does have a few differences. Unlike the Hyundai's column-mounted assist motor, the Telluride uses a rack-mounted system, which generally provides better feedback and more precise control. I didn’t have any back-to-back opportunities, but I was definitely impressed with the feel of this vehicle despite its weight.
My tester wore the optional Blackberry and Sand Beige interior. The Blackberry elements are a deep reddish-purple color that looks great. Large parts of the interior were the Light Sand Beige, including a panel of touch buttons under the infotainment screen. The words are backlit, but in certain lighting conditions, they're tough to read. It’s a minor annoyance, but if you think it might bother you, you might want to select a different interior color.
The Bottom Line
For those who want a larger three-row utility to haul the family around, I still think minivans like the Kia Carnival are a better choice, thanks to the sliding doors and lower floor. But if you can’t bring yourself to buy a van, the new Telluride is a great choice.
The 2027 Telluride hybrid starts at an MSRP of $48,035 (including a $1,545 delivery charge) for the EX trim, with an extra $2,000 for all-wheel drive. The SX Prestige starts at an MSRP of $58,125, and the Ivory Silver all-wheel-drive model we drove came to $60,210. That’s not inexpensive, but compared to similarly sized and equipped vehicles in the market, like the Toyota Grand Highlander, it's a good value. For anyone in the market for a three-row crossover who wants to save on gas but isn’t quite ready to jump to the fully electric EV9, this Kia is worth a look.
💎 More Three-Row Family Cross-Shops
2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid Review
The closest sibling rival to the Telluride Hybrid, useful for comparing cabin approach, hybrid tuning, and value
Read More ➜
2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid Review
If your priority is family logistics, this hybrid minivan alternative is the practical counterpoint to a three-row crossover
Read More ➜
Best Hybrid SUVs for Families
A broader shortlist to sanity-check three-row and family-friendly hybrid options beyond the Telluride and Palisade
Read More ➜
