Premium Three-Row SUV Can Go the Distance and Can Get Dirty
Kia says the 2027 Telluride is reimagined and redesigned. By adding a hybrid model as well as one more capable off-road, the flagship of the Kia line-up ticks the necessary boxes.
The Telluride debuted in 2020 to unanimous positive reviews and praise for its design, features and value. Five years later the Telluride has increased its market share, which is a testament to living-up to the accolades as one of the best midsize, three-row SUVs.
Kia brought the automotive media to Santa Barbara, California, for first drives of the 2027 Telluride Hybrid and the upgraded Telluride X-Pro which makes getting dirty even more fun. This quick look is after spending a few hours behind the wheel of each. Clean Fleet Report will have more detailed reviews after driving the new Telluride for a week or more.
Hybrid Drivetrain
The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid comes with a turbocharged 2.5-liter 4-cylinder gasoline engine with two electric motors that puts-out a combined 329 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque. The engine is mated to a 6-speed automatic, with manual mode, that drives either the front wheels, or the optional on-demand all-wheel drive system. This hybrid engine and transmission combination are available on Telluride trim levels of EX, SX, X-Line SX AWD, SX Prestige AWD and X-Line SX Prestige AWD.
The EPA rates the combined fuel economy at 35 mpg and a total maximum driving range of 637 miles. In a very small sample, our 50-mile run on Highway 101 (Los Alamos to Santa Barbara) at 65 mph averaged 35.3 mpg. When we are in the Telluride Hybrid for a week or more we will report on longer-range fuel economy results. Fuel economy numbers reported by Clean Fleet Report are non-scientific and represent the reviewer’s driving experience using the dash gauge computer. Your numbers may differ.
To aid in fuel economy, as long as the hybrid battery has some charge, the gasoline engine seamlessly stops and the system reverts to operating on electricity when at a stop light.
Driving Experience: On the Road
Our Telluride AWD handled well, with its 5,042 pounds suited to its length, width and height. Maneuvering was easy thanks to theKumho Majesty X Solus 255/50 all-season tires, on 20-inch black finish aluminum-alloy wheels. There was little body roll when pushed on corners and at freeway speeds road imperfections were absorbed without any jolts, delivering an overall comfortable ride.
To get the most performance from the engine there are driver selectable choices of Eco, Normal and Sport. Eco will be used on long stretches of road to squeeze-out every last drop of range from the hybrid, with Sport holding the transmission in each rev band a bit longer sending more available torque to the wheels. Using the Sport mode we had 0-60 times under 8.0 seconds, which was a respectable time, and plenty fast for entering freeways and passing big rigs. Engine noise was minimal when tromping on the right pedal. Stops were solid and consistent with a power-assisted braking system consisting of vented front and solid rear discs as part of the anti-lock brake system.
Exterior Styling: Designed In The U.S.A.
Sang Lee, product planning national manager Kia North America, told us “the 2027 Telluride is bigger, bolder and still proudly boxy, while also being 10% more aerodynamic that the previous Telluride generation.” The long hood has a wide grille which is framed by stacked LED headlamps and fog lights. The long flat roof, with rails, has dual sunroofs; the rear is fixed glass. The Telluride is big, but not so big as to look massive or imposing. The hands-free power lift gate with an integrated spoiler has T-E-L-L-U-R-I-D-E spread-out between the LED tail lights.
The slab sides have retractable door handles, subtle sculpting along the lower doors and a curious vertical design piece on the fenders. At first glance looks like a steamer trunk clasp, but we were told it is there to visually break-up the long sweep of the wheel wells.
Interior Peace For 7 or 8
Thanks to sound deadening material placed between the cabin and engine, acoustic glass on the windshield and side windows, and carpeted floor mats, the cabin in the 2027 Telluride was among the quietest three row crossover SUVs we have tested. This solitude made great listening to the 14-speaker Meridian audio system accessed through the panoramic color touchscreen display, which houses navigation and a multi-view camera. Sounds came from AM/FM and SiriusXM satellite radio and Bluetooth streaming through Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and USB-C ports. Voice recognition for hands-free telephone dialing worked perfectly.
The Telluride, as Kia’s largest SUV, can seat up-to eight if ordered with the second row bench seat. The seats in the Telluride Hybrid we drove were covered in SynTex and SynTex suede. The second-row captain’s chairs were heated and ventilated and had 6-way power adjustments.
The driver seat had power adjustments for leg extensions, thigh support bolsters and the Ergo Motion seat that provides pelvic, lumbar and whole body stretching. Combine this massage with multiple seat adjustments and the tilt and telescoping steering column, and the driver had no problem finding a comfortable driving position. The large handles on the center console were convenient as is the deep console storage area.
The boxy design of the Telluride made for excellent second-row rear leg and head room with the optional fixed-glass rear moonroof and ceiling-mounted air vents and reading lamps overhead.
The second-row tilt and sliding feature makes getting into and out of the third row easy. The second-row seatbelts are illuminated. Once in the third row, again due to the Telluride’s boxy design there is good leg and head room, even for a six-footer. The third-row seat reclines, and passengers get ceiling air vents, USB-C ports and have optional outboard seat heat.
Clean Fleet Report’s Telluride Hybrid had premium SynTex suede headliner and soft-touch materials on the dash, door panels and center armrest, complimented by attractive (and believable) engineered dark wood inserts and brushed aluminum trim. The configurable digital gauges are easy to read with white lettering on a black background. A 12-inch head-up display put key info in front of the driver. The heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel has audio, telephone and cruise controls.
Adding to the interior comfort and convenience was multicolor ambient lighting, dual wireless charging pads, push button start, automatic climate control, power windows with one-touch up/down, power door locks, power heated outside mirrors with turn indicators, carpeted floor mats, auto dimming digital rearview mirror with HomeLink, multiple beverage holders, 12-volt accessory outlets and 110V power inverter.
Telluride X-Pro SX Prestige: Very Capable Off-Road
Off-road is where the turbocharged 2.5L gasoline-powered Telluride X-Pro Prestige shines. It’s not for rock crawling, but find a fire road, dirt track to the mountain lake or even some beach cruising and the X-Pro is very capable. The car’s 274 hp and 311 lb.-ft. of torque gets to all four wheels through the electronic limited slip differential (E-LSD).
Off-road cred comes from the 9.1-inch ground clearance, short front and rear overhangs, high numbers for the approach, departure and breakover angle and off-road-tuned suspension. All-wheel drive with multi-terrain drive modes of Snow, Mud or Sand are tuned for maximum traction. The very serious Continental CrossContact 255/60 all-terrain tires mounted on 18-inch black off-road wheels. Multiple cameras show the ground at each wheel, plus front and rear views. The self-leveling rear suspension is part of the towing capability of up to 5,000 pounds with the standard tow hitch.
Design wise, the X-Pro exterior has a more rugged appearance than the Hybrid with front and rear tow hooks, raised roof rack rails, LED fog and projector headlights for improved nighttime vision and front and rear skid plates.
The X-Pro interior gets exclusive patterns and colors for the SynTex and SynTex suede seats, engineered carbon trim with the lift gate lamp being especially handy when setting-up camp in the dark.
Pricing
Assembled in West Point, Georgia, the 2027 Telluride Turbo Hybrid will begin arriving in showrooms in this month (March 2026) and will be offered in EX, SX, X-Line SX, SX Prestige and X-Line SX Prestige trims. Pricing, including the $1,545 destination charge, starts at $48,035 for the EX and tops out at $59,135 for the X-Line SX-Prestige.
The gasoline-powered 2027 Telluride is available in LX, S, EX, X-Line EX, SX, SX Prestige, X-Line SX, X-Line SX Prestige and X-Pro SX Prestige trims. Pricing, including the $1,545 destination charge, starts at $40,735 for the LX and tops out at $58,335 for the X-Pro SX Prestige.
Warranties
Powertrain 10 years/100,000 milesBasic Five years/60,000 milesAnt-Perforation Five years/100,000 milesRoadside Five years/Unlimited miles
Observations: 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid and Telluride X-Pro
The Telluride already was a hit with consumers, but it will get even more attention with the hybrid power plant and its increased efficiency and driving range. For the adventure-oriented, the X-Pro is even more capable for going off-road.
Clean Fleet Report found the clean, contemporary styling a class-up look. The Telluride’s comfortable interior with convenient, desirable seating and storage flexibility, a smooth ride, and having the choice of front-wheel and all-wheel drive, means everyone looking for a big midsize SUV will find something to fit their needs. These attributes, and many others, make the Telluride one of the best three-row SUVs we have driven. Visit your Kia dealer and see for yourself.
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Story by John Faulkner. Photos by John Faulkner and Kia.
The post Flash Drive: 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid and Telluride X-Pro first appeared on Clean Fleet Report.
