Back on Top: The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid X-Line SX-Prestige AWD
Regular readers know that Kia and Hyundai are corporate cousins. Hyundai has been Kia's majority shareholder for the past 30 years, part of a deal that saved Kia from bankruptcy and oblivion. Since that time, there's been quite a bit of platform sharing---both brands selling essentially the same vehicles, with different styling and different names. In the Kia Telluride's case, its near-identical cousin is the Hyundai Palisade.
Despite their similarities, the first-generation Telluride handily outsold the first-generation Palisade. When it was time for the second generation, the powers that be gave Hyundai a head start---the new 2026 Palisade hit showroom floors six months ahead of the new 2027 Telluride. And for those six months, the new Palisade outsold the old Tellruide.
The lead reversed the first month the new Telluride was available to buy.
With the new Telluride, Kia has tapped into the zeitgeist---rugged, brawny, tough sells SUVs. And while both vehicles are stunners, the Palisade opted for elegance and the Kia doubled down on badass.
That's especially the case in the Telluride's off-roading X-Line and X-Pro trims. But if you want the Telluride Hybrid, X-Line is as far as you can go.
The Telluride Hybrid makes 329 horsepower and 339 lb-ft of torque---both big improvements (38 horsepower and 77 lb-ft of torque) over last year's gasoline engine, and the Hybrid is the more powerful of the two new-generation Tellruide powerplants (the 2.5 Turbo makes 274 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque), while achieving EPA fuel economy estimates of 30 mpg city/32 mpg highway.
There's 21.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row of seats, 47.7 cubic feet with that row folded as shown above and 88.3 cubic feet with both rows two and three folded.
Rear seat passengers get the same 41.4 inches of legroom the folks up front get (third-row passengers get a considerably tighter 32.1 inches---best left to the kids).
The base price of the 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid X-Line SX-Prestige AWD is $57,590 ($59,135 including destination). That money buys a long list of standard equipment (see the window sticker at the end of this review).
Our tester had some extra-cost options---$495 for the Black Jade Green paint, $625 for a towing package with tow hitch, $255 for all-season floor liners, $250 for carpeted floormats, $65 for a cargo net, $200 for a cargo cover and $155 for a carpeted cargo mat with seatback protection.
Bottom line on the window sticker: $61,180.
There might be a bit of sticker shock that accompanies crossing the $60,000 mark, but that's absolutely in the ballpark these days, and you can spend a lot more for a lot less value than the 2027 Telluride offers.
2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid X-Line SX-Prestige AWD at a glance:
Price: $57,590 base/$61,180 as tested
Engine: 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder hybrid
Horsepower: 329
Torque: 339 lb-ft
Transmission: Six-speed automatic with paddle shifters
Curb Weight: 5,062 lbs
0-60 Acceleration (Car and Driver data): 6.4 seconds
EPA Fuel Economy Estimate: 30 mpg city/32 mpg highway
Fuel tank capacity: 18.2 gallons
EPA Range Estimate: 564 miles
Class competitors: Hyundai Palisade Hybrid, Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid
