The 2027 Kia Telluride faces the unique pressure of following a runaway hit that has already found homes with nearly 600,000 families across the country. To keep the momentum of eight consecutive years of retail sales records, Kia has moved the Telluride further along its journey from a budget brand to a premium, luxury contender. The new model is visually defined by its “waterfall” headlights and a pronounced front end that borrows the rugged aesthetic of the all-electric Kia EV9, yet it remains a gas-powered workhorse capable of seating seven or eight passengers. Modern architectural touches, such as flush door handles that retract into the body once the vehicle is in motion and ladder-style gloss black roof rails, signal a move toward more sophisticated engineering.
The most significant change is found under the hood, where the legendary V6 has been retired in favor of a more powerful four-cylinder engine and a first-ever hybrid powertrain. This transition aims to offer the “best of both worlds”—the range and fuel economy customers have requested without sacrificing the utility needed for sports equipment and heavy cargo. Inside, the cabin has been completely stripped and reimagined with a flat top-and-bottom steering wheel and a single-pane dashboard screen for driver information. Despite the digital overhaul, Kia chose to maintain one specific heritage detail: the signature center console grab bar, a physical nod to the Telluride’s original rugged identity.
Read more on Forbes:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottyreiss/2026/02/05/kia-prepares-for-its-biggest-hit-yet-with-the-2027-kia-telluride/
For more from Scotty Reiss:
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Just a short seven years ago Kia revealed the first-ever Kia Telluride and set the industry back on its heels. The timing turned out to be ideal for selling cars thanks to the pandemic, which drove people to buy cars in droves. But the Telluride’s Land Rover-esque design won awards including the 2020 World Car of the Year and created desire with legions of new Kia buyers.
Soon, more driveways in more prestigious zip codes than ever held a Kia. Most surprisingly though, was that the boxy, spacious, capable SUV became so sought-after that people willingly waited months and paid thousands, or tens of thousands, over MSRP.
How’s a brand to follow a first act like that?
